Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
The main Italy-France motorway and railway line roar along the Valle di Susa, making
the area easily accessible by both public transport and car (though motorists should keep
change on hand for the numerous tolls).
Sapav buses
(
www.sapav.it
)
link Susa with Avigliana (€3.05, 35 minutes), Oulx (€2.25, 45
minutes), Turin (€3.95, 1¼ hours) and the Milky Way resorts. From Sestriere, buses serve
Ces-ana Torinese (€1.75, 25 minutes), Oulx (€2.25, 45 minutes) and Turin (€5.77, two to
three hours) up to five times daily.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Southern & Eastern Piedmont
Gourmets on the rebound from an Emilia-Romagna food tour (fattened up with balsamic
vinegar and Parmesan) might think it couldn't get any better. But it can and it does. The
rolling hills, valleys and townships of southern and eastern Piedmont are northern Italy's
specialist pantry, weighed down with sweet hazelnuts, rare white truffles, Arborio rice,
delicate veal, subtle cheeses and Nebbiolo grapes that metamorphose into Barolo and Bar-
baresco wines. Out here in the damp Po river basin, they give out Michelin stars like
overzealous schoolteachers give out house points, and with good reason. The food is sub-
lime, steeped in traditions as old as the towns that fostered them. There's Bra, home of the
Slow Food Movement; Pollenzo, host to a University of Gastronomic Sciences; Asti, re-
plete with truffles and wine; and Alba, home of Barolo wines.
Many trace the gourmet routes in a car, but to compensate for the calorific overload,
there are also excellent walking and cycling opportunities.
South of Cuneo, and forgotten by most, are the Maritime Alps, a one-time hunting
ground for Savoy kings that's now open to hikers.
Cuneo & Around
POP 55,464 / ELEV 543M
Cuneo is a condensed version of Turin without the clamour. There is a raft of reasons why
you should drop by here, not least being the food, the bike friendliness, the great hiking
possibilities in the nearby Maritime Alps, and the city's signature rum-filled chocolates.
