ITALY
PIEDMONT, CINQUE TERRE, TUSCANY AND LAZIO

Our walk begins in Torino. Once on the Gourmet Trail, we travel into the Piedmont - one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Surrounded by the high alps, its landscape is like a grand garden with valleys, vineyards, hazelnut bushes and old castles. A food lover’s paradise! Wonderful cheeses, grapes, wild herbs, grappa, wine and most importantly the famous white truffles. These are just some of the mouth-watering treats which await you after a day’s walking.

In Novello we are ideally located to explore the famous vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco. The charming nearby towns of Asti and Alba are only a short drive away. Located between Tuscany and the French border is the famous Cinque Terre; five idyllic fishing villages standing out like a string of precious stones. Our walking track follows what must surely rate as one of the world’s most stunning coastal paths as it winds its way through the Cinque Terre National Park.

We base ourselves for 3 nights in one of these famous villages - Riomaggorie. Soak up the atmosphere of a genuine Mediterranean seaside village as you explore the narrow streets and discover for yourself why UNESCO have declared this a World Heritage Site. On your free day you can explore further a field by catching the ferry to Portovenere or La Spezia.

The magic of Tuscany is not only its culture which brought forth the Renaissance or masters like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci but its magnificent countryside.

Our walk leads us through medieval hilltop villages, rolling hills, fertile valleys, vineyards, olive groves and forests ablaze with colour. Our trail takes us through the wooded countryside of Chianti and the hills around San Gimignano.

At night enjoy delicious Tuscan cuisine; vegetable timbale with a basil sauce, bruschetta, guinea fowl in vin santos, memorable porcini dishes, the best pasta and mouth watering pastries.

We spend 4 nights in a beautifully restored Tuscan farmhouse which overlooks the world renowned Tuscan town of San Gimignano.We travel through the Crete Senesi, the charming landscape south of Siena, to Lazio.

This lesser known region of Italy is an area of volcanic lakes, mountains, gorges, olive groves and vineyards. Much of the landscape was formed by the eruption of volcanoes, which has produced hot springs and rich fertile soil. Before the rise of Rome the Etruscans and the Latins populated it.

Rich archeological sites can still be found. Our walk ends in Florence, the capital of Tuscany and one of the world’s great art cities.

OUR HOTELS & CUISINE

Our hotel in Piedmont is in a small village in the heart of the Langhe hills near Barolo. It is an original neo-Gothic castle, standing on the remains of a medieval site and has magnificent views from its large terrace. In the restaurant we will be spoilt with a delicious selection of Piedmont gastronomic specialities.

In the Cinque Terre we stay in a comfortable hotel, perched on top of the old village of Riomaggiore. It is beautifully situated, overlooking the Mediterranean and the terraced vineyards. In our restaurant we can enjoy typical Ligurian cuisine, fish and seafood, with the classic Cinque Terre white wine.

The next 4 nights are spent in a grand country estate, nestled in the hills, surrounded by olive trees and overlooking San Gimignano. It has a beautiful landscaped garden, complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts. A highlight here is the opportunity to eat in some of the best local restaurants in this famous region of Tuscany.

Our final 3 nights are spent in a wonderful hotel in Bolsena, right at the edge of Lake Bolsena. It is set in a nice garden, complete with swimming pooll.

Tour combination

Departure dates have been arranged to allow the "Follow the Gourmet Trail", "The Paradors and Road to Santiago", "Taste of Europe" and "Croatia and Slovenia " walks to be combined.