Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Churches
Bra's sloping main square contains some stately baroque architecture best exemplified in
the
Chiesa di San Andrea
(Piazza Caduti)
, designed by Bernini. The
Santuario della Madonna dei
Fiori
(Viale Madonna dei Fiori)
mixes baroque with neoclassical and is devoted to the
Madonna, who supposedly appeared here in 1336, while the elegantly domed
Chiesa di
Santa Chiara
(Via Craveri)
is a jewel of Piedmontese Rococo.
CHURCH
Museo Civico Artistico-Storico
(Palazzo Traversa, Via Parpera 4; 3-6pm Tue-Thu, 10am-noon & 3-6pm Sat & Sun 2nd weekend of
month)
Bra's history began long before its 1986 Slow Food epiphany and is exhib-
ited in the Palazzo Traversa. Displays include Roman artefacts, 18th-century paintings
and medieval weaponry.
MUSEUM
Università di Scienze Gastronomiche
(University of Gastronomic Sciences;
www.unisg.it
; Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9)
Another creation
of Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food Movement, this university, established in the
village of Pollenzo (4km southeast of Bra) in 2004, occupies a former royal palace, and
offers three-year courses in gastronomy and food management.
Next door is the
Albergo Dell'Agenzia
(s €155, d €195-240)
and the
Banca del Vino
(
www.bancadelvino.it
;
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 13)
, a wine cellar-̒library' of Italian wines.
Free guided tastings are available by reservation.
UNIVERSITY
