Piedmont · Cuneo
Neive
A hilltop borgo in the Barbaresco zone, named for the Roman gens Naevia, with four wines in commercial volume.
Known for
BARBARESCO
One of the three communes producing Barbaresco DOCG, alongside Barbaresco and Treiso, with powerful, tannic expressions.
TORRE DEL 1224
The civic clock tower preserves a Roman funeral plaque in its base, linking the medieval village to the gens Naevia.
FOUR WINES
Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato and Nebbiolo all grown in commercial volume; Neive is the only Barbaresco commune that holds all four.
DOCG ZONES
The commune also lies inside the Asti and Canelli DOCG production zones.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J8°
- F12°
- M14°
- A18°
- M22°
- J27°
- J30°
- A30°
- S25°
- O19°
- N12°
- D8°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Michele, 29 September
Why come
Neive sits on a Langhe ridge, fifty kilometers southeast of Torino and eight kilometers from Alba. The name traces to the gens Naevia, a Roman family that held the land in antiquity. The medieval village was fought over between Asti and Alba; its castle was destroyed in 1276 and rebuilt repeatedly through the Middle Ages.
The Torre dell'Orologio dates from 1224 and embeds a Roman funeral plaque to Valeria Terza in its wall, a deliberate piece of spolia from the older settlement. Neive is one of three Barbaresco communes (with Barbaresco and Treiso) and is the one locals call the township of four wines: Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato and Nebbiolo all produced in commercial volume from the same hills. The centro storico is Borghi più belli, eight centuries of layered building stacked tightly enough that the old gates still mark the entry to the village.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Neive’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
From Turin (TRN), about 1h 24m by car.
Genoa (GOA) is about 1h 43m away.
By car from the centre of Milan 1h 52m.
Coming by train into Torino Porta Susa? Neive is about 1 hour away by road.
What to see
Torre dell'Orologio
Civic tower of 1224 with a Roman funeral plaque to Valeria Terza set in its wall, the symbol of Neive's centro storico.
Centro storico
Hilltop Borghi più belli village stacked across eight centuries, with surviving medieval gates and Renaissance palazzi.
Palazzo del Municipio
White Baroque civic palace on the main piazza, decorated with arch motifs and standing beside the Torre dell'Orologio.
Castello di Castelborgo
Surviving castle on the village edge, rebuilt after the 1276 destruction; private but visible from the panoramic walks.
Vigne del Barbaresco
Surrounding Nebbiolo crus, plus Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato vineyards making Neive the township of four wines.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Neive fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
Signature product
Barbaresco DOCGDOCG
One of three Barbaresco-producing communes; vineyards on the slopes above the Tanaro river.
See the towns we cover in the zone of Barbaresco DOCG.
Living here
- Population 3,305
- Commuter belti
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Turin, 1 h 24 min drive
- Regional capital Torino, 1 h 6 min drive
Common questions
- What is Neive known for?
- Neive is a hilltop borgo at 308 meters in the Barbaresco zone, named for the Roman gens Naevia, with four wines in commercial volume.
- Where is Neive?
- Neive is a comune in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont.
- What is the nearest airport to Neive?
- Turin (TRN), about 1h 24m by car.
- How long is the drive from Milan to Neive?
- About 1h 52m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Neive?
- Best in Apr–Oct. July is the warmest month, averaging 30 degrees, and May the wettest, with about 13 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Neive?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: Michele, 29 September.
- Which other towns are like Neive?
- Castagnole delle Lanze, Guarene and Dogliani.
- How many people live in Neive?
- 3,305 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 308 m
- Population: 3,305
- Surface area: 21.3 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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