Day Tours

All of our 4 to 10 day excursions can be customized as desired. We’ve listed a number of 1-2 day tour possibilities below, all originating from the longer versions with the exception of the Milan and Piacentino tours. Please contact us for more details and booking.

1) Milan Explorer (1 day)

An adventurous spirit is sometimes required to discover Milan’s most fascinating features - some of which remain hidden even to Milanese natives. An art historian will lead us today through the heart of Italy’s renowned city of commerce, from the stupendous Duomo cathedral to La Scala Theater and into the artsy Brera district. In the afternoon, we’ll change into fashion mode as we explore a few well-known boutiques/outlets in the famous “Golden Quadrilateral of Fashion”… but not only. We’ll also venture off-piste and visit several smaller stores as well, owned and run by the designer himself/herself - where we may find items that cost 50-70% less than they would if sold in the Golden Quad area.

This evening we can visit the vibrant Navigli (canals) area, and enjoy a typical Milanese aperitivo-dinner along one of the canals.

Those who wish can duck out of the fashion afternoon and take a train (30 min) to the first hill outside the city – for a good walk, wine tasting and/or dinner overlooking the Po river plan and the Western Alps.

2) Into the Monferrato (1-2 days)

We’ll start with a tour of Casale Monferrato, Renaissance capital of the Monferrato. We’ll visit its Baroque synagogue, learning more about the historic Jewish presence in this region from a member of the community. Then we’ll enjoy a typical lunch at a neighboring hill town, followed by an interesting subterranean exploration… underneath the buildings themselves, where a series of wine cellars have been creatively excavated from the rock… and a wine tasting.

The second day of the tour could include visits to one or more other local synagogues, and a walk through the harmonious countryside.

3) Bellagio Hamlets (1 day)

Bellagio is made up of a number of small villages, some situated along the lake and others built further up on the slopes of 6,000 foot Monte San Primo. We’ll take a delightful walk through the center of Bellagio, and up through several of these outlying hamlets. After a visit to our guide’s cultural museum in one of the more ancient of these villages, we’ll walk back down to the lake for lunch and afterward, stroll through the magnificent Villa Melzi gardens. A wine tasting can also be arranged at a splendid lakeside villa.

4) Barolo Wine (1-2 days)

This morning, we’ll stroll amidst cru vineyards and enjoy a tour and tasting at a Barolo wine producer in La Morra. Every Barolo village produces wines with different characteristics, thanks to the unique soil composition and sun exposure of the particular vineyard sites. Afterwards, we’ll head across a sea of vineyards towards Serralunga d’Alba, home of some of the most powerful Barolo wines. There, our delightful hosts will offer us a wine tasting - lunch, during which we will enjoy their excellent Serralunga Barolo. The tour can also be spaced out over two days, and include more extensive wine tasting-lunches on either day.

5) Into the Apennines & Bologna (1-2 days)

We’ll drive for an hour or so to the hills south of Bologna, where the Apennine Mountains rise from the Po River plains. We’ll begin our guided walk at Brento and climb to the top of Monte Adone, from which we’ll have a spectacular view of the Setta River Valley. We’ll explore the Monte Adone ridge, which is lined with trenches dug by the Germans during the Second World War as a part of their attempt to stop the Allied troop advance in 1943-44. We’ll stop for lunch at a farmer’s house, where we’ll enjoy tagliatelle, homemade egg-based pasta, with Bologna’s typical sauce, ragù. After our meal, we’ll stroll to the top of the hill overlooking the house, where we’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

2nd day: An art historian will lead us this morning through Europe’s oldest university – as well as several other remarkable art and architectural treasures. After lunch, we’ll continue our stroll through the Bologna’s historic center, stopping in at several shops of local interest, including the “Liutaio”, home to a violinmaker, and the “Libraio”, where books are assembled by hand.

6) Portofino Coast (1 day)

After a leisurely stroll through Santa Margherita Ligure, we’ll take a boat ride along the rocky coastline of the Portofino Promontory to the medieval abbey of San Fruttuoso, hidden in a secluded natural harbor. After a short rest on the beach in front of the Abbey, we’ll climb through Mediterranean forest to simple farmhouses covered with valeriana and musky ginestra flowers, finding our way along paths lined with terraces overlooking the sea. As beautiful, gated villas come into view, so will the tiny harbor of Portofino, which will likely be packed with incredible yachts from all over the world. After lunch, we’ll walk to the nearby lighthouse, where we’ll have a great view off the entire Tigullio Gulf. We’ll also take the opportunity to visit the town’s shops and galleries, before returning to Santa Margherita.

7) Piedmont Cooking & Turin (1-2 days)

Our hands-on foray into the world of Piedmont cuisine will begin with a bit of shopping, as we pick up some of our supplies at the local markets. We’ll then begin our cooking lesson at a restaurant in Avigliana, preparing the dishes which we’ll enjoy for lunch. Our meal will feature such traditional local specialties as risotto made with Valle Susa blue cheese, Valle Susa polenta cake, and other dishes made even more unique thanks to our chef-mentor’s personal touch. After lunch, we’ll walk up to the Sacra di San Michele, a spectacular monastery-fortress that overlooks the entire valley.

On the second day, we’ll visit Turin, former capital of the long independent Piedmont state. We’ll begin in a most deliciously civilized manner, over a scrumptious hot chocolate at a classic café in the city center. Energized, we’ll then walk through the heart of the city, with its splendid baroque architecture, and take a guided tour of the magnificent Royal Palace of the Savoy family. After lunch, we’ll head to a well-known chocolate factory for a tour of their production facilities and, naturally, a tasting, and finish the day with a visit to architect Filippo Juvarra’s masterpiece, Superga Basilica. The basilica overlooks the entire city, and if we are lucky enough to be there on a clear day, we’ll be able to see the great curve of the Western Alps, and the snow-covered peaks surrounding us on three sides.

8) Mantua (1 day)

This morning we’ll follow the north side of the Po River on tranquil country roads, to the lovely town of Mantua. Situated on the southern side of two natural lakes formed by the Mincio River, Mantua was for many years the capital of a strategically-positioned duchy, ruled by the Gonzaga family, that later included the Monferrato region to the west. The Gonzagas’ ducal palace is celebrated by scholars worldwide for its fresco, La Camera degli Sposi (“Bridal Chamber”), painted by Andrea Mantegna. After lunch, which might include Mantua’s renowned tortelli di zucca, we’ll visit Giulio Romano’s masterpiece, the Gonzaga’s Palazzo Tè, with its beautiful gardens in which we’ll take a relaxing stroll. A visit to the beautiful synagogue may also be included on request – Jews thrived here under the liberal Gonzaga.

9) Bordighera & Dolceacqua (1-2 days)

Our destination is the lovely coastal town of Bordighera. Our local guide will lead us on a walking tour of this renown winter residence of European nobility, with its many splendid villas, one of which we will visit. Then, we’ll make our way among the date palms that border the trail along the sea, following in the footsteps of Claude Monet who painted several scenes of Bordighera from this vantage point. Our walk will conclude with a visit to the historic center of Bordighera Alta, perched above the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean.

2nd day: We’ll head up to a higher hill town which overlooks 6,000-foot peaks to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Our walk takes us up through Taggiasca olive groves (the small Taggiasca olive makes one of the best olive oils in Italy) to a lovely agriturismo (working farm) overlooking the valley. Here we can enjoy a wonderful lunch on homegrown and homemade specialties, perhaps including a pesto dish, a torta salata di verdura (savory vegetable pie) and abundant fresh fruits. Afterwards we’ll descend to the fortified town of Dolceacqua, former seat of the powerful Doria family.

10) Piacentino (1 day)

We’ll explore a magnificent area of the Piacentino region today, situated to south of the town of Piacenza at the foothills of the Apennines, a couple hours from Milan. We’ll begin with a visit to the principle valley village, once a very important religious center. Then we’ll enjoy a walk along the splendid river that winds its way through the valley, admiring the inviting blue waters and hilltop villages enroute. Finally, our taste buds will be rewarded with a taste of one of Northern Italy’s best cuisines – gnocco fritto and superb salumi await us, but not only, be sure to save room for an abundant array of sublime primi and secondi as well.

Please note that our local guide has prohibited us from revealing more in any online text, and in fact insists that travelers sign a non-disclosure agreement during the tour with a few drops of precious Gutturnio. ;-)

11) Valtellina Walking & Wine (1 day)

This tour is perfect for hikers and lovers of robust red wines. The Valtellina is a long mountain valley northeast of Lake Como; our day will begin with an early morning walk through a dramatic side valley known as the “Little Yosemite” of Italy. In the afternoon, we’ll take in a tour and wine tasting at a historic local wine producer. In this valley, the Nebbiolo varietal - the same grape which makes Barolo in the Langhe region - has for centuries been used to make excellent wine; sometimes, in fact, wine is made in the style of the Amarone, resulting in a superlative, dry vino da meditazione.