“Piemonte” (known as Piedmont in English) is located in the north-west of Italy, bordering France. Piemonte provided the Kingdom of Italy with its monarchs - the Savoy dynasty

• 2 Nights in Torino
• 7 Nights in the spa-town of Acqui Terme
• 4 Nights in Stresa on Lago Maggiore (of the famous Italian Lakes district)

Among the region's prized products are Truffles from the Alba area, cheeses such as Gorgonzola, a delicious range of biscuits and chocolates. And we are just in time for the Truffle Festival in Alba !

Much of the region is mountainous, with the higher elevations covered in ice and snow reaching up to the heights of Monte Rosa at 4,633m. The region contrasts from rich rolling vineyards to the mountain wonderland of the Gran Paradiso National Park.

After 2 days in Turin we are off to Acqui Terme which is in the 'High Monferrato' region of Piedmont offering unique scenery where woods alternate with vineyards and accentuated with antique medieval castles. Acqui Terme itself is a gracious spa town and as it happens Rose discovered some really great fashion factory outlets one of which we will visit. By the way, wonderful spa treatments are available here too! Then it's on to the beautiful Italian Lakes.

Our Itinerary :

Oct 05
We begin in Turin (Torino) a wonderful ancient city where each moment of history has left its mark. From the disciplined grid system implemented by the Romans, its Baroque and Cultural facilities first put in place by the Savoia dynasty in the 16th century, to its role as the first capital of the Unification - it is still a city of extraordinary style, charm and elegance. We will enjoy a welcome dinner tonight.

Oct 06
Today we will get to know Torino which was the first Capital of 'The Kingdom of Italy'. Did you know that cinema began here? We'll take you to several surprising sites and a few of our favourite Historic Cafés and 'Chocolate Boutiques as well.

Oct 07
After breakfast we transfer to Acqui Terme, our home for seven nights. This has been a flourishing spa town since Roman times due to its therapeutic waters. The surrounding area is scattered with hot springs, the main one in Piazza della Bollente, right in the centre of town. Here the water gushes out at a constant temperature of 167F. During the "Belle Epoque" Acqui became one of the most frequented spas of Europe, hosting the likes of Winston Churchill and European Royal families. The town has retained the atmosphere of a gracious and cultured centre bringing its charm and sophistication into the 21st century.

Oct. 08
After breakfast, we will visit Alba, home of the famous” white truffle”. We are just in time for the annual “Truffle Festival” offering all the pageantry of medieval times including grand period costumes and 'sbandierata' (intricate flag tossing). This festival celebrates the “ trifula bianca”. There are over 100 qualities of truffles, but the most famous are the white truffles of Piedmont. Here you go - lunch can be a gastronomic affair as you wander the market stalls of this festival. This is harvest time and Piedmont has a rich agricultural heritage offering an exquisite array of harvest and fresh farm produce from exotic cheeses to wonderful home-cured meats. This will be a lunch you won't forget. After lunch, we will drive through beautiful vineyard countryside to visit the cellars of one of our favourite Piedmont wineries. Our tasting here will feature the “King of wines - the wine of Kings” - Barolo.

Oct. 09
After breakfast we enjoy a guided tour of Acqui Terme, where, at the turn of the century, you could bump into a who's who of European royalty. Afternoon & evening are free to explore, visit the spa, or just enjoy the hotel's thermal swimming pool for a relaxing break.

Oct. 10
This morning we get in touch with this amazing area by walking its country lanes. Our passengers enjoy the up close and personal experience introduced to them by the guides and their stories. There will be free time for lunch - in the afternoon we drive to Strevi to visit the vineyards and cellars of a winery featuring Asti & Brachetto wines

Oct 11
Another one of those up close and personal experiences with our walking guides. Piedmont food traditions run deep and today at the end of our walk we are going to sample a specialty dish enjoyed by the families of this region and shared by their neighbours in the south of France. We are sure you will enjoy this light and intriguing dish served with local wine. The afternoon is free for exploration, spa treatments or just be 'Italian'. Enjoy people watching as you sip an “aperitivo” at the café on the town square.

Oct.12
Today we travel to Cocconato d'Asti where we shall spend the morning at a discount outlet that has the latest fashions for the entire family at great prices. Terrific Christmas shopping opportunities! We will enjoy a typical Piemontese lunch with wine in a lovely agriturismo in Robella. This afternoon we will visit the Castle of Razzano where we end the visit in their wine cellars with a tasting of famous Barbara wines.

Oct. 13
Again this morning we offer one more guided walk through the lovely Piemontese countryside. Afternoon free. Tonight we have arranged dinner in a favourite restaurant in Acqui Terme.

Oct 14
After breakfast we leave Acqui Terme and travel toward Lake Maggiore. Our route will take us through the famous Vercelli, rice growing area, where they produce all the sophisticated epicurean rices such as Baldo, Balilla, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano to name just a few. We will enjoy a lunch providing a tasting of rice dishes and local products including wine. In the afternoon we visit a cashmere factory outlet store. It features ready-made garments and cashmere by the metre! This region is famous for its cashmere factories. On our way to Stresa we have a wine tasting featuring the Nebbiolo from the “Lands of Northern Piedmont” We then check into our hotel in Stresa right on Lake Maggiore -our home for 4 nights. Dinner included

Oct. 15
Lake Maggiore, the second largest of the “Italian Lakes”, stretches for 65kms bordering Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland, and sheltered by the Alpine range. Today is a free day to explore the town of Stresa, situated in a panoramic and picturesque position on the lake facing the Baromee Isles. The hotels and villas built in Liberty Style make it elegant and unique. You can also hop on a boat to visit the incredible botanical garden on Isola Isola Madre, or we can direct you to a lovely restaurant for lunch on Isola Dei Pescatori, which was made popular by the first English tourists in the 1850's. Dinner included

Oct. 16
Today we travel along the entire valley to arrive at Alagna Sesia, at the foot of Mount Rosa. This is Alpine scenery at its best! These are majestic mountains covered by forests and glaciers. Their lifts make them one of the biggest interconnected mountain resorts in Europe. Here we visit a fascinating museum village showing how people lived in these mountains long ago then we lunch in a typical local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive through the Alta Valsesia Nature Park before returning to our hotel - Dinner included.

Oct 17
No trip to the mountains is complete without a cable car ride. Today we take the cable care to Mottarone and transfer to Lake Orta. Here we will have time to visit the old town and lunch. Next we visit the mystical, sacred island of San Giulio. Now this is 'old Europe' - the Meditation Walk is a fascinating experience. We then return to our hotel before our farewell dinner in Stresa.

Oct 18
After breakfast, we will provide a transfer to Milan, Malpensa airport.

COST AND INCLUDED FEATURES:

Cost : $3989.00 Canadian Funds / $3340.00 U.S. Funds

Rate Includes:

• 13 nights accommodation based on sharing twin room
• 13 breakfasts
• 4 lunches
• 6 dinners
• 4 winery visits/tastings
• 3 guided walks
• All transportation as mentioned in itinerary
• All taxes

Escorted by Rose Tomassini