From Milan - UNESCO Sites, Food, and Nature by Train

Highlights

• Visit the Sanctuary of Oropa.
• Explore the surroundings of the city of Biella.
• Visit the medieval hilltop town of Piazzo.
• Learn about the history of local products by visiting the MeBo, the Menabrea Botalla Museum.
• Visit one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Description

From Milan Central Station, take the train to Santhià, where your guide will be waiting to take you by minivan to the Oropa Sanctuary, the first stop on your journey. Let your guide lead you on a discovery of the Sanctuary of Oropa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled among deciduous forests. The complex is arranged on three terraced levels, and the main points of interest are the two places of worship: the Old Basilica and the Upper Basilica. The Basilica Antica, built in the Baroque and Rococo styles, houses the statue of the Black Madonna, which has been venerated since the Middle Ages. The more recent Upper Basilica houses the “Nativity Scenes and Dioramas” collection, which includes around 50 nativity scenes from around the world. On the cloister level, you can also admire the galleries of votive offerings dedicated to the Virgin of Oropa, but the tour does not include a visit to the Treasures Museum, where the gold and vestments from previous coronations are kept. Also in the morning, you can enjoy a hot drink and a Mucroncino, a traditional Oropa dessert, at a café inside the sanctuary. To round off your visit, not far from the sanctuary and nestled in the park, you will find a restaurant where you can enjoy typical dishes from the Biella Prealps, such as Polenta Concia, Sancarlino (a pepper in bagna cauda) and Toma Maccagno cheese. After lunch, you will be driven by car, accompanied by your guide, to the MeBo, the Menabrea Botalla Museum, for a self-guided tour. Inside, the famous Menabrea beer and MeBo cheese are produced by hand, the latter being the result of a collaboration between the Menabrea Brewery and the Botalla Dairy. Made from cow's milk and often aged with herbs, MeBo cheese has a delicate yet distinctive flavor. After the visit, you will be driven by car, accompanied by your tour guide, to Il Piazzo, a medieval hamlet that is still well preserved and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. As you stroll through its cobblestone streets, you can admire medieval-style buildings, arcades, the Church of San Giacomo (the oldest church in the town), and the exteriors of the Ferrero, Lamarmora, and Gromo Losa palaces, which were once the residences of wealthy local families. From Il Piazzo, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the lower town. At the end of the visit, transfer by car with your guide to Santhià train station to catch the train to Milan Centrale train station, where the day's tour ends.

Includes

Transportation by second-class train and by car. A tour guide for the approximately 13-hour tour. One traditional lunch in Oropa, including water and a quarter bottle of wine. Tasting of a local dessert with a traditional drink at the bar. Admission to the MeBo.

Excludes

Admission to the Palace of Treasures and a guided tour Admission to the Ferrero, Lamarmora, and Gromo Losa Palaces

Important Information

• To ensure the smooth running of the service, please be punctual for the tour departure time. The tour departs at 8:15 AM and lasts 13 hours. Pets are not allowed. This tour may be canceled due to adverse weather conditions, and a refund will be issued.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund