DeSalvio Travel's group Italian Journey

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An unknown Side of Italy

Piedmont is one of those regions that can easily be missed when planning an Italian journey. It sits close to France and Switzerland, with the Alps rising around Turin and Pinerolo and the hills of the Langhe stretching toward Barolo. It is quieter than many of Italy’s better-known destinations, but there is an extraordinary amount packed into a relatively small area. For us, that makes Piedmont particularly well suited to a four-day pre- or post-trip extension. Rather than trying to cover the whole region, we have selected what we consider its essential experiences and given them room to breathe.

The itinerary begins at Relais Villa d’Amelia, where we have two nights in the Langhe. From there, the journey moves through wine country and truffle country before continuing toward Turin. The final night is at the GH Sitea in the centre of the city. It is not a long stay. It does not need to be.

Truffles, Barolo and the Langhe

Food is one of the reasons I have such a strong connection to Piedmont. During the five years I lived in Pinerolo, I tasted many local wines and was fortunate to know a great wine collector. Some of my favourite evenings involved cooking dinner while we opened special vintage Barolos together. The Langhe brings that connection between food and place into focus. The region is known for its Barolo and Barbaresco, wines that can remain in cellars for decades. Then there are the white truffles, porcini mushrooms and the many local ingredients that make Piedmontese cooking so distinctive.

On this journey, we spend a full day in the Langhe with a private guide, travelling through Barolo and Barbaresco country before a truffle experience and lunch. There is also time for a wine tasting. For me, tasting a truffle in the region where it was found is something very different from eating one elsewhere. A freshly found truffle has a quality that is difficult to reproduce after time in storage. Guests will actually search for them themselves before tasting them.

That is the kind of experience we want to include: something connected directly to the place rather than something that could have been arranged anywhere.

Savoy Palaces and Music

The House of Savoy left a remarkable mark on Piedmont. Their centuries of influence can still be seen throughout Turin and the surrounding countryside, particularly in the palaces and residences they commissioned or occupied. Stupinigi is one of the most striking examples. We visit the former hunting lodge on the way from the Langhe to Turin, with a private two-hour guided visit.

But the historic buildings become something different when music is added.

Our first concert takes place at Palazzo Taffini. The second is at Villa Tesoriera in Turin. I have played in both and consider them among the most beautiful halls in which I have performed over the past twenty years. Their frescoed interiors create an atmosphere that is completely different from a conventional concert hall. The programmes are also personal. We ask guests about their favourite classical works and build the music around them, while including pieces connected to Italy such as bel canto works, fantasies and opera paraphrases. I particularly like the idea of hearing music in these rooms because historically, music was often experienced in precisely these kinds of intimate settings. Instead of attending a concert and leaving, we can spend time in the building itself and let the music become part of the evening.

Four Days, Properly Experienced

The point of the journey is to experience the essential parts of Piedmont in a way that leaves enough time to enjoy them. A truffle hunt is followed by lunch and wine rather than another hurried sightseeing stop. Stupinigi is given two hours with a private guide. An evening at Villa Tesoriera includes the concert and a gala dinner. The experiences also begin to connect with one another. After spending time among the vineyards, the wine has a different context. After seeing the Savoy residences, the historic interiors of the concert venues have another layer. After tasting Piedmontese food, the regional connection in the music feels less abstract.

And then there is the music itself. As a pianist, this is the part of the journey that is most personal to me. I have performed in many different kinds of spaces, but private concerts have always been my favourite. I like the smaller audience, the possibility of conversation and the relaxed atmosphere. Having a glass of wine during the music should not feel out of place.

That is how we want these four days to feel.

A guest should leave having tasted a freshly found truffle, spent time in extraordinary historic rooms, heard music chosen with them in mind and seen a part of Italy that they may never have considered before. And, ideally, they should still be talking about it months or years later.

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Discover Piedmont With Us

If you are already planning a larger Italian journey, Piedmont can be added as a four-day pre- or post-trip experience. We have designed this journey around the places and experiences that made the region special to us during years of living, working and performing there.

Rather than simply passing through, you will have time to experience the Langhe, taste its wines and truffles, visit its historic residences and hear private piano concerts in remarkable settings. The group remains small, allowing us to keep the pace comfortable and the experiences personal.

If Piedmont is unfamiliar to you, that is part of the appeal. It is a chance to add something unexpected to an Italian journey and return home with a very different memory of Italy.

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Book your call here.

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Robert Poortinga  
Travel Booking Assistant  
River cruise & Europe destination expert  
Culinary and art travel specialist

Concert Pianist

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