The young, vertical, secret hill
The left bank of the Tanaro: land of sand Rocche, Arneis and real castles. Twenty-four municipalities, the youngest and most secret hill of the Piedmont UNESCO Heritage, at still gentle prices. In the words of a local poet, here even silence is green.
The territory with a surname
Roero is the only Italian territory that bears the name of a family: the Roero, bankers and lords of Asti, who from the Middle Ages ruled these cliffs, studding them with castles and towers. Before them came the Romans, who already planted vines here, and the Aleramici, in perpetual war with Asti and Alessandria on these very ridges.
What remains is a military landscape softened by orchards: almost every village has its castle, its watchtower, its belvedere. And a curiously romantic history: at Sommariva Perno, King Vittorio Emanuele II bought a castle as a gift for Bela Rosin, the mistress he later married. A land of wine and sentiment: not by chance, the last bacialé of Italy, the countryside marriage broker, worked here, with one hundred and ten weddings arranged and not a single divorce.
The Rocche: the grand canyon of Piedmont
The geological marvel of Roero are the Rocche: a fracture of sands and gullies cutting through the hills for some twenty kilometres, born when the Tanaro river, about two hundred and fifty thousand years ago, changed course and let erosion sculpt vertical walls, spires and ravines.
Above the rocche, villages lean over the void; within, the trails of the Ecomuseo delle Rocche cross woods of chestnut, wild cherry and ferns, with medieval towers rising from the green. Cherry blossom in spring, woodland colours in autumn: it is the most scenic trekking in lower Piedmont, suitable for children too. And from the Pliocene sands, every now and then, seashells and whale bones still surface: there used to be a sea down here.
Explore the surroundings
Wineries, restaurants, villages and trails around every property. Filter by category on the map below, and mark the home you're evaluating to see the distances.
The table of Roero
Here the glass speaks white: Roero Arneis, elegant and floral, reborn in the Seventies after nearly going extinct, and Roero DOCG, the Nebbiolo of the sands, more immediate and fragrant than its Langa cousin. On the table: the Canale peach with its historic summer fair, the strawberries of Sommariva, chestnut honey from the Rocche, tajarin and the finanziera of the Asti tradition.
And in Bra, world capital of Slow Food, raw sausage and cheese have an international fair that draws half the world: Cheese, every two years in September.
Where to eat (well) for real
Roero eats with understatement: village osterias where the Arneis comes from the neighbour and the finanziera is still made properly.
In Bra, mother city of Slow Food, raw sausage and cheeses are a secular religion; in Canale the peach ends up in wine and desserts; and in the osterias of the rocche the truffle arrives without ceremony. Honest tables, kind bills, like the hills. No stars to show off: just the pleasure of sitting where you already know your table neighbour, and the wine in your glass was made by him.
A year of festivals: choose the season
Cherry blossom at the Rocche
Monteu and MontàThe Ecomuseum trails among wild cherry trees: the most photogenic spring in Piedmont.
Open wineries in Roero
Canale and hillsTaste Arneis at the producers, with the rocche in the background.
The Rocche in bloom
Rocche trailsApple and wild cherry trees blossom along the sand canyons: spring is walked, not just watched.
Peach Fair
CanaleThe historic festival of Roero's symbol fruit: evenings in the square and peaches in wine.
Strawberry Festival
Sommariva PernoThe village of Bela Rosin celebrates its red fruit: stalls, sweets and dancing in the square.
Sounds from the Hills
Royal Castle of GovoneA stop of the classical music festival uniting Langhe and Roero: concerts in the gardens of the Savoy castle.
Cheese
BraSlow Food brings the world's cheeses to Bra: the most important dairy fair there is.
Roero Truffle
Vezza and CanaleHere too the trifolao go out at night: more intimate fairs, the same scents.
Foliage on the Rocche
all of RoeroThe sand canyons turn red and gold: the most photographed moment of the year along the panoramic trails.
The Magical Christmas Village
GovoneThe Savoy castle becomes one of Europe's most awarded Christmas villages.
Christmas in the villages
Guarene and the roccheNativity scenes, lights on the castles and rocche that in winter look like stage sets.
Fog and Arneis
Roero wineriesWineries open in winter too: warm tastings while outside the fog rises from the Tanaro.
Dates and editions vary year to year: when we arrange your visit, we time it with whatever is on.
Buying here, in practice
Viewings first, then everything else
We select from the catalogue with you, then organise a day of viewings: Maria Cristina knows every property in person, flaws included.
The buying process, explained
Offer, preliminary contract, deed at the notary: we guide you step by step, even if you buy from abroad, with documents checked before, not after.<br />
Renovate without fear
A farmhouse waiting for rebirth? We connect you with the local surveyors and craftsmen we have worked with for years, with real quotes.
After the deed we are still here
Utilities, connections, the right baker and the neighbour to meet: those who buy with us are never alone the day after.
Homes in the area, now in catalogue
Roero is our northern frontier: here are the closest listings, between Alba and the border hills.
A panoramic winery in a commanding location
Castagnole delle Lanze (Asti)In posizione dominante, azienda agricola di piccole dimensioni con viale privato di accesso, composta da abitazione e locali di vinificazione e stoccaggio…
A charming estate composed of two buildings, in panoramic location
Cravanzana (Cuneo)In posizione comoda e panoramica, ampia proprietà in Alta Langa immersa in circa 4000 m2 di terreno, in gran parte piano e…
A typical Piedmontese home with lovely views
Cisterna d'Asti - Alba (Asti)In bella posizione aperta, vicino alla frazione San Matteo, ed a soli 15 km da Alba, bella casa tipica in ottime condizioni…
Appartamento panoramico con balconi e garage
MOMBERCELLIAppartamento al piano primo di piccola palazzina vicina al centro paese, con due balconi panoramicissimi. Ingresso, camera, cucinino e tinello, servizi, altra…
REF 620 Fantastico casale ristrutturato con vigneto
Costigliole d'Asti (AT)In posizione panoramicissima, ed attorniato da oltre 8000 m2 di vigneto e noccioleto di proprietà, è in vendita un favoloso casale ristrutturato…
REF 619 Casa in ottime condizioni a poca distanza dal paese
Mombercelli (AT)Casa ristrutturata recentemente, abitabile subito, in ottime condizioni generali, adatta anche come prima casa. Al piano terreno ingresso su vano scala, cucina,…
«We had been looking for a farmhouse for three years. Maria Cristina showed us three: the second one was the right one.»Berger family, from Zurich to Calosso
Come and see these hills in person
Tell us what you are looking for: Maria Cristina organises same-day viewings.
Start with the configurator