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The Royal Estate of Pollenzo was the favourite holiday resort of Carlo Alberto, after the remodelling of the pre-existing castle (built at the end of the 1400s) in 1832.

The village of Pollenzo, with this estate, the park, the farmhouses and the vineyards, soon became a place to devote oneself to agricultural and enological experiments; it also used to be a popular hunting lodge.

The structure of the castle is neo-Gothic, as shown by the very insertions, the square and the overlooking arcades; not to mention the church of Saint Vittore and, in the centre, the fountain: a typical example of a XIX century town planning style.

Today, it is privately owned and cannot be visited. On the initiative of the Slow Food organization, the University of Gastronomic Sciences – the only one in Italy – has been granted its headquarters right here. The complex also includes a hotel and a restaurant.

In the cellars of the estate, there is the “Wine Bank”, established to build the “historical memory” of Italian wine.

Pollenzo also offers the opportunity to visit the remains of the original Roman city of Pollentia, with a tour that runs through the amphitheatre and along the historical-archaeological route. Located on the banks of the Tanaro, the village overlooks the Langhe hills on the right and the Roero hills on the left.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)