Dolomites & Friuli

9 days / 8 nights | Visit Trieste, Udine, Pesariis, Cividale, Spilimbergo, Lake Misurina

Sicily Small Group Tour

9 days / 8 nights | Visit Palermo, Agrigento, Favignana Island, Taormina, Erice, Trapani

Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour

5 days | 4 nights From/To Turin or Milan Explore Noble Fortresses and Ancient Abbeys: A Journey into Piedmont’s History Our Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour is a 5-day itinerary through hidden treasures and less-visited yet charming sites of northwest Italy. Led by an expert medievalist tour guide, delve into the rich history and art of the Piedmont region of Italy, once one of Europe’s most strategic getaways.  From Vercelli, where the Basilica of St. Andrew was completed in 1227, to the fortified hamlet of Candelo, our Piedmont Tour reaches the foot of the western Alps. Step inside the fairy-tale Castello della Manta, the pilgrim hospital of Ranverso, and explore the evocative town of Saluzzo, gems of this tour of Piedmont’s medieval castles and abbeys. Then, get access to the iconic St. Michael abbey, which inspired writer Umberto Eco to set its novel “The Name of the Rose” and the off-the-beaten-path Romanesque parish church of Cortazzone, perched on the hills of the wine region of Piedmont. From Chieri’s medieval baptistery to Asti’s slender towers, reminiscent of the Guelfs and Ghibellines rivalry, the Piedmont’s Castles and Abbey Tour is sure to leave you in awe while enjoying the local food and wine. Itinerary Day 1 – Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour: Vercelli and Candelo Meals included: lunch and dinner The departure point of the Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour can be arranged from Turin or Milan. Guests who drive can start directly from Vercelli, the tour’s first stop. Meet your expert medievalist tour guide in Vercelli, where the impressive Basilica of St. Andrew was completed in 1227. The façade with two side towers and three splayed doors is a distinctive combination of Romanesque and Gothic elements. Visit the interior of the basilica before exploring the ancient city center of Vercelli with its medieval palaces. Lunch is served at an old-fashioned trattoria, where you can savor the best risotto in town with a glass of wine. The tour of medieval sites in Piedmont continues toward the fortified hamlet of Candelo. Built to store grain and serve as a defense for the inhabitants, the perfectly preserved architecture of Candelo takes visitors on an evocative journey back in time. Late afternoon, time for an optional stop in Biella, where a quick ride of the funicular takes us to the upper town. Check in at a 4-star selected hotel in Chieri or Turin, depending on availability. Dinner is included in a traditional restaurant. Day 2 – Tour of Medieval Gems: Chieri and the Romanesque Art of Piedmont Meals included: breakfast and wine tasting Your day begins at the hotel with an earthy breakfast with local products. Then, start the tour of two medieval gems: the town of Chieri, often forgotten by most tourist itineraries, and the Romanesque art of Piedmont, found in a countryside church in the wine region of Asti. Chieri is set just outside the metropolitan sprawl of Turin. It boasts an elegant town center with precious architecture like the medieval church of San Domenico with works of art by a local painter, Moncalvo, defined as “the Rafael of Piedmont”. Later, step inside the Duomo to visit the ancient baptistery, decorated with an important cycle of frescoes. Stop at a bakery for a tasting of local breadsticks before reaching the highest point in town, at the foot of the Civic Tower. Lunch on your own. Romanesque Art and Wine Tasting near Asti​In the afternoon, transfer to the heart of the Monferrato wine region near the village of Cortazzone. Perched on a hill crest, stands the Romanesque parish church of San Secondo, set in a bucolic environment. Friezes and bas-reliefs adorn the exterior walls and the capitals of the three naves, depicting zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures related to astronomical references. The Monferrato hills, north of Alba, are home to one of Piedmont’s famous wine regions. We visit a winery and enjoy a wine tasting of Barbera d’Asti and other local grape varietals. Back at the hotel, tonight’s dinner is on your own among the restaurants located within walking distance from the hotel. Day 3 – Piedmont’s Tour: Saluzzo and Castello della Manta Meals included: breakfast and dinner After breakfast, Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour arrives at the foot of the western Alps in the charming town of Saluzzo. The medieval vibe of the town, once the capital of a powerful Marquisate, together with the well-preserved architecture, are the reasons that led Saluzzo to be mentioned on Condé Nast as one of the not-to-be-missed beautiful towns of Italy. On the highest part of the town lies the Castiglia, the original medieval fortress, with views over the rooftops below. Walking downhill, we get to the Civic Tower, the Palace of Liberal Arts. We step inside the medieval church of St John and admire a highly decorated tomb in Gothic Flamboyant style. We continue along cobbled streets, past medieval porticoes on Via Carrera, all the way to the Cathedral, where we can admire a beautiful altarpiece by Flemish artist Hans Clemer. Piedmont’s Castles: the fairy-tale Castello della MantaAfter free time for lunch, a short transfer takes us to one of Piedmont’s most fabled Castles, Castello della Manta, built by the Marquises of Saluzzo. The tour of the castle focuses on the Baronial Hall, decorated with a fresco that takes the full length of the room. Named “Nine Worthies and Heroines” the fresco cycle is a masterpiece of chivalric tradition and it faces, on the opposite side of the same hall, “The Fountain of Youth”. This subject was known in French literature since the 12th century, and it is here represented with an interesting dynamism. Return to the hotel. Tonight’s menu includes the angel-hair pasta called tajarin or the small ravioli called plin, pinched by hand one by one, examples of the refined cuisine of Piedmont. Day 4 – Piedmont’s Abbeys Tour: Sacra di San Michele and Ranverso Meals included: breakfast and dinner Sacra di San Michele (St. Michael Abbey) and Ranverso are two iconic inclusions of

Sardinia Small Group Tour

8 days / 7 nights | Visit Cagliari, Nora, Su-Nuraxi, Orgosolo, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Porto Cervo

Puglia & Matera Tour

8 days / 7 nights | Visit Bari, Monopoli, Alberobello, Matera, Lecce, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Castel Del Monte, Altamura

Grand Tour of Tuscany

8 days / 7 nights | Visit Pienza, Viareggio, Montalcino, Pisa, Lucca, Siena and Florence

Western Sicily & Siracusa Tour

9 days / 8 nights | Visit Palermo, Agrigento, Favignana Island, Noto, Erice, Trapani

Naples, Positano, & Amalfi Coast Tour

8 days / 7 nights | Visit Naples, Pompei, Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi, Paestum

Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour

9 days / 8 nights | Visit Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Barolo, Alba, Portofino and Cinque Terre.

Food and Wine Tour in Piedmont

6 days / 5 nights | Luxury Hotel in the Vineyards, Turin, Cheese refiner, Michelin-star dinner, Lunch with the Truffle Hunter