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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 ochre 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 itinerary featuring Barolo
This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Barolo, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Barolo
- Alba 8 miles away
- Barbaresco 11 miles away
- Piedmont 31 miles away
- Turin 35 miles away
- Genoa 52 miles away
- Portofino and Santa Margherita 67 miles away
- Milan 86 miles away
- Stresa 93 miles away
- Cinque Terre 96 miles away
- Verbania 96 miles away
- Como 100 miles away
- Porto Venere 102 miles away
- Blevio 103 miles away
- Lake Maggiore 104 miles away
- Torno 104 miles away
- Laglio 106 miles away
- Lezzeno 111 miles away
- Tremezzo 113 miles away
- Bellagio 115 miles away
- Parma 118 miles away
- Lake Como 119 miles away
- Forte dei Marmi 120 miles away
- Pisa 137 miles away
- Sirmione 144 miles away
- Gardone Riviera 146 miles away
- Modena 147 miles away
- Lake Garda 149 miles away
- Verona 160 miles away
- Bologna 168 miles away
- San Gimignano 174 miles away
- Florence 175 miles away
- Madonna di Campiglio 180 miles away
- Siena 191 miles away
- Ravenna 211 miles away
- Venice 223 miles away
- Dolomites 226 miles away
- Alta Badia 236 miles away
- Perugia 245 miles away
- Orvieto 247 miles away
- Costa Smeralda 254 miles away
- Umbria 255 miles away
- Assisi 257 miles away
- Rome 296 miles 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.
Read this guide
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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