Neive Old Town

"Most beautiful place - our Piemonte favorite we return to year after year"

agnieszka pellowska.

"Neive is a charming village in the Langhe, Piedmont, renowned for its thousand-year history, its rich culture and its fine wines. It is included in the club of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" and holds the "Orange Flag" tourism-environmental quality mark of the Italian Touring Club.
Here is a summary of its history and culture:
History:
* Ancient origins: The territory of Neive has been inhabited since the Neolithic, about 5000 years ago. It was later invaded by the Ligurians and then by the Romans around the 2nd century BC. The name of Neive itself derives from an important and noble Roman family, the "Gens Naevia" or "Naevii".
* Middle Ages: After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Hungarians arrived and then the Saracens. The construction of the first fortified castle on the top of the hill dates back to this period. Neive was liberated by Otto I of Saxony at the end of the 10th century. It was a period of disputes between Alba and Asti, with the castle being destroyed in 1274. In the meantime, the powerful Monastery of Santa Maria del Piano was born.
* Modern and Contemporary Age: Over the centuries, Neive passed under the control of various noble families, including the Visconti and the Savoy. After the Napoleonic campaign, in 1800 it obtained the recognition of "Municipality", to then return to the Savoy in 1814. The inauguration of the railway station in 1865 marked the beginning of urban modernization. The last countess of Neive, Maria Vittoria, married the second son of the first King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II, becoming Queen of Spain for a short time.
Culture and Points of Interest:
* Architecture and Historic Center: Neive boasts a well-preserved historic center, characterized by cobbled streets, brick houses, noble palaces and red roofs that recall the colors of the vineyards. It was once surrounded by walls with only two openings, Porta San Rocco and Porta San Sebastiano, where the small churches of the same name stand. Inside the village you can admire splendid palaces, evidence of the noble and wealthy families who lived there.
* Clock Tower (or Municipal Tower): Symbol of the village, an important landmark that offers a glimpse of the medieval past.
* Clock House: In Piazza Italia, it was the first seat of the Town Hall of Neive.
* Palazzo dei Conti di Castelborgo: An eighteenth-century stately home that houses a farm.
* Church of the Archconfraternity of San Michele: Built in the eighteenth century, with a splendid baroque façade and a precious wooden portal.
* Parish Church of Ss. Pietro e Paolo: Already existing in the twelfth century, it was rebuilt in the eighteenth century.
* Infernotti: Tunnels dug under the walls, once a refuge for farmers and breeders.
* Wine and Food: Neive is in the heart of the Langhe and Roero, UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their wine-growing landscapes. It is famous as the "land of the four wines": Barbaresco, Barbera, Moscato and Dolcetto, as well as many other fine wines. Food and wine culture is a fundamental pillar, with typical products such as the "tonda gentile delle Langhe" hazelnut and white truffle. There are several wineries and restaurants offering traditional Piedmontese dishes.
* Museums and Art Sites:
* Casa della Donna Selvatica: A small museum dedicated to the production of grappa, commissioned by the famous distiller Romano Levi. The labels of his grappas, hand-drawn, depicted this mysterious figure who represents the wild and authentic spirit of the Langhe.
* Museo Dante Giacosa: Exhibition space dedicated to the Fiat engineer, the pride of Neive.
* Events and Traditions: Neive celebrates its history and traditions with various events, such as the White Truffle Fair in nearby Alba and wine-related festivals. There are also initiatives that revive the medieval past of the village.
Neive is an unmissable destination for those who want to discover the history, art, landscapes and flavors of the Langhe."

francesco perillo

"A beautiful village in the Langhe hills of Piedmont, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Characteristic narrow cobblestone streets. Worth visiting are the Neive Castle and its two churches, one Orthodox and one Christian. Small but charming."

Debora Facchinetti