Departure from the US for overnight flight to either Milan or Turin, Italy.
Airfare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can help you get the best routing, airfare and schedule.
Arrival at Milano Malpensa or Torino airport; independent transfers to your hotel in the center of town.
Check-in for 4 nights and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
The first gathering of the group is for a welcome dinner at a restaurant serving local cuisine where you will meet your traveling companions.
Full-day sightseeing with a local guide followed by an “aperitivo” in one of the outstanding historic cafés in Torino. Free time for lunch on your own.
See the Piazza San Carlo with the equestrian monument to Emmanuel Phillibert; then admire the beautiful historical buildings of Piazza Carignano. In Piazza Castello you will stand in the heart of the city. Discover other sites such as Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama and San Lorenzo Church.
In the afternoon, visit the Museo del Cinema in the Mole Antonelliana, which includes artifacts from Marilyn Monroe, Federico Fellini, Boris Karloff, and even Wile Coyote. The Mole Antonelliana, the most famous building of Torino was built originally as a synagogue.
Dinner at a carefully selected restaurant in Torino.
Morning excursion to the beautiful Venaria Reale Palace and gardens. This magnificent royal palace is a UNESCO world Heritage site filled with baroque art and elegant and luxurious furnishings.
Free time for lunch on your own and return to Torino.
After a leisurely lunch in the area, we return to Torino to visit the Museo dell’ Automobile. The Collection of the MAUTO boasts one of the rarest and most interesting exhibits of its kind with over 200 original cars of 80 brands from all over the world. The collection includes the earliest Italian cars, a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, racing cars by Ferrari and Alfa-Romeo, and the 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A featured in the movie Sunset Boulevard.
This morning we’ll tour the Porta Palazzo street market, considered one of the largest markets in the world followed by a cooking class with renowned Torinese chef Sergio Maria Teutonico with lunch consisting of the dishes we prepare.
Torino is famed for its chocolates and sweets like Gianduia (chocolate-hazelnut-caramel confection), invented in Torino. We’ll end the day with a chocolate tasting at one of the city’s most celebrated chocolate shops.
Transfer to South Piemonte.
On the way we’ll visit the Martini & Rossi Company’s wine museum, followed by a mixology class with one of their skilled Martini Ambassadors.
Arrival in Bra and check-in at our hotel for 5 nights followed by a light lunch.
Afternoon guided sightseeing in Bra including the Palazzo Traversa, which dates back to the middle of the 15th century and is attributed to a branch of the noble Malabaila family of Asti who moved to Bra.
Truffle hunt in the woods with a truffle hunter and his dogs (white truffle season), followed by a rich tasting of truffle products and refreshments in the wood (light lunch).
Time at leisure in Alba.
Visit a grappa distillery with tasting.
Full-day experience at a professional cooking school.
We’ll start with a wine class with a sommelier for a comprehensive overview of the rich and ancient tradition of wine making in Piemonte (awarded with UNESCO patronage for the vineyard hills of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato).
Lunch at the school.
In the afternoon, a cooking class with a professional chef, followed by dinner with what you have prepared.
Panoramic drive among the “Barolo hills,” famed for its superb wines. Barolo is known as the King of Wines due to its rich and complex flavor profile that can include notes of cherries, roses, truffles, and even tar. Barolo wines are also renowned for their high tannins and acidity, which make them excellent for long-term aging. We will visit a Barolo Winery and enjoy a wine tasting followed by a light lunch at the winery paired with wines.
After lunch, we will visit the Castle of Barolo first built in the tenth century and restored and changed many times through the centuries.
In the morning, visit an affinatori (a specialist in choosing and aging fine cheeses) in Bra with a tasting.
Afternoon visit to the Castle of Grinzane Cavour built around the middle of the 11th century on top of a hill. With its beauty and incomparable architecture, it overlooks the stunning panorama of the Langhe hills, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Leisurely walk in Pollenzo, through the courtyards and premises of the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences. Visit the “Banca del Vino” (Wine Bank), followed by a wine tasting.
Farewell dinner in Bra.
Transfer baggage on board to Malpensa Airport (all the group together) and departure.
Turin Palace**** in Torino (https://www.turinpalacehotel.com)
Sept 20 – 24, 2024
At the Turin Palace Hotel, you will experience an unforgettable stay in a unique atmosphere, full of appeal and absolute comfort. Our hotel is in Turin city center, where you can enjoy a spectacular view from our wonderful terrace. The light-filled rooms in our recently remodeled, historic 1870 building exude mystique and elegance and welcome our guests in an ambience of pleasant relaxation. The Turin Palace Hotel is also an opportunity to refresh your body and mind in the warm Wellness Area & Spa and enjoy the pleasures of fine dining with the refined gastronomical creations at the restaurant Les Petites Madeleines.
Albergo Ascheri**** in Bra (https://www.ascherihotel.it/
Sept 24 – 29, 2024
The Albergo Cantine Ascheri created right above the wine cellars is a unique place in terms of conception and construction. Four stars and with a modern and enveloping atmosphere, it is located in an ideal position between the hills of Langa and Roero and Turin, taking advantage of the geographical centrality of the city of Bra.
$6,990 per person sharing in a double room
Deposit $750 due upon registration
Single supplement + $785
Final payment due: Friday, July 5, 2024
| This trip is a land only program. You can book your airline ticket prior to travel. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, routing and value for your ticket. Milan Malpensa airport (MXP) may be the best choice but you could also fly in and out Milan Linate (LIN) or Torino (TRN) airports depending on possible connections and / or your departure and return gateway. Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own, please provide us with a copy of the ticket. Let us know if you wish to add the hotel and airport transfers on arrival and departure. |
Celestial Voyager’s Terms and Conditions relate to specific contracts with various suppliers. The policies and regulations below must be strictly enforced.
Aliza Green Cultural & Culinary Tour: Piemonte: Land of Fine Wines and Slow Food and Celestial Voyagers Terms & Conditions are based on specific contracts with their partners. Some changes may occur due to unexpected circumstances; in such cases, Aliza Cultural & Culinary Tours, Celestial Voyagers, and all their partners in Italy will provide alternatives to surpass your expectations and deliver a trip of superior quality.
We may adjust the program, but we will commit to creating the best possible solutions for guests providing safety, comfort, and ease as our top priorities.
DEPOSIT & PAYMENTS
A deposit of $750 is paid on line at time of registration and will guarantee your space and the type of room you wish to reserve. We do recommend registering as soon as possible.
Final payment is due by Friday, July 5, 2024.
Should you register after Friday, January 5, 2024, full payment is due; deposit can be paid on line and the balance due should follow as soon as you receive your invoice.
CANCELLATION BY THE PARTICIPANT:
Your deposit is refundable up to Thursday, June 20, 2024 minus $350 processing fee.
Final payment is die on Friday, July 5, 2024
For cancellation received in writing between Friday, June 21, 2024 and Saturday, July 6, 2024, the deposit is non refundable.
For cancellation received in writing between Sunday, July 7, 2024 and Saturday, July 20, 2024, the penalty is 50 % of the trip value.
For cancellation received in writing after Saturday, July 20, 2024 and in case of no show the penalty is 100% of the trip value.
Should you be able to provide a new participant to take your place the name change fee will be waived and no penalty will apply.
We highly recommend taking travel insurance to protect yourself from these penalties.
CANCELLATION BY TOUR OPERATOR:
All trips will operate with a minimum of 6 participants. We do recommend whenever you can to register early.
If by Friday, July. 6, 2024, the minimum number of participants has not been reached the trip will be postponed and you will receive a full refund.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details or call Marriam at 646-525-8777 for assistance and more information.
https://celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Passport
Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before March 29, 2025, you must apply to renew your passport.
Visa
If you are not a U.S. citizen please check with the consulate of Italy or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Aliza Green is a renowned chef, an award-winning author of 15 cookbooks, and a certified tour director who is experienced in planning and leading international culinary tours. She loves to share her deep culinary knowledge, her fascinating stories, and kitchen tips and tricks gained from her extensive experience in the kitchen.