La Morra

La Morra is a town of 2,700 people (2020) in the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy.

Get in

Public transport to La Morra is limited to a few daily buses from Alba and Bra, where connections with regional trains can be made.

See

The bell tower.

• 1 Bell Tower of La Morra (Torre Campanaria di La Morra). Built in 1710, it stand on the remains of the castle demolished in 1544. Next to the used to stand a bronze monument to the winemaker of Italy, made in 1972 and a marble monument dedicated to Giuseppe Gabetti, 19th-century composer of the Royal March, the first anthem of Italy. The former was unfortunately stolen in December 2018 and its unclear when it or a copy of it will return. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 San Martino Church (Chiesa di San Martino). Completed in 1699, by architect Michelangelo Garove. Inside, the main altarpiece depicting the Madonna with Child and the saints Martino and Crispino, made by Giovanni Carlo Aliberti in 1715, is the main sight of the church. (updated Jan 2023)
• The piazza is closed on one side by the elementary school building (1914).
• Not far away is the Cantina Comunale (municipal cellar), built in 1973 by the Morra winemakers and created in the 18th-century premises of the palace of the Marquises of Barolo.
• The church of the Confraternity of San Rocco (1749; altarpiece by an anonymous painter from Mondovì and dome frescoed by Pietro Paolo Operti) and the Town Hall (facade of 1765).
• In the middle of via Umberto stands the church of the Confraternity of San Sebastiano (1700) with the airy terracotta bell tower (1766). * In via Ospedale the building of the former hospital (1829) and the Boffa house (15th century).
• In via XX Settembre there is the Falletti-Cordero palace while on the south side of the town you can see the ramparts, medieval walls.
• Nearby, the small church of Santa Brigida with apsidal frescoes from the 15th century.
• At the end of via Richieri stands the chapel of Santa Lucia, with a 19th-century altarpiece.
• In the Annunziata hamlet it is possible to visit the Romanesque-Baroque complex of the former Benedictine monastery of San Martino di Marcenasco, now the church of the Annunziata, which contains:
  • cellar and apse from the 15th century
  • facade by Michelangelo Garove of 1684
  • interior frescoed in various periods and with Roman finds
  • in the cellars of the former monastery there is the "Ratti dei Vini d'Alba Museum"
• In the hamlet of Santa Maria there is the 19th-century parish church of Santa Maria in Plaustra.

Eat

Piedmont hazelnut IGP: in the less exposed hillsides and therefore less suited to viticulture, or in the valley bottoms, the cultivation of the trilobed hazelnut has been widespread for the past 20 years, which here boasts the IGP mark. This fruit is used for various confectionery and haute patisserie preparations.

• Bovio, Via Alba 17, ☏ +39 0173 590303. Fine dining showcasing the best of local Piedmontese cuisine. The cheese and wine is excellent. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. (updated Mar 2018)

Drink

Wine production is the main activity of the country. The finest and most cultivated grape variety on the Lamorrese hills is Nebbiolo, from which Langhe Nebbiolo and especially Barolo are obtained. Dolcetto, Barbera, Freisa, Favorita, Nascetta and other international vines are also cultivated.

The wines of the 70 producers of La Morra can be purchased at the Municipal Cellar of La Morra, which often organizes themed tastings and food and wine events.