Treasures of Italy: Piedmont & Umbria

Your Italian holiday begins today at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers. Together, we join the Eurostar Plus service, enjoying a light meal at our seats enroute to Paris. On arrival, we switch trains and continue across France, passing the Italian Alps, on our way to the northern city of Turin.

The first capital of Italy and the former seat of the House of Savoy, Turin presents centuries of history which we can uncover during our three-night stay - our only tour to spend more than one night in this attractive city. The centre is surrounded by beautiful Baroque buildings and filled with charming cafés serving the famous wine and delicious culinary offerings of the Piedmont area, such as ravioli-like agnolotti, vitello tonnato and the fortified wine, Vermouth, which was created in Turin in the 18th century.

Arriving this evening, we check in to our hotel in the heart of Turin and then gather for our first dinner in Italy.

•  Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

Setting out into the wide boulevards and grand public squares of Turin after breakfast, we enjoy a grand introduction to this extraordinary city on a guided tour. Our local guide takes us to the famous Egyptian Museum, which has been a top attraction in Turin for more than 200 years. From here, we continue to the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama, both of which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

The tour concludes as we reach Caffè Baratti & Milano, a classic chocolate shop that dates to 1858. We have the opportunity to taste some of its delicious treats before continuing the day at leisure. You might like to grab a cup of coffee from the café before returning to the streets surrounded by Art Nouveau, Renaissance and Baroque charms. For a different perspective on the city, the Po river walking path offers views of the skyline, as well as the surrounding Alps.

With no planned dinner, tonight offers an exciting opportunity to savour Piedmontese cuisine. Fassona beef is regularly used in dishes and can be found in brasato al Barolo is a dish of tender beef slow-cooked in Barolo wine or the lemon-and-oil infused battuta al Coltello.

• Breakfast

Travelling deeper into Italy's picturesque Piedmont region by coach today, we head to Bra, a hidden gem in Italy's culinary crown. On arrival, we are met by a local guide as we set out on a walking tour of Bra's historic centre, seeing a Baroque façades and quiet piazzas, and hearing how this small town became the home of the Slow Food movement

Afterwards, you have some free time to continue exploring, and then we continue to a winery near Alba for a special experience - lunch with a tasting the local Nebbiolo wine. This unique product is known as the king of red wine in Italy, with its intense tannins, multi-layered flavour profile and deceptively light colouring. The bold taste offers the perfect complement to the rich regional cuisine.

Returning to our hotel by coach, there's a free evening to uncover more of Turin and enjoy the region's flavours.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Today brings a distinct change in scenery as we travel into Italy's interior by rail. Our destination is the Renaissance city of Florence in Tuscany, and on arrival, we see its classical appeal on a guided walking tour. Uncover the city's treasures at every turn, including the iconic, red-tiled Duomo, the Santa Maria Novella Church and the Ponte Vecchio, the famous 14th-century bridge.

After getting a glimpse at Florence's splendours, we continue by coach into yet another Italian region - Umbria. While it boasts all the lush agricultural landscapes and charm of Tuscany, Umbria remains a hidden gem whose ambience encourages slow and meaningful explorations in destinations awash in history. A highlight awaits as we check in to a unique hotel that was a monastery in the 1500s. The property retains a peaceful feel today, with sprawling views over the rolling vineyards and forested hills of Italy's 'Green Heart'. Dinner is served at the hotel tonight and each night of your stay in Collepepe.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 We set out into the beautiful Umbrian hills by coach this morning to discover more of this lesser-known part of Italy. Our drive first takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis. On arrival, a guided tour takes us to the Basilica of St Clare and the Duomo of Assisi, consecrated in 1253. A highlight of our tour is a visit to the Basilica of St Francis, renowned as a Christian pilgrimage site and for its immense artistry.

Afterwards, we continue to the walled town of Spello, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We enter through a 1st-century gate, and then the afternoon is yours to discover Spello at your own pace. Wandering through the maze-like cobbled streets, you can uncover history dating to the Romans, and in the spring and summer, witness swathes of colourful flowers lining balconies and alleyways, as this town is renowned for its floral displays.

We return to the hotel later in the day and enjoy dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Setting out after breakfast, another day of memorable explorations and postcard-perfect vistas lies ahead as our coach takes us to Gubbio. One of the largest and best-preserved medieval towns in Italy, Gubbio is filled with architecture dating from the 13th century and boasts fantastic views from its position at the foot of Mount Ingino. Its old-world charm is ours to uncover as we arrive and set out on a guided tour.

We wander amidst its piazzas, soaking up views of public palaces, cathedrals, gardens and the preserved city walls. You can continue exploring independently after the tour - perhaps visiting Mount Ingino's summit for panoramas before we move on to Todi by coach. Todi sits atop a hill in Umbria, which sets the stage for fairytale scenery and sprawling views. On arrival, we set out with a guide, admiring its medieval and Baroque architecture and soaking up history along the ancient streets.

We return to our hotel with time to unwind before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Umbria's capital and a renowned chocolate city, Perugia welcomes us today. Our coach picks us up from the hotel after breakfast and we drive to this 14th-century medieval city for a guided tour. Entering the historic centre, we uncover some of Perugia's most notable sites, including the focal point of the city, Piazza IV Novembre, and the 14th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral.

After the tour, you have some free time to find lunch locally or continue exploring at leisure before we uncover another element that Perugia is known for: chocolate. We head to the Casa del Cioccolato to learn about the history of these famous chocolates and how they're made We tour the on-site museum and see heritage in motion in the chocolate factory. Of course, there is plenty of time to try the chocolate treats.

We return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon and have dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings a look at Umbria's agricultural side as we set out by coach for the walled town of Torgiano, located in lush green terrain between Assisi and Perugia. Its long history has been characterised by the production of two products - olive oil and wine - which we explore at local museums on arrival.

Enjoy time to wander the exhibits of the Olive and Oil Museum, featuring displays from olive cultivation to oil lamps, and then see artefacts from the early days of wine production, as well as an 18th-century wine press, in the themed rooms of the Wine Museum.

We continue our day amongst Umbria's wineries, first travelling to Lungarotti Winery, where we sit down to lunch and a tasting of its flavourful white and red wines. After this enjoyable experience, we return to our hotel in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Enjoy breakfast surrounded by the tranquillity of our resort hotel before our coach collects us for the journey back to Florence, from where we join the train to Chambéry, via Turin.

This journey showcases the diversity of Italy's landscapes, as we travel from the vineyards and cypress trees of the sunny interior towards the mountains of the north. Eventually, our route becomes even more dramatic, as the Alps come into view and we near the French border. Look out at the towering peaks and sweeping valleys, and then watch as preserved medieval buildings come into view.

For its French location, Chambéry retains a distinct Italian ambience. After checking in to our hotel for the night, we enjoy a short walk before sitting down to dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 An Italian journey to treasure, this unique holiday offered insight into several of the nation's most notable regions. From the historic streets and flavours of Piedmont to the Renaissance art of Tuscany and the hidden gems of Umbria, this has been a deeply immersive way to experience Italy.

After breakfast, we begin our trip home from Chambéry by joining the TGV to Paris. On arrival in the French capital, we take our Plus seats on Eurostar, enjoying a light meal enroute to London St Pancras, where our journey of hidden delights comes to a close.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal