The hunt for "white gold"
Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, searches for truffles with his dog Jolly in a wood in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy, Nov. 9, 2013.
Costa's family have been truffle hunters for four generations. Located in the heart of the Langhe - the hilly southern area of Italy's northwestern Piedmont region - Alba is the country's capital of white truffles, a variety of the prized fungus which grows underground.
Truffles are found two to eight inches below the ground near the roots of trees.
They give off an odor which lasts for a limited period of time and can be detected with the assistance of well-trained dogs and experienced hunters.
Alba, Italy
A truffle is seen on a table in Alba, north-western Italy, Nov. 11, 2013.Alba, Italy
Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, smells a truffle at his restaurant in Monchiero near Alba north-western Italy, Nov. 9, 2013.Alba, Italy
Vineyards are seen at sunset in Serralunga d'Alba, in northwestern Italy, Nov. 11, 2013. Located in the heart of the Langhe - the hilly southern area of Italy's northwestern Piedmont region - Alba is the country's capital of white truffles, a variety of the prized fungus which grows underground.Alba, Italy
Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, searches for truffles with his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba, northwestern Italy, Nov. 9, 2013.Alba, Italy
Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, picks up a truffle that was found by his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy, Nov. 9, 2013.Alba, Italy
Alessandro Boglione, chef at the Grinzane Cavour castle restaurant, cooks pasta after the World Alba White Truffles Auction in Grinzane Cavour near Alba, in north-western Italy, Nov. 10, 2013.
The two biggest truffles at the auction sold for 90,000 euros (about $120,000) to a buyer from Hong Kong.