"Nizza Monferato - Piedmont, Italy" Nizza Monferrato by piedmont_phil

Nizza Monferrato is central to the Southern Piedmont wine zone, specifically renound for Barbera d'Ast and Moscato grapes alongside several other important varieties of indigenous vines.

The town is a crossing point for the river belbo and lies at a crossroads for the major towns of Asti, Allesandria, Canelli and Acqui Terme. It offers all the facilites typical of medium sized towns in north west Italy with a good selection of shops, small supermarkets and a weekly fresh produce and hardware market. Most major Italian banks are present and there are plent of ATM's (bancomat).

The weekly market is on Fridays, there is a large selection of fresh local produce available including (in season) local specialities like cardo gobo, jerusalem artichoke, porchini mushrooms, speciality salami's and truffles.

The main square - Piazza Garibaldi (around which the main route through town circles) is location of the hardware, clothing, shoes and agricultural tools market, which then spreads through the narrow main shopping street - Via Carlo Alberto - leading to the food market in Piazza XX Settembre.

Piazza Garibaldi is also the location of the monthly antiques and bric-a-brac market, held on the third Sunday of each month. Unlike the weekly market that only stays open till 12.30, the antique market stays open most of the day.

There are plenty to chose from, I will add a selection under the eating out section. Unlike the tourist traps of major cities and resorts, here you can eat and drink with the locals at local prices - this means great food at excellent prices. Expect to pay les than 1 Euro for great coffee.

Pre lunch or dinner drinks will be served with a small snack or aperitivo, which in some bars can be quite substantial - handy if you don't want to eat the tratitional 3 or 4 course lunch every day.

Main meals are eaten at lunch time here, and the town pretty much closes between 12.30 and 3.30 each day. You have been warned.

• Pros:Real Italy
• Cons:does not change pace for anything