La Morra is a stunning hilltop medieval village in Piedmont, northern Italy. The town overlooks the patchwork of vineyards, offers magnificent views, and boasts a rich history.
La Morra is a picturesque little town located at the top of the hill and surrounded by vineyards. If you arrive on a sunny day, you’ll get to see some of the most impressive views of the Langhe area.
La Morra is part of the Langhe area extending to the south of the Piedmont region. The Langhe area is famous for its hilltop castles and fortresses. This region is known for producing some of Italy’s best wines, Barolo. Other notable wines of the area are Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto d’Alba, and Moscato d’Asti.
The Langhe area is also famous for white truffles and hazelnuts. The truffle season kicks off in the Fall. Hazelnuts are the main ingredient in many local products, including Torrone candy and chocolate products.
Quick Facts about La Morra
- La Morra is a small village located in the Province of Cuneo, in Piedmont, northern Italy.
- It’s about 50 km away from Turin and about 15 km from Alba.
- La Morra is situated close to other notable villages in Piedmont’s Langhe area, such as Barolo and Neive.
History
- The founding of La Morra dates back to the 12th century.
- In 1342, the town became the domain of Falletti family, one of the most important families in the area. Their imposing castle was built in the Piazza Castello in the center of La Morra. The castle was destroyed in 1544 by the French.
- After being dominated by France and Spain, La Morra came under the rule of the House of Savoy in 1631.
- La Morra has been built on a hilltop for strategic and safety reasons.
Things to do in La Morra
Chiesa di San Sebastiano
The Church of San Sebastiano is a small Italian church with a beautiful interior!
- Before the 1700’s this church was known as Church of Saint Mary of Marcenasco.
- Between 1700 and 1708 the church was rebuilt with the new name of Church of San Sebastiano.
- The fired brick bell tower right next to the church dates back to 1766.
Torre Campanaria di La Morra
The tower of La Morra is an imposing structure that offers magnificent views from the top.
- Torre Campanaria di La Morra was built between 1709 and 1711.
- The tower was built in the same place where an old castle owned by the Falletti family used to stand. The castle itself was destroyed in 1544.
- The tower is 31 meters high and has five levels and the baroque style belfry on top.
You can walk up the steps in the tower and take amazing photos from the top. You get a great view of the valley from the top of the bell tower.
The views from the tower are breathtaking. For example, you can see the Church of San Sebastiano from above.
You can also observe the endless vineyards.
Chiesa di San Martino
The church of San Martino is a Catholic church built on a hill in La Morra. It’s an impressive architectural structure that is impossible to miss.
Restaurants
There are many little cafes, bars, and restaurants in La Morra. You could spend a whole day in this town, exploring the streets and enjoying the views.
Panorama
La Morra is famous for its scenic points. There are several areas around the town where you can get the most magnificent views of the Langhe area. On a clear day, you will get amazing photos of beautiful vineyards, rolling hills, and churches in the valley. The vineyards look like an intricate patchwork spread out all the way to the horizon.
Wine Festival
Many towns in this area have a tradition of holding all kinds of traditional festivals. We were lucky to attend a wine festival during our visit to La Morra. The local wine producers lined the streets of La Morra to share their wonderful wine.
It was a fun event with a lot of people, a lot of wine tasting and live music.
Italy is #1 on my travel bucket list and i’m loooving all these posts from you (and pinning them to hopefully reference someday!)
Nice pictures of the Italian band!