FAQ, Planning and Culture tips

Details helpful before and during you stay:

Airports:
1st choice, Torino TRN at 45-60 minutes drive
2nd choice: Milan at 1.5 hours drive

Car Rental:
You can use any any agency you like, but check if there are any special requirements for you, wherever you come from. USA driver license holders need an IDP (International Drivers' Permit) from AAA to rent a car in Italy. They cost $30 and are obtained from Triple A simply by showing them your drivers' license.

Trains:
You can take a train to Asti or Alba, both within 15km of the house. Renting a car in Asti is possilbe, renting in Turin or Milan will offer more optioins.

At the House FAQ's:

Groceries:
In Cisterna the Bottega of Sandra and Michaela is a 10 minute walk with lovely views. It is open every day from 7:30 to 12:30. On weekdays they open again from 3:30 or 4pm to 7pm-ish. On Sunday morning they might close early around 10am if it's slow. But you can truly live out of the bottega, we have done it for weeks at a time.
For a big supermarket, it's easy to go to Mercato in San Damiano. It's a 7-8 minute drive.
Butcher: for good meat, you'll find it easy park and speak some English at Macelleria Franco, about 200 meters behind the Mercato in San Damiano.

Outdoor Market Days:
Monday: San Damiano d'Asti (we love this market, for a mid-sized experience)
Tuesday: Canale (our "local" market. Consider going at 10:30 and lunching at TreGalline at 12:30pm)
Thursday: Villanova d'Asti (we go to this market to eat at Cafe Commerciale for lunch)
Saturday: Alba, Asti, Saluzzo (alba and asti at 1/2 hour, Saluzzo at 1 hour drive)
Sunday: there are special Sunday markets. We especially Moncalvo 1st Sunday of each month, antiques

Wineriers with vines surrouning the house. Tours must be booked in advance at all wineries:
Cantine Povero
Tenuta la Pergola
Vincenzo Bisotti
Carlin de Paolo
Mo

Two other recommendations that offer English tours and exceptional wine:
Marchesi Gressy Barbaresco (with Vivian)
Angelo Negro

Restaurants:
Casa Isabella is located in the food/wine region of Roero.
It's difficult to comprehend the quality and quantity of excellent dining in Italy, and Roero, Fruili-venezia giulia, and Modena in particular. There are at least thirty restaurants within thirty kilometers of the house where you might have the best meal of your life. Here we list three restaurantss in our village, and one pizzeria. We can help you for more as you plan your trip.

At these and and any restaurant outside a major tourist area, trly to book/reserve, it's good manners and the chef will see you differently. To book, look up the phone number and call or text on Whatsapp. We can help book.
Restaurants are not open every day. Restaurants typically serve lunch on Saturday and Sunday and seat from 12:30pm. For dinner, restaurants are typically open five nights per week, seating from 8pm. Pizzerias typically open at 6:30pm. Check websites for individual schedules.
Sunday Lunch is a sacred event in Italy. Do Sunday lunch. Especially at Garibaldi. After lunch, follow the Italians in making a passeggiata (a walk) to and around Cisterna's castle gardens.

La Ca Rossa, Cisterna (quintessential local dining with a stunning veranda; alla carte menu €30-50 per person)
Ras-Cia Muraje, Cisterna (this unforgettable meal, about €120 for two going all out, would cost hundreds in the USA. You must book, they are full every seating. Check website for current menu)
Garibaldi, Cisterna (the pride of the village; a famed restaurant in Northern Italy, 5-7 courses & wine €40)
Fuoritempo Pizzeria, Canale (ranked (2024) as the #22 pizzeria in the world. Order a burrata pizza to be born again, again)
Bar PIccolo: In summer, on Friday and Saturday nights, the local eldery men's club offers apperitivo at the castle in Cisterna. Selections of salami and cheeses, drinks, and views over vineyards framed by the alps? Yes.
Apperitivo is snacking and drinking before dinner, typically about 5pm to 8pm.

Gelato:
Amis, San Damiano (for the coinnessuer)
Gelateria Artigianale Valsania, Canale
Ronda, San Damiano

Hiking/Walking:
There are more trails than you can imagine, it's nothing like what we are used to in the US.
From the house, go uphill on the road for 150m and take a right at the trail signs. You can also access these trails by taking the horse path in front of the house to your left/east once you know what you're doing. These trails form a web over the surrounding hills.
An important note concerning vineyards-- hikers are permitted to cross vineyards, just stay on the major paths surrounding each vineyard, try not to cut through the middle.

Day Excursion Recommendations?
It's overwhelming, your sandwiched between the alps and the Mediterranean Sea. But if you have 1-3 days for getaways, consider:
Mont Blanc (monte bianco): 2 hours drive north. Access the highest peak in Europe by taking the beautiful Skyway tram to an ultra modern glass and steel mountaintop station.
There are countless locations in the alps bordering France (one hour driving) or Switzerland (2 hours driving)
The Sea: 1+ hours by car or train. Ask us for recommended beaches/towns along the riviera but you could start by taking a train or driving to Genoa or Rapallo and then a ferry to Portofino, for a perfect day.
Lake Como: 1.5 hour by car or train. It's famous for a reason. There are numerous other lakes, equally charming.
Skiing: Similarly, skiing is 1-2 hours from the house. Cervina/Matterhorn is nice for a first time, at 2 hours.

Evening Prayer. Nightly at 8pm you'll hear the church bells play a special song. It is a reminder to pray:
O Christ, Almighty Ruler, as you once calmed the storm at sea when awakened in the boat from the sleep of your human nature, so now come with your benign help to the needs of your people, and pour out on this bell the dew of the Holy Spirit. Whenever it rings may the enemy of the good take flight, the Christian people hear the call to faith, the empire of Satan be terrified, your people be strengthened as they are called together in the Lord, and may the Holy Spirit be with them as He delighted to be with David when he played his harp. And as onetime thunder in the air frightened away a throng of enemies, while Samuel slew an unweaned lamb as a holocaust to the eternal King, so when the peal of this bell resounds in the clouds may a legion of angels stand watch over the assembly of your Church, the first-fruits of the faithful, and afford your ever-abiding protection to them in body and spirit. We ask this through you, Jesus Christ, who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

If you would like to apply to stay, please complete this form: https://casaisabella.org/application