Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

The annual chocolate festival of Turin, “CioccolaTÒ“, will be held from February 22 until March 3, 2010.

Chocolate tasting as well as a number of cultural events and initiatives based on the theme of cocoa are to take place in the historic piazza Vittorio Veneto.
The Turin’s historic cafes host many of the events scheduled at CioccolaTÒ.

when: from Feb. 22 to Mar. 3, 2010 (annual)
where: Turin

A major annual International White Truffle Fair is taking place in Alba, Piedmont (Oct 3 - Nov 8, 2009).

This truffle festival includes a truffle market and a truffle fair (in the weekends), a truffle auction (Nov. 8), a historic festival and many other culinary and cultural events.

The truffle market, centered on the famous white truffle of Alba, (the Tuber Magnatum Pico, also so called “White diamond”), also features a whole host of truffle-related produce and excellent Piedmontese speciality foods.

This area — The Langhe, Piedmont — is well-known as one of the most appreciated destinations for wine and gourmet tours.

When: Oct. 3 - Nov. 8, 2009 (annual)
Where: Alba, Piedmont
For more info on Alba International White Truffle Fair, please visit http://www.fieradeltartufo.org/en/.

Turin offers visitors tours allowing the public to experience first-hand the making of exclusive objects.

This special series of tours, named “Thrill of Luxury“, offers visitors the chance to see, for example, scents being bottled, yachts being built and dresses being designed.

Top manufacturing companies open their doors to the public for the event.

The Thrill of Luxury tour series, held only on selected Fridays and Saturdays, is ending next week-end. Info can be found at Turin Tourist Board Website or contacting contact@turismotorino.org .

The “Palio di Asti” is more than just a famous historic race.
It’s a historic festival offering visitors also the chance to enjoy excellent wines and food in one of the most important wine-making areas in Italy.

Asti is a center as famous for its wines as it is for its fine food.
It is located in one of the most important areas for the white truffle hunting. So a trip there is the occasion for tasting truffle-based recipes and many other specialties that go hand in hand with centuries of history. A fine example is the “bagna caôda”, a rich sauce with anchovies, garlic and oil.

In the days preceding the race visitors may enjoy the historic district of Asti with visits to museums, medieval palaces, and antique shops as well as the many collateral and preparatory events such like the Palio of the Flag-wavers, the flea-market, the trials of owner-jockeys on the field.

One of the most fascinating part of the festival is the historic procession, taking place on Sunday a couple of hours prior to the race, with over twelve hundred characters wearing medieval costumes parading through the alleys of the town.

where: Asti (Piedmont)
when: September 18-20 (annual, third week-end of Sep.)
Festival’s details and programme at http://www.palio.asti.it .

The “International White Truffle Fair of Alba” , held in Alba, Piedmont, kicked off October 4, enters the last week.
Some major events are scheduled for the last days.

Saturday November 8, is a day for wine and truffle-related produce exhibitions. “Langhe and Roero on show” (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) held in the historical centre of Alba and “AlbaQualità” (9.00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) at “Palatartufo Giacomo Morra” — within of the “Alba White Truffle World Market“, are exhibitions of gourmet food and wine from Piedmont.

The “Alba White Truffle World Market” — week-ends from Oct 4 till Nov 9, brings together selected truffle hunters, truffle hounds, and traders. A Commission responsible for checking the truffles (”Commissione di controllo”) is actively present on the market to protect consumers about the quality of Tuber Magnatum Pico sold at the fair. The truffles examined and guaranteed by the National Centre for Truffle Studies upon purchase are wrapped and put in numbered bags that allow the truffle vendor to be uniquely identified.

A truffle auction — 10th Alba White Truffle World Auction, is scheduled Sunday November 9, at Grinzane Cavour Castle.

In November and December, Alba offer also seminars on “How to become a truffle taster”, the Truffle sensory analysis, a 4-hour course with interpreter, for max. 20 participants (for more info, Ph. +39.0173.362562 or visit www.fieradeltartufo.org).