Things to See and Do in Piedmont.   Cascina Valgranocchio is located 12 K from Asti, in the heart of the Piedmont Region of Italy (Piemonte in Italian). This means foot of the mountains, and it is aptly named, as it is surrounded on 3 sides by the Swiss, Italian and French Alps. We are 55 K from Turin, and about 100 K from Milan and Genoa.   Our clients usually use the B&B as a base to explore the region, doing day trips to various places.   For a good overview of Piedmont, visit this web site,   www.initaly.com/regions/piedmont/piedmont.htm     The Lakes.    Lake Maggorie  and Lake A’Orta are within an easy hours drive from Cascina Valgranocchio, and are well worth a days visit. Lake Como is about one and a half hours away by car.   Visit the web site below for more details.   www.initaly.com/regions/piedmont/lakes.htm   The Cinque Terre.   About one and a half hours away by car or train, the Cinque Terre is a very popular stop for international visitors. Comprising of 5 small villages hugging the cliff tops and reaching down to the sea, the villages are all connected by walking tracks offering fantastic views of the Ligurien coast. We would recommend an overnight stay, as there is much to see and do, plus some fabulous restaurants. We can also recommend good hotels if required. Visit this site for more details.   www.cinqueterre.it        Click on the English flag.         Shopping?   About 50 K away from here is one of Italy’s best shopping centres, Serravalle Designer Outlet.   With over 150 stores, such as Versace, Diesel, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana and  Prada just to name a few. Open 7 days a week, it is a must for fashion, as prices 30- 70 % of regular retail prices. Bring your credit card!     Apart from the great shopping also available in the upmarket pedestrian area of Asti, there is an open air market operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can buy anything from tractors to truffles (in season) and every thing in between, clothes, shoes, household utensils, all types of local foods and heaps more. The fruit and vegetable stalls are a sight to see all by themselves.   Restaurants.   Piedmont is famous for its food and wines, and it’s fantastic restaurants.   A typical example is “Cascina Madonna” located 1 K from the B&B.   A set menu, with 11 small courses in total, 4 appetizers, 2 first courses, 2 main courses and 3 deserts. The price is approximately €28 per person, but that includes all wines, spirits and grappa you can drink. The food is all biological, grown on their own farm, and I think it is the best restaurant meal I have had in Italy. It is extremely popular, and you need to book well in advance. It is only one of hundreds, all offering different menu’s, from a la carte to fixed price set courses.      Wines.   The world famous Barolo and Barberesco wine districts are only 40 K away, and there are hundreds of vineyards and “enoteca’s “ or wine shops, where tasting is always available. Asti.    Below is a copy of an article written by Tim Brewer, and publicized by tripadvisor.com, a great source of information for travelers. It gives a wonderful introduction to Asti.     “Asti city and province are in the heart of Piedmont, sandwiched in-between the mountains and the sea, and not just any mountains or sea, we talk here about the Alps and the Mare Mediterranean, both natural beauties with historic links to Western culture, and an hours drive either north or south. And then Asti lies in the middle of the Monferrato hills, the ancient weathered dome in the middle of Piedmont, conveniently blessed with underlying chalk soil and cut by rivers running north-east/south west, created perfect sunshine exposure, god’s gift to grape growers. There can be no doubt that the Monferrato and adjoining Langa Hills are one of the world’s most superior terrains for growing vines and producing wine, a tradition dating back to the Roman era, and possibly earlier. Especially in the production of red wines, so many unique and traditional varieties as well as the world famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines. And lets not forget Barbera D’Asti, long the people’s choice, now achieving international fame and the wonderful Moscato D’Asti, so delicate and delicious (and possibly the perfect dessert wine) not as well known as the more commercial Asti Spumante exported all over the world. Asti was a great mercantile republic in the 11th century, long before the rise of Florence, and the old walled city is wonderful to walk around the old cobblestone streets and transport your-self back to the middle ages. Old churches and mansions are all over the city and in the medieval parade preceding the Palio, this age comes to life again. Of course Asti city was the centre of the surrounding province and during this festival week all the smaller towns and communes are represented in the Palio as well as the parade and in the Sagre festival. Of course the Palio D’Asti is the most famous event, Italy’s oldest recorded bareback horse race, now held every September in the triangular Piazza Alfieri, a very difficult course and culminating a week of festivities starting with the Sagre feast and the week-long Douja D’Or wine festival. Above all is the ambience of Asti, not only in this big festival time, or the many other festivals held all year in Asti and the neighbouring towns. Soak up the atmosphere, people are friendly, and know how to enjoy life, as well as work hard. Everyone is always willing to take time out of what they are doing to chat and help foreigners. Asti is Italy at its best.” Tim Brewer       Asti Events.   As mentioned above, the most important events in Asti are the Palio, the famous bareback horse race around the town, the Sagra, a carnival of the peasants followed by a food festival,  the Siege of Canelli which has a historic reenactment in medieval costumes and the “Douja d’Or” wine festival.   The web site below explains these events in detail.   http://www.terredasti.it/   Click on English then click on News, under this events are listed.           Local Villages.   There are hundreds of small villages in the Asti region, and every one has it’s own festival at least once a year. The “Pro Loco”, or friends of the community, organize dinners in the village, all food is prepared by the local villagers, and comprise the specialty of the village.   Contact us for information on events during your stay.