LA MORRA
UNESCO HERITAGE
LA MORRA
THE PEARL OF LANGHE
La Morra is a small village in the province of Cuneo that stands on the highest peak of the Bassa Langa, a hilly territory located in the south of Piedmont.
Since it was founded, the main activity carried out within the village has been agriculture and, above all, the care of vineyards and hazelnuts; two flagships that have been credited with making La Morra and the Langhe famous all over the world. This fame is also thanks to the various DOC and DOCG wines obtained over the course of time.
Since 2014 La Morra has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site precisely because of its beauty and uniqueness of its landscape consisting of meticulously tended vineyards interspersed with magnificent medieval-style castles on the highest hills.
The P.G.I. Piedmont Hazelnut grows through the hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. It is mainly employed for culinary purposes such as in the Gianduja and hazelnut cake recipes; however, it also owes part of its success to companies such as Ferrero that, thanks to its products, has made the hazelnut known all over the world.
The Barolo wine, also known as “The king of wines” or “The wine of kings” is probably the most famous product of this area. Its celebrity is also connected to the past, as it was drunk and appreciated by the members of the Savoia Royal Family, who also started the production of the Barolo wine on the royal properties of Pollenzo and Verduno.
A lot of time has passed since then and the Barolo wine has won several world awards. Today it is considered amongst the best wines internationally.
The White Alba Truffle is one of the most precious products of the territory. It is considered a “diamond” by great chefs all over because of its strong perfume and its delicious and intense taste. It is hunted and extracted between October and the beginning of December. The value of the truffle derives from its rarity, as it is hunted and extracted from the soil with attention and delicacy, all with the help of specially trained dogs. The search usually takes place at night. Truffles are strictly eaten raw, and thinly sliced over a chosen dish. It is used in different recipes due to its ability to enhance a dish, especially the taste of meats and cheeses.
Besides the white truffle from this area, there is also the black truffle; less well known than its predecessor since it is less rare and has a less intense taste and aroma. Both are employed for the preparation of traditional dishes such as knife-cut raw meat, Tajarin (egg pasta) with butter, or poached egg. For all of these recipes, the truffle is thinly cut, and sometimes meticulously measured out, directly above the dish with a specific tool.
Those listed are just a few of the variety of the products that this territory has to offer us, the others can be discovered through the many dishes from the traditional Langhe recipes. The wine and food, both strong attractive points of the area, boast dishes such as Vitello Tonnato (thinly sliced veal with tuna sauce), Agnolotti del Plin, braised meat with Barolo wine and the Bunet. All dishes can be matched with the different native wines. The reds are predominantly sought after to pair with such dishes but there are also whites that stand out.
La Morra is famous all over the world for the production of Barolo wine and for the beauty of its landscape, enchanting in all seasons. The most attractive points are:
The Belvedere id the most important panoramic point of all the Bassa Langa. At the top of La Morra, at 513 meters a.s.l., opens Piazza Castello from where it is possible to enjoy a three hundred and sixty degree view of the entire hill system covered by vineyards and disseminated by medieval castles. Thanks to a map written on the pavement of the square, it is possible to identify all of the villages that are a part of the landscape.
Where there once was the stable of the Marquis Falletti Palace, there is now the municipal winery of La Morra, a little jewel just a few steps from Piazza Castello.
Inside the eighteenth – century walls of that building, it is possible to find the entire wine collection produced by the village, which is composed of more than seventy different producers, ready to be discovered; here is possible to have tasting accompanied by expert descriptions and buy the bottles you like best.
Wine, especially Barolo, is what drives wine lovers to spend their holidays among these beautiful hills. Thanks to this, the other most visited places to visit for wine lovers, after Municipal Cellar, are the various wine shops in the area, where it is possible to do wine tastings and buy bottles from some producers.
There are seven trails designed to discover the many nuances of La Morra and its territory. Starting from the historic centre, you reach the four hamlets, cross wooded areas and expanses of vineyards where it is possible to stop and admire the numerous municipal monuments. There are different paths, some facing the Alps, with a special focus on Monviso, while others face the Barolo hills, where it is possible to enjoy amazing views from both sides.Each trail has a different experience level and duration to guarantee even beginner hikers the possibility to live this experience in contact with nature.
Find out more about the trails.
Besides those listed, there are other La Morra panoramic points such as the Bastion, the Big Red Bench and monuments such as the many churches, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Brunate Chapel, owned by the Cerretto family and which owes its celebrity to the artists Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett who restored it in a modern key, giving it its unique patterns and bright colours.
Several of the top places to visit are specifically the wine shops, where it is possible to taste and buy wine bottles from some local producers. Barolo remains the major attraction point of La Morra but it is not the only wine in the territory; it shares the scene with some other famous reds like Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo and some whites such as Arneis, Favorita and Nascetta.
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