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TORINO, PIEDMONT, AND LAKE COMO TOUR
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"Àl vin pÏ bun al'Ë cul ch'as beiv cun ij amis"
The best wine is that which is drunk with friends—Piemonte proverb
OVERVIEW
Northwest Italy boasts two major cities—Torino and Genova—but its greatest lures are sublime food and wine, its many outdoor activities, and the beauty of its magnificent landscapes. Piedmont takes its name from piede dei monti—the foot of the mountains-after the vast Alpine wall that guards its mist-shrouded plains, tidy provincial towns, and pastoral, vine-covered hills. Agriculture thrives in the region, and the dulcet chalk hills of Monferrato, south of Torino, yield truffles. Asti Spumante, and two of the country's premier red wines—Barolo and Barbaresco. Vermouth and grissini (bread sticks), mainstays of bars and Italian restaurants around the world, also have their origins here.
Guests on the Torino, Piedmont, and Lake Como tour will begin their travels on Lake Como, the most varied and most dramatic of the Italian Lakes. Its banks are fringed with villas, lush gardens, and bucolic villages, while its hinterland is a patchwork of wood-swathed hills and rugged mountains. Bellagio, sometimes called the prettiest town in Europe, always seems to be flag-bedecked, with geraniums ablaze in every window and bougainvillea veiling the staircases, or montÈes, that thread through the town. At dusk the town's nightspots—including the wharf, where an orchestra serenades dancers under the stars—beckon you to come and make merry. It's an impossibly enchanting location, one that inspired French composer Gabriel Faure to call Bellagio "a diamond contrasting brilliantly with the sapphires of the three lakes in which it is set."
After the gorgeous villas and spectacular vistas of Lake Como it's on to Torino, the city that put the t in Fiat and has much to offer visitors. Elegant Parisian-style boulevards, beautiful baroque palaces and a thriving contemporary art scene are among the attractions of this under-rated Italian city that is also home to Fiat, the Shroud of Turin, the Juventus football team and the site of the first Italian parliament. The Slow Food Movement was born nearby; and gianduiotto, a blend of chocolate and ground hazelnuts, originated here.
The Torino, Piedmont, and Lake Como tour finishes in the Langhe. Midway between Torino and Genova, the Langhe area is a rural treasure trove of picturesque villages and agricultural landscapes, from the rolling vineyards of Langa Bass in the south, where some of Italy's finest wines are produced, to the pine forest of the Langa Alta highlands in the north and east, where the soft hazelnut of Piedmont grows.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Visit markets, farms, wineries, and enoteche (wine bars) and meet with the artisanal producers of typical products of the region to sample highly-prized cheeses, rich chocolates, white truffles, great red wines, and other specialties
Spend three nights in the spectacular town of Bellagio at a hotel with views of magical Lake Como
Participate in a cooking lesson preparing local specialties with a locally renowned chef in Varenna
Take an excursion by boat to visit the gracious villas and verdant gardens of Lake Como
Feast on a sumptuous meal on the island of Comacina, Lake Como's principal island
Enjoy a guided tour of Torino with a representative of Slow Food Torino
Spend time wandering Torino's Porta Palazzo, Europe's biggest open-air food market
Tour the Reggia di Venaria Reale, one of the former residences of the Royal House of Savoy and a UNESCO World Heritage site
Try the sweet pastries and chocolate treats at Torino's famous coffee shops
Sample Barolo, Nebbiolo, and Barbaresco; Piedmont's vineyards produce some of the world's greatest crus
Relax in the luxurious comfort of Villa Tiboldi, a countryside villa located in the epicenter of Piedmont's gastronomic heartland
Savor delicious meals made with local, seasonal ingredients accompanied by select local wines
TOUR MANAGER
Michael San Filippo, the founder and director of Cantalupo Tours To Italy, will also accompany guests on the tour. The author of Everything Learning Italian as well as co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Italian History and Culture, Michael is also founder and editor of About Italian Language, the leading online destination for Italian language.
Michael studied in Italy as a graduate student and currently conducts private tutoring in Italian for students of all levels and abilities. With a Master of Arts degree in Italian Studies from the Middlebury College Italian School Abroad program, he has a thorough knowledge of all things Italian including Italian culture, history, literature, and Italian wine and cooking. Having traveled throughout il bel paese, Michael is dedicated to sharing his passion and enthusiasm for Italy with fellow travelers.
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