What to do in Oltrepò Pavese: the 10 best activities

The tasting and visit to the Infernot cellars in Monferrato takes place in Cella Monte, which joined the Borghi più Belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages) in 2018 and includes: a visit to the historic winery and the infernot, followed by a tasting of four wines and a small platter of cured meats, cheeses and bruschetta.

The infernot are underground caves dug by hand, which allowed the Monferrato territory to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Langhe and Roero territories in 2014.

The visit concludes with a tasting of four wines produced by the winery accompanied by a small cutting board of local products and breadsticks. For the cutting board you can request a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free version.

During the tasting you will taste:

•    Mariulin (Piedmont DOC Chardonnay, Sparkling Brut Martinotti Method)
•    Dedalo (Monferrato DOC Bianco from Arneis grapes)
•    Solista (Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC)
•    Carisa (Piedmont DOC Barbera)

For visiting wineries in Monferrato, we recommend clothing appropriate for the low temperatures and high humidity present on the premises. For minors or those who do not taste, the rate includes ONLY:

•    1 non-alcoholic beverage (soft drink, juice)
•    1 small cutting board

Horseback riding in the Monferrato hills will take you to discover the typical fauna and flora of the Piedmont hills.

The 1-hour walk is suitable for everyone, even those who are getting on a horse for the first time.

The minimum age is 6 years old. Children ages 6 to 14 will be accompanied by a guide who will walk with them the whole way.

At the end of both walks you will have the opportunity to enjoy a typical local lunch (if selected), consisting of 3 appetizers, first course, second course and dessert. Extra courses and drinks are excluded.

Horseback riding among the Langhe vineyards is ideal for those who love hilly views and vineyards. The trip is scheduled to start from San Marzano Oliveto. The excursion crosses the hills of Monferrato and proceeds mostly on dirt trails, beautiful to ride on horseback.

The stable is close (less than an hour's drive) to Asti, Alessandria and is just over an hour from Cuneo and Turin.

Group horseback riding is ideal for friends or even families with children; in fact, from age 8 and up, you can ride the pony. The age of the child should be communicated by phone to the guide once the confirmation of the reservation request has been received.

Walk with aperitif:

From San Marzano Oliveto, in the province of Asti, you will stroll through scenic vineyards and breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by the majestic backdrop of the Alps. There will be a chance to visit an agritourism in the area, where an aperitif will be served with two glasses of wine per person and mixed platters of cured meats and cold cuts.

Recommended attire for horseback riding tours includes closed shoes and long pants.

The horseback ride is suitable for beginners and first-time horseback riders; professional equestrian guides will accompany you on this wonderful adventure.

The experience cannot be done by pregnant women.

In case of motor difficulties please notify the facility once your reservation is confirmed

The walk lasts about 2 hours and ends with the return to the riding school.

The maximum weight limit for users is 100 kg .

If there are any delays please notify us. If the delay lasts longer than 15 minutes, the activity will not be guaranteed and the activity will no longer be refundable.

The picnic in the vineyard near Asti is a perfect experience for families or couples who want to spend a relaxing time in the picturesque hills of Piedmont.

The experience begins with a visit to the winery and a description of the main processing operations.

Following that, you will be given your picnic basket and you will be directed to the equipped areas where you can taste the products selected for you.

The basket contains:

•    a sampling of local cured meats and cheeses accompanied by jams, honey and mustards
•    bread
•    grissini
•    seasonal products
•    amaretti from Mombaruzzo
•    fresh fruit
•    1 bottle of wine every 2 people
•    water

In case of food allergies and intolerances you can contact the facility after booking.

At 7:00 pm there will be a welcome drink with wines from the winery.

Dinner will be served around 8 pm and the menuù è consists of:

•    Welcome appetizer with friciule, salami and cheese
•    Carne cruda alla Monferrina
•    Citello tonnato della tradizione
•    Russian salad
•    Agnolotti al rugo d'rosto
•    Maltagliati with vegetable ragù
•    Roast beef with baked potatoes
•    Bunet
•    Water
•    Coffee

All accompanied by locally produced wines.

Horseback riding in Monferrato outside Casale Monferrato will allow you to immerse yourself in nature and spend a relaxing day on horseback. The riding is English style and the saddles are of high quality to provide maximum comfort throughout the horseback ride.

Before starting with the excursion, there will be a 30-minute lesson to familiarize you with the horse.

The excursion will start from the stables will proceed to the picturesque hills of Piedmont where you can enjoy the breathtaking views that the entire Monferrato area has to offer.

The duration of the trail is about an hour in which you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who will help and guide you for the duration of the trail.

The walk is also suitable for beginners. You must be at least 2 people and you can participate up to 4 and you must be at least 18 years old. The maximum weight is 85kg.

Fitted long pants and closed shoes are required for the experience.

Winery tour, lunch and wine tasting at one of the historic Langhe wineries in the picturesque Piedmont area near Alba and Barolo.

To personalize your experience, you can choose from 2 lunch options.

Gluttonous Menu

The menu includes:

•    an assortment of cold and hot appetizers from our country tradition
•    a homemade first course of your choice
•    a dessert

Delicious Menu

Menu includes:

•    cold and hot appetizers from our country tradition
•    a homemade first course of your choice
•    a second course
•    a dessert

For children there is a menu that includes pasta, schnitzel and potatoes and a final dessert so they too can enjoy this fun experience.

A sweatshirt is recommended for the winery visit.

There is an opportunity to do the 1h/2h/3h walks.

•    1h walk

Before the start, there will be a short briefing where you will meet and get to know the horses you will be hiking with.

Then you will enter the Avigliana Lakes Nature Park and, after walking along trails, woods and dirt roads, Lake Grande will appear on the horizon. You will skirt the shores of Lake Grande of Avigliana and then return to the stable.

In all, the route will take about an hour, and you will see the Avigliana Lakes on horseback. With this walk, you will not reach Avigliana Castle.

•    2 or 3 hour walk

Horseback ride to Avigliana Castle, near Turin and starting from the town of the same name.

You will ride through forests and ascend on horseback to the Castle, from where you can admire a fantastic view of the valley below. The hike is also suitable for beginners with no horseback riding experience.

Finally you will pass through the medieval village and finally return to the stable, heading towards Lake Avigliana.

A farmhouse lunch in Castiglione Falletto overlooking the Langhe é the perfect opportunity to soak in the atmosphere of the Piedmont hills with friends or family.

Lunch or Dinner

On weekends you can have lunch or dinner in the farmhouse in addition to the winery visit. You will be treated to a typical 6-course Piedmontese menu:

•    3 typical appetizers
•    Frimo (ravioli del plin or risotto)
•    Second course
•    Sweet

The courses will be paired with wines from the winery: Dolcetto d’Alba, Barolo “Bussia” and Barolo “Pugnane”.

This experience includes a guided tour of the vineyard and winery with a final aperitif on the panoramic terrace.

Overnight stay

You will be greeted by the host who will give you directions to your overnight stay and accompany you to the double bedroom.

This experience é available on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. or Sundays from noon.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch or dinner with:

•    Three starters
•    First course
•    Cheese board with jams
•    Sweet
•    Accompaniment of local wine

You will also have access to the wellness area with solarium, sauna, Turkish bath and the outdoor hot tub over the entire surrounding Langhe landscape.

In the overnight stay è breakfast is also included.

In case of food allergies or intolerances é you can contact the hotel after booking.

Horseback riding in the woods of Albiano d'Ivrea, in the Gargnanese hinterland, a few kilometers from Turin with an experienced guide.

Program

The meeting is at the riding school in Albiano d'Ivrea, in the province of Turin. Upon arrival, the equestrian guide will welcome participants and provide a brief introduction to basic techniques for safely handling the horse.

The ride will take place along the "Route of Wonders," a loop trail of about 7 km on the hill of Albiano d'Ivrea, among vineyards, streams and poplar groves. Along the way, visitors can admire the Bishop's Castle of Albiano, built on the remains of a Roman villa, and characteristic installations.

During the excursion, equestrian guides will accompany the group on foot, ensuring safety and sharing interesting facts about the area. At the end of the ride you will calmly return to the riding stables.

If you choose the "walk + aperitif" option, a platter of local cured meats and cheeses, accompanied by an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage, will be served upon return.

For the picnic, stations with wooden tables and seating will be set up at a scenic spot in the park so that you can be more comfortable during the day.

Within the park you will be able to take walks along marked trails along a circuit lasting about 15 minutes. You will be able to pick up the wicker basket containing products from our farm and small local realities at 12:30 pm or 6:30 pm (sunset time) inside you will find for your information:

.

•    Salami
•    Cheese from the area
•    Seasonal main dish according to the availability of the period (e.g., vegetable velouté/rolls/rice salad, roast beef)
•    GREP sandwich ( we compose sandwiches with the products available in the selected period)
•    Macedonia of seasonal fruits
•    Bread
•    Slice of cake
•    1/2 L of house wine for every 2 people
•    A bottle of water
•    A thermos of coffee
•    (on request)

For children, the basket è reduced, without main dish and with a juice instead of wine.

Not è possible to have menù for celiac or vegan menù only vegetarian. When booking è it is necessary to report food allergies/intolerances.

At the facility è a bathroom with drinking water is available.

In case of bad weather the event è cancelled.

In case of a sudden storm we have an indoor common room for 15/20 people.

The winery tour and wine tasting inside Verduno Castle in the Langhe region includes a farm-to-table lunch with tasting menù open to everyone 18 and older.

This itinerary opens with a visit to the historic cellars, followed by a rich tasting menù consisting of five courses. A tasting of four wines from the Castle's cellars will be offered as a pairing.

This service è available only for lunch on weekends. The cost of lunch for non-tasting adults is 60€.

Lunch consists of:

•    2 appetizers
•    1 first course
•    1 main course
•    dessert

For children a la carte menu is recommended.

In case of allergies or food intolerances it is possible to contact the facility after booking.

Discover the ancient art of Falconry: an exciting experience in the midst of nature that allows you to interact with a majestic bird of prey.

The falconry class is a perfect adventure to get close to the world of falcons and other birds of prey, where you can learn the secrets of an ancient art and become, for a day, real falconers.

This experience is suitable for everyone: ideal for enthusiasts, families, team building or those looking for an out-of-the-ordinary activity. When booking you can choose between the option suitable only for adults and the experience for younger children.

For adults

This experience will allow you to be in direct contact with majestic raptors: you can hold a hawk, owl or buzzard on your fist.

You will experience an interactive and engaging adventure: you will actively participate in the flight, calls, and care of these animals.

Class includes:

•    Theoretical introduction: biology, behavior and training techniques of raptors
•    Flight demonstration
•    Hands-on experience: you will try to call a raptor on your glove and guide it in flight under the supervision of an experienced falconer
•    Photography sessions

For children

Younger children (ages 4 and up) can experience the thrill of calling a raptor on their glove, observe it up close and learn the secrets of these fascinating birds.

The Baptism of the Glove is the perfect experience to introduce children to the world of raptors in an easy and fun way.

Your children will have direct contact with docile birds: trained owls, buzzards or hawks. The whole thing will be immortalized with a souvenir photo.

The falconer will show the raptor and explain how to gently approach it. Next, the child will put on a falconer's glove and, with the expert's help, call the raptor on his or her hand.

At the end, each child will receive a symbolic certificate to remember the experience.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Alpaca walking in Carpaneto Piacentino allows you to enjoy a relaxing experience immersed in the tranquility of the countryside.

You can walk along pristine paths through forests, flowering meadows and vineyards accompanied by gentle, soft alpacas.

This experience is suitable for everyone: families, couples, groups of friends or simply those looking for a relaxing time away from the daily hustle and bustle.

Alpacas are gentle, curious and peaceful creatures, perfect for a relaxing and fun experience. Following their slow, meditative pace, you will savor the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and their quiet breathing.

At the beginning of the experience there is a brief introduction about alpacas to learn about them, how to interact with them and how to guide them safely.

Afterwards there is a walk of about 1 hour on a nature trail, with stops to enjoy the scenery and make friends with these fascinating animals.

The La Contea del Vignolo Fiorito farmhouse è ready to welcome you for a farmhouse lunch as a couple, with friends or family.

You can enjoy excellent dishes of the local culinary culture in an environment far from the city chaos and in contact with nature.

Menù light

•    House appetizer
•    1 first course of your choice
•    House dessert

Menù complete

•    House appetizer
•    1 first course of your choice
•    1 second course of your choice
•    House dessert

The menuù changes daily and is determined at the’beginning of the week based on the farm’s fresh produce, in fact every course è strictly homegrown.

Lunch starts at 12:45 p.m. and the service è unique.

In case of food allergies or intolerances please contact the facility.

During the winery tour and wine tasting of Oltrepò Pavese, you will have a choice of three different experiences.

The first tour lasts 1h30 and includes the tasting of 3 glasses.

The second option lasts 2h, and is recommended for lovers of the fine bubbles of Spumante Metodo Classico.

The last type of experience you can choose instead includes a tasting of 3 Cru of Pinot Noir, the highest expression of elegance of this noble grape variety vinified in red.

Lunch in Oltrepò Pavese, at Calatroni Vini, to taste typical dishes and enjoy some excellent locally produced wine together.

Program

The experience begins at 12 noon with a guided tour to discover the organic vineyards, crossed by the historic Via di San Colombano.

The second part of the visit takes you to the winemaking cellar and the aging cellar to explore the world of wine.

The third moment is dedicated to flavors, both on the plate and in the glass: a set menu lunch that includes.

•    3 courses that vary according to the seasonality of the products
•    4 glasses of wine paired with each course
•    Water
•    Coffee
•    Cover charge

To personalize the experience you can choose 2 wine pairing options:

•    Basic wines: basic wines will be served with each course
•    Classic method sparkling wines: classic method sparkling wines will be served with each course

Reduced menu for children includes salami or cheese, main course and dessert.

In case of food allergies, please notify the facility following the reservation

With this horseback ride in the Ticino Nature Park you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the horses, brush them and prepare the necessary equipment for an enjoyable ride.

The experience begins with a short introductory lesson that will help you learn how to tame your horse.

During the horseback ride, which will have an effective duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes, you will ride through the forest and spring areas, rich in waterways and vegetation. If lucky, you may see storks, herons and other migratory species.

There is also an opportunity to picnic on horseback.

Botanical workshop in Milan to create a terrarium, that is a small glass garden made step by step with expert guidance.

During the experience you will learn how to design and make a terrarium, creating a small self-sustaining ecosystem inside a glass container. You will discover how to choose the most suitable plants, prepare the substrate, balance moisture and light, and properly assemble all the elements to ensure the longevity of your miniature garden.

Learn all the secrets about wine making and create your own unique blend with this workshop at the Urban Winery in Milan.

Program

As soon as you arrive, you will be served a welcome glass, which you can taste during a tour of the winery's production area, accompanied by a brief introduction to the project.

Next you will taste 3 wine bases, learning to recognize the differences related to production methods. Based on your tastes, you can then create your own custom blend.

To conclude, you will be able to unleash your imagination by decorating the bottle label of the created wine.

At the end of the experience you will be given a bottle of the wine made, one per group (group means the group that made the reservation), to take home as a memento of the experience.

Any extra bottles of the created blend can be purchased directly on site, at a price of 10€ per bottle, upon request to the facility prior to creation.

Visit to the chocolate factory and chocolate tasting in Milan ideal for spending a culinary day among the many flavors of chocolate.

There are 3 different tours within the experience:

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Base

At the beginning of the activity you will observe, using the 3D viewer, the harvesting and production stages of cocoa beans on a Perù plantation. Afterwardsè you will pass by the "Cioccoteca", the roasting room and the processing laboratory to find out all about artisanal production. The visità will end with a tasting of 3 different types of chocolate.

Media

At the beginning of the activity you will observe, using the 3D viewer, the harvesting and production stages of cocoa beans on a Perù plantation. Afterwardsè you will pass by the "Cioccoteca", the roasting room and the processing laboratory to find out all about artisanal production. The visità will end with a tasting of 5 different types of chocolate.

Premium

At the beginning of the activity, you will be able to observe, using the 3D viewer, the harvesting and production stages of cocoa beans on a Perù plantation. Afterwardsè you will pass by the "Cioccoteca", the roasting room and the processing laboratory to find out all about artisanal production. The visità will end with a tasting of 5 different types of chocolate accompanied by a glass of sweet wine.

The maximum limit who canò participate in a single visitanè of 8 people, also each tour lasts about 1 hour.

Botanical workshop dedicated to the Japanese technique of Kokedama, the art of creating moss spheres that enclose the roots of plants.

During the experience you will learn how to create a kokedama from the basics of the traditional Japanese technique. You will discover how to choose and prepare plants, how to make the moss sphere correctly, and what steps to take to keep your creation healthy over time.

You will be able to choose between two options:

•    the basic course dedicated exclusively to kokedama creation
•    the full experience that includes the course and a final appetizer

Horseback riding along the Adda River, lasting one to two hours, through the surrounding woods is an experience not to be missed.

The horseback rides are also suitable for beginners, as they consist of comfortable and wide paths located within the Adda Park.

Thanks to this ride you will have the opportunity to explore the nature that characterizes these places, and to let the horses water within the river.

During the horseback ride, departing from Rivolta d'Adda, you will be accompanied by two equestrian guides, who will lead you for the duration of the excursion.