The Gourmet’s Paradise in Piedmont:

 

History and nature, art and crafts, the "cornucopia foods & wines” of Monferrato and Langa

The romantic atmosphere of the Prealpines lakes

 

    

 

1st Day  

Welcome in Paradise! Arrive in Italy, The Po Valey, Turin

Arriving  at MI MPX airport Transfer  to the Southern Piedmont, the District  where the most famous Italian wines are produced, along with fine cheeses, salumi, chocolate and where the exclusive white truffles are found. First excursion to Desana, in the Po Valley, in a famous rice estate  where to discover the world of the Italian rice, with the cultivers Carnaroli, Arborio, Roma and Balilla; Light lunch in the Estate with a menu composed with rise dishes, accorded with local wines. Transfer to Tigliole d’Asti: room accommodation in the hotel, a nice old popular palace with amusing garden and Italian Style. Relax time during a short walk in the village to discover the sunny hills and romain church of San Lorenzo. Return to the Hotel to enjoy the sacred ritual of the Aperitif, in an old trendy bars and fallowing “welcome dinner” with seasonal menu, prepared by Sandra, the owner, young chef with the Michelin Star.

 

2^nd day

The story of Italy

Departure for Venaria Reale and visit of the Savoy’s Royal Palace, the  “Piedmont’s Versailles”, grandiose hunting and leisure complex, whose precious baroque halls and wonderful gardens have been recently returned to the original splendour, thanks to a remarkable restauration. Visit of its stables. In the late morning, excursion to Turin, the first main city of Italy, romantic and austere town, also defined “magic town” because of its atmospheres and secrets. Lunch on your own and walk through the town with the visit of the Mole Antonelliana, symbol of Turin, that hosts the magnificent National Movie Museum, five floors of interactive exhibitions, dedicated to the “seven art”, the pride of the city that was the birthplace of Italian Cinema and Television. The combined ticket also includes the panoramic glass lift running through the centre of the building. This lift offers a beautiful panorama of the whole of Turin, of its rectangular structure, based on the  roman “checkerboard” plan and (on the not rare occasions of limpid sky) of the surrounding Alps, when one reaches the top and it is definitely worth experiencing since on its ascent and descent one can see the spectacular inside of the museum itself. On the way back, a gourmet stop approaching  to the culture of the best small gourmet excellences of Italian Regional and international world gastronomies, at Eataly, the gastronomy temple of the town and where to enjoy a free Slow food dinner selecting between the different attractive restaurant and vinerie at Eataly.

 

3rd day

The Langa

After the continental breakfast, excursion along the Wine Routes of Monferrato and Langa on the sunny hills, between rocked villages and vines, to reach Barolo, the capital of Piedmontese wines area. Walk in the village to the cellar Tenimenti Marchesi di Barolo, one of the oldest of the Piedmont with a full immersion into the world of the red wines; to

admire a unique collection of bottles in Italy, that

represent their ancient history and tradition. Tasting and light lunch in the Estate. After lunch transfer to la Morra to see the famous “Belvedere on the wonderful sight on the vine sea”: visit of the Enoteca Comunale of La Morra with tasting of the most important wine varieties of Langa areas (Roero Arneis DOC, Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC, Pelaverga di Verduno DOC) Drive to North to rich the Orta lake: room accommodation and relax time before to dinner with a comparison menu, during which both recipes of the ancient and country tradition and the noble cuisine will be served together, mixed into a composed menu, combined with Northern Piedmont wines.

 

4^th day

The Romantic atmosphere of the Lake Orta

The most romantic of the Prelpines lakes is the Lake Orta: a small nice village, where the activities are soft, the sounds of the voices are deadened, the colours are light and warm, the people is friendly, the life flies slowly. A first walk in the village and a light lunch with lake seas is the “prelude” to the afternoon excursion with the boat to Isola San Giulio, also known as Island of Silence, due to its rarefied atmosphere. It will be an unforgettable pleasure to spend time to cross the characteristic narrow streets to discover the best corner and to enjoy the old stile of life still breathable there.  From the water to the rock: we’ll rise to the Sacred Mountain of Orta, which overlooks the lake, feeling the same mood, with soul empty of humanity, old emotions, rich of nature, ready taste a regional dinner with  seasonal typical menu. Return to the hotel and sweet dreams.

 

 

5^th Day

The lake, the sun, the relax

Free morning for relax, walking on the village and enjoying the sun on the beach. Goodbye lunch with a rich menu, combined with seasonal products and regional wines, to offer an unforgettable souvenir of the tour. Overnight.

Option: A typical tourist attraction is the Arcipelago of the Borromee Isles (Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Madre and Isola Bella) linked to Stresa and Arona by the ferry-boats of the Lago Maggiore Navigation Company, which leave every half an hour.

 

Option Cooking Lesson

Free time at the market in the oldest square of Asti for shopping of typical regional products that will be used during the little cooking lesson on Piemonteese cuisine at the local Gourmet School in town. We’ll learn to prepare a typical menu (Leg veal of tassone beated and bathed by extra virgin olive oli;   - Tranci of red pepper roasted and  covered with fillet of anchovy - Carnaroli in risotto in Barbera sauce; - Veal rolls with peas or o pan - Fried peppers, onions, tomatoes; - Bonet), combined with most important Monferrato and langa wines, as Cortese dell' Alto Monferrato, Barbera d' Asti, Dolcetto di Dogliani, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato and Barbaresco), the logical sequences of  courses, the choice of the perfect combinations with national and local wines. Lunch with the prepared menu combined with the most important wines of Monferrato and Langhe

In the afternoon, visit of an ancient Carthusian Monastery , restored to host the Scassa's Tapestry Weaving Mill, the one of the few of tapestry weaving mills still active in Italy and its Museum with the finest pieces. We’ll admire a unique paintings’ collection, tapestries of renowned artists such as Corrado Cagli, Mastroianni, Mirò, De Chirico and Kandinskij. We can learn the particular technique of these tapestries that are woven on looms of haute‑lisse. Walk through the centre to discover its history, through its roman, medieval, Renaissance and modern monuments. Stop at the beautiful Crypt of Sant’Anastasio and in an artisan laboratory, to learn the secrets of the production of nougat, chocolate, “gianduiotto” and the typical Piedmonteese hazelnut; tasting Free time for relax in hotel before to enjoy the  Monferrato dinner.