Washington and Lee University
To know Italy well, one must measure it on foot, taste its wines and cheeses, listen to the melody of its vernacular in the winding lanes of its villages, and savor its palette of fragrance in the open air. From such intimate experience, one derives a lifetime of memories and, inevitably, a nagging urge to return.
For this sweet immersion in the Italian Piedmont, we’ve turned again to our friend Mario Corvetto, who produced our Italian Walks program in 2004. Mario is thoroughly familiar with the undulating hills and back roads of Northern Italy, the picturesque villages and vineyards, and the charming hotels where hospitality is still a family affair. During this journey, we’ll follow in the tracks of the old salt smugglers. Their spectacular overland routes reveal how they made their way back from inland trading centers to the Mediterranean Sea through some of Northern Italy’s most spectacular countryside. This adventure is ideal for those keen to explore the Barolo wine country, or wander through olive groves and hill towns below the 9,000-foot Maritime Alps, or discover, as if by accident, a splendid Mediterranean port. Each day, we’ll walk between three and 10 miles as we sample the vintages and delectable cuisines of Northern Italy. We’ll rise each day to the evocative murmur of the local life in historic towns, stroll along lightly traveled, cypresslined byways, dine in the charming trattorias and ristorantes that only seasoned travelers know, and rest each night in well-chosen small hotels and inns. With fine guides, selected wines at every meal, and transportation for those choosing to rest between destinations, the Italian Piedmont package is bound to appeal to a variety of impulses. Each group on this exclusively W&L tour will be limited to 22 travelers.
The scenery will be inexpressibly lovely, of course, the food and wine exquisite, the exercise invigorating, and the fellowship superb as we come to know the subtle flavors of the beloved Piedmont region of Italy.
Download the complete itinerary and reservation form (.pdf)
