Tailor Made Holidays - Fast Cars and Slow Food

HIGHLIGHTS

Stay in under-the-radar and authentic Italian cities such as Bologna and Turin
Experience a wide variety of food and wine including Parma ham, parmigiano, truffle and Barolo
Chase the cult of speed at supercar museums and racetracks
Appreciate beautiful scenery – rolling hills and vineyards which are perfect for gentle hiking and e biking
Family-run hotels and authentic restaurants offer fantastic local experiences and are great value
Wine tasting is a highlight with Barolo and Barbaresco being the big hitters alongside unsung varieties including great sparkling wine
Piedmont is the home of the slow food movement and you can visit family-run small scale producers of the region’s specialities
The town of Asti has one of the top Christmas markets in Europe

This ten-day road trip starts in Bologna and finishes in Turin, exploring two of Italy’s lesser-known regions, tasting your way through towns and villages while experiencing the area’s natural beauty and varied charms from exhilarating supercar museums to phenomenal wine tasting.

HIGHLIGHTS

Stay in under-the-radar and authentic Italian cities such as Bologna and Turin
Experience a wide variety of food and wine including Parma ham, parmigiano, truffle and Barolo
Chase the cult of speed at supercar museums and racetracks
Appreciate beautiful scenery – rolling hills and vineyards which are perfect for gentle hiking and e biking
Family-run hotels and authentic restaurants offer fantastic local experiences and are great value
Wine tasting is a highlight with Barolo and Barbaresco being the big hitters alongside unsung varieties including great sparkling wine
Piedmont is the home of the slow food movement and you can visit family-run small scale producers of the region’s specialities
The town of Asti has one of the top Christmas markets in Europe

Who For

Foodie couples and Italophiles looking to explore lesser-known regions

When To Go

It’s a destination that works year-round, but September or October would be our recommendation, and this coincides with truffle season in Piedmont.

Good To Know

Asti has one of Europe’s best Christmas markets which could work well for a family break in December.

Combine With

In summer you might like to head to the Italian lakes or the Ligurian coast for some relaxation. Or continue the journey and extend the trip into France and the Cote d’Azur.

Day 1-2

Cultural Bologna

Fly into Bologna, Emilia Romagna’s capital. Bologna is a dazzling display of its culinary heritage being the birthplace of ragu, lasagne and tortellini. Beyond the restaurants, find a lively university town, a tangle of streets and arcades, the striking medieval towers of La Due Torri and the magnificent Piazza Maggiore.

From here, you can also take days trips to Ravenna and Ferrara, both gorgeous, honey-coloured Italian towns brimming with history. Ravenna is known for its exquisite early Christian mosaics found in churches scattered around the town including the Basilica di San Vitale. In Ferrara, explore Renaissance architecture like Este Castle with its moat and the eye-catching façade of the Diamanti Palace.

Stay

Phi Hotel, Bologna

Right in the heart of Emilia Romagna’s capital Bologna, Phi Hotel is a short walk from the atmospheric and imposing Piazza Maggiore. Rooms have a quirky, modern design while apartments offer a more stylish and spacious stay, ideal for families or a longer sojourn. Breakfast is a highlight – a showcase of delicious low-food-mileage produce.

Day 3-5

Delve Deeper

Begin your road trip in earnest and head northwest into the rolling hills of Emilia Romagna. Delve deeper into foodie towns that sit along the old Roman road, which became known for producing local delicacies. Explore the town of Parma, famous for its melt-in-the-mouth ham which you can taste at numerous restaurants, in between wandering the historical centre and medieval cathedral. In Modena, visit the Casa Giusti Museum to learn the history of Modena’s oldest vinegar-producing family.

For something different, explore the cult of speed at the museums and showrooms of Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. Home to the most famous car brands in the world, feel the thrill of driving a Ferrari on the track at the Ferrari Museum or spin around the famed racetracks of Imola or Misano. For a slower pace, hire a classic car such as a Fiat 124 Spider to enjoy a day in the hills of Terre di Canossa, stopping at a scenic spot for a picnic full of local delights.

Stay

Roncolo 1888

Surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and endless hills, historic 16^th-century villa Roncolo 1888 is a great choice for those that like to be immersed in rural landscapes, albeit with all your creature comforts. It’s also a fantastic foodie enclave with an organic winery, on-site balsamic vinegar factory and the glorious greenhouse restaurant La Limonaia.

Day 6-8

Slow Food Movement

Leaving Emilia Romagna behind, head into the under-the-radar region of Piedmont, home of the slow food movement, fantastic wine and the delicious Alba white truffle. Get stuck in with plenty of hands-on foodie experiences such as a farm-to-table excursion which sees you making pasta using stone-milled flours from ancient grains, learning about bio-intensive cultivation methods and enjoying a seven-course vegetarian meal.

Explore Piedmont’s rich wine-making culture with a visit to a family-owned Barolo vineyard followed by lunch at a traditional osteria, sampling dishes often dusted with truffles, passed down through generations. For activity, hike or e-bike in the scenic Langhe hills, cycling past medieval castles, vineyards and ancient amphitheatres with views that stretch to the Alps or enjoy an exhilarating electric Vespa tour, through hilly Langhe, stopping for lunch in a traditional Piedmont restaurant.

Cultural experiences and museums abound in towns like Alba which has an annual truffle fair in Autumn and Asti which is home to one of Europe’s most authentic Christmas markets.

Stay

Villa Pattono

An 18^th-century country house of nobility wrapped in centuries-old trees and productive vineyards, Villa Pattono has been beautifully restored, showing off historic frescoes, a neo-Gothic tower and antique furnishings. A state-of-the-art winery produces the distinctive Barolo red wine that the region is famed for.

Day 9-10

Off-radar Turin

Finish your foodie tour of Italy with a stay in Piedmont’s capital: Turin, home to magnificent monuments, famous squares, designer shopping and hidden treasures. In comparison to other Italian cities – Turin feels blissfully off-radar. Perfect for wandering, discover the Piazza Castello enclosed by historic buildings including the Royal Palace, a UNESCO site with beautiful gardens and museums.

Turin Cathedral is worth a visit – you may see the occasionally displayed Turin shroud – believed to be a relic of Christ, and the Museo Egizo holds the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo. Foodies will enjoy strolling the Porta Palazzo Market – one of the largest open-air markets in Europe, full of fresh local produce and regional specialities.

"Those with a sweet tooth may be interested to learn about Turin's chocolate traditions with a tasting at the city’s best giadujotti bottega. After a few days exploring Turin, return home, full of foodie memories from your time in northern Italy."

Stay

Principe di Piemonte

An elegant choice in the centre of Turin, the Principe di Piemonte is decorated in a retro art deco style dotted by Murano glass chandeliers and designer lighting with a welcome spa and wellness centre. Bedrooms come with parquet flooring and marble-enveloped bathrooms that look out over the city and on to the Alps.