Eat, Run, Italy! Turin Marathon and Truffles (Nov. 2023)
Inspired by the Slow Food movement, this trip is an invitation to slow down, and enjoy getting to know a corner of Italy on an intimate level, through food and wine (plus one really good run).
The Slow Food movement, started in Italy in the 1980s, asks us to take the time to develop a relationship with food we consume; to get to know the land it springs from, the producers who nurture it, the history behind it, and the culture it connects to.
In keeping with this philosophy, this trip is a celebration of the tastes, products, and experiences of the Piedmont region of northern Italy.
Travelers on this trip will walk the fields, woods, and vineyards; and truly appreciate the source of the bounty of flavors of the region. They will experience food the way the local nonnas have cooked it for generations, and taste the wine that evolved alongside that local cuisine.
This trip is about balance: slowing down to enjoy the bountiful flavors of one of Italy’s most picturesque and abundant regions, while also stepping off the beaten path to walk (or run) down the path not taken by the average tourist.
In addition to the marathon (or 10k), travelers will walk, hike, and even run through the picturesque countryside and ancient streets.
The Torino City Marathon is an optional part of this trip. Runners will have the opportunity to experience an international marathon run through the beautiful, centuries-old heart of Turin. A 10k option is available for runners looking for a shorter distance. And of course, if you’d rather experience the energy of the city on race day at a slower pace, the day is yours to spectate, cheer on friends, and explore Turin.
Travelers on this trip operate out of a home base in one of two spacious, carefully restored villas nestled in the wine region between Turin and Asti. The kitchen is the heart of this Italian home, and will serve not only as a comfortable retreat at the end of a busy day, but also provides a space for meals cooked by a private Italian chef, and as the classroom for a hands-on cooking lesson in which the group will learn to prepare (then feast on) regional specialties.
Excursions from this home base include:
- visits to local farms, wineries, and other producers for tours and tastings of honey, cheeses, and other local specialties
- the International White Truffle Fair
- truffle hunting with local experts and their trusty truffle dogs
- dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant featuring a wine cellar with over 70,000 bottles
- trail runs and hikes through olive orchards and vineyards
- touring a medieval castle and the Italian Wine Bank
Accommodations:
A room in one of two renovated villas (double occupancy) for the duration of the trip.
What’s included:
- Welcome aperitivo at the villa
- Visit to a local honey producer with tasting
- Visit to a local cheese producer with tasting
- Entrance to International Alba White Truffle Fair
- Private truffle hunt with a truffle hunter and his dog
- Entrance to the Castle of Grinzane Cavour
- Entrance to the Wine Bank of Pollenzo (guided visit + tasting of 1 glass of local wine)
- 1 x Lunch (3 courses) at a local winery with water, soft drinks, and wine pairing, standard coffee or tea service included
- 2 x Lunch at the villa with private Chef (3 courses, including local wine or soft drinks)
- 1 x Lunch (3 courses) at a local farm with water, soft drinks, and local wine, standard coffee or tea service included.
- 3 x Dinners at the villa with private Chef
- 1 x Dinner (3 courses) at a local restaurant with water, soft drinks, and local wine, standard coffee or tea service included
- 1 x Private Cooking class at the villa followed by dinner (3 courses, including local wine or soft drinks)
- 1 x Light dinner at a local agriturismo
- 1 x Dinner (4 courses) at beautiful local restaurant with water, soft drinks or wine (2 glasses per person), standard coffee or tea service
- 1 x Gourmet dinner (Tasting Menu with 4 courses – drinks excluded, to be paid on the spot) at a Michelin-starred restaurant
- Expert English-speaking tour manager throughout accommodated in the villa