Fine Food And Stunning Castles – Between Milan And Parma
One Day Experiences
Where:
Province of Piacenza
Duration:
5 Hours
Starting Time:
09:45 am
Availability:
Monday to Sunday
On the way from Milan to Parma, Modena or Bologna? Enjoy a food&art day among some of those elegant manors known as Castles of the Duchy which were strategically placed along the river valleys of western Emilia between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance!
Strongholds, fortresses and palaces here are the best storytellers… and a gourmet lunch paired with the high quality wines is the cherry on top!
- Full lunch at one of the two castles (local wine included)
- Admission and guided visits (English, guides on site) to the castles of Rivalta and Gropparello
- Everything not mentioned in inclusions
- Private transportation
09:45 am – Arrival at the charming medieval village of Rivalta, built on the left side of that river Trebbia that E. Hemingway described as one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen. One of the resident guides will first meet&greet you in the English-style garden and then lead you into the noble courtyard, where you will be the guests of Count Orazio Zanardi Landi, whose ancestors have owned Castello di Rivalta since the 1300s. The guided visit will include all the rooms where both the ancient and the current-day family members used to spend their private as well as their official moments, like the bedroom rented to Margareth of England, regular summer guest at the manor’s until the 1980s!
10:45 am – Head on the second castle.
11:30 am – The owner themselves will welcome you to their beloved Castello di Gropparello, perfect summary of the architectural patterns used to build defensive strongholds to control the most strategic pathways of the area. Nestled on a spur of green serpentine and surrounded by a breathtaking river valley where sea fossils are incredibly still to be found, this manor will teach you how the passion of its owners can keep a thousand- year old dwelling safe, sound and lively over time.
01:00 pm – Full lunch with a farm-to-table typical menu at the Castle’s Inn: the 3 local PDO cured meats (Coppa, Pancetta, Salame), a plate of fresh stuffed pasta, a tasty dessert and two different glasses among the 21 Piacenza wines with Denomination of Controlled Origin: cheers!
02:30 pm – Head on to the last stop of the day.
03:30 pm – Arrival in Vigoleno, a truly spectacular medieval ensemble comprising both a small borgo in country-chic style and its guarding fortress within an imposing curtain of walls. Enjoy some free time walking along the cobbled alleys and indulge in a glass of the local Vin Santo: beside being quite rare, it is said to bring a very good luck!
04:30 pm – End of activities and back to hotel / head on to your next destination.
Please Note:
- Program: the described program may undergo minor changes in timings and schedule.
- Pick-ups: If you add the car+driver supplement from a specific town, you will be picked up at your hotel downtown. If out of town, you could be asked to pay a further supplement.
- Guide: The base grade of this tour does not include any private guide following you up along the itinerary: each visit is run directly by the producers at fixed times and there could be other guests attending. The driver cannot be considered as a guide, neither. This means that the client must stick at the given timings for each visit and – in case of unjustified belated stay at each stop – you may be charged with any extra costs that may be generated, such as a driver’s extra hours.
- Our drivers are NOT driver-guides, since this kind of professional profile is forbidden by the Italian law.
Cancellation Policy:
- No fee up to 8 days before the starting day;
- From 7 days to 3 days before the tour starting date: 50% penalty;
- 48 hours’ notice: 70% penalty;
- 24 hours’ notice: 100% penalty.
Price
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