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Gastronomic Barolo Cycling

GASTRONOMIC BAROLO CYCLING | WHERE YOU STAY

Relais Villa d’Amelia ****
Benevello Days 1+8

The Relais Villa d'Amelia is a luxuriously restored 19C family villa (and a member of the 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World'), just outside the Alta Langa village of Benevello.  The Villa d'Amelia has 37 rooms including three suites (one of which is located within the old chapel) decorated in a modern style with neutral paints and dark leather and beech furnishings. All rooms are ensuite and are equipped with minibar, satellite television (nice plasma screens!), air conditioning, direct dial telephone and hairdryer.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 1 Arrive at Benevello

We meet you at Cuneo train station and take you to your stunning hotel (75 mins) just below Benevello. The chef here trained under Marco Pierre White so you're in for a real treat!

Day 2    Benevello to Castiglione Tinella 35km/22mi

A perfect start with a gentle ride along an open road with balcony views and hawks soaring high above the breathtaking Langhe countryside. You visit lovely Treiso, formerly a summer retreat for Alba’s noble families, before reaching Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting in the piazza. Try some wine too in the enoteca, housed in a 19C church built by the locals in thanks for a good grape harvest! Time to visit Neive, officially one of Italy’s prettiest villages and home of Romano Levi, a renowned grappa maker , before a panoramic climb through Moscato vines to Claudia’s lovely hotel in Castiglione Tinella.

Albergo Castiglione ***
Castiglione Tinella Days 2+3

The lovely Albergo Castiglione is located in the hilltop wine town of Castiglione Tinella. It has just 11 rooms and has been lovingly restored by Roberto and Claudia Saracco, who are some of the friendliest, most helpful people we’ve met! Each of the rooms is individually decorated in pastel colours and all feature ensuite bathrooms, satellite television, direct dial telephone, air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryers.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 3    At Castiglione Tinella

Castiglione is a great place to spend a lazy day, especially by our hotel’s panoramic pool. However , a short journey away is Acqui Terme, a spa town since Roman times, with two major thermal centres. Or head across to the spumante capital of Asti, with its quaint cobbled historic centre – each  September the main piazza is home to a crazy palio horse race to rival Siena’s!

Day 4     Castiglione Tinella to Grinzane Cavour 38km/24mi or 42km/26mi

The day starts with an exhilarating spin through vineyards to Castagnole Lanze.  Time to explore the cobbled streets and bustling piazze of chocolate-perfumed Alba (Ferrero Rocher come from here!). Then it’s on to Grinzane Cavour where a warm welcome awaits at the elegant Casa Pavesi.

Casa Pavesi ****
Grinzane Cavour  Days 4+5

Casa Pavesi is located in the heart of the hamlet of Grinzane Cavour, located just 3mi/5km away from ALBA and dominated by its elegant 11C castle. The hotel is located within a stylishly restored house with 12 individually decorated rooms, which are quite large and opulent. All rooms are ensuite and are equipped with satellite television, minibar, air conditioning, direct dial telephone, hairdryer and safe. There are two lovely public rooms with comfy sofas as well as a small bar in the same area.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 5    At Grinzane Cavour

Explore the castle - wine tasting on offer here too. Then perhaps visit nearby Brà, a gastronomic treasure trove where the Slow Food movement was initiated – so plenty of choice for a long, lazy lunch! Lots to explore in the town too, including the 18C rococo church and the strange octagonal Zizzola, where local witches held their meetings! Alternatively, the Banca del Vino in Pollenzo is a wine center run by the adjacent University of Gastronomics - highly informative and superb value wine tastings!

Day 6      Grinzane Cavour toMonforte d’Alba 21km/13mi or 28km/17mi

Cycling first through sunflower fields to Roddi, then onto Barolo, an ochre-hued village perched above its world-famous vineyards – the tangle of medieval streets are dominated by the Marchesi Falletti’s 11C castle. Pedaling on through archetypal Langhe countryside toMonforte d’Alba, whose lovely honey-colored old town seems to cling enchantingly to the hillside. Your hotel here is pretty special too!

Villa Beccaris  ****
Monforte d’Alba  Days 6+7

Hotel Villa Beccaris is a gorgeous 18C villa overlooking the beautiful town of Monforte d’Alba. The Villa has 23 rooms, which are divided into categories; Headwater guests will be allocated classic rooms. All rooms, however, are beautifully furnished in an individual, traditional style often with antique furniture but with modern touches such as air conditioning, satellite television, minibar and hairdryers.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 7     At Monforte d’Alba

You might not want to leave your gorgeous 18C villa hotel with private swimming pool, but it’d be a shame not to explore medieval Monforte. It’s a lively town with attractive buildings grouped around an atmospheric cobbled piazza.Maybe strike out a little further to Dogliani, dominated by its beautiful onion-domed church and famous for being at the heart of Dolcetto wine production.

Day 8     Monforte d’Alba to Benevello 21km/13mi or 35km/22mi

Your final cycling day starts with a gentle coast along the Rea valley before a short climb takes you to a stunningly panoramic ridge, weaving through fields of wild flowers and sleepy hamlets to Serravalle Langhe – a great lunch spot with belvedere views. Onwards, you pedal alongside chestnut carpeted hills with delightful vistas once more to reach your beautiful country hotel at Benevello. Time to enjoy the pool and jacuzzi before dinner.

Day 9     Leave Benevello

You return home after breakfast.

Please note that, from spring 2011, cycling helmets are compulsory in Italy for children under 16.  As we cannot provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.

For extra nights we recommend Benevello or Monforte.