Alba Walking Tour

By Vicky · Published Dec. 4th, 2024

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This walking tour of Alba is a great way to explore the little city and takes you along the most interesting streets to all the local sights.

Location

This walk starts from the centre of Alba. There are several car parks nearby, and it’s just over 1 hour’s drive from Turin. Alternatively, a convenient way from Turin to Alba is by train: it takes about 1.5 hours from Turin Porta Nuova train station.

Alba Walking Tour Map

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Popular Alba Tours

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Top Sights in Alba

On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll see the main attractions and sights of Alba. You only need half a day to look around the town, though it’s a good place to base yourself for exploring the surrounding wine country.

This is a self-guided walking tour of Alba, but there’s a Guided Walking Tour of Historic Alba* if you prefer.

Alba Walking Tour Route

1. Piazza Risorgimento

The Piazza Risorgimento is the central square of Alba, where this walking tour begins. It’s a lovely square surrounded by historic buildings, and today, it is full of cafes and restaurants. When the Alba Truffle Fair comes to town (Oct-Nov), bands and little market stalls can be found here.

The Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and Palazzo Comunale are two grand buildings on the square, both with a warm pink hue. You can visit the former, and at the latter, you can find Underground Alba (or Alba Sotterranea). This is an archaeologist-led tour delving into Alba’s ancient Roman past. Most tours are in Italian with English text available, but in summer there are English language tours (check the website for more details).

Directions: After exploring the buildings on the central square of Alba, walk past the Palazzo Comunale and take the first right. The church is on the corner.

2. Chiesa di San Giuseppe

Key Information: Open weekdays 2:30-5:30pm, weekends 10-1pm and 2:30-6:30pm. Tickets cost €4 to visit both the bell tower and archaeological route, or €2 each. See the website (in Italian) for more details

The Chiesa di San Giuseppe is a church with a bell tower and an underground archaeological exhibit. You can climb up the bell tower for great views, and visit the archaeological excavations, which includes a little art gallery.

Directions: Walk along the street to the left of the church to reach the cathedral square. Walk around the back of the cathedral, through the square and along the street. In the next little square, you’ll find Chiesa di Santa Caterina on your left. Turn right and you’ll see the next stop in a short distance on your left.

3. Chiesa di San Domenico

Key Information: Open daily 10am-12:30pm and 3:30-6:30pm. Free entry.

The Chiesa di San Domenico is one of the highlights of a walking tour in Alba. It was commissioned in the 12th century and has a primitive Gothic style. The interior is unique and striking, with black and white chequered pillars – the colours of the Dominican order. You can also admire colourful frescoes from the 12th and 15th centuries. Today the church is deconsecrated and houses small exhibitions.

Directions: Head down the street just after the church and you’ll see the museum signed on your right.

4. MUDET – Museo del Tartufo di Alba

Key Information: Open daily 10am-7pm. Tickets cost €5.

The Museo del Tartufo di Alba (Alba Truffle Museum) is as the name suggests, about the famous white truffles of Alba. It’s a fairly text-heavy museum (Italian and English) where you can learn about the history and techniques of truffle hunting and more.

Directions: Continue down the street. At the T-junction turn right then almost immediately left. Follow this street as it bends round to the main street.

5. Via Vittoria Emanuele

The Via Vittoria Emanuele is one of the main shopping streets in Alba. It’s pedestrianised and can be busy. You’ll find many cute little shops here, and in autumn truffle sellers line the route. At one end of the street is the Piazza Michele Ferrero, a large square with a few market stalls and cafes. If interested, you can detour from here to the large Tempio di San Paolo, a monumental church from 1925.

Heading back into town, you’ll pass two churches, the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano on your left, and just after the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena on your right.

Directions: Once you’ve followed the street back to the main square, turn left, then take another left into a square.

6. Piazza Pertinace

The Piazza Pertinace is a lively square with a little farmers market on Saturday. Here you’ll find plenty of restaurants, a medieval building, some stone Roman remains and a car park. You’ll also see the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, a pale-yellow church.

Directions: Leave the square and turn left along Via Cavour.

7. Via Cavour

Via Cavour is another of Alba’s main pedestrianised shopping streets. Walking along here you’ll find cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and many shops and street stalls, including those selling the famous Alba truffles. Take a while to wander to the far end before returning along the street back to Piazza Risorgimento. This is the end of the Alba Walking Tour.