Piemonte Hilltop Villages
Submarines and Piemonte Villages???
A very long time ago, I was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. This was before the demise of the Soviet Union (look it up in your history books). Before heading out on a patrol in the Barents Sea, we drilled in recognizing foreign warships just by the arrangement of antennas. We learned this so we could recognize the ship well before they came over the horizon; important if you are a submarine and are trying to remain hidden!
I.D. the ship just by the top of the masts. Kynda, Kresta, Kara
So what does this have to do with the villages of the Langhe in the Piemonte? Just this: each of these medieval villages has a different hilltop castle, tower, clock tower, estate house. Can you learn to recognize the village just by a glimpse at the top? It’s fun, give it a try! When you’re visiting for real, you’ll always know where you are, sort of…
Piemonte hills
Barbaresco Villages: Barbaresco and Neive
Pay attention, sailor, your training is about to begin. This first set is pretty easy, there are only three main villages in the Barbaresco zone and I only have photos of two; I’ll try to add Treiso the next time we go! Click on the first photo to start the slide show & quiz.
Barolo: La Morra, Serralunga, Grinzane Cavor, Novello
Now things are going to get more interesting. There are thirteen villages in the Barolo zone. This won’t be all of them, but it’s a good start. Click the first photo to start the slideshow and quiz.
Congratulations sailor, well done. Enjoy a glass of Barolo!
foodwineclick 
So clever, Jeff. I love it.
Thank you Suzanne!
Such great places to visit, and amazing views from all of them. Love the history of the Italian regions!
I love the fact that they are all unique and each has an interesting story.
Very good… Although you’ve kind of ruined the views for me now. Everywhere I look I see ships…
Oops!
That top photo that shows the hills and hilltop village is the prettiest photo I’ve ever seen of that region!!!
Thank you , Mimi, you are very kind. I do love the days when the sky is so clear and the mountains appear in the distance. Ahhh!
Great post! So you are like Scott Glen in Hunt For Red October! So cool that you were a sub officer during the Cold War. My undergraduate degree is in Poly Sci. I took a course called “Soviet Union.” Lot of good that course does me now. Great pictures of Piemonte, great slide show! I just love Italy! Cheers.
Michelle, thanks! We are smitten with Italy in general and especially with Piemonte.
The towers fascinated me when I visited and I wish I had been able to spend more time exploring around them… Interesting lesson, thanks!
It seems that every town has something notable and worth a visit.
You have such gorgeous pictures.. Those towers! Wow! Totally smitten by Piedmonte now 😉
Thank you, Ishita! I’m surprised you haven’t visited yet, you must add it to your list!
I definitely will 🙂 I am surprised myself 😉