A journey to the taste of classical music: A day in Bra, Italy

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You follow a panoramic road that runs along the curve after curve endless vineyards whose reflections of gold autumn color Langa: so we arrive in the heart of the Piedmontese Baroque, beautifully represented by the palaces and churches Bra.
The first "travelers" who left their traces in this area were the tribes of the Neolithic era, but the Romans were later to find so irresistible to build the Tanaro Valley, in the second century BC the city of Pollentia, the fraction Pollenzo today. We start exploring this beautiful city just by Pollenzo Castle, built in 1386. Today it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is headquartered at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, the brainchild of Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food.
Turning in the historic center of Bra, a city in 1760, opening a little 'everywhere magnificent views of art and loads of step by step we enter one of the most flourishing art Bra, the eighteenth century. Indeed, it was precisely in those years that the city was enriched with the architectural works of Antonio Bernardo Vittone, who designed both the Church of Santa Chiara and the rounded facade of City Hall. In the Square of the Fallen for Liberty is a statue of St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, a priest born in 1786 in Bra, who founded the Little House of Divine Providence, a charity based in Turin. Not far away is St. Andrew's Parish Church admire, designed by Bernini.
This district, known as "the Rock", is the oldest of the city, and within a few paces to other historical monuments such as Palazzo Traversa, now the Museum of Art and Archaeology, or the porch of the Wing and the Church Battuti White.
We cross several lanes of the features up to the Church of St. John the Baptist, the oldest parish Bra. Walking on the note symbol Monteguglielmo Bra: The Zizzola, the octagonal, topped by a tower, erected in 1840. The Zizzola You can walk with a healthy walk that repays the effort thanks to the wide view of the city.
Back down, we visit another beautiful shrine, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Flowers, erected in 1626 on the site of the apparition of the Virgin Mary took place in 1336.
Among the irresistible attractions of Bra also stands out with its cuisine, so we decide to surrender to the pleasures of the palate make ourselves comfortable at the tables of the restaurant Battaglino, in Piazza Roma. We find out immediately that in a historic restaurant, where the culinary arts goes hand in hand with the art of music. "The restaurant was founded by my great-grandparents Emma and Sebastian in 1919. Then, with my grandfather Charles at the helm, a great love of opera, the restaurant was frequented by many VIPs, including even Maria Callas, "says Alessia Battaglino, which now manages the restaurant with his partner Charles Fanti and with the invaluable help of his father Beppe Battaglino, as well as Sabrina's room and cooks in the kitchen. "The great character of the restaurant is really my father Beppe, an expert on classical music. It often happens that entertains customers with various pieces of work. "
We begin to taste the delicious appetizers, including raw meat from Piedmont, the legendary Bra sausage, the chicken salad with warm Castelmagno topped with balsamic vinegar and the crepes with spinach and mushrooms. We continue with the pasta dishes, all prepared fresh at home, with hand-made pasta: agnolotti al plin with gravy, the hand that some of us choose with meat sauce and truffle butter, and others, and gnocchi Castelmagno potato. Washed down with excellent local wines including Nebbiolo, chosen wisely by Mr. Charles.
We follow these irresistible goodness boiled, accompanied by the traditional cugnà homemade and served on the trolley directly from Mr. Beppe all with accompanying quotes from classical music. Some of us are opting instead for the braised in Barolo, and taste even tripe and a frock, a mixture of meat and vegetables, a dish now difficult to find around. Meanwhile, our friend has enjoyed an excellent vegetarian meal designed for her by Alessia, an expert on the subject and very attentive to food allergies.
The sweet end of our dinner, we can see the temptation of bunet, the panna cotta, tiramisu made with cream of Chantilly, the pavesini soaked in coffee and chocolate on top, in addition to calls Delights Battaglino meringues.
Gioacchino Rossini for the truffle was the Mozart of mushrooms. After this we can say that tasty dinner to taste, with many specialties of Bra, the best place is where the opera is at home.

Bertha Frances

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Bra.cn.it
www.ristorantebattaglino.it
Restaurant Battaglino
Piazza Roma, 18 Bra (CN)
Tel: 0172/412509