|
 |
More Photos
View Map
|
12 days / 11 nights Program – Call for Pricing
From the harmonious, vineyard-covered hills of the Monferrato and Langhe to the impressive hilltowns, olive groves and forests of the Alpes Maritimes / Alpi Marittime, from the Po River plain to 9,000-foot peaks and the Mediterranean Sea, this 12-day cultural, eno-gastronomic and naturalistic adventure is designed for the traveler keen to explore some of Northern Italy’s (and Southern France’s) lesser known, more intriguing destinations. |
|
|
 |
|
ITINERARY
Day 1 -
USA – Milan, Italy
Evening departure for Milan’s Malpensa Airport. Departures are programmed for Wednesday nights in order to arrive for a special musical Thursday evening at our inn.
Day 2
Into Piedmont & the Monferrato
Arrival in Milan. Meet MVE representative in Malpensa Airport and drive about an hour and a half through the risotto-rice growing Po River plain to a village in a little-known corner of the Monferrato. We’ll enjoy a lunch of typical monferrino specialties, before walking to our hilltop village-vineyard-restaurant-home for the next two nights. Thursday night is a very cool time to be here… it’s live jazz night!
L,D
Day 3
Casale Monferrato & Surroundings
In the morning we’ll tour the Renaissance center of Casale Monferrato, capital of the formerly independent Monferrato state and visit its Baroque synagogue. Then we’ll head to a farmhouse for a wonderful lunch on homegrown products, afterwards meandering through the farm’s vineyards up to the neighboring hill town for a visit.
B,L,D
Day 4
Upper Langhe - Barbaresco
We leave the Monferrato this morning and drive into the rugged Upper Langhe region for a tasting of Langa sheep cheese at one of the few remaining farms where these sheep are maintained. In the afternoon we will descend to the lower Langhe hills, home to one of the world’s most unique grapes, Nebbiolo, which is used to make Barolo and Barbaresco wines. We’ll arrive in the town of Barbaresco for a wine tasting and panoramic stroll through the vineyards before heading to our country inn, where we will be based for the next four nights.
B,L,D
Day 5
Resistenza & Alba
Our walk this morning follows in the tracks of the Italian resistance fighters during the Second World War; today, fortunately, we can enjoy a splendid walk through one of the Langhe’s most pristine natural environments in peace. After lunch and rest at the inn, we will head into Alba, capital of the region, for a tour of town and free time on our own, perhaps to shop for torrone or other local goodies. Dinner on our own this evening in Alba, where there are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from.
B,L
Day 6
Barolo - La Morra
The next two days are dedicated to exploring the Barolo wine region. From the town of Barolo we will walk up through several cru Barolo vineyards to La Morra, which enjoys a dominating position over the surrounding Langhe. We’ll enjoy a tour and tasting at a traditional La Morra-Barolo producer, lunch at a vineria and a chocolate tasting at a historic producer.
B,L,D
Day 7
Monforte - Serralunga
After visiting Monforte’s lovely center, we’ll descend and re-ascend through vineyards and hazelnut groves to the town of Serralunga, whose towering Gothic castle we may boldly scale. We’ll have lunch at an agriturismo (working farm) and the day concludes with a tasting at a superb Serralunga-Barolo producer.
B,L,D
Day 8
Cuneo – Tende – Italian Riviera
Train ride (2 hrs) from Cuneo through the Colle di Tenda pass, historically one of the most important routes through the Western Alps. We arrive in the town of Tende, France, surrounded by the 9,000 foot peaks of the Maritime Alps, where we will enjoy lunch and a walk to a marvelous frescoed chapel. We’ll then continue down the valley, the larch making way for olive trees as we approach the Mediterranean Sea and re-enter Italy. It is about a 2-hour drive to our base for the next 2 nights, in the hills above the Italian Riviera.
B,L,B
Day 9
Domain of the Doria
We’ll begin today with an exploration of an old village nestled into the mountainside, a world away from the nearby bustling coast. Our walk takes us up through Taggiasca olive groves and forest to a panoramic crest close to the French-Italian border, between 6,000 foot peaks to the north and the Mediterranean Sea in front of us to the south. After lunch on homemade specialties at an agriturismo, we’ll descend to the town of Dolceacqua, former seat of the powerful Doria family. Evening exploration of a frescoed hilltop village, followed by dinner.
B,L,D
Day 10
Upper Nervia Valley
We begin with a reconnoiter of one of the highest villages of the region, enjoying the 360° panorama from its summit before descending through the chestnut groves to our lunch spot at a traditional trattoria. Afterwards we can taste Taggiasca olive oil at a nearby producer, before heading along the coast to our hotel in Nice, France, about a 1.5 hour drive.
B,L,D
Day 11
Nice
One of the largest and most important cities in France, for centuries a favorite of the well-to-do, Nice will captivate us this morning on our tour with a local guide. We will then have some time on our own to explore and shop, or just take in the sun overlooking the sea on the Promenade des Anglais.
B
Day 12
Nice – USA
La Partenza! Departure from Nice Airport.
Trip Difficulty: Journey requires moderate to semi strenuous walking up and down hilltowns, uneven cobblestone streets, dirt roads and single track trails. Travelers with health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure should consult their physician before traveling.
Includes: All hotel accommodations based on double occupancy. Meals as specified in the itinerary, B=Breakfast; L= Lunch; D=Dinner. All transfers.
Not Included: International or domestic airfares, visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature. Tips
|
|