Pleasures of Piemonte
Tucked into the northwest corner of Italy, Piemonte is one of the most prosperous and less visited regions in Italy. Italy’s first capital, Turin, will surprise you with its elegance and industry and castle-topped hill towns will delight you with stunning views of farms, fields, and vineyards. The magnificent mountains that surround much of the area (pied=foot and monte=mountain) will beckon you to gaze at their natural beauty and visit hidden sanctuaries. During our 10 days together we will enjoy palaces, walks in the countryside, visit a cheese farm, enjoy some local wineries, exquisite food, visit the largest elliptical cupola in the world at the Sanctuary of Vicoforte and delve into the rich history of the region. The first or last 3 days of our tour will be spent in the magnificent city of Turin while our base for the rest of our tour, is the lively and livable city of Cuneo.
Why Cuneo? This city is lovely, comfortable, not at all touristy, has great food, and is one of the largest weekly markets in northern Italy. Cuneo also has about 8 Km of porticoed streets and a lively pedestrian zone which makes it a great place to stay rain or shine to experience la dolce vita.
More lunches than dinners…working a marvelous lunch into a fun-filled day is an important part of Italian culture, especially while on vacation or on weekends. It also gives your body more time to digest and sleep better which makes for a happy holiday. By including more typical lunches than dinners you can decide whether you simply want a light meal or to wine and dine in the evening too. Cuneo has many bars where apericenas (drinks plus light food) are all the rage. We have enjoyed our small groups so much that we will continue to keep numbers low and personal attention high. This tour is very boutique and will have a maximum of 14 guests. Book now by emailing andrew@savortheexperiencetours.com
2024 tour date
October 1-11
$4890 Double / $4790 Single
Day 1 Welcome to Piemonte
Upon arrival at our hotel in Turin we will gather our small group for an introduction of this tour with an Aperitivo and a quick walking tour of our neighborhood.
Day 2 An Elegant Introduction
After breakfast we will start our day with a guided walking tour of this magnificent city stopping to sample the chocolate and coffee it’s famous for, followed by a visit to Turin’s impressive Palazzo Reale. This afternoon you will be free to explore the many shops and museums at your own pace before meeting up again this evening for a Piemontese feast.
Day 3 Cars and Cinema
The Fiat Automobile company was founded in Torino and opened its first manufacturing facility in 1899. This morning we will visit the Museo dell’Automobile and explore the evolution of cars in this magnificent city. After visiting the museum, we will wander over to the original Eataly where you will be free to explore and find lunch before we make our way to the National Museum of Cinema where you can spend as much time as you like exploring the museum. Free evening and dinner on your own
Day 4 Royal Treatment
We pack our bags and will depart on a private bus for Cuneo with a stop on the way to the beautifully restored Veneria Reale, one of the Savoy family hunting palaces where we’ll have a guided tour of the museum and walk in its extensive garden. Lunch will be on your own before we depart for Cuneo and get checked in to what will be your home for the next 7 days as we explore the region. We’ll have a quick orientation walk on arrival and dine together in a local trattoria.
Day 5 Market Day
Market Day in Cuneo (Tuesday or Friday). Morning with a local guide to learn more about the town of Cuneo and enjoy the many flavors that the market has to offer. You’ll have free time to explore the market on your own and we will end our day with a visit to a cioccolateria to learn about the Cuneese al Rhum chocolates that the city is known for.
Day 6 Wine Country and Castles
Wonderful walks, food, and wine. After breakfast, board our private bus and head towards the Langhe, home to some of the most influential wineries in Italy. After a morning walk with splendid views, enjoy a multi-course lunch in a medieval castle followed by a visit to a grappa distillery and learn to appreciate the many nuances of this digestive liquor. Arrive back in Cuneo in the evening where you can explore more or relax as you like.
Day 7 Folk Culture and cheese
Cheese, and Pinocchio. Today will include a tour of a local caseificio (cheese farm) where we will meet the cows and learn why the cheese in Piemonte is so delicious. We will also visit the mountain town of Vernante for a visual journey of Pinocchio through the towns many murals.
Day 8 truffle hunt, slow food and wine
Truffles, wine, and tasting lunch. Another great gastronomic experience today as we once again head to the Langhe for a truffle hunting experience, lunch in a local trattoria, and a visit to a local winery to explore the complexities of the Nebbiolo grape.
Day 9 Sanctuary, Comfort Food and Mountain air
Outstanding architecture is on our agenda today as we visit the largest elliptical dome in the world at the Sanctuary of Vicoforte. After our morning tour, lunch will be in one of your guide’s favorite trattorias; the place she goes to celebrate birthdays and baptisms and sometimes just because. After lunch head into the mountains for a walk in the woods and visit a partisan cemetery before heading back to Cuneo for a free evening.
Day 10 Trust Me
A day to play, one day of our tour will be given to whimsy and can really fall anytime during the last week of our tour depending on what’s happening in the area. It might be a local fair or a charming town…whatever it is will be fun!
