9 days in the italian lakes andpiedmont … · lake inspired hemingway to write his acclaimed novel...
TRANSCRIPT
9 days in the Italian Lakes andPiedmont
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Day 1 – Arrival Stresa
Upon arrival in Milan airport you will be met after customs and transferred to your hotel in Stresa
(~1hr).
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Stresa in Lake Maggiore.
Stresa is a resort town on Italy’s Lake Maggiore. This gorgeous lake, located at the foot of the Alps, is
divided into three parts: the western shore is in Piemont region, the eastern shore is located in
Lombardy region and the northen end belongs to Switzerland. In spite of its name which means "the
largest one", it's just the second biggest lake in Italy. It's however the longest one in Italy. The lake
was excavated by a tongue of ice and its final configuration was given at the end of the last glaciation
about 10 000 years ago. It's a lake rich in art and culture where one can't help but marvel at the
perfection of its sceneries. The lake's beauty was already known to the Romans who used to call the
lake "Verbanus". Illustrious artists and distinguished personalities like Flaubert, Goethe, Dickens,
Dumas, Queen Victoria, Fogazzaro, Manzoni were attracted and fascinated by these landscapes. The
lake inspired Hemingway to write his acclaimed novel "A Farewell to Arms". Winston Churchill chose
Lake Maggiore for his honeymoon in 1908.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Your hotel for the next 3 nights
Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées & SPA - Garden View Room
The Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees is located in Stresa, it lies on the shores of Lake Maggiore and
combines sumptuous elegance and tradition with the charm of the Italian luxury Grand Hotels.
Lounges are furnished in opulent shades of blue, purple and gold, the magnificent suites are a blend
of luxury and state of the art comforts. In the elegant lake view dining room or of our restaurant guest
enjoy a truly unique gastronomic experience, savouring the flavours of a locally –inspired cuisine and
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assisted by our highly skilled waiters. SPA, the “Centro Benessere di Stresa” is the right place do
indulge in relax and well-being. The rejuvenation of the body and soul is granted by the experienced
hands of our aestheticians.
Day 2 – Stresa
This morning you will be taken to your cooking class.
An authentic experience that will enable you to meet the locals and to know more about traditional
Italian food, how it is prepared and local recipes. You will prepare a multi-course meal that you will
be able to enjoy at the end of your lesson! Pasta, ravioli, lasagne, lake fish and tiramisu.
Learn how to make a great range of antipasti, fresh gnocchi, pasta, pizza, risotto and seasonal fish or
meat dishes and wonderful desserts. After the class enjoy lunch of the foods prepared in class. Menus
can be adapted to special dietary requirements, based on your personal requests. You will use the
best fresh ingredients of the season, to make simple delicious dishes with his creative touch and
always artistic presentation.
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You will be taken back to your hotel after the class.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 3 – Lake Maggiore and Mt Mottarone exploration.
This morning you will be met by your guide at the hotel and begin your day of visits.
You will depart in the cable car to the top of mount Mottarone.
The Stresa to Mottarone cable car takes 20 minutes to get to the top of Mount Mottarone (1,491m2/
4,892 ft2).
Mount Mottarone is considered a "natural balcony" from which there are 360° panoramic views across
the Po Valley to the Alps. From the summit which is a 15 minute walk from the cable car station you
can see seven lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo, Lake Varese, Lake Comabbio, Lake
Monate and Lake Biandronno.
Then continue to Stresa pier to begin you Lake Maggiore's Isola Bella & Borromeo Islands cruise.
You will enjoy a mini cruise in the Borromeo Gulf. Admire the gorgeous lake's coasts, the pretty villages
and little towns, the historical villas and memorable gardens.
Reach Isola Bella and Borromean islands for an exclusive private tour in the Borromeo palace, an
incredible building dating back to the 17th century.
You will be taken back to your hotel after the cruise.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
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Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899
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Day 4 – Stresa to Alba
10AM pick up in Stresa by our guide and depart on your day.
Drive to your hotel in the Barolo zone (~2 hrs).
Afternoon begins, appropriately, at the Castle of Barolo, the birthplace of Barolo wine. Barolo is
dubbed “the king of wines and wine of kings,” and today we see why. We’ll dip into the castle’s
enoteca, then visit the castle's former proprietors, the Marchesi di Barolo. It was in this winery that
Barolo was first created by Giulia Colbert Falletti, a French noblewoman who was the Marchese di
Barolo during the Napoleonic period. We’ll see the original 150-year-old barrels in their antique cellar,
as well as 19th C. bottles in their library. Then we’ll have a taste.
A second winery follows: Depending on availability, that will be either Ceretto, located in an old
hunting lodge of the King of Piedmont, or else Conterno Fantino, a smaller family-run winery with a
beautiful new cellar in the town of Monforte.
Driving from town to town, you’ll see some of the most magnificent vineyard landscapes in the world
and understand why in 2014 UNESCO designated this area a World Heritage site.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Your hotel for the next 3 nights
Palazzo Finati- Superior Room
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Our “city” hotel: Located in the historic center of Alba close to the main piazza, the 4-star Palazzo
Finati is an elegant 19th century palace that was recently renovated, taking care to preserve the
original architecture while offering modern amenities, from internet access to shower water massage.
Day 5 – In the Piedmont Kitchen
The morning brings a cooking lesson in Alba. Our hostess is expert at making classic piemontese
dishes do-able by anyone! We’ll roll up our sleeves for this hands-on experience, then dine on our
efforts at lunch.
The afternoon features one winery visit. If available, we’ll head to Domenico Clerico, one of the
winemakers who revolutionized Barolo wine in the 1970s and who continues to run the show at his
new cellar, one of the most spectacular architecturally in the area. Alternatives include Dosio, Fratelli
Revello or Fratelli Alessandria, all boutique Barolo wineries.
If there’s time and interest, we’ll visit the Castle of Grinzane
Cavour. Now a museum, this was the home of Italy’s first Prime
Minister, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. Like an Italian Thomas
Jefferson, this politician was equally adept at wine and became
a seminal figure in the creation of Barolo in the 1800s. At the
museum, a film will provide an excellent historic overview.
You will be taken back to your hotel after the visit.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 6 – Turin
You will be escorted by our guide to Turin for the day.
For several centuries, Piedmont royalty lived in Turin.The House of Savoy left behind a legacy of
opulent architecture fit for kings, which gives this city its elegant flair. The walking tour of Turin in
the historical center will wind past baroque royal palaces and stately porticos, passing by such
landmarks as the Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama. The afternoon offers free time to pursue your
interests (such as the world-famous Egyptian Museum or fascinating Museum of Cinema, with
hands-on gadgets of early moving pictures or the shroud of Turin) or ascend Turin’s tallest pinnacle
for a spectacular view of the city and Alps.
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You will be taken back to your hotel after the tour.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 7 – Truffles & Mountain Cheese
Today you’ll meet a truffle hunter and his dog. The duo will provide an in-field demo of dog training
and truffle hunting in the hazelnut groves. You’ll learn why truffles are so rare and expensive, why pigs
aren’t used anymore, and what commands the hunter uses (in dialect!) to interact with his eager-to-
please pooch.
After the hunt, we'll stop at another top Barolo winery, Damilano. This is larger producer that dates
back to the late 1800s and has one of the best price/value range of Barolos around. Here we’ll do a
side-by-side comparison of their “basic” Barolo versus three cru, or single-vineyard Barolos.
We then drive to higher elevations in the Alte Langhe. Too high for grape-growing, this is cheese
country. Our buffet lunch is at a Murrazzano cheese farm, where we'll have a tour, then feast on
freshly made mountain cheese, salumi, fruit, and light-as-air hazelnut cake.
Afterwards, we visit one of our favorite Barolo wineries, Silvio Grasso, where the founder's wife,
Marilena, always provides a warm, effusive welcome—and a generous tasting, pouring comparisons
between their Barolo cru and various vintages. Mentored by Elio Altare, this winery uses barrique
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following the French example. But they also have one Barolo done is a very traditional style, adopting
methods from 100 years ago.
You will be taken back to your hotel after the visit.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Your hotel for the next 2 nights
Hotel Villa Beccaris- Deluxe Room
Located on the outskirts of the village of Monforte d'Alba, Hotel Villa Beccaris is set in a lovingly
restored 18th century villa, once the property of General Beccaris. This luxury boutique hotel is a short
walk from the centre of this beautiful hilltop village, close to the famous amphitheatre. Other sights
are the Scarampi palace and the Piazza dell'Antica Chiesa, with its ancient bell tower.
Situated in the heart of the magnificent Langhe region, Hotel Villa Beccaris is ideal for exploring this
spectacular and unspoiled corner of Piedmont.
Hotel Villa Beccaris has 23 spacious and comfortable rooms and suites, all decorated in a style befitting
this splendid property.
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Day 8 – Barbaresco
On the other side of Alba is Barbaresco, which also works with nebbiolo but has a separate history.
We’ll start with a tour/tasting at Marchesi di Gresy, one of the largest and most historic of Barbaresco
producers. They are the sole owners of the Martinenga vineyard and vinify three Barolos from this
plot, each with its own aging regime. It’s fascinating to see the differences a few yards make!
Lunch will either be in the village of Barbaresco proper or in Neive, another commune where
Barbaresco is produced. After lunch, we’ll visit a smaller producer who, in size, is more characteristic
of the area. That might be Albino Rocca, now run by the founder’s three daughters. They’re small but
ambitious: In addition to five Barbarescos, they make the Langhe standards—dolcetto, barbera,
moscato—as well as a lovely cortese, quite rare in these parts.
Or depending on availability, we might see Bruno Rocca, Paitin, or Moccagatta, all family-run
properties with excellent wines. If time allows, we could also dip into the tasting room of the Produttori
del Barbaresco.
You will be taken back to your hotel after the visit.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 9 – Departure
This morning you will be met and transferred to Turin airport to catch your flight back home.
Buon Viaggio!
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
INCLUSIONS:
• Private transfer from Milan Airport to Stresa.
• 3 nights accommodation in Stresa. Garden View room and breakfast included.
• Half day cooking class in Stresa. Return transfer to yor hotel.
• Full day visit in Stresa. Including Cacble car to mount Mottarone and cruise to Borromeo
Islands.
• 7 winery tours/tastings
• A buffet lunch at the cheese farm
• Admission to Castle of Grinzane Cavour (opt)
• 3 nights accommodation in Alba. Superior room and breakfast included.
• 2 nights accommodation in Monforte. Deluxe room and breakfast included.
• Transfer from Monforte to Turin Airport.
• English speaking guide expert in Stresa and wine expertise.
• Private transportation during your tours and transfers.
EXCLUSIONS:
• International and domestic airfare
• Any entrance tickets not mentioned in the itinerary
• All meals and beverages if not mentioned in the itinerary
• Gratuity (at your discretion)
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a Personal Nature
Into The Vineyard – www.IntoTheVineyard.com
Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899
Suite 200 - 1807 Maritime Mews. Vancouver, Canada, V6H 3W7
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ITINERARY PRICING
$5645USD per person based on two travellers in double occupancy
Room category upgrade $350USD per person
Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées & SPA - Lake View Room
Palazzo Finati Palazzo Finati Palazzo Finati - Junior Suite
This price is valid until Dec 31, 2017.
A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required at time of booking
Full payment due 90 days prior to travel and is non-refundable.
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amount at your discretion.
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Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899
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