Magic charme of Torino  

Piedmont is a generous and friendly land in the north of Italy . You will find here quiet roads in green landscapes surrounded by imposing mountains or sweet hills, the signs of a centuries-old culture and, last but not least, great wines and a refined gastronomy.
From Piedmont came the royal family of French extraction who united Italy in 1861; Turin was the first capital of this reign.
Don’t miss the opportunity of an extremely various tour: cycling on pleasant country roads or cycle routes, sometimes along the river Po , you will discover castles, fortresses, medieval abbeys, romanesque and baroque churches, royal residences and the irresistible fascination of this region so important for the history of Italy .

Program:

1st day  Individual arrival in Turin , possible short round trip in the centre; overnight in town

2nd day  Turin - Venaria - Alpignano; Alpignano - Exilles by train; Exilles - Avigliana   about 65 km
In Venaria you will cycle inside the great regional park “ La Mandria ”, former game preserve of Savoia including their wonderful castle and the stables. Bussoleno is a delicious mountain village with its typical stone roofs and houses; cycling almost always downhills you can reach Susa where you find interesting roman ruins and at last you come to Avigliana.You could visit the two delightful lakes of Avigliana included in a natural park and the medieval centre of the village

3rd day Avigliana – Pinerolo km 40
You cycling at the foot of morainic hills you reach Pinerolo, a small but delicious town, former residence of the most important cavalry school in Italy (it is possible to visit the Museum).

4th day Pinerolo-Cavour-Staffarda-Saluzzo - about 45 km
A very intensive day including Cavour with its “Rocca”, an alluvial hill 200 meters high -you can reach the top by foot- in the middle of the plain; the abbey of Staffarda, one of the most important religious residences in Piedmont; al last you come to Saluzzo, beautiful small town with its medieval centre placed on the top of a hill

5th day Saluzzo-Savigliano-Bra  -  about 65 km
Left Saluzzo behind you, in short you come to Savigliano with its interesting historical centre and then you begin the approaching - light uphills - to the hills of Langhe covered by vineyards giving some of the best Italian wines, like Barolo, Barbera, Dolcetto... In the late afternoon you reach Bra, delightful small town renowned for its gastronomy and, of course, for its wines.  

6th day Bra – Alba (by train); Alba -  Pollenzo – Racconigi  km 60  
interesting village with a roman anfitheatre where the Savoia built some monuments in neogotic style. Not far from here stands Alba with ist medieval towers, famous all over the world for its “Fiera del Tartufo” (gastronomic fair -taking place in October- where truffles and other gastronomic specialities are exposed). The overnight will be in Racconigi, in the plain where the Po flows towards Turin .

7th day Racconigi - Moncalieri - Torino about 45 km
In Racconigi you can visit the residence of the Savoia-Carignano dynasty; this castle is surrounded by a wonderful park; don’t miss the interesting historical centre of the village;  then, cycling along the Po inside the river park, you come to Moncalieri with its castle, another Savoia residence. At last, always along the Po, you reach Turin, noble town with an important past. We recommend a short tour through the centre by night.

8th day Individual departure from Turin

Level

 Easy; some dirt patches in fairly good conditions

RATES

Baggage transfer from hotel to hotel, transfer by train from Avigliana  to Bussoleno and from Bra to Alba, insurance 24h/24, emergency call numbers, bed and breakfast (individual) / half board (group) accommodation in three star hotels or “agriturismi” (farmhouses with en suite bathroom), detailed route/tour information (maps, plans, brochures; for individual tours detailed route description in english or german); only for group tours: support vehicle and english, german, french speaking guides

NOT INCLUDED

Transfer from origin to starting point and return; for individual tours meals ad beverages ; entrance fees to churches, museums and so on; tips and all the other personal expenses; everything not included at the item “the rate includes”