The Carovana Romantica Rally “from Peak of Alps to the Italia Riviera” offers participants an incredible travel experience from an altitude of 4000 meters to sea level. The logistical base is the wonderful Hotel Billia, in Saint Vincent, known for its Casino, from which we set off to reach the queen of the western Alps, Courmayeur, for a car exhibition in Piazza Braucherelle, welcomed with songs and dances in traditional costume from Folk group Les Badochys de Courmayeur. We continue through the spectacular Colle San Carlo to reach La Thuile, and continue to visit the Fenis Castle, the most famous castle in the Aosta Valley, with its complex of towers and crenellated structures and gothic style pictorial cycles.
The following day we leave for the Sanctuary of Oropa, a place of worship and pilgrimage nestled in the Biella Alps, from which we move for a stop in the medieval village of Biella Piazzo, and reach the Bard Castle, a fortress commissioned by Napoleon to guard of the Alpine passes towards France. The evening at the Saint-Vincent Casino concludes the day.
The following morning is animated by a re-enactment in Napoleonic military dress at the Roppolo Castle, from which we reach the Principato of Lucedio, in the middle of the spectacular Vercelli rice fields, for a lunch of "risotto".
In the afternoon we reach the Sacro Monte di Crea, on top of a hill surrounded by a wonderful wine-growing landscape, in the heart of Monferrato, with its spectacular chapels that host life-size sacred terracotta statues, unique in the world.
We reach the Albergo dell'Agenzia in Pollenzo, created from the historic neo-Gothic buildings of King Charles Albert, with its Wine Bank, kept in the nineteenth-century cellars where the current method of vinification of Piedmontese red wines was born, and over 300 producers keep their best bottles.
The following days are dedicated to the wine-growing landscapes of the Langhe Hills and Monferrato, home of Barolo, Nebbiolo and great red wines, with stops in La Morra, Monteforte d'Alba, Barolo and Serralunga d'Alba, to reach the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, where we are welcomed by flag-wavers and a buffet in the garden. In the afternoon stop and visit the historic center of Alba. The evening show with the "Quinta Rua" group, which plays traditional Piedmontese instruments that have now almost disappeared, concludes the day.
The Langhe and Roero are still the protagonists of the stops at the Castello di Guarene, and that of Magliano Alfieri, where at the spectacular Tenuta della Cantine Marchesi Alfieri, a sumptuous and exquisite banquet takes place in the lemon house of the Castle followed by a matinee, with famous arias of operas sung by “Fritz's friends”.
You cross the Apennines to reach Cherasco, Dogliani and the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, with its enormous elliptical dome, and from here Finale Ligure, on the coast, with an exhibition of the car in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, and the welcome of the "Rumpa" music bank and Streppa”. The Rally ends with a stop in Sanremo, the iconic location on the Riviera di Ponente.
Rally 2019 Map
Highlights
Courmayeur Mont Blanc- La Thuile - Colle San Carlo- Fenis Castle
Courmayeur Mont Blanc, a jewel guarded by the highest mountain in the Alps: Mont Blanc welcomes cars Piazza Braucherelle, welcomed with songs and dances in traditional costume from Folk group Les Badochys de Courmayeur. The spectacular itinerary that crosses Colle San Carlo and leads to La Thuile, on the wilder side. The visit to Fenis Castle, the most famous castle in the Aosta Valley, with its complex of towers and crenellated structures and gothic style pictorial cycles. An evening at the Hotel Billia and the Casino of Saint Vincent.
Oropa Sanctuary- Biella Piazzo - Bard Fortress- Sant Vincent
The Sanctuary of Oropa, a place of worship and pilgrimage nestled in the Biella Alps, dating back to the 4th century, where the Black Madonna is venerated, with its imposing Upper Basilica, and the Museum of Treasures and Royal Apartments of the Savoy. The medieval village of Biella Piazzo and the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont of Varallo and Crea with their votive chapels, a UNESCO heritage site, surrounded by a wonderful wine-growing landscape.
Roppolo Castle - Crea Sanctuary- Canale - Asti- Pollenzo
The Bard Castle, a fortress built by Napoleon to guard the Alpine passes towards France, and the small Roppolo Castle, with a re-enactment in Napoleonic military dress. The Principato di Lucedio, in the middle of the spectacular rice fields, the cradle of Italian rice, founded in 1123 by the Cistercian monks on the Via Francigena, in the territory of the agricultural companies known as the "Grange".
The Langhe end Monferrato Hills
The spectacular vineyards of the Langhe and Monferrato hills, with their medieval villages and castles, such as La Morra, Monteforte d'Alba, Barolo and Serralunga d'Alba, and the iconic Castle of Grinzane Cavour, from which Count Camillo Benso of Cavour began the production of the great Piedmontese red wines. The Albergo dell'Agenzia in Pollenzo, created from the historic neo-Gothic buildings of King Charles Albert, with its Wine Bank, kept in the nineteenth-century cellars where the current method of vinification of Piedmontese red wines was born, and over 300 producers keep their best bottles.
Castles of Roero: Guarene, Magliano Alfieri, Govone - Tenute Cantine Marchesi Alfieri.
The vineyard hills of Roero, with the Guarene Castle, a UNESCO heritage site, and Magliano Alfieri, with the spectacular Tenuta della Cantine Marchesi Alfieri, and its winter garden with the lemon grove which acts as the scene for a matinee, with famous arias of operas sung by “Fritz's friends”.
Cherasco- Dogliani - Vicoforte Sanctuary - Finale Ligure - Sanremo
Crossing the Apennines to reach Cherasco, Dogliani and the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, with its enormous elliptical dome, and from here Finale Ligure, with its medieval village and the coast with crystal clear sea, the welcome of the cars in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, and the performance of the "Rumpa" music bank and Streppa”. Sanremo, with its seafront, palm trees, Casino and Grand Hotels.
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