Neive is a small comune and town located in the Piedmont region of Italy in the province of Cuneo. The town is located close to the cities of Cuneo and Turin. Neive is spread over an area of 21.2 sq km and has a population of approximately 3000. Neive is basically famous for its wine producing region and there are several vineyards located close to the town.
The town does not attract many visitors except for those who are interested in wine. Because of the rise in agritourism in the recent years, quite a lot people now come to Neive to experience rural Italian village lifestyle.
Attractions in Neive
Chiesa Di San Pietro
Chiesa Di San Pietro is one of the most important churches in Neive. The church is dedicated to Saint Peter and has a beautiful architecture. The church was built in the Baroque style of architecture and the interior of the church is equally beautiful too. Inside the church are several beautiful art works that were done over the centuries by artists of the region and other ornamental decorations.
Chiesa Della Confraternita di San Michele
Chiesa Della Confraternita di San Michele is another interesting church in Neive. The church is built in the baroque style of architecture like Chiesa Di San Pietro but is quite different than the other church. Although it isn’t very large, the church has been beautifully preserved and the interior is quite well decorated too with paintings, art works and frescoes that were done by the local artists of the area.
La Torre Comunale
La Torre Comunale has been an important landmark in Neive. The large tower dominated the skyline of the small town and stands taller than the buildings in the area. The tower has been renovated and restored a few times in the last few centuries but much of the façade of the tower that visitors would see today is still original. The tower is one of the oldest existing monuments in Neive.
Palazzo Cocite
Palazzo Cocite is a large palace in Neive and the architecture and design of the palace are quite beautiful. Built for residential purpose by a native family of Neive, the palace has beautiful arches, carvings and careful attention to detail.
Piazza Italia
Piazza Italia is the main piazza in Neive. The charming piazza is the center point of the town and is surrounded by several important buildings and monuments. The piazza is a favorite meeting place for the locals and people can be seen strolling around the piazza at all times of the day, locals as well as tourist.
Getting to Neive
Neive is located quite close to Turin and Cuneo but there aren’t many transportation options available for visitors. The easiest way to reach the town is by road through buses. The state buses that operate in the Piedmont region depart every few hours for Neive from the main bus stations in Turin, Cuneo and from several other smaller villages and towns in the region. Those who have their own car can comfortably drive down to town. There is no airport in Neive so visitors coming from other countries can first reach Turin and then reach Neive either by bus or taxi. Turin is located 60 km from Neive so taxis and buses are also easily available.
Moving Around Neive
The best way to explore Neive is on foot. The town is not very large and there are not many attractions located within the town so most tourists prefer to walk around to explore the few attractions that are located in the center of the town. The historic center of the town has many narrow streets and alleys which can be visited only on foot since driving around the area can be quite difficult. Visitors who have their own cars can also visit the other neighboring areas and vineyards close to the town by car. Parking spots are easily available in the town, and traffic is generally not a problem.
Stay and Accommodation
Neive is a small town and it does not attract many tourists except for those who are interested in wine. For this reason, there are only a few accommodation options in the town. Most visitors visit Neive as a day excursion and stay in the neighboring cities like Turin or Cuneo since there are several accommodation options available in those cities. There are a few small hotels and bed & breakfasts in town where visitors can get comfortable rooms at low prices. Some of the best hotels in Neive are Hotel Villa Lauri, Langhe Country House, Borgo Vecchio, Agriturismo Cascina Longoria, Al Palazzo Rosso, Castello di Coazzolo.
Eating in Neive
Neive has a handful of good restaurants where visitors can eat. Most of the restaurants in town are small and casuals and visitors would mostly see the locals hanging out at these places. The food served in most places is simple Italian dishes and made with fresh ingredients and local cheese. Some of the best restaurants in Neive are Ristorante La Conea Di Neive, ristorante la Luna Del Pozzo, Cantina Del Rondo, pizzeria Del Borgo and pizzeria di Torasco Giovanna. There are also a few good bars and cafes located in Neive.
Shopping in Neive
There are only a few places in Neive where visitors can shop. The center of the town has a few shopping streets and ancient markets where visitors can find locals selling food items, clothing, jewelry, pottery, terracotta items, wooden artifacts, silk and woolen clothes and many other different things. The main attraction in Neive remains the wine. There are several vineyards located on the outskirts of the town which produce some of the best wines in the Piedmont region. The best thing to purchase from Neive would be a bottle of good quality local wine. Most wine shops allow visitors to taste the wine before they decide to purchase them.
