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 Manta
After 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 the Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour.
The iconic St. Michael Abbey, in particular, perched on a cliff that dominates the alpine Susa Valley and the plains of Turin, is often used as a symbol of Piedmont and its rich medieval history.
The abbey’s strategic position gave it considerable power, as it controlled merchants, pilgrims, and conquerors traveling between Italy and France. It had political and economic power, and it still preserves a mystical and evocative atmosphere that inspired the writer Umberto Eco to set his novel “The Name of the Rose”.
After the guided tour, relax on the shores of the lake of Avigliana, where lunch is on your own.
The Abbey of Ranverso, a Treasure Cove of Piedmont’s Art
In the afternoon we transfer to the nearby abbey and pilgrim hospital of St Anthony in Ranverso.
This abbey was built along the pilgrim route connecting the Alps to Rome, and it was conceived to assist wayfarers and people in need of care. The medieval hospital boasts a Gothic-style façade and is next to the peaceful cloister.
With donations from nobles and aristocrats, the abbey increased its power and became known for the cure for shingles and skin infections.
Enter the Romanesque church, enriched by works of art by the most prominent masters of the XV century: a cycle of frescoes by Jacquerio and the highly ornate altarpiece by Defendente Ferrari.
Return to the hotel. Tonight’s dinner is focused on the wide array of starters for which Piedmont is known: sliced boiled veal topped with a tuna and caper sauce, vegetable soufflé served with Alpine cheese fondue, and more.
Day 5 – Piedmont’s Castles and Abbeys Tour: Asti
Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Breakfast and check out.
Depart for Asti, the most powerful town in southern Piedmont between the XI and the XIV centuries.
Families of bankers and fabric traders left marks of their wealth that are still visible in the modern city: slender medieval towers, private palaces with gates and windows in clay and sandstone, and streets of Roman origin named after their family names.
The Cathedral of Asti is considered the largest Gothic cathedral in Piedmont, and it contains works of art by the local painter Gandolfino da Roreto, originally commissioned by prominent families. The walking tour ends in one of the central piazzas of Asti, and it brings to life some of the stories related to the Palio – the oldest horse race in Italy.
We celebrate the end of our Piedmont Castles and Abbeys Tour with one more lunch in a rustic farmhouse set in the countryside.
In the afternoon, a transfer back to the airport can be arranged.
Important Info
ON REQUEST
Get an accurate quote for a private tour, based on the number of participants of your party. Fill in the form below or send an email to info@meetpiemonte.com
The rate includes:
- 4 nights in a 4-star hotel near Chieri or in Turin, breakfast included
- Tour guide for 5 days
- Transportation as per itinerary
- 3 traditional dinners with wine included
- 2 traditional lunches with wine included
- 1 wine tasting
- Entrance tickets to St Michael abbey, Castello della Manta, Ranverso abbey
- Credit card commissions
- 22% VAT
- Tour Operator limited liability insurance
The rate does not include:
- Hotel city tax
- Personal Insurance
- Any other meal, tasting, entrance fee, transfer, personal expense, tips and anything else not mentioned above in the field “The rate includes”. The wine included is the one presented during the meal or wine tasting and it is never unlimited. Any extra is at your own discretion.
Flight Information
- Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the tour cost.
- Suggested arrival and departure airport: Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Turin (TRN).
- The tour is confirmed with at least 6 participants
- A 30% down payment is required in order to confirm the reservation (refundable up to 90 days).
- The remaining balance is due 45 days before the tour.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- There shall be a 250€ non-refundable processing fee (per person) on any cancellation request, regardless of the time frame within which the cancellation is submitted;
- From 90 days to 46 days before the performance of the Tourist Package, by paying a penalty equal to 30% of the price;
- From 45 days before the performance of the Tourist Package, by paying a penalty equal to 100% of the price
- Read the full terms and conditions here.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance can cover different trip components, from the full trip cost for unforeseeable reasons to medical expenses, emergency transport, luggage loss, theft while on tour, and evacuation. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000.
While each insurance company has different deadlines and policies, our partner Global Rescue allows customers to purchase their best insurance package (IMG Signature Plus) that includes the “Cancel-For-Any-Reason” policy within 20 days from the initial deposit. Other less-inclusive memberships can be purchased until the date of departure.
- To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances. This is not a physically demanding tour, however, there will be a lot of walking, often on uneven steps, cobblestones, uphill and downhill. One of the charming aspects of Italy is its historical and architectural conformation. Many towns and attractions can only be visited on foot, as vans and buses cannot access the pedestrian areas where most places of interest are located.
- Unfortunately we cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Our tour managers and tour guides are unable to provide ongoing individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other physical needs.
- While the driving time on our tours is limited, getting to remote farmhouses and villages may require driving on windy roads that may cause motion sickness.
- Due to the historic nature of many of the luxury boutique hotels where we stay, some rooms may include stairs and differ in size and layout.
- A complete list of things to know about Italy, such as what to pack, money, electricity, health, tipping, VAT refund, and more, will be sent after the completion of the first down payment.
Trip Highlights
- Stay 4 nights in Chieri or Turin
- Expert tour guide
- Traditional food of Piedmont and wine tasting
- Gain access to less-visited sites
Reviews
Read all reviews on Tripadvisor, Google, and WeTravel
We found the wine and cheese tasting to be outstanding as an excellent representation of the Piedmont Region range of artisanal production. My 5 star rating goes beyond the Barbaresco Wine & Cheese Tasting however, because we did so much more with Meet Piemonte. Every activity was superlative: Truffle Hunting, Barbaresco Wine & Cheese Tasting, local transfer/ transport service and Piemonte Cooking Class. All activities were curated, arranged and supervised to perfection by Marco, Fanny, Alessandra and everyone at Meet Piemonte. Everything went flawlessly starting with their replies to my initial inquiry to completion of the activities. Meet Piemonte provided patient, thorough, careful and clear communication throughout the booking process and tour operation. (In our case: in English.) By paying attention to our priorities, Meet Piemonte adjusted our itinerary to meet and exceed our desires.
By ROBERT N H on Dec 10, 2025
What a wonderful experience. Meet Piemonte is the whole package!! From our arrival in Milan, followed by Lake Como, Piemonte region to the final day in Santa Margherita Ligure, everything you can think of is taken care of for the group. The well thought out itinerary allowed us time to relax and enjoy each of the places we visited while showing us many of the sights and telling us the history for each. We visited wineries, went truffle hunting, took a cooking class, cruised on Lake Como, and a highlight was having dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant!! Meet Piemonte's groups are always small and it is a great feeling to not be part of a large tour group following a guide holding a flag!!! I would highly recommend the tours that Meet Piemonte offers... you won't regret it!!!
The planned itinerary for us was perfect to best utilize our time in the Piemonte area. We had 3 nights at a quaint hotel right on lake Como. 3 nights at a nice, perfectly situated hotel in Alba, and one night at a perfect location in Turin. All transfers private guides and selected winery and cheese tastings were wonderful. Had an excellent private cooking class and dinner at a lovely women’s home. Marco was available at all times to assist with restaurant recommendations, reservations, etc. overall a well planned and enjoyable trip to the Piemonte area of Italy
This trip was wonderful, and our bike guide, Gabriele Ferraro, was fun, attentive and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the Barolo biking and wine tours, hazelnut groves and truffle tasting. I do wish we had had a welcome at the hotel from your group as the hotel staff didn’t have much information about our tour. A welcome package or representative would have been nice. But it all worked out, transportation was comfortable and efficient from the hotel in Milan to Barolo and from Barolo to Lake Como. The ebikes were great.
