In mid-September we went for a walk through the Langhe Hills and the Barolo wine region of the Italian Piedmont. We keep a journal of our walks and experiences as we pass through the villages and towns; Robin, the editor, writes and Rob, the architect, sketches.

We started in the medieval town of Saluzzo and walked to the modern city of Alba with its medieval center set on top of an ancient Roman city. Our days were spent in the alpine foothills as we traversed open fields and wooded tracks with passages through hazelnut groves and carefully cultivated grape vines. The hills have 11th- and 12th-century walled villages with stone towers set on high ground, and the Alps were visible in the distance. The Piedmont prospered in the Baroque period and after the unification of Italy in the late 19th century. Today the Langhe Hills are a rich mix of architecture, agriculture, and wonderful food and local wines.