Day 01: Turin or Milan Arrival | Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Just outside this area meet your driver who will transfer you to your Hotel in Langhe. The rest of the day is at leisure on. Overnight in Langhe.
Day 02: Langhe with White Truffle Hunt | Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your Driver in the lobby. This morning your first visit Cherasco, a quadrilateral planned town with a very interesting historic centre. Take a stroll along the orthogonal streets opened with porticos and embellished by civic and religious buildings that go from the Medieval to the Baroque. After a 2 hours visit continue on to Serralunga to visit the slender and majestic Castle of Serralunga d’Alba. The Castle overshadows one of the most beautiful and historically intact villages of the Langhe, surrounded by the hills of Barolo vineyards. Considered to be one of the best-conserved examples of 14th century noble castles in Piedmont, this castle represents a unique piece of history in Italy with an architectural structure of a French donjon. Lunch in a characteristic local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will learn all about one of this region’s most famous specialties, the truffle. “What Is a Truffle? How Is a Truffle Found? What Techniques Does a Truffle Expert Use?” After this short introduction, you will venture into the woods with the trifolau (truffle hunter) and his dog, to put your newfound knowledge to the test and find your own little nugget of white gold! Next you will visit a local farm and taste some of their products, which include delectable cheeses and succulent salamis, paired with good local wine. Late afternoon transfer to your Hotel in Langhe.
Day 03: Day at Leisure or *Optional Tour: Langhe | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver and Professional local Guide in the lobby. Your day in the Langhe starts with a wonderful visit to The Castle of Grinzane Cavour. The Castle became a symbol of the Langa del Barolo after Count Benso, the mayor of the town for some 17 years running, transformed it into a production base for the great wines of Langa. Today, Grinzane Cavour is home to an important wine museum and an ethnographic museum which illustrates the local farming traditions. Then continue to Barolo village with its imposing Castle. The Barolo Castle has a centuries-long history and an international museum dedicated to the world of wine. There is perhaps no better place to have a Wine Museum – than in the land where Barolo is made. Lunch in a local characteristic restaurant. In the afternoon visit The Marchesi di Barolo wine cellar, with wine tasting. Marchesi di Barolo was and is a winery that has received numerous awards for its wines and has been frequently recognized in the press and media. We will end the visit of this beautiful area by visiting the village of La Morra, with its enchanting panoramic view on the 11 villages producing Barolo wine. Return to your Hotel. Overnight in Langhe.
Day 04: Langhe – Turin | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet you driver in the Hotel lobby. Transfer to Turin for a Private Guided Tour with the following visits: Valentino Park and medieval centre (it is a reproduction of a typical medieval village surrounded by fortified walls and a rock), Basilica of Superga (an impressive church built on the Superga hill, an ideal view point to admire all the beauty of the city and a renowned pilgrimage destination), the Royal Palace (a majestic building of XVII century, former residence of the kings of Italy), Turin’s Duomo. Afternoon continue to your hotel. Overnight in Turin.
Day 05: Turin | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver and Professional local Guide in the lobby. This morning visit the Abbazia Sacra di St. Michele (St. Michael’s Abbey), the symbol of Piedmont Regional Authority, a colossal, picturesque building perched on the top of Monte Pirchiriano 960 m. above sea level. To enter the church you have to climb the Scalone dei Morti and go through the beautiful Portale dello Zodiaco (Zodiac Door, 1120-30) built by the architect-sculptor Nicolao. Inside the church we can find notable 16th century paintings as well as an oddity – the rocky peak of Monte Pirchiriano coming up through the floor. In the afternoon, visit to Susa, one of the most important old towns in Piedmont, full of remains from Roman and Medieval times. Access to the old town is through the imposing 3rd century Porta Savoia: it was part of the sturdy walls that surrounded Susa to defend it from frequent barbarian invasions. From here we visit the Arco di Augusto. You cannot leave without visiting the cathedral of St. Giusto with its lofty bell tower, as well as several other monuments in the city. Afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Turin.
Day 06: Turin – Asti – Aosta | Breakfast at the Hotel. Depart with your private driver to Aosta area. On the way you will stop at the Roman bridge at Pont St Martin: an exceptional feat of engineering from the 1st century B.C., with a single hump-backed arch 23 meters above the Lys torrent. The bridge was part of the famous Roman “Via delle Gallie”. Continue to the Roman Road “delle Gallie” at Donnas (AO), dating from the first century B.C. This communication route was the first public works that the Romans carried out in the Aosta Valley, replacing the rough paths that led across the Alps. Lunch with traditional local food, drinks included, in a restaurant near Donnas. In the afternoon continue on to the commanding nearby Forte di Bard, an imposing fortress famous for having kept Napoleon’s Great Army at bay for over a month. Inside the huge complex with futuristic funiculars to take visitors to the top. There is the state-of-the-art multimedia Museum of the Alps, inaugurated in 2006. Next stop is the Verrès Castle: an extraordinary example of a single block square castle. The most curious part of the castle is without doubt the internal courtyard with a monumental hanging staircase attached to its walls, technically described as having polycentric rampant arches. Late afternoon continue to your hotel. Overnight in Aosta.
Day 07: Aosta and The Valley | After breakfast at the Hotel meet in the lobby with your Driver and Guide. This morning you will visit Issogne Castle, the castle with the richest and best preserved interior in the Aosta Valley, richly decorated with Court Gothic wall paintings. The visitors are especially struck by the frescos showing scenes from everyday life: the tailor’s shop, the chemist’s, the butcher’s, the guard house, the fruit and vegetables market, the baker’s, the grocer’s and the delicatessen, which give a clear insight into daily life over 500 years ago. Admission and guided tour. Issogne Castle: detail of the splendid frescoes. We continue our journey to Aosta. Lunch with traditional local food, drinks included, in a restaurant near Aosta. In the afternoon you will visit Aosta, the capital of the Aosta Valley region. The city was founded by the Romans and is known as “the Rome of the North” due to the great number of Roman as well as Medieval remains to be found in the city center. Accompanied by your guide you will visit the Augustan Arch, the porta Pretoria, the circle of ancient walls with guard towers at intervals, the forum with its long underground portico called the “Criptoportico”, the archaeological area at the magnificent Roman theatre, the Collegiate Church of S. Orso with its lovely cloister and the heart of the city, Piazza Chanoux. Late afternoon return to your hotel. Overnight in Aosta.
Day 08: Turin or Milan Departure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Unfortunately it is time to say Arrivederci. At your convenience we will transfer you the airport. Ciao!