Italia

October 2026

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Vol. II  ·  Travel Diary est. 2026 Italia  ·  Autunno
A private itinerary, printed for the trip —

Italia

October 2026

Hong Kong → Milano → Piemonte → Bologna → Toscana → Firenze → Milano

Dates
15 – 26 Oct · 11 days
Carrier
Cathay Pacific · CX233 / CX234
Cities
Six (by car & train)
Theme
Wine, Truffle, Pasta
Action Required

Before You Fly · Two things to lock in

Time-sensitive — don't put these off
01
Book winery visits & key restaurants now

Mid-October is harvest — Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello producers fill fast. Same for Piazza Duomo (Alba), Trippa (Milan), Trattoria Sostanza (Florence). Email in Italian if you can — it lands better.

02
International Driving Permit · ZTL awareness

HK driving license alone is not enough for an Italy rental — get the IDP at TD HK. Italian historic centres are ZTL (limited traffic zones) — entering with a non-resident car triggers an automatic fine. Park outside the walls.

View hotels →
Table of Contents indice — six chapters
  1. i. At a Glance Colpo d'Occhio P. 01
  2. ii. Day by Day Giorno per Giorno P. 02
  3. iii. Boarding Passes Carte d'Imbarco P. 03
  4. iv. Regional Companion Guida Regionale — Piemonte · Bologna · Toscana · Firenze · Milano P. 04
  5. v. Pre-Departure Prima della Partenza — hotels & packing list P. 05
  6. vi. The Damage Il Conto — expenses, who paid, settle-up P. 06
i. At a Glance

Eleven Days, Six Cities

A view from above

16
Oct · Fri
Arrive · Turin
17
Oct · Sat
Alba · Truffle Fair
18
Oct · Sun
Barolo · Hunting
19
Oct · Mon
Barbaresco → Bologna
20
Oct · Tue
Bologna
21
Oct · Wed
→ Tuscany
22
Oct · Thu
Montalcino · Brunello
23
Oct · Fri
Florence · Uffizi
24
Oct · Sat
Florence · Oltrarno
25
Oct · Sun
Milan · Honeymoon
26
Oct · Mon
Home
ii. Day by Day

Giorno per Giorno

The journey, one day at a time

Day · One
01
15 – 16 / 10
Thu – Fri · Departure

Hong Kong → Milano → Turin

Hello, Piemonte
  • 22:50
    Arrive HKG Terminal 1 · Check-in
    Check in for the overnight CX233 to Milan. Long-haul economy — sleep on the plane if you can.
    HKIA T1
  • 07:50 +1
    Land Milan Malpensa (MXP) · Cathay CX233
    Italy is GMT+1, six hours behind Hong Kong. Coffee on arrival — strong, short.
    CX233 · HKG → MXP
  • Morning
    MXP → Turin · car rental (TBC)
    Considering renting at Malpensa and driving ourselves — 2 drivers, so we can split the wheel after a long-haul night. ~1h 45m drive. Drop bags, freshen up, then ease into the city. Backup: pre-arranged private transfer.
    2 drivers · share the wheel
  • Midday
    Bicerin at Caffè Al Bicerin
    Turin's signature drink — espresso, chocolate, cream — since 1763. The cure for jet lag.
    Café Al Bicerin
  • Afternoon
    Stroll Piazza Castello & Porta Palatina
    Walk under the porticos of Via Roma. Palazzo Madama on the square. Roman gate (1st century, free, 10 min) a short walk north.
    Piazza Castello Porta Palatina
  • Evening
    Dinner · vitello tonnato & agnolotti del plin
    Two non-negotiable Piedmontese plates. Find them anywhere central — a trattoria off Piazza San Carlo is a safe call.
  • Optional
    Palazzo Reale · Mole Antonelliana
    If energy permits — royal apartments & the Cappella della Sindone, or the iconic spire with the cinema museum and panoramic lift. Otherwise sleep wins.
Day · Two
02
17 / 10
Saturday · Truffle Fair

Turin → Alba → Barolo

Into the Langhe
  • Morning
    Pick up rental car · drive to Alba
    ~1 hr south through rolling Piedmontese hills. Park outside the historic centre — Alba's ZTL kicks in on fair days.
    Alba
  • Late AM
    Alba White Truffle Fair · Fiera del Tartufo
    The reason to be here this week. Walk the market hall, smell everything, eat tajarin al tartufo if you can find it.
    Fiera del Tartufo
  • 13:00
    Lunch · Piazza Duomo Book Tue 2 Jun · 10:30 Rome (16:30 HKT)
    3 Michelin stars, Enrico Crippa. Book months ahead. Set aside three hours — this is the meal of the trip.
    Reservations open Tue 2 Jun 2026 · be at the desk on the dot
    Piazza Duomo
  • Late PM
    Enoteca Regionale del Barolo & Barolo village
    Inside the Castello. Barolos by the glass from dozens of small producers — the easiest way to taste a slice of the region without committing to a full tour.
    Enoteca Regionale
  • Evening
    Check in · La Giolitta, Barolo
    Two nights here. Walking distance to the castle, quiet, family-run.
    Booked · 2 nights · 4 pax
    La Giolitta
Day · Three
03
18 / 10
Sunday · Truffle Hunt

Barolo · Marchesi · Trufolau

The full Langhe day
  • 11:00
    5-course lunch · Marchesi di Barolo Confirmed
    The historic estate (since 1807) that gave Barolo its name. Beautiful cellars, gracious staff. Done around 14:00.
    Marchesi di Barolo
  • 15:00
    Truffle hunting with a local trufolau To book
    ~2 hr in the hills around Barolo with the dogs. Easier on the legs after lunch than the morning route — many trufolaus run afternoon sessions in October.
    Book ahead · ask for a 15:00 start
  • Evening
    Dinner · Osteria Tre Case, Serralunga
    Traditional with a light modern hand. Reasonable, local. La Cantinetta closes Sun dinner — this is the Sunday move.
    Tre Case
Day · Four
04
19 / 10
Monday · Barbaresco

Castagnole · Barbaresco

One more Langhe day — slow
  • Morning
    Check out La Giolitta · short drive east
    ~40 min from Barolo to Castagnole delle Lanze. Vineyard windings, easy morning.
  • 10:30
    La Spinetta · cellar visit To book
    Husband-pick. The rhino-label cellar in Castagnole delle Lanze. By appointment only — book ahead via their website. Allow ~90 min.
    La Spinetta
  • 13:00
    Lunch · Antiné, Barbaresco
    250+ Barbaresco, ~100 Barolo, 60+ Champagnes. Closed Wednesdays — Monday's the perfect day.
    Antiné
  • Afternoon
    Barbaresco village & Enoteca Regionale
    In the deconsecrated San Donato church — pours from 100+ producers, no appointment, perfect post-lunch wander. Tiny village, walkable in an hour.
    Enoteca Regionale
  • Evening
    Dinner · La Ciau del Tornavento, Treiso
    1 Michelin star, panoramic dining room overlooking Barbaresco hills. 10 min from the village. Closed Tue/Wed — Monday is open.
    La Ciau del Tornavento
  • Night
    Stay · Casa Boffa, Barbaresco Confirmed
    Family-run B&B right in Barbaresco village. Walking distance to Antiné, the Enoteca Regionale, and the church-tower viewpoint over the vineyards.
    Booked · 1 night · 4 pax
    Casa Boffa
Day · Five
05
20 / 10
Tuesday · Transition

Barbaresco → Bologna

One last Langhe tasting, then east into Emilia
  • 10:00
    Cascina delle Rose · morning tasting To book
    Natural-leaning Barbaresco with Giovanna Rizzolio — visit-only (no overnight, 3-night min for stays). Max 8 guests per visit. Generous and unhurried, the kind of morning you remember.
    Email to book · request 10:00
    Cascina delle Rose
  • 12:00
    Drive east · Barbaresco → Bologna · ~3 hr
    A21 / A1 east through the foothills. Watch the autovelox cameras — Italian speed enforcement is unforgiving.
  • 15:30
    Arrive · check in Borgo delle Vigne
    Drop bags in Zola Predosa (15 min from the centre). The agriturismo sits on quiet hills with on-site winery and restaurant — your decompression night before Tuscany.
    Borgo delle Vigne
  • Late PM
    Optional · quick Bologna run-through
    If energy's there, drive into the centro — park at Garage Marconi or Riva Reno (just outside the ZTL), walk through Quadrilatero, Piazza Maggiore, the Due Torri base. ~90 min on foot. Or skip it and do a vineyard walk + a glass on the terrace.
    Quadrilatero
  • 19:30
    Dinner · tagliere + bottle at Borgo Confirm with property
    Borgo's restaurant is closed Tuesdays — but the cantina is usually open. Email ahead to ask for a charcuterie board + bottle of their own wine in the room or on the terrace (~€20–30/pp). Honest answer: by Day 5 you've earned a no-restaurant night.
  • Night
    Stay · Borgo delle Vigne
    Booked · 1 night · 4 pax
Day · Six
06
21 / 10
Wednesday · Val d'Orcia

Bologna → Tuscany

South into the Brunello hills
  • Morning
    Drive south · Bologna → Tuscany
    ~3.5 hr drive. Crosses the Apennines, then opens into Val d'Orcia. The most photographed road in Italy.
  • 13:00
    Stop in Pienza · pecorino lunch
    Renaissance "ideal city". Buy aged pecorino, walk the Corso Rossellino, eat outdoors with the Val d'Orcia view.
    Pienza
  • 16:00
    ColleMassari · tour & tasting
    Organic Sangiovese estate. Ask for the Poggio Lombrone — their flagship riserva.
    ColleMassari
  • Evening
    Dinner & stay · Wine Relais ColleMassari
    Two nights on the estate. Dinner at the on-site restaurant — the wines come right from below.
    Booked · 2 nights · 4 pax · HK$ 9,129
Day · Seven
07
22 / 10
Thursday · Brunello

Montalcino & Montepulciano

Sangiovese country, twice over
  • Morning
    Enoteca la Fortezza · Montalcino
    Inside the 14th-c fortress. Walk in, taste Brunello by the glass from dozens of producers. No appointment, no fuss.
    La Fortezza
  • Midday
    Brunello winery visit
    Pick one: Conti Costanti (elegant traditional), Siro Pacenti (modern, sweeping vineyard views), or Castello Banfi (the polished tour, big "wow" factor). Book in advance.
  • Late PM
    Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
    Romanesque abbey in olive groves below Montalcino. If the timing lines up, catch the Gregorian chant service. Quiet, ancient.
    Sant'Antimo
  • Evening
    Dinner · Boccon di Vino, Montalcino
    House-made bread and fresh pasta daily since 1992. Closed Tuesdays in October — Thursday is perfect.
    Boccon di Vino
Day · Eight
08
23 / 10
Friday · Firenze

Tuscany → Florence

Drop the car, start walking
  • Morning
    Drive to Florence · optional Antinori stop
    If you book ahead, the Antinori winery on the way is worth the detour — architecture built into a Chianti hillside, 600 years of family wine. Otherwise drive straight through.
  • Late AM
    Return car · Florence Airport (FLR)
    Cab to hotel. No more driving in Florence — the ZTL is unforgiving and parking is misery.
  • 14:00
    Check in · Guya Apartment by Mamo
    Two nights. Centrally located, comfortable, free cancellation locked in.
    Booked · 2 nights · HK$ 6,415
    Guya Apartment
  • Afternoon
    Uffizi Gallery · timed entry
    Book ahead — October queues are long. Botticelli's Venus, Caravaggio's Medusa, Leonardo. Two hours minimum.
    Uffizi
  • Golden Hour
    Ponte Vecchio · stroll
    From the south bank back, sun behind you — the bridge glows orange. Postcard moment.
    Ponte Vecchio
  • Evening
    Dinner · Trattoria Sostanza
    Tiny kitchen, rarely-changing menu perfected over decades. The butter chicken breast is the dish. Cash only — bring euros.
    Cash only · Book ahead
    Sostanza
  • Nightcap
    Le Volpi e l'Uva
    Beloved wine bar near Ponte Vecchio. By-the-glass selection that goes deep — Tuscan classics to natural producers. Crostini are excellent.
    Le Volpi e l'Uva
Day · Nine
09
24 / 10
Saturday · Oltrarno

Florence · The Other Side

Markets, artisans, bistecca
  • Morning
    Oltrarno & Piazza Santo Spirito market
    Cross the river. Saturday morning market, artisan workshops, less polished, less touristy — the "real" Florence everyone romanticises.
    Piazza Santo Spirito
  • 13:00
    Lunch · San Lorenzo · Mercato Centrale
    Ground floor: leather. Upstairs: a sprawling food hall — graze across counters. Lampredotto if you're brave (the tripe sandwich is better than it sounds).
    Mercato Centrale
  • Sunset
    Piazzale Michelangelo
    The panoramic view. All of Florence at golden hour from above — Duomo, Arno, hills behind. Walk up the path or cab.
    Piazzale Michelangelo
  • Evening
    Bistecca fiorentina · Trattoria Cammillo
    A massive T-bone, rare, salt and olive oil, share between two. Refined Florentine, never fussy. Closed Tue/Wed — Saturday's the move.
    Cammillo
  • Nightcap
    Casa del Vino · San Lorenzo
    Old-school Florentine enoteca run by Gianni & Nicoletta. Wine + crostini + panini, standing at the bar. No fuss.
    Casa del Vino
Day · Ten
10
25 / 10
Sunday · Milano ♡

Florence → Milan

The honeymoon finale
  • Morning
    Train · Florence → Milan
    High-speed Frecciarossa, ~1h 40m. Florence S.M.N. → Milano Centrale. Book first class — the seats are wider and breakfast comes.
  • Afternoon
    Check in · Hotel VIU Milan
    Bonvoy points booking. Design hotel in Porta Volta — minutes to Brera. Skyline-view rooftop pool — the reward at the end.
    Booked · Bonvoy points redeemed
    Hotel VIU
  • Late PM
    Rooftop pool · honeymoon vibes
    Sun loungers, prosecco, skyline. Long bath upstairs after if it gets chilly.
  • Aperitivo
    Navigli at sunset
    Canal-side, Negroni in hand, in the birthplace of Campari. The street food spread keeps coming.
    Navigli
  • Evening
    Dinner · DeRos
    Steps from La Scala — octopus, ceviche, catch of the day. Trippa is closed Sundays; DeRos is the elegant Sunday pick.
    DeRos
Day · Eleven
11
26 / 10
Monday · Home

Milan → Hong Kong

Heading home
  • 07:00
    Breakfast at Hotel VIU
    One last espresso. Pack the empty bottles carefully.
  • 08:30
    Check out · Malpensa Express or taxi
    Malpensa Express from Cadorna ~50 min; taxi ~1 hr. Train is cheaper, taxi is easier with bags.
  • 11:55
    Cathay CX234 · MXP → HKG
    Arrives next morning. Try to stay awake for dinner, sleep the rest. Hong Kong jet lag forgiving in this direction.
    CX234 · MXP → HKG
TOC