Itinerary

Please note: Walks are optional. If you have other interests and would like to do some things not in the itinerary, just let us know and we can change the daily plan for you.

Sunday

Meet your group at Turin airport or railway station, leave for Verduno about a one hour drive away. Stay at a picturesque, country style hotel, Real Castello, the summer home of Italian King Carlo Alberto in the 1840s.

After settling in, dine in the hotel's frescoed dining room, gazing out open shutters to a peaceful garden, drinking the robust, red spicy Pelaverga wine and eating authentic regional dishes.

Monday

Explore the La Morra area, driving along its winding country roads, gazing in awe at the spectacular views of the verdant Barolo wine valley below. Walk down through vineyards to the Ratti family winery. Their wine museum in the Abbey of the Annunziata dates back to 1162.

Enjoy a personal tour and tasting with one of the winery’s effervescent owners (also a local celebrity!) who will teach you about what makes Barolos so exquisite and the rich history behind these wines.

Eat a light lunch and sip wines like the aromatic white Arneis or robust red Barbera in the picturesque hill town, Castiglione Falletto on a cafe terrace with hill views.

Return to Real Castello for your early evening cooking lesson on typical Piemonte dishes like onion tart, risotto with Barolo and guinea hen with rosemary and bunet, a Piedmontese cocoa pudding cooked in a caramelized mould.

Before dinner, visit the Real Castello wine cellars where your host tours you through the cellars and gives you tastings of the acclaimed wines including Pelaverga, that resembles a spicy Barolo and is made only in Verduno.

As you savor your exquisite dishes in their frescoed dining room, you’ll understand why the Real Castello restaurant is known internationally for its fine cuisine.

Tuesday

Drive through the wine country hills, taking in the marvelous views, to Barolo and visit the historic Marchesi di Barolo winery with 200 year old cellars.

Travel to the hill town of Serralunga to visit a unique medieval castle, renovated in 1340. With the castle's entertaining guide, discover ingenious architectural features that kept invaders. On the top floor, marvel at the 360 degree views of the medieval town walls and the vine covered hills all around you.

On an isolated ridge, visit a family farm where friendly Francesca shares a slice of their everyday life with you. On their farm they produce their own cheeses and most of what they eat. Lunch at their wooden dining table in their kitchen of Francesca’s specialties. After lunch Francesca tours you around their farm.

In town of Sinio at a farm inn enjoy a full menu hands-on cooking lesson of traditional Piedmont dishes with some wonderful local women, excellent home cooks and dine on your creations with them.

Wednesday

Drive to Portovenere on the Italian Riviera south of Cinque Terre, stopping along the way in the pretty seaside Riviera town of Camogli. For lunch, enjoy fresh focaccia and vegetable torts on the beach or in an outdoor cafe – weather permitting. Afterwards, stroll through Camogli’s picturesque old centre, port and beach for a real slice of small town Italian life.

After a one hour drive, reach the port of Portovenere with beautiful coastal views, medieval walls, a castle and colorful, small port. Check into the pretty, three star Hotel Paradiso facing the sea. Walk along the sea, up to the castle, or along narrow streets filled with gelato shops and coffee bars or simply sit at an outdoor seafront cafe and watch life go by.

Dine on stellar fish and seafood back at your hotel’s terrace, with stunning views of the Bay of Poets below.

Thursday

Explore the food and culture of the nearby Cinque Terre - five villages that hug the dramatic cliffs of the northern Italian coastline. Towns are connected by an oceanside pathway so you can explore them on foot or arrive by boat or train.

In the beautiful Vernazza, walk past terraces of multicolored houses before lounging in a restaurant on the piazza by the sea for your midday meal of pasta with fresh basil pesto and local seafood. 

In late afternoon return to Portovenere by boat, arriving back at your hotel at around 7 pm. Dine at another wonderful restaurant and on sumptuous pasta, seafood and vegetable dishes.

Friday

After a final breakfast, you'll depart for La Spezia train station.

2010 Tour Dates

Dates by request. Just ask us for the dates you want.

Prices per person

For group of 6-8 people

1765 Euros (approx $2295 Cdn or $2260 US). Single supplement: 280 Euros (approx $364 Cdn or $358 US)

For group of 4-5 people

2005 Euros (approx $2605 Cdn or $2565 US). Single supplement: 280 Euros (approx $364 Cdn $358 US)

For group of 2-3 people

2245 Euros (approx $2920 Cdn or $2875 US). Single supplement: 280 Euros (approx $364 Cdn $358 US)

Included:

• hotel accommodation
• all meals
• cooking lessons
• excursions
• transport in private minivan
• private transfers from/to pick-up/drop-off points of Turin and La Spezia
• attentive guide throughout
• 1/2 hour Italy trip planning consultation with Mama Margaret
  

Not included: Wines with your meals so you can choose the wines you like.

Extend Your Italian Trip!

• Food Lovers! How about exploring Italy's gastronomic paradise around Bolognawith a local family?
  
• Going to Tuscany? Enjoy cooking, markets, wines with families in Florence and the Tuscan countryside!
  
• Savour Sicily! Share cooking, food, wine, volcanoes, walks with fun loving local families in Sicily.
  

Contact us today about extending your Italian holiday at margaret@italycookingschools.com or 800-557-0370 within North America and 604-681-4074 in Vancouver, BC Canada or internationally.