After a quick trip across France we entered Italy through the 13km long Frejus Tunnel a modern marvel of construction taking drivers under Mount Cenis in the Alps. The tunnel comes out in Italy about 120 km north west of Torino. From there we headed south to the Langhe Valley known for its Barolo wine and rolling hills filled with vines and vineyards. Our loose plan was to find accommodation for a few days and explore the area.

We ate lunch at a delicious trattoria we came across before setting off the the tiny town of Barolo to explore the town and to find somewhere to stay…..

Barolo is one of the pretty towns dotted across the Langhe Valley surround by vines and a wonderful restored old town centre, it is a popular destination for food and wine lovers.

When we got there it was busy, it was hot and finding anywhere to stay quickly became a challenge we wandered around Barolo and then tried a few other nearby towns with no luck so we pulled the pin on the Langhe and headed to an hotel in the larger town of Alessandria.

This proved to be a rather good idea as we ate in an amazing restaurant in the town centre with some of the best food I have eaten in a very long time.

After a good meal and a carafe of wine we decided that the next day we would keep heading south and spend a few days in the San Gimignano Tuscany area.