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Slow Food Tour, Piedmont – Italy

An exclusive tour for food lovers

Slow Food International Fair in Turin, Italy. A worldwide collaborative of farmers, chefs, and culinary craftspeople meet every two years in late September/October to work toward the preservation of the essence of what we eat, where it comes from and how it is made. Here, with this tour participants would be able to shake the hands of the farmer from Parma who raises the pigs that become the very special Parma hams, and the cheese maker who milks the cows and makes the real Parmesan cheese.
The Slow Food philosophy embraces the need to preserve the integrity of food’s origin, its taste, and its honored preparation, founded upon the cultures and traditions of small, independent artisans who take great pride in the methods, manners and incredible products of their livelihood.

The goal is to build a sense of relationship, loyalty and community as food is eaten, from the moment of a seed’s planting or the birth of an animal, through its conversion as food to the point where it enters the mouth and the inspired taste of the consumer. The Salone del Gusto is a venue that is no longer happening inside the Lingotto Convention Center but rather outside on the streets or the Valentino Park. It is a good occasione to learn about the magnificent city of Torino.

Typical Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 – September– Arrival day

Arrival at Milano Malpensa or Torino airport. Pickup your rental car or find your private chauffeur and go to a lakeside Hotel, the shores of Stresa, a well-known quaint town on Lake Maggiore. Get your previously booked room(s). Dinner with wine, café, and after-dinner drink and “buona notte.”

Day 2 – Relaxing day in Stresa

Stresa is an excellent base to discover Lake Maggiore palaces, villas and gardens to beautiful shops. Depart from Stresa its magnificent Borromean Islands with lush gardens and palazzos. A professional Eglish-speaking guide, as always suggested, can escort you for a tour that will make you discover the beauty of this unique town. You can have lunch “al fresco” lunch in one of the lake’s islands and a wide choice of small restaurants. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 3 – Totally dedicated to Salone del Gusto and the city of Turin

This year the event will be taking place on the streets of Torino. The location inside a convention center is outdated by now. The philosophy of good, clean and fair food, which involves the Slow Food and Terra Madre worldwide network, belongs to everyone and should be enjoyed by the broadest possible spectrum of public. That’s why the Region of Piedmont, the City of Turin and Slow Food decided to open the doors of the event and take over the most beautiful and prestigious sites in the city. Parco del Valentino, Borgo Medievale, Palazzo Reale, Teatro Carignano, Circolo dei Lettori and Reggia di Venaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are just some of the venues where the event will take place. Return to Hotel overlooking the lake for dinner and overnight. Return to your lakeside hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight. “buona notte.”

Day 4  – Another day in Turin overnight Cortemilia

This morning you’ll leave for Turin where you’ll spend most of the day and continue your discover of the city and international gastronomy. Late afternoon you’ll be leaving for Cortemilia nelle Langhe, our home for the rest of the time we’ll be in Piedmont. Check in at Hotel Villa San Carlo, where Carlo Zarri, a well-known Master-Chef and hotel owner will masterly prepare one of his famous dinners. Buona notte!

Day 5 – Acqui Terme/Langhe – Canelli

You can dedicate the morning your bodies. you’ll reach Acqui Terme, a Spa town famous for its natural hot springs. There are many choices at the spa such as: “Chocolate Beauty Day” (please, call us for details), “Cleopatra Beauty Day,” a “Mud Bath and Massage,” face massage, full–body massage, “Stone massage,” etc. The choice is totally up to you. There will be time for strolling the streets of Acqui Terme, to enjoy its excellent shopping opportunities and piazzas. Be sure to look for Acqui’s very interesting medieval area. In the afternoon, on the way back to Villa San Carlo you can stop at a small farm in Roccaverano, well known for its production of cheeses and Moscato wine. Return to your hotel where Carlo can masterly prepare another of his famous dinners. Buona notte!

Day 6  – Savona/Finale Ligure/Final Borgo

With a short ride bus we’ll be reaching the nearby region of Liguria, We will be visiting the city of Savona and the colorful and characteristic villages of Finale Ligure and Finalborgo, An olive oil tasting will be waiting for you. Return to Cortemilia for dinner and the night.

Day 7 – Pollenzo- La Morra-Barolo

Entire day to visit one of the world’s most famous wine regions: Pollenzo, seat of the University of Taste, this school prepares chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, and sommeliers with a five-year university program. We’ll visit the famous Banca del Vino (wine bank) where all transactions are conducted with wine. Wine tasting at the bank. Then onto La Morra, a village where the finest Barolo wines are produced. We will visit a winery and enjoy a tasting.
Last stop of the day will be at Grinzane Cavour, a castle that houses the Enoteca Regionale del Piemonte and the largest wine and Grappa library in Northern Italy.

Day 8 – Alba/Barbaresco/Neive

After breakfast, departure for Alba a city nah was born in Roman times. Guided tour and free time for individual activities. you can continue to the village of Neive, considered one of the most beautiful villages of Italy. Then onto Canelli, a village where the finest Asti wines wines are produced. you can visit a historic underground cellar winery and enjoy a tasting. Return to Cortemilia in the evening for a Farewell dinner, paired with proper wines. Buona notte!

Day 9 – Departure

Early morning transfer to Milano Malpensa airport for departure.

In case you decide to get the return flight from Malpensa Airport and since connecting flights to the USA are leaving early in the morning budged your time accordingly. Driving to Malpensa it takes about 2 hours. A nice suggestion could be traveling to Malpensa the evening before, spend the night near the airport, there are several hotels very conveniently located.