19/08/2021
Eravamo indecisi se, data la notevole lunghezza 😱, pubblicarla tutta. Ma questa strepitosa e accurata dei nostri clienti Anne & Kim non può assolutamente essere tagliata ✂ e ciò che leggiamo ci rende davvero felici. Grazie di 💜🙏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Hi Marco,
we would like to thank you for a fantastically well-planned six-day bike tour in Piedmont, July 2021. This was the third time we biked in Piedmont. This time, at the first part of the trip, we explored the Hills of Basso Monferrato, an area that is quite original and an area that brings to mind while time was. In the squares of the small towns, we were met by friendly and curious glances from people who, like us, sat down for a while to have “un caffé” and look at the life around: young people with their “bambini”, mostly old people and some in-between as well.
Monferrato is not an area of Piedmont that attracts many tourists. The roads are surrounded by a characteristic scenery throughout the hills of Basso Monferrato: mostly grain, corn, olives, hazel and cattle and occasionally wine on suitable slopes. We passed through several small towns that seemed depopulated but not sad or in decay; just quiet towns that have served their time but still keep their secrets.
The second half of the bike trip offered a reunion with the more cultivated Langhe & Roero with wine slopes and open fields as far as the eye can see. Every day, we could choose between three biking routes of 50-80 km. A Garmin GPS was our guide, and when we became familiar with it, the GPS also became a good friend. We understand that printed material is a thing of the past, but information about distances, altitude, destinations and sights is not compatible with a GPS as it is today. With the GPS, you are ready to set off, but you miss background information about the actual length, altitude, information and duration of the individual passes as well as information about sights. There must be ways to combine the digital set-up with the need for contextual information.
We started and ended in Neive, where we stayed at Hotel Borgese, a newer family-run hotel with only seven rooms. We had a room with a balcony, and it was simple, beautiful and practical. We were welcomed by Arianna and the Trek bikes were ready for us upon our arrival. Shortly afterwards you arrived on your iconic Vespa and talked us through the upcoming days. The breakfast at Hotel Borgese was exceptionally tasty. We were treated to, among other splendid things, a small omelet sprinkled with dark summer truffle. The hotel is a gem, the staff is fantastic and there is a personal atmosphere not found in many places. Next stop on our trip was on the outskirts of Moncalvo at Hotel Cascina Spinerola, also a family-run hotel with a friendly atmosphere and great food. We stayed for two nights and there was no time to explore the city because the following day we biked out on a 70-kilometer round trip, mostly in a forest area. The third stop was Relais Villa del Borgo in Canelli: a former Cistercian monastery transformed into a completely modern hotel with a unique location and nothing less than a treasure. Here too, there was a hospitable and personal atmosphere where one could not but feel comfortable. Last stop on the trip was back at the starting point in Neive. Again, the luggage was set up in our room upon our arrival and we were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine. Thanks to Arianna and her colleagues. They are so skilled and make everyone feel comfortable. It is a place we would like to return to.
Finally, a few words about the food. Piedmont rhymes with culinary skills in a class of its own. Every meal is between very good to the sublime. In Neive, you directed us to a table at restaurant Degusto right next to the hotel. It is a restaurant that deserves a star in the Michelin Guide. Food and wine came together in a symbiotic relationship with the beautiful view from the terrace. We will be back, that is for sure. It was a costly trip, but we had asked for it ourselves. It goes without saying that excellent hotels and sublime restaurants come at a price.
A terrific tour came to an end. The best trip ever and an experience we will take in completely. Thank you Marco, and thanks to Landmade and your colleagues for making the landscape of Piedmont, the traditions, the scenery, the culinary experiences and the hard work on the bikes an experience for life.
- Greetings from Anne Mette and Kim, Copenhagen"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
![«[...] Ma c’è un’altra , un’altra storia che merita di essere conosciuta e pertanto raccontata, agli stessi albesi e ai...](https://img3.travelagents10.com/614/546/1673753476145464.jpg)
