Piedmont Tour Italy - Great Travels

Northern Italy's Finest Food, Wine and Festivals
Piedmont & Lake Orta
Plus, Genoa & Turin
September 11 - 23, 2010

This is a tour for connoisseurs of locally produced food, wine, art and a style of easy living invented in Italy.

Only 16 travelers will enjoy this opportunity to experience autumn's bounty with the people who make it all possible: the farmers, wine makers, truffle hunters, chefs and craftsmen. Patti Absher will lead this small group. For over 20 years she has been escorting small groups for very special tours to Italy. Many clients have traveled with her two or more times because "(she) knows just the right things to see and do … to give a person the real feel for the area and its people".

As visitors to Italy for several decades, we know where to find the authentic trattorie, the best places to stay, the most fascinating castles and the perfect hosts for tastings of award-winning wines. Of course, wherever we go we introduce you to our friends so you can enjoy Italy like a native.

So plan now to immerse yourself in the authentic Italian lifestyle. We will start in Genoa, steeped in the lore of the sea, and end on Lake Orta, the lovely, petite jewel of the Northern Lakes. In between lies Piemonte, literally the foot of the mountains, where you will discover a rich and fascinating culture.

Your typical day might begin with short hike around our family-run winery, officially an agriturismo before sitting down to a bountiful breakfast of the region's finest cheeses, fresh breads, homemade fruit preserves, and aromatic café latte or hot chocolate.

A full day's visit to the Langhe region takes us to Alba where you'll have a full morning to ramble through it's historic streets and visit its stunning 11th Century cathedral. Yet the real raison d'être of Alba is the truffle. Find out why at Tartufi Morra, a truffle emporium, offers all things truffle … from oil perfumed with truffles to chocolates.

Lunch soon beckons us to the scenic villages of the Barolo, whose outskirts are festooned with vines swagged with Nebbiolo grapes. Sit down with congenial friends at a country trattoria. Experience the perfect marriage of Barbaresco wine with a superb meal that draws on an aristocratic yet rustic cusine.

The most memorable days encompass a range of experiences. Perhaps you'll visit a goldsmith's studio, one of hundreds in the region preserving the artisan trades. Or pitch in to harvest grapes in a vineyard framed by the distant Alps. Imagine ending the day sitting on the terrace with a glass of Barolo watching the sun set across the valley. Pure bliss.

More pleasures await you in the cities of Genoa and Turin, both very beautiful in very different ways, reflecting their diverse histories. Genoa still echoes the glory days when for hundreds of years it ruled the seas as a Maritime Republic. Last year our travelers loved the sunset tour on our private open-top bus and then an up-close walk with our wonderful local guide, Anna. Later, there's time to explore the city streets, markets and churches on your own from our central hotel. Turin, or Torino, is a vibrant city with many surprises, even for the well-traveled Italy visitor. This royal city was the home of the Savoy kings for centuries. The pristine Baroque palaces and churches strike a stately note, while the gracious arcades welcome you into the shops, cafés, theaters and restaurants.