Tailormade tour Liguria, Piemonte and the Italian Alps fly-drive tour Italy

12 nights/13 days

Santa Margherita • Piemonte vineyards • Cogne in the Gran Paradiso National Park

This 12-night fly-drive touring holiday of northern Italy takes you from the sophisticated waters of the Mediterranean on the Ligurian Riviera, through the noble vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco and on to the serenity of the Italian Alps and Cogne in the shadow of the Gran Paradiso National Park. This touring holiday effortlessly combines stylish and tasteful spots for rest and relaxation by the sea, with the chance to explore world-famous vineyards in Piemonte and to be active in the mountains.
Holiday price guide

Available year-round subject to the opening period of the hotels, from £4,070 per person.

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Highlights

Pass the Cinque Terre • Visit Portofino • Taste the wine truffles of Alba • Wine-tasting in Piemonte • Visit the chocolate makers of Piemonte • Walk in the Gran Paradiso • Visit the Giardino Botanico Alpino Paradisia

Day by day

After your arrival in Pisa, collect your hire car and drive north to the seaside resort of Santa Margherita on the Ligurian Riviera. Spend a few hours observing the many historical and architectural delights of Pisa, such as the Torre Pendente, to make the most of this touring opportunity. Your hotel in Santa Margherita, however, is the Grand Hotel Miramare. Opened in 1903, the hotel occupies a privileged beach-front position in Santa Margherita Ligure on the Portofino Gulf, the views across which are mirrored in the blue hue of the shutters that frame the hotel windows. During your stay here you may want to visit the neighbouring village of Rapallo. Rapallo’s iconic image is its waterfront Castello, built on a small rocky outcrop. Now used primarily for temporary exhibitions, the quirky castle is still open to the public. On the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of July, the Castello di Rapello plays host to a fireworks display in honour of Rapello’s patron saint, Madonna of Montallegro. A vision of the Madonna was said to have appeared to a farmer on the site of the Santurio di Montallegro, a church built at the top of Monte Allegro. The Sanctuary is resplendent in its colourful Italian marble, with the Byzantine icon as its focus. The building has come to represent a real sense of community for Rapallo, with pictures of past residents decorating the walls. Rapallo’s impressive connections contribute to its status as a favourite destination on the Ligurian Riviera; in the past it has attracted literary names such as Ezra Pound and Max Beerbohm, while the high-arched Ponte di Annibale bridge delineates the town’s connections with Hannibal. Explore further along the coastline by taking one of the many trails from the Santurio di Montallegro, hiking across the Regional Park on the promontory of Portofino, or via a boat trip to Comogli or Portofino. Portofino’s location offers a sense of exclusivity that across history has attracted painters and A-list stars alike. Its small port has a few bars and restaurants that are known across the continent, while the beauty of its historical landmarks incentivises a more active day out. The Castello Brown offers a quiet shady retreat from the Italian sun, as well as magnificent views from its hilltop position, and from here, you can walk along the coast to Faro Lighthouse, overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio and a vast pine forest. If time permits, drive down to the famous Cinque Terre to see the precariously perched fishing villages, with their undeniable authentic charm. Dine in the evening at the hotel’s restaurant, tasting the refined but creative palate that they specialise in.

To reach your next port of call on this touring holiday, drive from Santa Margherita along the coast and through Genoa, a city famous for its exquisite lace. Head inland from seaside Savona, and observe the countryside change as the horizon becomes mountainous. Situated in the Langhe wine region of the Cuneo province, near the vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco, your next stop is Monforte d’Alba. Spend two nights in the Villa d'Amelia, sampling the best wines of Piemonte and Northern Italy by venturing out into the surrounding vineyards and taking a wine tour. Stop off at the elaborately decorative Parrochia Madonna della Neve, in Monforte d'Alba, to see its intriguing exterior as well as its interior blue ceilings and ornate golden decoration. Whilst you are there ramble around the ancient walls of Palazzo Scarampi, a somewhat quaint Italian castello, with the appearance of a manor house, which dates back to the 13th century. Take advantage of the lively community spirit that the summer months bring, and watch a jazz concert or theatre performance at the outdoor Horszowski Auditorium, exclusive and private due to its small size. For a fulfilling day-time excursion, perhaps drive up to the wine town of La Morra for a wine-tasting experience, or drive the short distance to Serralunga d’Alba to explore its atmospheric central castello. The larger city of Torino, or Turin, is just an hour and a half northwards. Spend a morning browsing the shops and cafes under the arcades of the Piazza San Carlo, before taking the glass floating lift up to the top of the Mole Antonelliana, famous for its size, with a pointed roof that reaches high above Torino. Just outside the city sits the Basilica di Superga, an 18th century basilica painted a shade of gold, with spectacular views of both the Alps and the city below. Travel below the city in the underground Pietro Micca Museum, which features nine miles of underground tunnels and the detailed story of the 1706 siege and battle of Torino. Aside from this, the pleasure of Torino, Monforte d’Alba, and the other neighbouring villages comes with walking along their streets and becoming acquainted with the Northern Italian way of life.

Leave Monforte d’Alba on your eighth day and drive north through Torino, perhaps using this day to explore the city, before skirting around the Gran Paradiso National Park and entering the surreal settlement of Cogne. The Hotel Bellevue in Cogne is in a charming rustic building, surrounded by green countryside, the rising grey faces of the Alps, and their snow-capped peaks. Recognised as a building of historic interest, your Alpine chalet hotel is packed full of character. It offers a wide range of spa facilities and treatments in the quirky but enchanting spa, by the pool’s own waterfall. Dine in the evenings in the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, which has a widely-known reputation for excellence. This landscape is ideal for the more active traveller, offering sports such as mountain-biking, mountaineering, horse-riding, and fishing among others. In the winter, Cogne is a popular destination for skiing or skating holidays. For those looking to relax in Cogne, perhaps take a stroll through along the Torrente Grand’ Eyvia, or seek out the ponds and mountain refuges of the Gran Paradiso National Park. Take the light walk along the Lillaz Waterfalls trails, exceptional in any weather, and experience the wonder of having such abundant wildlife so close. The Alps are known for their rare flora and fauna, and the range of plant and flower species that flourish in the area can be seen in the highly interesting Giardino Botanico Alpino Paradisia. In the evenings, venture out to see the beauty of the town and landscape as the light fails. To experience even more of the Aosta Valley and Alpine landscape, drive north to Mont Blanc and, unless you are afraid of heights, take the skyway to its peak and see the French and Italian landscape from a new angle. The Aosta Valley’s torrents and rivers are considered to be some of the most exciting in Europe, providing some un-paralleled opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, or rafting. Whatever activities you choose to partake in during your five night stay, Cogne is the ideal base for an exciting and varied holiday, and offers an important and intriguing insight into the treasures of northern Italy.

Stay in Cogne for as long as you can on your final day in Italy, before heading south to Turin. Return your hire car, and then embark on your return flight to London.

Special offers for this holiday>

I enjoyed every minute of the tour. Cindy-Marie was simply fantastic and her knowledge, kindness and humour was all that I could have asked for. This was a first class experience. Thank you for making it all happen.
Customer on Tuscan wine tour, June 2022

Holiday price guide Prices from £4,070 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code ITFD05

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Special offers for this holiday>

I enjoyed every minute of the tour. Cindy-Marie was simply fantastic and her knowledge, kindness and humour was all that I could have asked for. This was a first class experience. Thank you for making it all happen.
Customer on Tuscan wine tour, June 2022

Holiday price guide Prices from £4,070 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code ITFD05

Our prices include ● Scheduled flight with British Airways from London to Pisa, returning from Turin to London
● Group B hire-car for the duration of your holiday
● Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Miramare in Santa Margherita on the Ligurian Riviera
● Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the Villa d'Amelia near Alba in Piemonte
● Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Bellevue in Cogne in the Italian Alps
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints

Our prices do not include ● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel

Additional information Driving time for this touring holiday
Pisa to Santa Margherita 1 hour 30 minutes
Santa Margherita to Benevello 2 hours 25 minutes
Benevello to Cogne 3 hours
Cogne to Turin 2 hours

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Expressions Holidays includes these hotels in this touring holiday as suggestions, but they can be substituted by others in the same region, if you have a preference to stay elsewhere.
Hotels included in this tour

Special offers

Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.

I enjoyed every minute of the tour. Cindy-Marie was simply fantastic and her knowledge, kindness and humour was all that I could have asked for. This was a first class experience. Thank you for making it all happen.
Customer on Tuscan wine tour, June 2022

Holiday price guide Prices from £4,070 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.

Holiday Code ITFD05

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Highlights of the Italian Alps

Hiking and skiing in the Aoasta Valley; the annual autumn Alba Truffle festival, with more than 40 taking place in various towns and villages in Piemonte. Some Piemonte guesthouses and hotels can also arrange for you to go truffling with a local hound; the baroque piazzas and palaces of Turin, where the Fiat car factory is an interesting visitor attraction in its own right; the Italian Lakes north of Milan, such as Lake Maggiore, Como, and lovely little Orta, which has a Benedictine monastery right in the middle; boat trips on Lake Maggiore to visit the Borromean Islands; the beautiful hill town of Bergamo, with a funicular railway up to Bergamo Alto to visit its stunning 15th century chapel; the mediaeval village of Arca on the upper reaches of the Sarca River Valley; boat tours of Lake Lugano; spectacular views from Monte Mottarone above Stresa on Lake Maggiore, reached by cable car; national parks such as the Stelvio National Park north of Orta and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande above Verbania on Lake Maggiore; Milan, with its magnificent gothic cathedral, famous La Scala opera house and 19th century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, perhaps the most elegant shopping arcade in the world; Verona's annual opera festival as well as its sights, including the Romanesque church of San Zeno, the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio and the Roman Arena.

Travel around the Italian Alps

Trains and buses connect Milan and Verona with the villages and ski resorts to the north, as well as the lakes of Lombardy. As with all trains and buses in Italy, the service is fairly efficient and relatively cheap, and buses in particular are a good way of getting between villages once in the mountains themselves. However, as it often requires several changes to reach smaller, remoter destinations, by far the best way to explore this area is by hire-car, which we include with all our holidays to the Alps.

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Highlights of the Ligurian Riviera

There are numerous places of interest on and around the Ligurian Riviera. Visit the resort of Nervi with the collection of clocks, fabrics, furniture and lace in the Villa Luxoro and its Galleria d'Arte Moderna. Genoa, a busy port and bustling city, also has fine palaces such as the Palazzo Reale and the Palazzo Bianco and the fascinating Steglieno Cemetery, full of elaborate tombs. The wild beauty of the Cinqueterre should be seen from the ancient footpath, the Sentiere Azzurro, which links the coastal villages. The Abbbazia di San Fruttuoso on the Portofino Peninsula can be reached by boat or on foot. In Camogli sea shells adorn the house walls and the castle contains a display of sea creatures. Flower market in Sanremo early mornings. Giardino Hanbury near Ventimiglia. Diano Marino known for its olives and sandy beaches. Visit Andora Castello, inland from Alassio, known as the finest mediaeval building on the western Riviera.

Cultural highlights of the Ligurian Riviera

The 12th Century Church of San Matteo in Genoa, with its striped black and white Gothic facade. The 16th Century Via Garibaldi in Genoa, designed by Cantone. The `Adoration of the Magi` by Joos van Cleve in the Church of San Donato in Genoa. Crucifixion by Van Dyck in the Church of San Michele di Pagana between Santa Margherita and Rapallo.

Festivals in the Ligurian Riviera

Festivals include the Blessing of the Fish in Camogli in May and the Stella Maris procession of boats to the Punta della Chiappa in August. Procession at Montallegro, above Rapallo, is held at the beginning of July. La Spezia holds a `Festa del Mare` on first Sunday in August.  

Gastronomy in the Ligurian Riviera

Local cuisine is influenced by the sea in particular and the mountains to the north. Local specialities include dishes made with pesto for example Trenette al Pesto and Farinata which is a flat bread of chickpea flour and oil, thin like a pancake and eaten as a snack. Pansoti with walnut sauce is a Ligurian speciality of spinach and egg filled pasta with a sauce of nuts, garlic, herbs, ricotta and olive oil.

Liguria, Piemonte and Italian Alpsl luxury fly-drive tailormade touring holiday

Highlights of Piemonte

Turin, the regional capital, is a fascinating city of Baroque architecture and famous for its association with Fiat cars. Visit the car museum, the Mole Antonelli for a panoramic view. Visit some of the beautiful 18th Century House of Savoy palaces, many built by Filippo Juvarra, including Rivoli, Venaria Reale and Mandria. North of Turin is the subalpine region of Canavese with numerous castles many of which have been opened to the public very recently such as the Castello di Masino, now carefully restored. Lace is produced in the Valsesia. Alba is the centre of the white truffle and of course the local wines (Barolo, Barbera etc) should be tasted and purchased. Cuneo holds a market in the Piazza Galimberti every Tuesday.

Cultural highlights of Piemonte

Turin is laden with architectural treasures including the Palazzo Madama by Filippo Juvarra (now home to the Museo Civico d`Arte Antica which contains the 15th Century Portrait of an Unknown Man by Antonello da Messina), Guarini`s Palazzo Carignano, the Baroque buildings of the Piazza San Carlo.In Cuneo is the 18th Century Church of Santa Croce with a concave facade by Francesco Gallo. Vercelli had a school of art and its masterpieces can be seen in the Museo Civico Borgogna and in the Chuch of San Cristoforo are to be found frescoes and a 16th Century Madonna painted by Gaudenzio Ferrari. In the Palazzo Comunale of Alba is a painting of the Madonna and Child by the 16th Century artist Macrino d`Alba.The finest Romanesque buildings in Piemonte are to be found at the Abbey of Vezzolano at Albugnano.

Festivals in Piemonte

Many are linked to food and wine in this region. Asti holds an annual horse race in the Piazza del Campo del Palio, accompanied by mediaeval pageantry and coinciding with a local wine fair in September.

Gastronomy in Piemonte

Cuneo holds a cheese fair in November. Ivrea is famous for its Carnival celebrations including a Battle of Oranges. The region is renowed for its gastronomy and wine. Beef, cheese, butter, red wine, rice and truffles (particularly the white truffes of Alba) are all basic ingredients. Specialities include Manzo al Barolo (beef in red wine and garlic), Fonduta (hot dip of fontina cheese, milk, eggs, truffles and pepper), Bagna cauda (hot spicy sauce with garlic and anchovies), The wines of the region include Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto.

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