Fall Photo Journey through Piedmont & Liguria

Monferrato – Langhe – Maritime Alps – Riviera

October 11-19, 2012

On this tour we will follow in the centuries-old tracks of salt smugglers as they made their way back from inland trading centers to the Mediterranean Sea through some of northern Italy’s most spectacular countryside. The tour is ideal for the photographer or travel enthusiast keen to explore the Barolo and Barbera wine countries of Piedmont, wander through olive groves and hill towns below the 9,000-foot Maritime Alps in Liguria and discover a splendid Mediterranean port. This tour is marvelous in the fall, when the grapes are harvested, the vine leaves change color and porcini mushrooms and white truffles might be plentiful.

During the tour, 7 nights lodging at lovely accommodations (full of local character) and ground transportation are provided. Many meals are included, too… see the designations B, L and D for the meals that will be provided each day.

Airfare to and from Milan Malpensa (MXP) airport is not included.

Day 1 – October 11

Into the Monferrato
After our arrival in Milan’s Malpensa airport, we’ll drive about an hour and a half through the risotto-rice growing Po River plain, leaving the 15,000-foot Monte Rosa of the Alps looming behind us. As we cross the Po river, we’ll enter the realm of the Monferrato. Once a powerful independent state in its own right, this region is now known for its Barbera and Grignolino wine production, superb cuisine and serene countryside. Our destination is a village in a little-known corner of the region, where we’ll enjoy a lunch of typical monferrino specialties before walking to our very scenic hilltop village-vineyard-restaurant-home for the next two nights. L,D

Day 2 – October 12

Sorpresa & Infernot…
Nice surprise, or sorpresa, this morning… Then, we’ll head to another lovely hilltown for lunch followed by a fascinating subterranean exploration underneath the buildings themselves, where a series of wine cellars (known as infernot in local dialect) have been creatively excavated from the rock. A photographic walk on the trails around our hilltown might be in order this afternoon, during that divine hour of light before sunset. B,L

Day 3 – October 13

Into the Langhe – La Morra
After passing through the tiny Ruchè production area for a wine tasting, we’ll cross the Tanaro River and enter into the hills of the Langhe region, where the unique Nebbiolo grape achieves its maximum expression in Barolo and Barbaresco wines. We will have lunch in the hill town of La Morra, stroll amidst cru vineyards and enjoy a tour and tasting at a traditional La Morra Barolo wine producer. Afterwards, we will head to our hotel in the higher Langhe hills, where we can take a sunset stroll and photograph from a panoramic ridge overlooking the surrounding region before dinner. B,L,D

Day 4 – October 14

L’Alba & Alba
Early morning photography from the hill behind our hotel, soon after alba (sunrise) when light starts to hit the surrounding Alps. Then we’ll visit the town of Alba, capital of the Langhe, and have free time to explore on our own, perhaps to shop for torrone, tartufi (truffles) or other local goodies. In the afternoon we will visit a nearby hilltown where we can taste chocolate at a historic producer. B

Day 5 – October 15

Upper Langhe & Serralunga d’Alba
This morning we’ll head into the rugged hills of the Upper Langhe for a walk through an area renowned for the presence of Italian Resistance during WWII. Then we’ll enjoy a cheese-tasting lunch savory cheese made from the milk of the Langa sheep, a breed that has disappeared from all but a few local farms. We will then return to the sea of vineyards, towards Serralunga d’Alba and its towering castle. A delightful vintner family will offer us a tour of their facilities and wine tasting, during which we will enjoy their excellent Serralunga Barolo.

Tonight we’ll directly experience the historical importance of the salt smugglers. Legend has it that, in their attempts to avoid discovery by customs agents, they hid their salt under layers of anchovies – inadvertently introducing the anchovy to Piedmont cuisine. We’ll have the opportunity to try local specialties that feature this tiny fish in delicious salsas like bagnet verd, a parsley-based green salsa. B,L

Day 6 – October 16

The Maritime Alps and the Italian Riviera
We hop a train this morning in Cuneo and head south towards the Maritime Alps. We’ll pass through the Colle di Tenda pass, one of the most important trade routes through the Western Alps. On the other side of the tunnel, we arrive in the town of Tende, France, which we’ll tour with a local guide. After a typical regional lunch, we’ll stop at a marvelous frescoed chapel before continuing down the valley, the larch making way for olive trees as we approach the Mediterranean Sea. We’ll re-enter Italy in the region of Liguria. Our home for the next two nights is in a beautiful hilltop village, inland from the aptly-named Italian Riviera dei Fiori, or ‘Flower Riviera’. B,L

Day 7 – October 17

Domain of the Doria
We’ll explore our home village this morning, meandering through its narrow lanes on our way to the central piazza. Then, accompanied by a local guide, we’ll head up to a nearby, 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 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 head to the fortified town of Dolceacqua, former seat of the powerful Doria family. B,L,D

Day 8 – October 18

Bordighera
Our destination today 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. B,L

At this point, those of us not participating in the Ligurian post-tour will make their way north to Milan’s Malpensa airport. The lovely hotel we recommend is very close to the airport and has a fine restaurant.

Day 9 – October 19

Milan, Italy – USA
The hotel shuttle service will take us to the airport.

A presto in Italia! (See you soon in Italy!)

Price: $2,995 USD per person

based on double occupancy and if booked by Feb 1 Includes all lodging and ground transportation and many meals.

*Price is based on a 1 euro = 1.4 dollar exchange rate; if reservation is completed by Feb 1, 2012 it will not be subjected to currency fluctuation.

Don’t wait – space on this tour is extremely limited!