Blue Heron Travel

Northern Italy

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Our adventure into the Piemonte area started in Stresa, a lovely town nestled up against the second largest lake in Italy, Lake Maggiore. From Stresa we took a boat ride to see three Borromean Islands. We visited Isola dei Pescatori,the only island inhabited year round. We continued on our journey to the small town of  Orta San Giulio situated on Lake Orta. A perfect place for strolling along cobblestone streets, watching chestnuts being roasted, visiting the local handicraft stores, or having a glass of wine. Onward to the city of  Biella, a city with great heritage, architectural, artistic and archaeological importance. Within this town is a medieval village where ancient doors were once used to close off the village. One of the most enjoyable experiences in Biella was eating chocolate filled croissants and purchasing the best locally made candy. What a delight!

Outside the town of Bra, which is known for its fine foods and wine, is the University of Gastronomic Sciences. The Wine Bank which is situated in an building over two centuries old,  is where we tasted and bought some of the best wines available. The next day we went “Truffle Hunting”. We met with a local  farmer and his dog, and went on a hike to sniff out the precious underground tuber.  The dog’s sense of smell and intuition resulted in successfully finding a truffle. An experience not to be forgotten!

We ended out trip in Turin, capital of the Piemonte area, which is also known for hosting the 2006 Winter Olympics. We visited the Egyptian Museum, which is recognized for having the largest Egyptian collection next to Cairo. We toured Baroque Reggia with its vast gardens and magnificent architecture. We also went outside the city to see two beautiful Medieval Abbeys. But let us not forget shopping or eating. My time was spend shopping for Italian made shoes, which I bought many pairs! The food was delicious, from gourmet to pizza to gelato. The Piemonte area is a treasure not to be missed. If you would like more information about my trip to Italy, give me a call.