HIDDEN TREASURES OF NORTHERN ITALY: THE PRIVATE HERITAGE TOUR

11 days From €8500 per person
  • Overview
  • Highlights

Days 1-3: Steel design and precious textiles of the Lake District

The day starts from Stresa – Lake Maggiore with a boat tour of the Borromean Islands and then you will reach the lovely little town Omegna on the top of Lake Orta where Alessi, the steel design manufacturer, has its factories and showroom. Then you will move down to the delightful Orta San Giulio where you will have an aperitif in the cosy square, siding the small lake and overlooking the tiny island which still hosts a monastery. Tonight you will experience an amazing gourmet dinner and night at an awesome property by the lake. The day after you will move to the Alps and specifically to Valsesia and Biella “cashmere districts”, heritage of two other historical Italian families: Loro Piana and Zegna. In the morning in Varallo Sesia you will have the opportunity to visit the outstanding Sacro Monte, the best preserved sample of the “educational barrier” the Roman Catholic Church built centuries ago against the Protestant threat, spreading down from Geneva and the Swiss Alps towards Italy. In the afternoon you will reach Biella to visit the Oasi Zegna, an open air museum build by Ermenegildo Zegna, the founder of the company producing outstanding textiles. End the day in Turin.

Day 1
  • Boat tour Borromean Islands
  • Italian dinner
Day 2
  • Full day excurtion to Valsesia and Biella, Sacro Monte, Oasi Zegna

Days 4-5: The two Turin Dinasties

To Italians Turin means dinasties: the Savoy Monarchy and the Agnelli family car producer. The strong industrial heritage of this city meant that for decades Italians looked to it as an ugky duck, but since the Winter Olympic games in 2006 everyting changed and now the city has converted into a real swann. You will visit the masterpiecies built by the two families, from the outstanding, optical Galleria Grande at the Venaria Reale to the Car Testing Helicoydal Ramp at the Lingotto, from the Guarini Chapel hosting the Sacred Shroud to the Officina Grandi Riparazioni where train used to be built, from the rationalism masterpiece of the Regio Theater to the historical cafés where you will have the chance to taste the best chocolate in Italy, from the landmarking Mole Antonelliana to the Egyptian Museum, second just to the one in Cairo – Egypt.

Day 4
  • Visit Regio Theater, Chapel of Sacred Shroud, Galleria Grande, Lingotto
Day 5
  • Visiti mole Antoneliana and Egyptian Museum

Days 6-7: The sweet hills of hazelnuts, food and wine

Explore the post industrial new gold mines: the vineyards, the “slow food” philosophy and the neverending empire of the Ferrero Family – producer of the iconic Nutella spread. Leaving Turin you will arrive in Barolo and Langhe where food and wine meet art and history: from the Barolo wine cellars and the Barolo Chapel by Sol Lewitt to the FAI Manta Castle with its enchanting middle age tale of the youth fountain. You will enjoy an unforgettable dinner at a top Michelin star restaurant in the cosy town of Alba and you will visit the old Monastery now hosting the Slow Food University in Pollenzo. In the late afternoon you will cross the last section of the Maritime Alps and climbe down to the Doria kingdom: Genoa.

Day 6
  • Tasting of wines and typical products
Day 7
  • Visit Slow Food University

Days 8-9: Genoa, the Doria maritime republic where Columbus started all

Discover the “black and white striped town”, the architectural pattern branding Genoa legacy everywhere throughout the Mediterranean: San Lorenzo Cathedral with its underground treasure museum, Palazzo Rosso and Bianco in the Strada Nuova , Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Reale, cosy Boccadasse and the lovely neighborhood of Nervi with its wondeful park overlooking the sea. The second day you will move a few miles east reaching the beautiful Camogli, a Ligurian Manhattan, with its middle age tall buildings ending on the Tigullio gulf. From Camogli a boat will take you first to San Fruttuoso, a maritime village build around the Abbey hosting the Doria pantheon and then to the “postcard” Portofino ending to Santa Margherita, from where you will reach Milan in the evening.

Days 10-11: The XX century roots of the Milan style

While Paris stand for fashion, Milan stands for style: sometimes too crazy the first one, sometimes too classical the second. Discover the XX century roots of the Milanese Style, involving fashion, furniture, design objects and architecture. From Giò Ponti to Castiglioni, from Armani to Munari, from Prada to Portaluppi, from Fornasetti to Cassina to Kartell, from Magistretti to Sottsass all those and many others Milanese contributed to build the stylish brand of this city which you will discover through a red thread starting with the astonishing Art Nouveau of Palazzo Castiglioni and Casa , going through the Art Deco of Villa Necchi Campigli, Triennale and Central Train Station, the rationalistic lines of Giò Ponti “Grattacielo Pirelli” and Oscar Niemeyer “Mondadori” headquarter, ending with the contemporary pulses of Fondazione Prada and Gae Aulenti Square in Porta Nuova District. All of that, trying not to forget that you are still in the city of Leonardo “Last Supper”, “La Scala” Opera House, Michelangelo “Pietà Rondanini”, Brera Art Gallery, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and, last but not least, late gothic Duomo Cathedral.

Day 10
  • Visit palazzo castiglione, La Scala, Duomo
Day 11
  • Visit Brera art gallery, Vittorio Emanuele gallery

This is a selected example of our journeys. Contact us to personalize it.

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  • 10 Nights accommodation in exclusive and fascinating 4 star sup./5 stars Boutique Hotels or Historical Mansions, with full buffet breakfasts: 1 Night in Lake Maggiore, 1 Night in Lake Orta, 2 Nights in Turin, 1 Night in Alba countryside, 2 Nights in Genoa, 3 Nights in Milan.
  • Private Boat Tour of the Borromean Islands in lake Maggiore with private English Speaking Guide.
  • Full day excursion to Valsesia, Biella, Oasi Zegna, Sacro Monte.
  • Full day excursion to Barolo, Alba, Langhe countryside, Manta Castle and Slow Food University.
  • Private Guided Tour of a Barolo Winery with wine tastings.
  • Private Boat Tour of the Gulf of Tigullio, Camogli, San Fruttuoso Abbey, Portofino, Santa Margherita with private English Speaking Guide.
  • Private Guided Tours of the Production Facilities and Showrooms of iconic Made in Italy products such as Design Objects, Textiles, Food.
  • Private Sightseeing Tours of Turin and La Venaria Reale Royal Palace, Genoa and Milan with expert local English speaking guides; including all the entrance fees to the sites visited avoiding long waiting lines.
  • Exclusive access to several Historical Private Villas and Palaces with meetings with the landlords.
  • Approximately 50% of lunches & dinners included both at gourmet and local family run restaurants.
  • All private transfers by deluxe bus with English speaking driver available for transfers and excursions for the entire Tour (including airports).
  • Our professional assistance for the whole duration of the Tour.
  • The tour begins and ends in Milan.
  • Please note that price is based on 12 to 20 paying participants. In case of less than 12 participants, price may increase because of minimum fixed costs that need to be covered.

 

This is a selected example of our journeys. Contact us to personalize it.

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