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A tiny village that gives its name to one of Italy’s greatest wines, Barolo has been producing wine since ancient times and perfecting its biggest labels for the last four centuries. The village only has 750 inhabitants, whom visitors can far outnumber in the summer months. But still, this impressive hamlet with its winding streets and ancient castle remains a place of near pilgrimage for wine lovers. They come to wander the historic streets, visit the wine museum and vineyards, and sample the robust, velvety red in its original home.
The Barolo wine region is small and only 8 km (5 miles) wide at its broadest point. It encompasses 11 villages, including Barolo, and is part of a UNESCO-protected area that highlights the importance of the historic vineyards and landscapes here.
The village itself is a small cluster of buildings painted in warm peach and ocher tones, which line winding cobbled streets leading up to an 11th-century castle. As you make your way along the main street to the castle, you pass numerous enotecas (wine shops) and delicatessens, and glimpse panoramic views of the surrounding landscape with its blanket of vineyards and hazelnut bushes.
The Castello Falletti belonged to the Falletti family, who introduced Barolo wine to the world. The only original part of the castle that remains is the keep, the rest dates largely from the 16th and 19th centuries. You can tour the piano nobile (the first-floor staterooms) and see the monumental fireplaces, fine stuccowork and wall paintings, and the library. The upper terrace holds sweeping views of some of the most esteemed Barolo vineyards.
The castle also hosts occasional art and photographic exhibitions, but mostly you come here to see the Barolo Wine Museum. A modern, interactive exhibit, it explains the story behind the near-legendary wine. You can also visit the Regional Enoteca of Barolo in the castle’s wine cellars, a showcase for wines produced in the region.
Often described as Italy's greatest wine, Barolo is made from the nebbiolo grape, but bottles from different vineyards can have distinct characteristics and complexities. The enoteca hosts a tutored tasting of three wines each day and offers a large selection of Barolo wines for sale.
Just outside the castle is a corkscrew museum offering an insight into the history of the wine-opening gadget through an exhibition of 600 examples.
Best time to visit Barolo
You can visit Barolo year round, though you’ll get the best weather between April and October. The village wine fair, which takes place between mid-September and October, is a good time to taste a wide variety of wines from the region.
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Suggested itineraries featuring Barolo
Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Barolo, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Barolo
- Alba 13 kilometers away
- Barbaresco 17 kilometers away
- Piedmont 49 kilometers away
- Turin 56 kilometers away
- Genoa 83 kilometers away
- Portofino and Santa Margherita 107 kilometers away
- Milan 138 kilometers away
- Stresa 150 kilometers away
- Cinque Terre 154 kilometers away
- Verbania 155 kilometers away
- Como 161 kilometers away
- Porto Venere 164 kilometers away
- Blevio 165 kilometers away
- Lake Maggiore 167 kilometers away
- Torno 167 kilometers away
- Laglio 170 kilometers away
- Lezzeno 179 kilometers away
- Tremezzo 182 kilometers away
- Bellagio 185 kilometers away
- Parma 190 kilometers away
- Lake Como 192 kilometers away
- Forte dei Marmi 192 kilometers away
- Pisa 220 kilometers away
- Sirmione 231 kilometers away
- Gardone Riviera 235 kilometers away
- Modena 237 kilometers away
- Lake Garda 239 kilometers away
- Verona 258 kilometers away
- Bologna 271 kilometers away
- San Gimignano 279 kilometers away
- Florence 281 kilometers away
- Madonna di Campiglio 289 kilometers away
- Siena 308 kilometers away
- Ravenna 339 kilometers away
- Venice 358 kilometers away
- Dolomites 364 kilometers away
- Alta Badia 379 kilometers away
- Perugia 394 kilometers away
- Orvieto 397 kilometers away
- Costa Smeralda 409 kilometers away
- Umbria 410 kilometers away
- Assisi 413 kilometers away
- Rome 477 kilometers away
Photos of Barolo
Our expert guides to exploring Barolo
Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Barolo, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Barolo at its best.
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A guide to the regions of Italy A guide to the regions of Italy
A guide to the regions of Italy
A tour of a private palazzo, or a cooking class with a Sorrento grandmother? We highlight the major sights and unearth lesser-known attractions for some of our best-loved Italian regions, spotlighting tours that really explore their character.
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Ideas for experiencing Barolo
Our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know the places that could feature in your trip. These activities reflect some of the experiences they've most enjoyed while visiting Barolo, and which use the best local guides.
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Barolo village and winery tour Barolo village and winery tour
Barolo village and winery tour
On this guided tour, you’ll discover the medieval village of Barolo, renowned for the high quality of its wines. There’s time to stroll its cobbled streets, explore the 11th-century castle and museum, and visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting.
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