Holiday apartment in Silvano d'Orba: Grappa, churches and the Orba Valley

Silvano d'Orba lies in the hills of Ovada, near where the Piota stream flows into the Orba River. The town is surrounded by vineyards producing DOC wines such as Dolcetto and Barbera. This setting combines a hilly landscape with a clear regional focus on wine and distilling. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Silvano d'Orba, you can weigh up a landscape-oriented location against your interests in food and drink when choosing your accommodation.

Grappa and open distillery days

Two historic distilleries in Silvano d'Orba produce grappa using traditional methods. The Distilleria Gualco offers a particularly hands-on insight: its Open Days, “La distilleria è aperta”, take place every year on the second weekend of November and have been held since the 1990s. The event includes tastings of the distillery's own spirits, accompanied by a selection of local gastronomic specialities. Visitors can also watch pomace being distilled into grappa, take part in guided tours and visit the 18th-century ageing cellar.

Churches with art and architectural history

The Chiesa di San Pietro Apostolo contains several noteworthy details: its vaults are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Peter, attributed to Pietro Ivaldi. There is also an imposing organ built by Camillo Guglielmo Bianchi in 1856. The Chiesa di San Sebastiano was built between 1742 and 1766 on the remains of an earlier oratory and was elevated to parish church status in 1784. Its neoclassical façade leads into an interior with three naves.

Castles, towers and visible traces of the past

Castello Adorno has a square ground plan made of dressed stone blocks, a projecting crenellated crown and four massive corner towers. It is privately owned and not accessible to visitors inside. The Torrazzi offer a different sight: the ruins of two towers on a river terrace near the Orba. They are probably the remains of a larger fortification system and add another distinctive trace to the town's history.

Hill paths and views over the Orba Valley

The Chiesa di San Pancrazio stands on the hill above Silvano d'Orba and was probably built in the 12th century. The Santuario di San Pancrazio can be reached on foot from the Borgo via an old, impressive path and offers panoramic views over the Orba Valley. The Pieve di Santa Maria della Neve also points to a very early past: its origins probably predate the 10th century, while tradition traces its foundation back to the 6th century.

A summer event with its own tradition

The summer puppet-theatre workshop in Silvano d'Orba takes place every summer and has been running since 2001. Together with the churches, distilleries, vineyards and paths, it offers different ways to experience the town. You can therefore plan your stay according to your interests—cultural, food and drink-focused or centred on a walk in the hills—and consider a holiday apartment as a suitable base for your personal choice of experiences.

Other places in the region

For further orientation, you can also discover Girasole, Alfiano Natta, Sant'Agata Fossili, Carpeneto, Poggio Maggiore, Montecapraro, Serralunga Di Crea and Giarole.

For the broader travel overview: Alessandria.