Real Italy - Cheese Tours and E Bikes

Claire at Wings Italy told us that this region isn't your picture-perfect Italy - it doesn’t attract perfectionists but this is where the beauty and uniqueness of the region lie. The various towns are truly Italian, roads are often lined with scraggly farmland and here there are 60 million olives trees dotted across the landscape, which is in deep contrast to the manicured hills of Tuscany! 

Unpaved streets, its rural and as Claire says she has yet to see this elsewhere in Italy; it’s simple and has an unconditional warmth and atmosphere.

Day 1: Arrival Malpensa Airport 

Meals: 1st Evening Group Meal 

Depart from your chosen airport and arrive Milan. You will be met by our friendly hosts WingsItaly then you are off to Oltrepo Pavese, transfer is approx 1 hour 30 minutes to Villa Lomellini , check in relax, ready for your 1st evening meal in the elegant grand dining room of this historical Villa. 

Day 2 

Meals: Breakfast , Aperitivo wine tasting , 2nd Group Evening Meal Outing: Gorgonzola

After breakfast a private transfer will collect you to take you to the birthplace of Gorgonzola. Taste the famous cheese, learn the history, visit the city, having an aperitivo with wines and cheese. Apparently in 1820 a Marquise invited food tasters from important European courts to taste the notorious cheese of the area. The legend tells of a herder who left a bowl of curdled milk without the necessary tools for milk processing he added another curd to the first curd. After several days, he realized he had cheese with green veins that was very appetizing due to the mixture of the cold curd of the evening with the warm morning curd. Gorgonzola cheese is now recognized as a product of excellence of the Italian tradition in all over the world.

Day 3

Includes: Breakfast, Wine Tasting, 3rd Group Evening Meal

Outing: Oltrepo Pavese E Biking 

After breakfast you are off to collect your bespoke ebikes. Introduction on how to use your ebike and a gentle first ride on a designated cycle path, all the way to the Roman Spa Town of Salice Terme. To Include a vineyard tour and wine tasting! 

Day 4 

Meals: Breakfast 4th Group Evening Meal  

Outing: Local area and Italian Markets  

Day 5 

Meals: Breakfast 5th Evening Meal

Destination: Oltrepo Pavese and e biking

Another adventure on your e bike, wine tasting and evening meal .

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast  

Destination Milan Central & Navili Canals. 

After a leisurely breakfast your off to explore Milan, your private transfer will drop you off at the city boundaries catching the quick and fast Metro straight into the heart of Milan . Explore Milan then transfer by metro to the Leonardo d Vinci Canals . This excursion involves public transport, saving time and eliminating traffic congestion.

Day 7 

Meals: Breakfast  6th Farewell Group Evening Dinner  

Destination:  Oltrepo Pavese Pavia  

After breakfast and a tour and walk of the Villa, visit a local nearby market , then it’s a tour of Pavia, farewell dinner and party night .

Day 8 – Arriverderci

Meals: Breakfast

Destination: Home

Sadly, all good things come to an end, after breakfast you depart the Villa private transfer heading back to Malpensa airport . Depending on flight departures you may be able to have a group lunch at your own expense.

Please Note. The itinerary may change due to the weather . WingsItaly will follow the sunshine picking the best days for the e bike adventures .

Market days may also change too.

Wine-tasting * includes tasting local wine, these are new wine suppliers to Wings producing a high standard of authentic wines, e.g., Bonarda, Buttofuco, Pinot Noir and more. A typical wine-tasting consist of 4 glasses of wines light nibbles, bread, local cheeses, Salami, Taralli .

Meals *, Seasonal local Italian cuisine.

E Bikes. Helmets, water bottles and a professional guide is included, approx. time on the e Bike is 3 hours with several pit stops; however, you can stop when you wish. 2 sessions leading you through the local area, taking in the views and of course after all that hard work on your e bike it will be followed by light refreshments.

E bikes are power supported and are excellent for those wishing to take it easy, the bike rides have been carefully chosen and are extremely gentle, suitable for all, however if you’re looking for a more exhilarating cycle experience this can be arranged with prior notice.

Whilst this is a gentle bike adventure it is important that you can ride a bike, feeling confident on flat paths.

As with all WingsItaly adventures a high level of flexibility and a spontaneous spirit is required, you never know what is going to happen next! 

Villa Lomellini - Your home during this adventure will be a unique monastery, staying at the exclusive Villa Lomellini, set in the lower hills of Oltrepo Pavese.

The Villa is set in acres of private grounds, and has a rich history. Villa Lomellini is owned by the Roman Catholic Church and Spice can confirm that special permission has been granted to open the Villa exclusively for us. Whilst a monastic centre , Villa Lomellini has a reception which is open from early morning to 23.00hrs and a beautiful dining area and a cash bar is available at certain times. All rooms are en suite.

Http://www.villalomellini.it/index.php/en/

Please note we will always endeavour to accommodate all special requests; however, the hotel management are responsible for allocation of all the rooms. 

Provisional flight information

30/09/2023           London Stansted to Milan Malpensa                  Dep: 1145        Arr: 1445

07/10/2023           Milan Malpensa to London Stansted                  Dep: 1310        Arr: 1405

30/09/2023           Manchester to Milan Malpensa                          Dep: 1105        Arr: 1415

07/10/2023           Milan Malpensa to Manchester                          Dep: 1445        Arr: 1555

30/09/2023           Birmingham to Milan Malpensa                          Dep: 0915        Arr: 1400

07/10/2023           Milan Malpensa to Birmingham                          Dep: 1240        Arr: 1655

Birmingham light is not direct.

Passport validity

For UK passport holders your passport must be:

• Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Travel Insurance

Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.

Global Health Insurance Card

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.

Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.

NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!

The latest FCO travel guidance for Italy

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy