Gastronomic Barolo Cycling, Italy

Tucked away in Northern Italy, Piedmont is a region brimming with softly rolling hills, sun-drenched hamlets, world-class wines and incredible hotels.

Your cycling holiday is varied and mainly follows quiet, traffic-free country roads. Starting in the lush chestnut hills, you’ll wind through terraces of swaying vines, verdant pine forests and gurgling rivers to discover pretty hilltop hamlets and ancient castles. The region boasts an incredible array of fine wine towns, including Barbaresco and Barolo, both ideal lunch stops on your cycling days. Other highlights include exploring Alba’s crimson cobbled streets (and trying some local chocolate!), drinking in Alpine views as you freewheel towards Treiso and strolling amongst the tangle of streets and geranium-decked houses of Monforte d’Alba’s wonderful centre.

 The hotels we’ve chosen for this holiday are, quite simply, fabulous: in Castiglione Tinella you’re the guest of Claudia and Roberto at their 11-room country house with a breathtakingly panoramic pool; in Benevello our 4* hotel is a stunningly restored 19th century family villa, complete with its own frescoed chapel. You’ll enjoy gastronomic menus everywhere: you’ll either dine at your hotel, if not, at a specially selected restaurant close by.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive at Benevello
We meet you at Cuneo train station and take you to your hotel (75 mins) just below Benevello. The chef here trained under Marco Pierre White so you're in for quite a treat!

Day 2 - Benevello to Castiglione Tinella 35km/22mi
The day starts 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! Next, it’s time to visit Neive, officially one of Italy's prettiest villages and home to Romano Levi, a renowned grappa maker, before a panoramic climb through Moscato vines to Claudia's lovely hotel in Castiglione Tinella.

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 whizz through vineyards to Castagnole Lanze. From here you pedal along the banks of the gently meandering River Tanaro, where herons and fishermen jostle for the best catch from its limpid waters. Then it’s 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.

Day 5 - At Grinzane Cavour
Explore the castle - wine tasting on offer here too. Then perhaps visit nearby Bra, 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 meeetings! Alternatively, the Banca del Vino in Pollenzo is a wine centre run by the adjacent University of Gastronomics - highly informative and superb value tastings.

Day 6 - Grinzane Cavour to Monforte 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 mediaeval streets is dominated by the Marchesi Falletti's 11C castle. Then pedal on through archetypal Langhe countryside to Monforte d'Alba, whose honey-coloured old town seems to cling enchantingly to the hillside. Your hotel here is pretty special too!

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 mediaeval 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 steady 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

Is this trip for you?
This is a 2 cycle independent holiday (See Headwater’s Cycle Rating System). The cycling is mixed level, with plenty of ascents and descents! The cycling is mainly along tarmac roads, the routes offer fantastic views all over Piedmont. There are plenty of places to visit each day too. This holiday appeals to those who want lots of local colour, breathtakingly panoramic scenery, quiet roads to cycle along and fantastic food and wine at good quality hotels along the way. We would recommend this holiday to couples looking for a romantic break, in a beautiful area, as well as groups of friends look for a fantastic holiday.