The High Hills of the Langhe

We arrived in the small town of Sinio, late in the afternoon. We were looking for dinner and the owner of Castello di Sinio, where we were staying, directed us to the nearby hill top town of Serralunga D'alba. The light was fading as we followed a very narrow road up the switchbacks of the adjacent ridge where, at the top, we were treated to this vista. Welcome to the Langhe.

At 3,841 meters, Monte Viso, or Monviso as it is called by the locals, is the highest mountain in the Cottian Alps. These mountains form the border between France and Italy.

The mountains provide a dramatic, even breathtaking background for exploring the towns...

...the castles.

...and the churches of the area.

Nearly every home as a view.

...and a vineyard.

The strong parallel lines of the vineyards draw your eyes across the land to the horizon.

...and down into the valleys.

They create patterns.

Patterns of lines and patterns of color.

...and geometries.

And the light, "oh my goodness", the light..

Le Langhe, a spectacle of color, light and line.