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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Treasures of Italy: Piedmont & Umbria

Piedmont and Umbria escorted rail tour from London via Alpine trains

Illustration of Treasures of Italy: Piedmont & Umbria

Great Rail Journeys operates this 10-day escorted tour through Piedmont and Umbria, the lesser-known culinary and historical heart of Italy. The journey begins in London, crosses the English Channel on Eurostar Plus First Class, and travels by rail through the French and Italian Alps to Turin, Italy's former capital. From there, coach and rail transport carry the group through wine country near Alba, across Tuscany to Florence, and into the medieval towns of Umbria: Assisi (birthplace of Saint Francis), Spello, Gubbio, Todi and Perugia. The tour culminates in a scenic Alpine rail passage to Chambéry, France, before returning to London. A UK Tour Manager leads the group throughout. Guided walking tours visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, Renaissance palaces, 13th-century basilicas and medieval town piazzas. Wine tastings feature Nebbiolo wines from Alba, white and red wines from Lungarotti Winery and olive oil traditions at the Wine and Olive Oil Museums in Torgiano. A private tour of the Baci Perugina chocolate factory in Perugia and chocolate tastings round out the culinary programme. Nine nights are spent in four-star hotels, with breakfast, two lunches and seven dinners included. This tour suits history lovers, food-and-wine travellers and couples seeking escorted comfort with substantial cultural immersion.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is GBP 700 (USD 935), making the single price GBP 3,699 (USD 4,940), substantially above half the double rate.
  • Most days include coach travel between towns rather than continuous rail; the tour is escorted and guided, with limited free exploration except in the afternoons of Days 2, 3 and 7.
  • The maximum group size is 30 travellers; confirm final hotel details with Great Rail Journeys, as some properties are listed as 'or similar'.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Turin

    From London to Turin

    Your Italian holiday begins at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers. Join the Eurostar Plus service, enjoying a light meal en route to Paris, then switch trains and continue across France, passing the Italian Alps, to Turin. Check in to the hotel in the heart of Turin and gather for the first dinner in Italy.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Turin

    Exploring Turin's history with a local guide

    Enjoy a guided tour of Turin, visiting the famous Egyptian Museum (over 200 years old), the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama (UNESCO World Heritage site – Residences of the Royal House of Savoy). The tour concludes at Caffè Baratti & Milano (est. 1858) for chocolate tastings. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore Turin's Art Nouveau, Renaissance and Baroque charms or walk along the Po river path.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Turin

    Savouring hidden gems and Nebbiolo wines

    Travel by coach into Piedmont to Bra, a hidden gem in Italy's culinary crown. A local guide leads a walking tour of Bra's historic centre, with Baroque façades and quiet piazzas, and the story of the Slow Food movement. Free time to explore, then continue to a winery near Alba for lunch with a tasting of local Nebbiolo wine. Return to Turin by coach with a free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4railovernight: Santa Maria degli Angeli

    Travelling south to Tuscany and Umbria

    Travel by rail to Florence, Tuscany, for a guided walking tour highlighting the iconic red-tiled Duomo, Santa Maria Novella Church and the Ponte Vecchio. Continue by coach into Umbria, arriving at the four-star hotel in Santa Maria degli Angeli, just a few miles from historic Assisi. Dinner served at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Santa Maria degli Angeli

    Our first look at old-world Umbria in Assisi and Spello

    Coach into the Umbrian hills to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis. Guided tour includes the Basilica of St Clare, the Duomo of Assisi (consecrated 1253) and the Basilica of St Francis. Continue to the walled town of Spello, entering through a 1st-century gate, with free time to explore cobbled streets and Roman history. Return to hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Santa Maria degli Angeli

    Discovering the medieval gems of Gubbio and Todi

    Coach to Gubbio, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval towns in Italy, with architecture dating from the 13th century and views from the foot of Mount Ingino. Guided tour of piazzas, public palaces, cathedrals, gardens and city walls, with optional independent exploration and possible visit to Mount Ingino's summit. Continue by coach to hilltop Todi for a guided tour of its medieval and Baroque architecture. Return to hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Santa Maria degli Angeli

    Historical and culinary delights in Perugia

    Coach to Perugia, Umbria's capital and renowned chocolate city. Guided tour of the historic centre including Piazza IV Novembre and the 14th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral. Free time for lunch and further exploration, then visit the Casa del Cioccolato (Baci Perugina chocolate factory) to tour the museum, see the factory in action and sample chocolates. Return to hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Santa Maria degli Angeli

    Enjoying the flavours of Umbria in Torgiano

    Coach to the walled town of Torgiano, set in lush green terrain between Assisi and Perugia. Visit the Olive and Oil Museum (displays from olive cultivation to oil lamps) and the Wine Museum (artefacts from early wine production and an 18th-century wine press). Continue to Lungarotti Winery for lunch and a tasting of white and red wines. Return to hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Chambéry

    Through the Alps to Chambéry

    Breakfast at the resort hotel, then coach back to Florence to join the train to Chambéry via Turin. The journey passes vineyards, cypress trees, the mountains of northern Italy and the Alps near the French border. Chambéry retains a distinct Italian ambience despite its French location. Check in to the hotel, enjoy a short walk and dinner together.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  10. Day 10rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, depart Chambéry by TGV to Paris. In Paris, board the Eurostar Plus service, enjoying a light meal en route to London St Pancras, where the journey concludes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus First Class, passing through the French and Italian Alps before arriving in Turin for dinner.
  • Day 2Tour Turin's Egyptian Museum, Royal Palace and UNESCO-listed Palazzo Madama, then taste chocolate at Caffè Baratti & Milano, established 1858.
  • Day 3Explore Bra's Baroque piazzas and learn about the Slow Food movement, followed by lunch and Nebbiolo wine tasting at a winery near Alba.
  • Day 5Visit UNESCO World Heritage Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis, touring the Basilica of St Francis consecrated in 1253 and other medieval basilicas.
  • Day 7Tour Perugia's 14th-century San Lorenzo Cathedral and the Casa del Cioccolato (Baci Perugina chocolate factory), viewing production and sampling chocolates.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day
  • 2 lunches
  • 7 dinners
  • Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Turin to Collepepe
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus First Class from London to Paris and return, rail from Paris to Turin, Turin to Florence, and Florence to Chambéry via Turin, plus the TGV from Chambéry to Paris.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London throughout, and guided tours are provided in Turin, Bra, Florence, Assisi, Spello, Gubbio, Todi and Perugia.
What meals are included?
Breakfast every day, two lunches (one with Nebbiolo wine tasting near Alba, one at Lungarotti Winery), seven dinners, and light meals on the outbound and return Eurostar Plus services.
Which hotels will I stay in?
Starhotels Majestic (4-star, Turin, 3 nights), Dal Moro Gallery Hotel (4-star, Santa Maria degli Angeli, 5 nights), and a hotel in Chambéry (1 night).
When does the tour depart?
Great Rail Journeys offers five departures in 2027: April, May, June, September and October.
How much walking is involved?
Guided walking tours are included in Turin, Bra, Florence, Assisi, Spello, Gubbio, Todi and Perugia through town centres and historic sites. There is an optional walk to Mount Ingino's summit in Gubbio. Most days involve coach travel and free time.

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