2008 PALIO DI ASTI FESTIVAL WEEK

Villa Sampaguita is pleased to offer a complete tour package for the 2008 September Palio di Asti Festival week, including accommodation at our beautiful bed and breakfast just outside of Asti.

The package includes airport pick-up and drop off, accomodation at Villa Sampaguita, lunch and dinner at selected restaurants, tickets for the Palio, and a tour agenda designed to let you see some of the best attractions that this region of fabulous wines and food has to offer.

The tour grew out of our guests needs for touring the area during the Palio week, and we have now been offering this package for the last 4 years, always to a full house.

We can also offer accomodation for the 9 nights of the festival without taking the package tour.

Please email to stay@villasampaguita.com for more information and tour costs.

Saturday 13th September Arrival	Pickup from airport or train station. A pre-dinner tasting introduction to some of the lesser known wines of Piedmont and then welcome dinner and meet your hosts Tim Brewer and Rina Vargas.
Sunday 14th September Festival delle Sagre, the world’s biggest restaurant	After leisurely breakfast we bring you into Asti to watch the colourful farmers parade, with floats depicting traditional old time Piedmont country life followed by al fresco lunch at the Sagre food festival, where around 50 local towns and villages offer their own food specialties and wine. Afterwards time to browse Asti’s shops and taste wine at the Douja D’Or wine festival. Dinner in Asti.
Monday 15th September Barolo The king of wines and the wine of kings	Leave at 9.30 am, for Barolo Valley, first stop at Rivetta del 1902 winery for a tasting tour, followed by lunch in La Morra. Then a tour of the DOCG zone stopping at Barolo town, visit the castle with its museum of wine implements and enoteca, and an option to visit Alba if time permits) and back to Villa Sampaguita for supper
Tuesday 16th September Northern Monferrato Wine, Chocolate and the holy grail	Leave at 9.30 to Cocconato town with first stop at Bava winery with it’s chocolate and wine tasting facility followed by lunch in Cocconato, then shopping at Conbipel factory outlet. Later we visit the hauntingly beautiful Abbazia di Vezzolana, and the co-op Fresia winery in Castelnouvo Don Bosco (optional). Supper at Villa Sampaguita
Wednesday 17th September Asti Medieval City	Guided tour of medieval Asti city in morning, then free time for lunch and afternoon. Dinner in Asti, then watch Palio degli Sbandieratori (flag-throwing competition) and more wine tasting at Douja d’Or.
Thursday 18th September Turin, Italy’s best kept secret	Leave around 9.30 and drive to Turin, the old royal capital of Piedmont and Italy, with its baroque piazze and many palaces. First stop at the Martini Wine museum and then the Superga, the Savoy mausoleum on the hills overlooking Po river and Turin with wonderful views of the Alps. Your driver will drop you at your choice of the many museums and galleries in Turin. Lunch and browsing on your own and pickup late afternoon. Dinner in Asti and see the colourful Palio degli Sbandieratori (flag-throwing competition)
Friday 19 th September Langhe Barbaresco, Canelli & truffle hunting	Leave at 9.30 for the town of Barberesco with its stunning views, and a visit to Marchesi di Gresy winery. Lunch at Rabaja restaurant with panoramic views of the Tanaro valley. Then a stunning drive through the Langhe hills (Moscato country) via Mango town followed by a truffle hunt on the way back to Asti. Supper at Villa Sampaguita.(bring your own truffles!)
Saturday 20th September Free Day	You can putter around the woods at Villa Sampaguita, go into to Asti for shopping (market day), or we can arrange another trip for you by mini-bus or train (Turin, Genoa or Alba) for more exploration. Lunch and dinner on your own (we can provide meals at Villa Sampaguita of course)
Sunday 21st September Palio d'Asti	We bring you to Asti in the late morning for lunch. After lunch watch the spectacular medieval parade, through the old town and then take your seats for the heats and final of the Palio d'Asti bareback horse race, first staged in 1275. After the horse racing, time for a last session at Douja D’Or. Farewell dinner at Villa Sampaguita
Monday 22nd September Farewell	We transport you to the airport or train station.

Tour Prices: Please contact us for tour prices, we can accomodate up to a maximum of 14 people.

Of course you may stay at Villa Sampaguita during the festival week without taking the tour, and depending on space you may join selected parts. However we can only accept bookings for the entire period 13th to 22nd September

Of course we can also arrange custom tours as well. For a detailed brochure with all tours and costs for small groups please send e-mail request to stay@villasampaguita.com

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