Alba Accademia Alberghiera in Alba (CN), Italy, an official UNESCO Creative City, is located in the heart of the Langhe zone within the northern Italian region of Piedmont. The professional school is a project that was born under Apro Formazione in 1981, offering expertise and specialized training in the respected hospitality and enogastronomic fields. The academy occupies the training of future food professionals from every angle, working in synergy with the local partners through formal training, apprenticeship opportunities, and job placement.
Founder Don Giovanni Battista Gianolio (1925 – 2010), an archbishop and pioneer from the Langhe was born in Isolabella (TO), on November 12, 1925, as the son of a sawmill owner and farmer.
In 1937 he entered seminary and was ordained as deputy parish priest of Alba.
A turning point for him was in the early 1950s when he was able to act as archbishop for some of Alba's emerging factories. Two of these have since become top players within their respected sectors; Miroglio Group and Ferrero, one of the biggest chocolate producers and confectionery companies in the world known for its recognizable products like NUTELLA®.
As archbishop, he saw firsthand the skills needed to integrate within the developing workforce, prompting him to open a vocational school (Apro Formazione) for skilled workers in 1958, with him acting as director until 1990. In 1972, this became the Regional Vocational Training Center for Piedmont.
In 1994 he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Alba, where he sought to invest in the church's people and the local territory.
In 2001, the Canelli branch opened its doors to the public.