The National Association of Truffle Cities was born in Alba in 1990 from the desire to share the project and development of 10 Italian territories and today has about 70 members. The history of the association reveals how the 'Cities' have managed to synthesize three initially differentiated vocations: truffle production, marketing and tourism promotion linked to it, making the development of the territory synergistic and consolidating a quality relationship with the consumer.

Forerunners of trends, before territorial marketing imposed itself as a method and tool for promotion and communication for the development of vast areas, through the enhancement of the environmental, historical, architectural, cultural and food and wine peculiarities of the territories, the Truffle Cities had already associated to achieve this goal, which is renewed every year.

In the light of these ambitious aims, among the initiatives promoted by the Association, the establishment of the 'Amico del Tartufo Restaurant' quality mark, the participation in EXPO 2015 in Milan and the registration by Unesco of the 'Search and Truffle extraction in Italy: traditional knowledge and practices' in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.


A road linking Piedmont to Sicily is now dedicated to the Truffle, the protagonist par excellence, but not the only one of the Cities, with the concrete possibility of moving towards other territories not yet associated. This road overlaps ancient commercial routes, along which, to facilitate the exchange and passage of precious goods, welcoming, refreshment and hospitality communities were established, organized into villages and residential settlements, which enhanced the territory while preserving its riches.

The founding members of the National Association of Truffle Towns are Alba, Castel di Casio, Millesimo, Norcia, San Giovanni d'Asso, San Miniato, San Pietro Avellana, San'Agata Feltria, Sant'Angelo in Vado, the Mountain Community of Alto Chiascio, today Alta Umbria and the Subasio Mountain Community, today Martani, Serano and Subasio Mountains