A Photo Journey through Northern Italy with Boyd Norton 

October 11-18, 2008

 Smugglers' Return: Langhe - Maritime Alps - Riviera

             On this tour, we will follow in the tracks of the old salt smugglers, as they made their way back from inland trading centers to the Mediterranean Sea through some of Northern Italy's most spectacular countryside. The tour is ideal for the photographer (and we welcome artists as well) keen to explore the Barolo wine country, wander through olive groves and hill towns below the 9,000-foot Maritime Alps and discover two splendid Mediterranean ports. 

            From a photographic standpoint, this trip will give you opportunity to expand your creativity by capturing both landscapes and details of old world charm and character. From the color and texture of weathered doorways to brightly decorated windows to the centuries-old bricks and cobbles of roadways to the hands of artisans and the bursting colors of grapes before harvest - it’s all waiting for your photographic interpretation. Boyd’s programs will stimulate your imagination and help you capture in photographs the charm, character and beauty of this region.

 OCTOBER 11 Day 1

USA - Milan, Italy

Evening departure for Milan's Malpensa Airport.   

OCTOBER 12 Day 2

Into the Langhe - La Morra

We will begin our journey at Milan's Malpensa Airport, where we will meet our guide and driver. From there, we will travel into the heart of the Langhe region, where the unique Nebbiolo grape achieves its maximum expression in Barolo and Barbaresco wines. We will have lunch in the hill town of La Morra, our home for the next three nights, stroll amidst cru vineyards and enjoy a tour and tasting at a traditional La Morra Barolo wine producer.

B,L,D

 OCTOBER 13 Day 3

Upper Langhe & Serralunga d'Alba

Today we head into the rugged hills of the Upper Langhe, to taste the savory cheese made from the milk of the Langa sheep, a breed that has disappeared from all but a few local farms. We will then make our way towards the towering castle of Serralunga d'Alba for a wine tasting at a superb Serralunga Barolo producer.

We'll enjoy dinner tonight at an agriturismo (working farm) run by a young, talented staff. Here we'll experience directly the historical importance of the salt smugglers. Legend has it that, in their attempts to avoid discovery by customs agents, they hid their salt under layers of anchovies - inadvertently introducing the anchovy to Piedmont cuisine. We'll have the opportunity to try local specialties that feature this tiny fish in delicious salsas like the Bagna Caôda  ('Hot Bath') and Bagnet Vert, a parsley-based green salsa.

B,L,D

 OCTOBER 14 Day 4

L'Alba & Alba

Optional early morning walk up the hill behind our inn, perhaps soon after l'alba (sunrise) when light starts to hit the surrounding Alps. Then we will head to lunch in a nearby village where we can also taste chocolate at a historic producer.

After resting a bit back at the inn, we'll visit the town of Alba, capital of the Langhe, and have free time to explore on our own, perhaps to shop for torrone, tartufi  (truffles) or other local goodies. Dinner on our own this evening in Alba, where there are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from.

B,L

 OCTOBER 15 Day 5

The Maritime Alps and the Italian Riviera

We hop a train this morning in Cuneo and head south towards the Maritime Alps. We'll pass through the Colle di Tenda pass, one of the most important trade routes through the Western Alps. On the other side of the tunnel, we arrive in the town of Tende, France, which we'll tour with a local guide. After a typical regional lunch, we'll stop at a marvelous frescoed chapel before continuing down the valley, the larch making way for olive trees as we approach the Mediterranean Sea. We'll re-enter Italy in the region of Liguria. Our home for the next three nights is in a beautiful hilltop village, inland from the aptly-named Italian Riviera dei Fiori, or 'Flower Riviera'.

B,L,D

 OCTOBER 16 Day 6

Domain of the Doria

We'll explore our home village this morning, meandering through its narrow lanes on our way to the central piazza. Then, accompanied by a local guide, we'll head up to a nearby, higher hill town which overlooks 6,000-foot peaks to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Our walk takes us up through Taggiasca olive groves (the small Taggiasca olive makes one of the best olive oils in Italy) to a lovely agriturismo overlooking the valley. Here we can enjoy a wonderful lunch on homegrown and homemade specialties, perhaps including a pesto dish, a torta salata di verdura (savory vegetable pie) and abundant fresh fruits. Afterwards we'll descend to the fortified town of Dolceacqua, former seat of the powerful Doria family. (Walking time: 1 hour uphill before lunch, 2.5 hours downhill after lunch with shuttle option, easy.)

B,L

OCTOBER 17 Day 7

Bordighera

Our destination today is the lovely coastal town of Bordighera. Our local guide will lead us on a walking tour of this renown winter residence of European nobility, with its many splendid villas, one of which we will visit. Then, we'll make our way among the date palms that border the trail along the sea, following in the footsteps of Claude Monet who painted several scenes of Bordighera from this vantage point. Our walk will conclude with a visit to the historic center of Bordighera Alta, perched above the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean.

B,L,D

 OCTOBER 18 Day 8

Nice

Nice is one of the largest and most important cities in France, and long a favorite of the well-to-do.  On this, our final day, we will tour its beautiful streets in the morning with a local guide, and then have some time on our own to explore, shop, or just take in the sun and people-watch from the Promenade des Anglais. 

B

 While the excursion officially ends at mid-day, we would be happy to book a hotel for you in Nice for the evening - or make accommodations for you in a hotel of your choice elsewhere on the French or Italian Riviera. We will also provide you with information about restaurants and other points of interest in the area, should you wish to extend your visit.

 In the meantime, we hope you will have fallen in love with this corner of Europe as we have, and that you will return again soon. A presto!

 Price: 2980 Euros per person, based on double occupancy and 8 client minimum. The trip will not be run with less than 8 participants.  A 50% deposit - 1490 Euros per person (in dollars) is required to register. The balance is due 60 days before the trip begins (due August 12).

 Note: We’ve priced this trip in Euros because of fluctuation of the dollar/euro value. Pricing here is subject to adjustment depending on fuel costs and other factors.

 Single supplement: 200 to 300 Euros extra, depending on choice of single room or double room used as single. We will make every effort to assign a roommate if requested. If a roommate match is not possible, the single supplement fee will apply.

 Price Includes: All lodging and all meals except as noted; group transfers from Malpensa Airport and to Nice Airport; transport by private bus with  professional driver for entire tour in Italy and France; accompanying tour guide; 2 days of nature guide in Liguria; one-half day guided tour of Tende and Notre Dame des Fontaines Chapel; one-half day guided tour in Nice; Cuneo to Tende train.

 Not included: International airfare; telephone, minibar and room service at hotels; tips and other extras; additional transfers or accommodations for those not traveling with the group; some meals not noted above; medical and travel insurance; all items of a personal nature such as laundry at the hotels; any activities not specified in the tour itinerary, or those activities listed as optional. Tips for guide and driver.

 To register for this trip, go to this web page: www.mondove.com/register1.html. Be sure to enter the trip (Italy) and dates (October 11-18, 2008).

 Payments should be in U.S. Dollars (USD). To determine the amount, go to this website for currency conversion: http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi. Enter the amount in Euros and click GO to convert to USD. Please email us with the date and the conversion amount.

 To make payment by check, send to Mondo Verde Expeditions, PO Box 2605, Evergreen, CO 80437.

 To make payment by credit card using secure online form,  go to www.mondove.com and click on “Login” at the bottom of the page. Add an additional 3% USD for credit card payment.

 Tour Notes:

As noted in the itinerary, we’ve scheduled some walking in towns and villages to give good photographic opportunities. These are generally easy walks. However, for those who wish we will have shuttle transport available.

 Additional pre-trip days can be offered for those wish to spend a few days relaxing and exploring in the serene Monferrato region, on Lake Como or in Milan. Post-tour days can be planned for those wish to spend more time on the French or Italian Rivieras.

 Cooking classes can also be arranged in any of the regions of travel.