Day 1 – Arrival

Arrival at Torino Caselle airport and collection of the rental car.

◊ Rental includes: car model Fiat 500C for 14 days, unlimited mileage, Collision Damage Waiver, Theft Protection, vehicle license fee and motor vehicle charges (valid driving license and credit card as a guarantee required on collection).

◊ Possibility to purchase additional services directly at the rental desk (e.g. Super Cover with no excess, personal insurance, premium emergency roadside service, additional driver).

Short transfer to Torino center and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

18:00 | Welcome aperitif, briefing and introduction to Piedmont with our staff, delivery of Travel Journal.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

Day 2 – Off the beaten track in Alto Piemonte

Breakfast. Check-out.

Departure for stage 1: Torino – Stresa (194 Km).

◊ Your journey begins in Alto Piemonte with its fascinating villages, varied landscapes and abundant nature, and surprising artistic masterpieces of extraordinary beauty. Within a few short kilometers you will feel yourself slowing down, taking breath, and understanding why it was that the Slow movement was founded here in Piedmont. Start your journey of discovery with a multitude of small lesser-known wonders as you travel from the Biellese Piazzo to the heights of Zegna and through the mysterious Val Sesia. Your day is crowned by the superb revelation of the lakes, a part of Italy that will win your heart from the moment you arrive.

Lunch at leisure.

Arrival in Stresa and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

◊ Often called The Pearl of Lake Maggiore, Stresa is undoubtedly beautiful and surprising. Over the centuries, this small strip of land, named Strixia as early as 998, has been transformed from a modest peasant settlement into a privileged holiday resort. After a few decades of Austrian domination, in 1748 Stresa and the western shore of the lake were assigned to the Savoy, and the town embarked on a long period of prosperity. It became a popular stop on the Grand Tour for illustrious travelers such as Stendhal, Chateaubriand, Dumas, Dickens and Lord Byron. Stresa still retains its aristocratic Belle Époque "allure" in the many luxury hotels that overlook Lake Maggiore. The historic center, which unfolds from Piazza Cadorna, is full of shops, cafes and restaurants but the true heart of the city is the splendid lakefront. This elegant avenue, which crosses lush gardens and colorful flowerbeds, offers an exceptional panorama of the Borromeo Gulf and the rich scenery of nineteenth-century villas and luxury hotels in Baroque and Liberty style, including the beautiful Villa Bolongaro. From Stresa it is also possible to visit the enchanting Borromean Islands using the Navigazione Lago Maggiore. Finally, the summit of Mottarone, an imposing and gentle mountain which rises 1.491 m, divides Lake Maggiore from Lake Orta, offering breathtaking views spanning 360° from the chain of the Ligurian Apennines and the Maritime Alps along the Po Valley and to the high Swiss peaks. This is the famous and incomparable scenery of the Seven Lakes.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- panoramic walk with picnic in Zegna Oasis;
- guide tour of Varallo and Sacro Monte.

Day 3 – Stresa and the Lakes District

Breakfast.

Entire day at leisure.

◊ There are three bodies of water to discover in the Lake District, each with their own special characteristics. We start from Lake Maggiore (also called Verbano), which extends over a length of 66 km. Formed by glacial and tectonic movements and fed by a number of important rivers and tributaries, you will discover cooler pre-Alpine mountains at its northern end and milder mediterranean vegetation as you move south. In Roman times it was called Lacus Maximus because it is larger than the nearby lakes, and is in fact the longest lake in Italy. It extends from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland into the Italian regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Novara. Over the centuries Lake Maggiore has been a place of inspiration for writers, artists and musicians from all over Europe, in particular at the time of the Grand Tour. Thanks to its strategic position between Italy and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore also acquired considerable political importance. The Simplon Road commissioned by Napoleon to connect Milan and Paris, was built partly using existing pathways as old as 196 AD. Later came the international railway which also carried the famed Orient Express with passengers travelling between Istanbul and Paris. Today the villages and towns overlooking the lake all have their own specific identity and character. Along its western edge you find: Arona – a centre of commerce easily accessed from Milan, and a base for the Lake’s ferry service; Stresa – always known as a destination for élite tourism; Baveno – once an important spa, and today a lively holiday resort; Verbania – the provincial capital, looking across the water towards Stresa; Cannero Riviera and Cannobio – among the favorite destinations for foreign visitors.
Lake Mergozzo, formerly the gulf of Lake Maggiore, is one of the cleanest lakes in Italy. For years the use of motor boats has been banned, and consequently today it is considered a small paradise for water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. The village of Mergozzo, which overlooks the lake, is lined with Ossola stone houses divided by steep streets and stairways and picturesque alleys. In the center of the town square an old elm tree grows, at the foot of which the magistrates of the village would sit in council as far back as the seventeenth century. There are also numerous religious buildings, most of which date back to the Romanesque period. The granites and marble of Mergozzo, in their white and green colors, belong to the architectural history of Italy, and can be found in the columns of the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura in Rome and the Milan Cathedral (Duomo).
Finally, Lake Orta is the westernmost of the pre-Alpine lakes and originates from the southern front of the Simplon glacier. The human presence on Lake Orta is very ancient and dates back at least to the Neolithic period. The ideal destination for artists and writers, the lakeside towns of Lake Orta are often described in the works of important authors such as Balzac, Rodari, Montale and Soldati. Over the years, world-renowned chefs and industrialists have contributed to increasing its popularity. Cusio, as the area of ​​Lake Orta is defined, is a fascinating treasure chest where nature, art and culture magically intertwine in the rarefied atmosphere typical of lake towns. Among the main towns of Lake Orta we find Omegna, the capital of Cusio and a cultural reference point in the area. Then there is Orta San Giulio, nicknamed La Perla del Lago, which has enchanted writers and artists for centuries. The village of Orta is a jewel of medieval architecture with narrow alleys revealing glimpses of the lake. It is a romantic place, worth wandering slowly and curiously. In Piazza Motta, with its outdoor tables and the sixteenth-century Palazzotto, you find the pier, which is the starting point for reaching the Island of San Giulio. At the center of this tiny island is the ancient seminary, the mystical symbol of the lake, and the splendid Basilica of San Giulio.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Stresa. Private parking on site included.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- private boat your of the Borromean Islands;
- guided excursion on Monterosso or Mottarone.

Day 4 – Stresa and the Lakes District

Breakfast.

Entire day at leisure.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Stresa. Private parking on site included.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

Day 5 – ‘Checkered Ponds’, Castello di Gabiano and Reserve of Crea

Breakfast. Check-out.

Departure for stage 2: Stresa – Moncalvo (166 Km).

◊ Your journey takes you first to the large plain of Vercelli, an area historically devoted to the cultivation of rice where immense pools of water create a magical patchwork landscape. During cultivation, the water is kept high, protecting the delicate ecosystem and typical fauna that make these fields their home rice field: frogs, dragonflies and herons. Your itinerary continues past the Po river towards Gabiano and its imposing castle, representing one of the finest examples of noble Piedmont architecture. Its dominant position reveals magnificent views in all directions. The complexity of this corner of Italy becomes clear as you survey hills laden with vines and plains cultivated with rice along the river Po. Finally, ascend through wooded hills to find the Sacro Monte di Crea, a sanctuary of great historical importance.

11:00 | Guided tour of the historic rice farm Tenuta Colombara: brief introduction to the agriculture and history of rice cultivation in Italy; visit the museum of the old farm to learn about the daily life in a big farm of the Po-plain in the past; discover the modern rice mill.

◊ Tenuta Colombara represents a very rare example where all steps of rice production are taking place in situ: work in the fields, stocking, milling, packaging. Furthermore, the farm is a didactic branch of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, the headquarters of Slow Food international association.

12:30 | Tasting-lunch at selected restaurant of Vercelli area (tasting menu, drinks included).

Arrival in Moncalvo and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided tour of Castello di Gabiano;
- visit to a selected organic farm producing cheeses, salami and ice cream with tasting;
- visit to a selected Basso Monferrato winery with tasting.

Day 6 – The Great Horizons of Monferrato

Breakfast.

Departure for stage 3: Moncalvo – Moncalvo (75 Km).

◊ One of Italy’s most important wine districts, this land still remains one of its best kept secrets. Experience a true sense of discovery as you drive the ridgeline between elegant villages and through hushed vineyards. Your eye will pass over layers of rolling hills as you look toward the distant Alps, finding the same inspiration as generations of artists, poets and dreamers. In Monferrato discover the very special Infernot, historic underground cellars dug into the living rock. In some cases, these are authentic works of art, with carved niches, columns, capitals and even whole tables made from a single block of stone. Hidden treasures with ancient stories to tell.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Moncalvo. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided excursion on foot or by bike through the hills and vineyards of Basso Monferrato;
- guided visit to the Ecomuseum of Pietra da Cantoni (a very peculiar kind of stone that is only found in the Monferrato area) and the most beautiful and interesting Infernot of the surroundings;
- guided tour of Casale Monferrato old town including the spectacular synagogue dating back to the XVI century;
- themed ‘hands-on’ cooking class with tasting-lunch;
- visit to a selected Monferrato Casalese winery with tasting.

Day 7 – From Asti to Canelli on the Wine Roads

Breakfast. Check-out.

Departure for stage 4: Moncalvo – Canelli (73 Km).

◊ Your journey continues through the splendid vineyards of Grignolino and Ruché and the characteristic fortified medieval shelter of Portacomaro, up to Asti. A city known throughout the world for its wine production – and in particular for its sparkling wine – Asti is definitely worth a visit. Admire its fascinating historic center full of architectural jewels of the late romanesque, gothic and medieval eras.

10:30 | Guided tour at the historic Torroneria Cioccolateria Barbero, producing traditional artisan nougat and chocolates; an exciting gourmet journey to learn about the tradition and also marvel at the remarkable Liberty-style building hosting the company since its foundation, right in the heart of Asti old town. Final tasting with the best of Barbero’s specialties.

Lunch at leisure.

Arrival in Canelli and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

17:00 | Visit to a selected Spumante winery on the Underground Cathedrals circuit with tasting.

◊ The Underground Cathedrals are historic subterranean cellars excavated in the chalky soil below Canelli during the 18th and 19th centuries. They descend up to 32 meters under the city and meander for over 20 km through the entire Canelli hill. They are called “cathedrals” because they create mystical, almost spiritual, environments and are true masterpieces of engineering and enological architecture. In these exposed brick cells of varying size and space, thousands of bottles of fine wine are left to ferment at a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees,  taking on the typical aromas and flavors of Canelli’s sparkling wine. They have recently been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

Day 8 – The Alto Monferrato and Acqui Hillsides

Breakfast.

Departure for stage 5: Canelli – Canelli (95 Km).

◊ The southern side of Monferrato reaches toward the Ligurian coast and climbs into the mountains that separate the regions. Discover evidence of Roman hot springs in Acqui Terme and experience the different character of the Acqui hills. Then, continuing south-east, you reach Roccaverano, the small capital of the Langa Astigiana as well as its highest and most representative town. Isolated on the large hill that divides the two Bormida valleys, the town is surrounded by woods and pastures, terraces and farmhouses, and protected by the cloister of towers that have been its defense for centuries. The village of Roccaverano has a mythical quality: every house, every portal, every carved or painted image of its churches exudes history of past centuries. The town today has just over five hundred inhabitants but is far from dead, thanks to the rediscovery and enhancement of the numerous artistic treasures inherited from its glorious past, together with the natural and gastronomic ones, above all the famous Robiola di Roccaverano. Connect with the farmers and producers to discover natural methods preserved for generations.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Canelli. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided excursion on foot or by bike through the hills and vineyards of Alto Monferrato;
- visit to a selected historic distillery and artisan pastry shop with tasting (distillation plants, aging cellars, alembic) museum and pastry workshop where the renowned Amaretti di Mombaruzzo are also produced;
- themed ‘hands-on’ cooking class with tasting-lunch;
- visit to a selected organic farm producing Robiola Roccaverano D.O.P. with tasting;
- visit to selected Moscato winery and WWF naturalistic oasis with tasting.

Day 9 – Barbaresco Hills and Alba

Breakfast. Check-out.

Departure for stage 6: Canelli – Alba (47 Km).

09:30 - 12:30 | Guided panoramic tour of the Barbaresco Hills with expert local guide: people, panoramas, tastes, aromas... from the must-see to the most curious, from the great revelations of history to the smallest country secrets...

◊ Barbaresco and Neive undoubtedly represent the most enchanting villages of the Langa del Barbaresco. The first, dominated by its ancient tower, is a succession of cellars symbolyc of the region's economy. Even the nineteenth-century church of San Donato, restored and adapted to the Enoteca Regionale, celebrates its history through the most prestigious labels of the area and numerous photographs that trace its history. The second, with its historical center wrapped in rings around the ancient shelter, is certainly among the most evocative of the Langhe. The medieval layout sees the houses with red roofs leaning against each other and surrounded by hills covered with vineyards. Its historic center – counted among The Most Beautiful Villages In Italy – is captivating, with the cobbled streets that rise to the vault of the Clock Tower, dating back to the thirteenth century.

12:30 | The guide ends the service. Lunch at leisure.

Arrival in Alba and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

◊ Alba is unquestionably the most representative city in the entire province of Cuneo and among the most important cultural and economic centers of Piedmont. It is surrounded by an enchanting landscape characterized by the presence of rolling hills and expanses of vineyards that have made it famous all over the world, thanks to the production of fine wines, above all Barolo and Barbaresco. The city is also renowned for its truffles, in particular the famous Alba White Truffle. The historic center still retains the ancient medieval structure, with an almost circular plan and the typical tower houses. The town also contains numerous sites of historical, architectural and cultural interest that make Alba a destination not to be missed for anyone visiting the Langhe.

◊ Every Saturday morning, in addition, you can visit the Mercato della Terra – set up by Slow Food in Piazza San Giovanni – with local products and specialties from Km 0.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided excursion on foot or by bike through the hills and vineyards of Barbaresco;
- visit to selected Piedmontese artisan delicatessen with tasting;
- visit to a selected Barbaresco winery with tasting.

Day 10 – Alba

Breakfast.

Entire day at leisure.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Alba. Private parking on site included.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

Day 11 – The Treasures of Alta Langa

Prima colazione. Check-out.

Departure for stage 7: Alba – Monforte (85 Km).

◊ Having returned from yet another exciting outing in the Alta Langa – we asked ourselves what that lost corner of Piedmont meant for us: “Suddenly, almost inexplicably, we feel happy and at peace with the world. So much beauty in a land tended for centuries by caretakers of life’s simple pleasures. Immerse yourself in the tastes, scents and sights that rest the heart and soothe the soul. Walk with freedom through vineyards that delight the senses in any season, and connect with the slow lifestyle that is symbolic of this region. In the end, all we need is just the simple awareness of being here, now, experiencing the intoxicating emotion of rediscovered time”.
Today, more prosaically, we could describe it like this: a relaxing day dedicated to unspoiled nature and the unique flavors of the Alta Langa: the D.O.P. cheeses and the "Tonda Gentile", the best hazelnut in the world!

11:30 | Visit to a selected hazelnut farm producing and processing Nocciole Piemonte IGP, including the different stages of production, from picking to shelling, and from roasting to the creation of artisan sweets.

Final tasting-lunch (4 courses based on Nocciole Piemonte IGP, drinks included).

Arrival in Monforte and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided excursion on foot or by bike through the woods of Alta Langa;
- visit to a selected organic cheese farm with tasting.

Day 12 – The Barolo Hills

Breakfast.

Departure for stage 8: Monforte – Monforte (45 Km).

◊ The Barolo Hills will take your breath away. This land of boundless beauty declared a World Heritage Site is also remarkable for its profound quiet and warm generosity. Wonderful expanses of vineyards and ancient perched villages outline the gentle contours of the hills. Here the history of the soil mixes with the heart of its people, those who over the centuries have made it increasingly fertile, beautiful and welcoming. In essence, a divine world. Therefore, if we tell you Barolo, you will immediately be reminded of the most famous wine from the Langhe. But Barolo is also a beautiful village, completely immersed in the Langhe hills. Many visitors, attracted by the prestigious wine, discover a very pleasant and characteristic village, formed by a succession of narrow streets overlooked by small houses and dominated by the imposing Castle of the Marquis Falletti, inside which the innovative WiMu is set up.
As you drive and dream, you continue to discover a unique and wonderful land, with its uninterrupted landscape, where your gaze sweeps up from the vineyards to the Alpine peaks sweeping the edge of the country.

Lunch at leisure.

Back to Monforte. Private parking on site included.

17:30 | Visit to a selected Barolo winery with tasting.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided excursion on foot or by bike through the hills and vineyards of Barolo;
- guided tour of Castello di Grinzane;
- themed ‘hands-on’ cooking class with tasting-lunch.

Day 13 – The Roero Hills and Alba White Truffle

Breakfast. Check-out.

Departure for stage 9: Monforte – Torino (100 Km).

◊ The Roero area is a very paticular terroir formed over millions of years on a substantially calcareous and sandy soil and where the Nebbiolo and Arneis vines have become pure expression of the complex territory in which they are born. The wine landscape is also enhanced by two particularly distinctive elements of the Roero, the "Rocche" and the "Ciabot", natural formations and traditional rural architecture which together give rise to panoramas of rare beauty. Today's itinerary amazes from the very beginning, as you witness the significant Roman settlements of Cherasco and Pollenzo.

◊ The small city of Cherasco – also known as the city with "ancient starry walls" – has a very interesting history.  In addition to being the place where Napoleon signed the well-known Armistice. The Historic Great Markets of Antiques and Collectibles are also of great appeal and offer the opportunity, on set dates, to curious, enthusiasts and connoisseurs to lose themselves among over 600 stalls set up in the streets and squares of the historic center. And don’t miss the opportunity to discover the numerous specialties that have made this small town a food and wine destinations par excellence: the renowned Baci di Cherasco, typical chocolates with an irregular shape based on dark chocolate and Piedmont IGP hazelnuts.

◊ A few kilometers away we find the ancient Roman city of Pollentia with the majestic neo-Gothic renovated complex of the Agenzia, now headquarters of the international Slow Food association and home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Wine Bank. UNISG is the first university in the world entirely dedicated to the culture of food while the Wine Bank is a cooperative company born from an idea put forward by Carlo Petrini in the late nineties to build the historical memory of Italian wine, selecting, storing and conserving the best bottles of the peninsula.

11:30 | Arrival in Montà and meeting with an experienced local ‘trifolao’ (truffle hunter in Piedmontese dialect).
Private truffle hunting excursion in the wood with the trifolao and his trusty dog along with a thorough  explanation of the truffle and the truffle hunting life (what the truffle is, its life cycle, the varieties, truffle use, truffle, truffle hunt, history and myth, the dog, harvest calendar and marketing.

◊ It’s a rare thing to be invited into the life of a truffle hunter. Secrecy has protected their precious hunting grounds for generations, so during your private truffle hunting excursion you will experience a real sense of mystery as you are lead deep into the woods on unmarked roads. Always at the front will be the trifolao's trusty dog, the “tabui”, and we dare you to resist the thrill of the chase when the tabui picks up the scent!.

Final aperitif in the wood (assortment of snacks and truffle-based specialties, drinks included).

13:30 | Themed lunch with the truffle hunter (6 courses of which 3 with fresh Black Truffle, drinks included).

◊ In season, from October until January, lunch with fresh White Truffle is possible.

◊ During your intimate lunch with the trifolao, you’ll experience the culinary pairings of food and wine that bring the best out of the truffle. Learn more about the history of the truffle, its life cycle, and the life of those who have made it their profession to bring this aromatic prize to the world.

Arrival in Torino and check-in at your hotel. Private parking on site included.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight stay.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- guided tour of Pollenzo with Slow Food representative.

Day 14 – Departure

Breakfast. Check-out.

Time at leisure.

Short transfer to Torino Caselle airport.

Return of the rental car.

Departure.

◊ Given the expanse of the city and the abundance of sites of interest, anyone wishing to visit Torino will necessarily have to spend more than one day discovering it. Roman Turin, Palazzo Reale, Piazza San Carlo, Palazzo Carignano, San Lorenzo, Basilica di Superga, Egyptian Museum, Mole Antonelliana and Cinema Museum, Palazzo Madama, Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista and Holy Shroud, Turin Lingotto and Automobile Museum, just to name a few of the many city attractions. And for those who want to spend even more time, the sites of interest that can be visited in the Province are equally varied and interesting, such as Venaria Reale, Stupinigi, Ivrea, Masino, Aglié, Susa, Sacra di San Michele, etc.

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N.B. Recommended optional activities:
- extra nights in Torino to visit the city and surroundings.