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
    Pick up rental car at MXP · drive to Turin Confirmed
    Collecting the car right at Malpensa and driving ourselves — 2 drivers, so we can split the wheel after a long-haul night. ~1h 45m drive. Having the car from arrival means we relax through the day and roll into Alba at our own pace tomorrow. Drop bags, freshen up, then ease into the city.
    2 drivers · share the wheel · car from MXP
  • 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
  • Early AM
    Drive to Alba
    Early start so the fair gets its full morning before lunch. Car's already with us from Malpensa — no rental desk to deal with. ~1 hr south through rolling Piedmontese hills. Park outside the historic centre — Alba's ZTL kicks in on fair days.
    Alba
  • Morning
    Alba White Truffle Fair · Fiera del Tartufo
    The reason to be here this week — arrive near opening (~9:00) to walk the market hall before the crowds. Smell everything, eat tajarin al tartufo if you can find it. Wrap up by ~12:15 to stroll over for the 12:45 lunch.
    Fiera del Tartufo
  • 12:45
    Lunch · Piazza Duomo Confirmed
    3 Michelin stars, Enrico Crippa. Set aside three hours — this is the meal of the trip.
    Confirmed · Sat 17 Oct 2026 · 12:45 lunch
    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