Turino, Alba, The Piedmont wine road: Barbaresco and Barolo,
Orta San Giulio, Stresa on Lake Maggiore and The Borromean Islands
10 days/9 nights
Fog-shrouded hills, truffles and noble wines at the foot of Italy's western Alps.
Pre-tour option to Switzerland
Post-tour option to Milan
Please inquire about 2023 pricing
Orta San Giulio, Stresa on Lake Maggiore and The Borromean Islands
10 days/9 nights
Fog-shrouded hills, truffles and noble wines at the foot of Italy's western Alps.
Pre-tour option to Switzerland
Post-tour option to Milan
Please inquire about 2023 pricing
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Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Italy, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: October and November |
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Pre-Tour option:
• Switzerland Piedmont: 2 nights in Torino 3 nights in Alba 2 nights in Orta San Giulio 2 nights in Stresa on Lake Maggiore Post-Tour option: • Milan |
PRE-TOUR OPTION TO SWITZERLAND
Pre-Tour Day 1. Arrive Zürich
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Enroute to the lake hotel, you will enjoy a short orientation driving tour around the Zürich’s city highlights. Our boutique 4-star hotel is located on the harbor promenade on the island of Lindau. It has a spa, fitness center and free WIFI throughout the property.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Pre-Tour Day 2: A Day on Lake Constance
Optional activities:
- Take a 3 hr. round-trip boat ride around the lake
- Rent a kayak
- Bicycle around the lake. There is a 170-mile flat and well-paved cycle route around the lake.
- Shop for selected cheeses, local products, and wine.
- Ride up to the mountain paradise on the cable car, where you’ll find a panoramic viewpoint, an alpine wildlife park, and lots of biking and hiking trails
If you are traveling in July or August, you can enjoy Opera at the Bregenz Festival on the world’s largest lake stage. Yes, the stage is IN the lake. In 2022, the performance will be Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.
Pre-Tour Day 3: Morning transfer from Lake Constance to Lucerne
You will have time to stretch your legs and have included lunch at a Michelin star restaurant looking over the Alps.
Overnight in Lucerne 2 nights, including breakfast. Our luxurious 5-star hotel boasts a rich tradition in a prime location right on the lake.
We'll enjoy an orientation stroll through the Old Town.
Included dinner in Lucerne
Pre-Tour Day 4. A Day in Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus Excursion.
With beautiful views from all angles, we hope today's views will remain in your memory as a true portrait of Lucerne - spires and domes of churches, medieval houses decorated with bright frescoes, bridges under the triangular roofs, mountains Pilatus and Rigi and . . . a lot of clean water.
This afternoon, think about visiting:
- Rosengart Museum. This museum features works of art by Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee along with other artists from the Impressionist and Classic Modernist period.
- Swiss Museum of Transportation
- Shopping!
Day 5: Transfer from Lucerne to Chur (1.5 hours) to catch the Bernina Express to Lugano, transfer to Bellagio on Lake Como.
The Bernina Express is a scenic train ride through the Swiss Alps and one of the most unforgettable train journeys in the world.
Those guests who are not doing the Switzerland Pre-Tour will fly in to Milan Malpensa and be transferred from the airport to Bellagio. (1.5 hours)
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Enroute to the lake hotel, you will enjoy a short orientation driving tour around the Zürich’s city highlights. Our boutique 4-star hotel is located on the harbor promenade on the island of Lindau. It has a spa, fitness center and free WIFI throughout the property.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Pre-Tour Day 2: A Day on Lake Constance
Optional activities:
- Take a 3 hr. round-trip boat ride around the lake
- Rent a kayak
- Bicycle around the lake. There is a 170-mile flat and well-paved cycle route around the lake.
- Shop for selected cheeses, local products, and wine.
- Ride up to the mountain paradise on the cable car, where you’ll find a panoramic viewpoint, an alpine wildlife park, and lots of biking and hiking trails
If you are traveling in July or August, you can enjoy Opera at the Bregenz Festival on the world’s largest lake stage. Yes, the stage is IN the lake. In 2022, the performance will be Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.
Pre-Tour Day 3: Morning transfer from Lake Constance to Lucerne
You will have time to stretch your legs and have included lunch at a Michelin star restaurant looking over the Alps.
Overnight in Lucerne 2 nights, including breakfast. Our luxurious 5-star hotel boasts a rich tradition in a prime location right on the lake.
We'll enjoy an orientation stroll through the Old Town.
Included dinner in Lucerne
Pre-Tour Day 4. A Day in Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus Excursion.
With beautiful views from all angles, we hope today's views will remain in your memory as a true portrait of Lucerne - spires and domes of churches, medieval houses decorated with bright frescoes, bridges under the triangular roofs, mountains Pilatus and Rigi and . . . a lot of clean water.
This afternoon, think about visiting:
- Rosengart Museum. This museum features works of art by Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee along with other artists from the Impressionist and Classic Modernist period.
- Swiss Museum of Transportation
- Shopping!
Day 5: Transfer from Lucerne to Chur (1.5 hours) to catch the Bernina Express to Lugano, transfer to Bellagio on Lake Como.
The Bernina Express is a scenic train ride through the Swiss Alps and one of the most unforgettable train journeys in the world.
Those guests who are not doing the Switzerland Pre-Tour will fly in to Milan Malpensa and be transferred from the airport to Bellagio. (1.5 hours)
DAY 1: ARRIVE TURINO. YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS |
The Royal City of Turin (or Torino) is considered one of the most elegant and beautiful in Europe. It is compact yet bustling modern city with impressive historic buildings, excellent restaurants and stunning views of the Alps. You'll be transferred from the airport to our hotel and enjoy an afternoon orientation by your Tour Director.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Torino, 2 nights with included breakfast
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Torino, 2 nights with included breakfast
DAY 2: A DAY IN TURINO |
This morning we’ll meet our local guide for a private walking tour and learn about the city’s history, culture, and quirks. We'll venture into the old Roman Quadrilateral, an ancient enclave where the original city walls and gate can be seen, and stroll through Piazza Castello, home to Turin Cathedral and the Palazzo Reale for an unparalleled glimpse into royal life during the Savoy Dynasty. The last stop on our tour will be at the impressive Porta Palazzo open-air market, the largest-open air market in Europe where you can snack on salumi and gourmet cheeses, or sit down for lunch at one of the artisan eateries.
Lunch and the afternoon are yours to enjoy. Think about:
• The Cinema Museum for a a peek into Italian motion picture history.
• The Egyptian Museum, considered the second-best collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world (after the Egyptian Museum in Cairo).
• Taking a stroll along the Po River through the scenic Parco del Valentino.
Overnight in Torino
DAY 3: TO ALBA |
The city of Alba is located in the Langhe Valley, a little over an hour’s drive (southeast) from Turin in the heart of Piedmont wine country. It is the perfect walkable, picturesque Italian city. You don’t have to spend many hours in this town to realize that here, it's all about food, especially truffles, chocolate and wine. It's where Ferrero Rocher and Nutella came from. The decadent chocolate hazelnut Gianduia dessert was invented here. And the city hosts the famous truffle fair between mid-October and November. We'll enjoy a relaxing day exploring this lovely town.
Tonight: Included dinner.
Overnight in Alba, 3 nights with included breakfast
Tonight: Included dinner.
Overnight in Alba, 3 nights with included breakfast
DAY 4: A DAY IN ALBA |
You'll have the morning to enjoy Alba at your leisure.
Cooking lesson: This afternoon we'll explore the rich culinary heritage of Alba. In Chef Stefano's busy kitchen, every plate and dish produced tells a story about Alba and Piedmont. We'll roll up our sleeves and cook in the luxurious ambiance of the renovated castle overlooking the nearby Valley del Tanaro and enjoy the fruits of our labor as the sun sets over the Langhe Valley.
Overnight in Alba
Cooking lesson: This afternoon we'll explore the rich culinary heritage of Alba. In Chef Stefano's busy kitchen, every plate and dish produced tells a story about Alba and Piedmont. We'll roll up our sleeves and cook in the luxurious ambiance of the renovated castle overlooking the nearby Valley del Tanaro and enjoy the fruits of our labor as the sun sets over the Langhe Valley.
Overnight in Alba
DAY 5: TO THE WINE COUNTRY. PART UNO - BARBARESCO |
Just 20 minutes from the world-renowned wine regions and villages of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is the perfect base for exploring Piedmont’s wine country. We'll spend the day at the area's best wineries enjoying Barbaresco wines. This strong red wine with complex notes is made from the Nebbiolo grape. One of the little known secrets of the southwest corner of Piedmont is the Roero. It sits just across the Tanaro River from Barbaresco. The region was once covered in ocean, so the soil remains rich in sand and even fossils. This gives their Nebbiolo-based wines even more elegance and finesse,
"But I like beer!" Nessun problema! Piedmont has become the center of an extraordinarily eclectic, ambitious Italian craft-brewing scene. Italian brewers are making some of the most exciting beers in the world right now, Wine, beer ... or both: we can plan your day around your tastes.
Tonight: Dinner on your own
Overnight in Alba
"But I like beer!" Nessun problema! Piedmont has become the center of an extraordinarily eclectic, ambitious Italian craft-brewing scene. Italian brewers are making some of the most exciting beers in the world right now, Wine, beer ... or both: we can plan your day around your tastes.
Tonight: Dinner on your own
Overnight in Alba
DAY 6: THE WINE COUNTRY. PART DUE - BAROLO AND ON TO ORTA SAN GIULIO |
We'll say "Ciao!" to Alba and head to the eastern wine road with a morning stop in the charming town of Barolo. We'll make a stop at a castle wine museum and tasting room where we'll try a variety of wines from the Piedmont region. You'll have some time to wander through the little streets of the historic center and visit the shops. We're then on to a very special included lunch, which of course, will come with a variety of Barberas and Nebbiolos. We'll also sample some Dolcettos (not sweet, despite the name), and on the white side, Arneis, Erbaluces, Moscatos Bianco (sparkling!), and Gavis, which are made from Cortese grapes.
After lunch, take a well-deserved snooze on the motor coach as we travel northward to Lake Orta and the town of Orta San Giulio. The village is a maze of picturesque streets and narrow cobbled lanes, flanked by old stone walls, craft boutiques, antique shops and lively cafés. The town is small and intimate, so you'll have the evening on your own.
Overnight in Orta San Giulio, 2 nights with included breakfast
After lunch, take a well-deserved snooze on the motor coach as we travel northward to Lake Orta and the town of Orta San Giulio. The village is a maze of picturesque streets and narrow cobbled lanes, flanked by old stone walls, craft boutiques, antique shops and lively cafés. The town is small and intimate, so you'll have the evening on your own.
Overnight in Orta San Giulio, 2 nights with included breakfast
DAY 7: A DAY IN ORTA SAN GIULIO |
The day is yours to spend as you wish. You can shop for ceramics, antiques and local gastronomic specialties, or perhaps take a row boat out on the lake.
In the middle of the lake, right in front of Orta, lies San Giulio, an enchanting island which houses the basilica of San Giulio and several colorful villas surrounded by bougainvillea. You can take the ferry and take a meditative route that goes around the island. Called the “way of silence and meditation”, it is an evocative blend of spirituality and architecture.
You can also hike the hillside above Orta, following the path over the Sacro Monte. This is a sacred walk is an extraordinary synthesis of architecture, sculpture and art, punctuated by twenty chapels dedicated to the life of St. Francis.
Tonight: Included dinner
Overnight in Orta San Giulio
In the middle of the lake, right in front of Orta, lies San Giulio, an enchanting island which houses the basilica of San Giulio and several colorful villas surrounded by bougainvillea. You can take the ferry and take a meditative route that goes around the island. Called the “way of silence and meditation”, it is an evocative blend of spirituality and architecture.
You can also hike the hillside above Orta, following the path over the Sacro Monte. This is a sacred walk is an extraordinary synthesis of architecture, sculpture and art, punctuated by twenty chapels dedicated to the life of St. Francis.
Tonight: Included dinner
Overnight in Orta San Giulio
DAYS 8 & 9: TO STRESA ON LAKE MAGGIORE
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Day 8: Lake Maggiore borders both Lombardy (on the east shore), Piedmont (on the west shore), and straddles the Swiss-Italian border. On its shores sits the town of Stresa. Enroute, we'll stop Verbania and to visit Villa Taranto, one of the most important botanic gardens in the world, with thousands of species of trees and flowers from all over the world,
Tonight: Included dinner in Stresa
Overnight in Stresa, 2 nights with breakfast
Day 9. Bella (beautiful), Pescatore (fisherman) and Madre (mother). These three islands on Lake Maggiore were named after the aristocratic Borromean family—art and garden lovers—who bought the land in the 16th century and transformed two of them into luxury residences. Today, we'll travel by ferry. We'll begin our day at Isola Bella with a visit to the Baroque Palazzo Borromeo to tour the opulent rooms filled with 15th-century art, intricate tile work and beautiful frescoes. We'll finish in the gardens before we hop the ferry to Isola Pescatori, also known as Isola Superiore, the northernmost island of the three. It’s a beautiful little fishing village where we'll have lunch. (not included). Those naturalists among us can continue on to Isola Madre, and tour the English-style Giardini Botanici dell’Isola Madre: seven terraces include cypress trees, camellias, rhododendrons, plus a wild community of peacocks, pheasants and parrots.
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner in Stresa
Overnight in Stresa
Tonight: Included dinner in Stresa
Overnight in Stresa, 2 nights with breakfast
Day 9. Bella (beautiful), Pescatore (fisherman) and Madre (mother). These three islands on Lake Maggiore were named after the aristocratic Borromean family—art and garden lovers—who bought the land in the 16th century and transformed two of them into luxury residences. Today, we'll travel by ferry. We'll begin our day at Isola Bella with a visit to the Baroque Palazzo Borromeo to tour the opulent rooms filled with 15th-century art, intricate tile work and beautiful frescoes. We'll finish in the gardens before we hop the ferry to Isola Pescatori, also known as Isola Superiore, the northernmost island of the three. It’s a beautiful little fishing village where we'll have lunch. (not included). Those naturalists among us can continue on to Isola Madre, and tour the English-style Giardini Botanici dell’Isola Madre: seven terraces include cypress trees, camellias, rhododendrons, plus a wild community of peacocks, pheasants and parrots.
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner in Stresa
Overnight in Stresa
DAY 10: FLIGHTS OUT FROM MILAN OR MILAN POST-TOUR OPTION |
PROST-TOUR OPTION IN MILAN
Post-Tour Day 1. You will be transferred at the end of our tour to your Milan hotel.
Our stylish, contemporary 5-star property is set in the historic center and just 1,650 feet from the Cathedral and Milan’s famous shopping street, Via Monte Napoleone. Rooms are furnished with elegant, contemporary furniture and parquet floors. All of them come with a air conditioning, minibar, and flat-screen TV. Each bathroom boasts a rain shower and soft towels. A generous breakfast buffet is served daily.
After you drop your bags, we’ll have time for lunch and a walking orientation of the area before our Included Welcome Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. This morning we’ll enjoy a private tour of Milan, including reserved timed admissions to the Scala Opera House and the Last Supper. Discover how business and history blend together in Milan. We'll begin our morning at the Piazza del Duomo, including a skip the line ticket to the roof. Just across the square is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the most beautiful covered gallerias in the world. Begun in 1865, it was the first to make use of an iron glass structure. We’ll then visit La Scala opera house, the most famous theatre hall in the world. After lunch (not included), we're on to see Leonardo’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, painted in the refectory of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church. The church and adjoining refectory were badly damaged in World War II, and during the repair work, old sgraffito paintings in the dome were brought to light.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is on your own.
Post-Tour Day 3. Transfer to the Milan airport.
Our stylish, contemporary 5-star property is set in the historic center and just 1,650 feet from the Cathedral and Milan’s famous shopping street, Via Monte Napoleone. Rooms are furnished with elegant, contemporary furniture and parquet floors. All of them come with a air conditioning, minibar, and flat-screen TV. Each bathroom boasts a rain shower and soft towels. A generous breakfast buffet is served daily.
After you drop your bags, we’ll have time for lunch and a walking orientation of the area before our Included Welcome Dinner.
Post-Tour Day 2. This morning we’ll enjoy a private tour of Milan, including reserved timed admissions to the Scala Opera House and the Last Supper. Discover how business and history blend together in Milan. We'll begin our morning at the Piazza del Duomo, including a skip the line ticket to the roof. Just across the square is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the most beautiful covered gallerias in the world. Begun in 1865, it was the first to make use of an iron glass structure. We’ll then visit La Scala opera house, the most famous theatre hall in the world. After lunch (not included), we're on to see Leonardo’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, painted in the refectory of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church. The church and adjoining refectory were badly damaged in World War II, and during the repair work, old sgraffito paintings in the dome were brought to light.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is on your own.
Post-Tour Day 3. Transfer to the Milan airport.