SVIGNAMOCELA TWO DAYS AMONG THE WINEYARDS
In Italian, svignamocela means let’s get away from it all – to spend two fantastic days far from all the weekday worries in the company of friends or family, staying in the wonderful dreamlike atmosphere of Relais Villa Matilde, discovering the delicacies of the Canavese area, pedalling up and down the rolling morainic hills through Erbaluce or Canavese Rosso vineyards until we have earned some wine-tasting, along with a traditional “ merenda sinoira” (snack and dinner all in one), or a lunch of local delicacies.
| TYPE | Trekking |
| DIFFICULTY | @@@@ |
| TIME | 2 days |
| DISTANCE |
about 85 km (45 first day + 40 second day) |
| TERRAIN |
byroads, dirt roads, paths |
| PLAN | small group with leader (at least 4 adults) |
| 2012 DATES |
Friday 1 June/Sunday 3 June Friday 13 July/Sunday 15 July Sunday 29 July/Tuesday 31 July Sunday 12 August/Tuesday 14 August Friday 31 August/Sunday 2 September Friday 28 September/Sunday 30 September Friday 12 October/Sunday 14 October …(dates agreed for pre-formed group) (at least 4 adults) |
| PRICE/PERSON |
245 Euros triple room 305 Euros single occupancy double room 100 Euros children 10/12 years old The price includes: 2 nights in a 4*Lux hotel, breakfast included, bike tour guide and assistance, 2 meals in traditional local restaurants, visit to a wine cellar with merenda sinoira (combined snack and dinner), visit to the Turin Province Regional Wine Centre with wine-tasting. |
Day of arrival
You can arrive at Relais Villa Matilde whenever you want, the important thing is to give yourself plenty of time to have a good night’s sleep to be ready for the next day! If you have time, it’s worth getting here early: Villa Matilde is not only an 18th century villa with period furniture, it also has extensive grounds with lovely outbuildings where you can relax in charming surroundings. In what used to be the villa’s orangery, there is now a fitness centre, sauna and Turkish bath that look onto the outdoor swimming pool, open during the summer months (from 1st June); there is also an outdoor tennis court.
First day on bike
We leave Relais Villa Matilde pedalling towards Scarmagno: on our left we can see what used to be the main manufacturing site of Olivetti & C., leadind information technology company in the 70’/80’. After crossing the village we go uphill through chestnut woods passing by the “forgotten” hamlets of Gatto and Cesare to reach San Martino lying on the edge of a wide plain opening the view over the inside part of the Morainic Amphitheatre. We continue towards Castellamonte through lovely hilly countryside where vineyards alternate with woods and clearings, and soon arrive at San Giovanni dei Boschi.
After a break with snacks and refreshments at the Clubhouse of the Canavese Golf & Country Club to get our strength back, we set off for Agliè on an easy road that follows the hill from Silva to Torre Canavese.
After crossing the village of Bairo, we leave the Royal Turin Wine Trail and encounter the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with its two bell towers and a lantern that give the building its nickname, the Tre Ciochè. From here we are soon in the centre of Agliè dominated by the imposing Duke’s Castle, an ancient manor house turned into one of the fine Residences of the Crown of Delights by the Savoys, today a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Leaving the town behind us, and passing through vineyards, we come to the Meleto, the 19th century country house belonging to the poet Guido Gozzano, deep in the countryside and surrounded by a romantic garden. From here after taking an easy dirt road that crosses wide clearings among vineyards, we reach San Giorgio. Passing the castle on the right, we again join the Royal Trail as far as the Roletto Estate, surrounded by Erbaluce DOCG vineyards, where a visit of the cellars awaits us with the well-deserved merenda sinoira (a proper dinner but earlier than usual).
After a rest to let the meal go down, we start pedalling again along the Royal Turin Wine Trail towards Cuceglio and, passing in front of the local Wine-makers’ Association, we climb to the church dedicated to the Beata Vergine Addolorata commonly known as the Sanctuary, for a short rest on the scenic terrace in the garden, from which there is an incredible view over the Canavese and the chain of the Alps. We go on along an easy asphalted road, then into the wood on the trail of the erratic masses left behind by the ancient Balteo glacier, towards Montalenghe. We go back into the Morainic Amphitheatre from the Pass of Santa Croce where we descend towards Villate on a relaxing country road that soon leads us to Mercenasco. From here the last stretch of easy road takes us back to Roman Canavese, crossing the town of Strambino.
Programma
@ ore 09,30 am meeting with the group and briefing
@ ore 10,00 am start of the wine ride from Villa Matilde
@ ore 01,00 pm snack at the Club house of the Canavese Golf & Country Club
@ ore 04,00 pm arrival at the Roletto Estate
@ ore 04,30 pm visit of the wine cellar
@ ore 05,00 pm merenda sinoira
@ ore 07,00 pm return to Villa Matilde
Second day on bike
From Relais Villa Matilde we set off eastwards, crossing the old part of Strambino to join the road for Vische and soon reach the village of Crotte. In relaxing agricultural countryside, we follow the course of the river Dora Baltea on an easy road that passes through the original Luisina Farm with its closed courtyard and reach Vische, towered over by the castle. From here, along an easy cycle track that twists and turns among the farmhouses we come to Candia and go down to the Lido on the northern side of the lake. Here a well-deserved lunch break awaits us at the restaurant in the Canoe Club building right on the shore, with beautiful views.
When we set off again we go back up the hill towards Caluso, reaching the top of the town for a rest at a viewing point near the ruins of the castle. From here a short descent leads us to the Palazzo Valperga di Masino, for a visit to the Regional Wine Centre where we can taste the famous Erbaluce Passito.
Once out of Caluso we soon leave the busy road to San Giorgio behind us for the more congenial provincial road to Barone, where we take a pleasant route halfway up the hillside that winds its way continually up and down to reach Montalenghe. After crossing the Pass of Santa Croce, we go back into the hollow of the Morainic Amphitheatre and with a smooth descent return towards Romano Canavese.
Programma
@ ore 10,00 am start of the wine ride from Villa Matilde
@ ore 12,30 am lunch at the Ristorante Al Cantun del Lago at Candia
@ ore 03,30 pm visit to the Caluso Regional Wine Centre and tasting of Erbaluce passito
@ ore 05,30 pm return to Villa Matilde
Price per person
in double room 265 Euros
in triple room (3 adults over the age of 12) 245 Euros
in single occupancy double room 305 Euros
children 10/12 years old in the same rooms as their parents 100 Euros
The price for groups of 4 to 10 adults includes:
- bed and breakfast at Relais Villa Matilde 4*Lux hotel
- bike tour guide and assistance for 2 days biking
- 2 meals in traditional local restaurants (2 courses, 1 glass of wine, water and coffee)
- visit to a wine cellar with merenda sinoira
- visit to the Turin Province Regional Wine Centre with wine-tasting (3 glasses)
Extra nights: at the best internet rate on www.relaisvillamatilde.com
Half board supplement: 30 Euros (3 courses, drinks excluded)
Relais Villa Matilde facilities: access to the SINA Wellness Club with Technogym, sauna, Turkish bath, outdoor tennis court and swimming pool (open from 1st June to 30th September), car parking, bike cleaning and garaging.
Changes to the itinerary
While we intend to respect the programme shown, slight changes may be made due to organisational reasons or weather conditions, also on the spot.
Diets and special requests
At the time of booking, please state whether you are vegetarian, celiac or have any food allergies, etc. Last-minute requests will not be accepted. In the event of allergies and/or food intolerances we reserve the right to request a medical certificate. It is important for us to be informed of any health problems you may have, in order to best satisfy your needs. We will do our best to satisfy your needs, however we cannot guarantee for the variety of dishes.
Minimun compulsory equipment
? MTB with all parts in good working condition
? Water bottle or camelbak with personal water supply
? Helmet, glasses and gloves
? Backpack
What to bring…
No special technical clothing is required, but we recommend you wear padded cycling shorts. It is always a good idea to dress in layers, preferably with breathable technical materials or cotton next to your skin. Don’t forget a K-way in case it rains.
Bring two pairs of shoes (one casual comfortable pair for daytime, and one for the evening or to always have a dry pair to change into), a headscarf or scarf to protect against the wind, sun protection cream, lip salve and insect repellent.
And last of all a camera to immortalise your experience in photos…
Bike and accessory hire
On request, bike@round can arrange for bike and helmet hire, see the catalogue for conditions.
For two days, a hire bike for an adult costs 60 Euros and for a child 40 Euros.
Insurance
Third party liability – included.
Optional healthcare and medical insurance – estimate upon request
How to book
1. After choosing your tour, download or ask our office for the technical sheet and general conditions of the contract and carefully read all parts of the documents.
2. Check availability by sending an e-mail to info@bikearound.it stating the tour desired, starting date, number of people (adults and children), number and type of rooms (double, triple, single/single occupancy double) and any extras required (more nights, half board supplement, bike hire, insurance).
3. bike@round will send you availability, an estimate and the period by which confirmation should be received. You should then fully complete the form and sign the contract, pay 25% of the total cost of the tour by bank transfer (stating name and surname of the group leader), send the form and receipt or Bank Operation Code of the payment to info@bikearound.it or by fax to +39 0125 421245.
4. The booking will be considered firm and the contract concluded only when bike@round sends confirmation by e-mail or by fax, attaching the contract form countersigned for acceptance.
5. The balance should be paid within no later than 20 days prior to the tour starting date. Please make a note in your diary, we won’t remind you. Then send us straight away the receipt or bank operation code of the bank transfer (stating the name and surname of the group leader).
6. bike@round will send you further information about your tour by e-mail or by fax.
If you should have any queries or requests, write to info@bikearound.it or call +39 0125 45174.
