The Best Places to Buy a Home in Piedmont, Italy

Piedmont is big, where should you start your house search?

Buying a home in Piedmont (Piemonte), Italy is a decision very few people regret. The bigger question is: where exactly should you buy?

Piedmont is a large and very diverse region, and not every area will suit every buyer. Some places are stunning, others less so. Some are excellent for investment and rentals, while others are better suited to private lifestyle homes.

For most international buyers, there are four main areas worth considering:

• The Lakes (Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta)
• The Langhe
• The Monferrato
• The Roero

Each has its own character, advantages and price levels.

Watch my video on this subject

The Langhe

The Langhe is the most internationally famous part of Piedmont and covers a huge area stretching from Alba down toward the Ligurian border.

It’s generally divided into two sections:

• Le Langhe
• Alta Langa (High Langhe)

Alta Langa runs roughly from Santo Stefano Belbo down toward Ceva and Saliceto and sits at a higher altitude than the areas closer to Alba.

The landscape changes dramatically depending on where you are. Around Alba you’ll mostly find vineyards and prestigious wine-producing villages. Further south and east, the scenery becomes wilder, greener and more agricultural, with forests and hazelnut orchards everywhere.

It’s a beautiful area — but buyers need to choose carefully.

Some parts are wonderfully peaceful. Others can feel extremely isolated, especially in winter. There are also areas that, frankly, are not nearly as charming as estate agents sometimes pretend. Good advice matters enormously here.

Most buyers immediately focus on famous villages such as:

• Barolo
• Monforte d’Alba
• Serralunga d’Alba
• La Morra

And understandably so — these places are spectacular. But they are also expensive and increasingly difficult places to find quality properties.

That’s why I often encourage buyers to consider nearby areas such as Mango and surrounding villages. You still get the scenery, vineyards, restaurants and atmosphere, but often at dramatically better value.

If prestige and long-term value are important to you, the Langhe remains the strongest market in Piedmont. And if you’re thinking about rentals, hospitality or a B&B business, then honestly, the Langhe is usually the best choice. Tourism here is exceptionally strong and established.

The Monferrato

The Monferrato is another huge area and, like the Langhe, quality varies enormously depending on location. Some areas are breathtaking. Others are… less inspiring.

The countryside around Asti can be especially attractive for foreign buyers. The scenery is beautiful, the hills are softer and more open than parts of the Langhe, and daily life is often easier and more convenient. Importantly, prices are usually lower too.

For buyers looking for larger homes, historic farmhouses or more land for their money, the Monferrato can offer exceptional value.

Business and tourism opportunities can still work very well here, but generally speaking, rental demand is not as consistently strong as in the Langhe.

That said, many buyers actually prefer the Monferrato because it feels more authentic, less discovered and slightly more relaxed.

The Roero

The Roero is smaller and often overlooked, which is part of its charm.

This is an area known for vineyards, peaches, strawberries, forests and excellent white wines. It has some truly beautiful landscapes and lovely villages.

I actually live in the Roero myself and absolutely love it.

One thing to know, however, is that independent houses can be harder to find here. Many homes are built in rows or attached together, which doesn’t always appeal to international buyers looking for privacy and panoramic views. But for buyers who want authenticity, beauty and slightly less tourism, the Roero deserves serious attention.

Get the Right Advice Before You Buy

This is probably the most important point of all. Piedmont is full of beautiful properties — but also full of houses in poor locations, unattractive villages or next to things you really don’t want beside your dream home.

• Factories.
• Busy roads.
• Concrete apartment blocks.
• Industrial buildings.

You’d be surprised what some agents try to sell as “charming.” That’s why working with someone who knows the region properly makes such a difference.

We are extremely selective about the properties we take on and the areas we recommend. We see a huge number of houses every year, but only a small percentage ever make it onto the website.

We already know you’re not dreaming of moving to Italy to stare at a warehouse or live beside a depressing industrial zone. So we filter out the junk for you.

Good houses in genuinely beautiful locations are actually quite rare — and those are the ones worth focusing on. We’d love to help you find the right one.

Get in touch!