Episodio 1/30

@ La Morra, Piedmont
Samwise Gamgee begins his tour of "Northern Italy - Milan and Turin" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations!
Italy - North - Milan and Turin
The pets will here explore the vineyards of Piedmont; the birthplace of the Fiat 500 in Turin; the many delights of fashion capital Milan; Lake Como and Lake Garda. They will experience the scary hairpin bends of the Tyrolean Stelvio Pass and meet a curly-horned guardian of the Dolomites. Also to be seen is one of the most beautiful old villages in Italy and a very posh palace!
La Morra, Piedmont
La Morra, built in the famous Barolo wine production area, is 13 km from Alba, and includes the villages of Annunziata, Berri, Rivalta and Santa Maria. It’s just the place to take a relaxing holiday, thanks to its beautiful position on the top of a hill.

Episodio 2/30

@ Langhe, Piedmont
“Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, Samwise Gamgee?” suggested Ms Stinkerbelle, sinking down on a convenient tree stump.
Samwise Gamgee agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Langhe, Piedmont
On the main square is the Baroque church of St Martin and the Fraternity of San Rocco; in a corner, a little triangular garden has taken the place of the ancient cemetery, in front of the Town Hall. Nearby, in the Communal Cellar, you can sample buy the local wine. A little way away, in the Piazza Castello, is one of the best views over the Langhe.

Episodio 3/30

@ Lounge About
"Hey, it says in our tour guide that construction of the 8-storey Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1173 and took 200 years to complete! It quite puts that two-week delay on your bathroom tiling project into perspective, doesn't it, Bubbles?" remarked Samwise Gamgee. "Also, the name of the architect has been lost in the sands of time. You sort of wonder whether he'd have wanted his name to be linked to a tower that leans so noticeably to one side!"
Bubbles leaned across to read the description of the famous Leaning Tower. "It's good in a way that we can celebrate such an apparent disaster," she said. "It says here that it's a very popular design for wedding cakes!"
Lounge About
Salotto means "lounge". After exploring Piedmont, here's the perfect place to relax over coffee, Italian ice cream, handcrafted chocolates or sample the brews in the tea salon!

Episodio 4/30

@ Piedmont vineyard
"I'm going to have me a hazelnut gelato at the hotel tonight, Cowntess!" announced Samwise Gamgee.
"I can never decide what my favourite flavour is! I love the pistachio, also the chocolate mint, and the vanilla is fabulous, too!" responded Cowntess.
Piedmont vineyard
If you’re trying to get a deeper understanding of Italian wine, Piedmont is one of the most useful wine regions to get to know. For a start, Piedmont introduces us to a completely new set of wine grapes to taste and understand – from Nebbiolo to Cortese. Secondly, Piedmont (Piemonte) is considered a top wine region in Italy (like Tuscany). And finally, Piedmont is very popular with the locals. This area, including Milan and Turin, is home to one third of the population of Italy!

Episodio 5/30

@ The Little Mouse That Roars
"Milan is widely considered to be the fashion capital of the world. Many internationally renowned fashion brands are based in Milan, including Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Prada. Quadrilatero della Moda is the high-end fashion district in Milan that contains luxury brands and exclusive fashion boutiques. It’s one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world," read out Tommen from the itinerary.
"We'll have to take care not to go too mad there, Tommen!" responded Samwise Gamgee. "Perhaps a designer T-shirt!"
"Hmm—I think a designer bath cube will be more within my budget!" remarked Tommen.
The Little Mouse That Roars
A Fiat 500 interior! If you’re looking for unusual or alternative things to do in Turin, try the Fiat Lingotto Factory. This car factory has now closed down but it was where they made Fiat cars from 1923-1982. The Lingotto building has since been renovated and turned into a commercial complex with hotels and a shopping mall, and you can visit it and see its most unique feature – a race track on the roof! The Fiat Lingotto Factory was built in 1916 and was designed to allow every step of the car-making process to be carried out there. It was close to the train tracks so that raw materials could be delivered straight to the door and manufacturing work on the Fiats would start on the lower floors. The factory has a winding, internal ramp so that the cars could be driven up successive floors as they moved along the various stages of production. Finally, the finished cars would be taken to the top floor – the roof of the building where there is a test track for the cars to be road tested before they were taken to the showrooms to be sold. The Fiat test track on top of the building was used in a scene in the 1969 film The Italian Job with Michael Caine, which was filmed in Turin. One of the shooting locations for the chase scene with the Minis near the end was the Turin Fiat factory.

Episodio 6/30

@ Parco Sempione, Milan
"... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, gemma?" remarked Samwise Gamgee.
"I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked gemma.
Samwise Gamgee chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne."
Parco Sempione, Milan
The Parco Sempione is a large green-space close to the Castello Sforzesco. It was built between 1890 and 1893 imitating a typical English garden.

Episodio 7/30

@ Driving with Steam
“Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Samwise Gamgee. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Ugie.
“No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Samwise Gamgee, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Samwise Gamgee."
"It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Ugie indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'"
Samwise Gamgee seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", he grumbled.
Ugie sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead."
Driving with Steam
Welcome to the railway section of the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan! https:// andrewstransport.smugmug.com/ Italiantrains/ Leonardo-da-Vinci-Museum-of/ i-DKNgKzF The museum is home to 11 steam and four early electric locomotives.

Episodio 8/30

@ Milanese Frescoes
“What have you got in your rucksack, George?” asked Samwise Gamgee. “It looks very full!”
“I’ve come prepared for anything, Samwise Gamgee,” responded George. “There’s canvas deck shoes, tennis shoes, flip-flops, sandshoes, walking boots, sandals, loafers—you name it, I’ve got it!”
Milanese Frescoes
The interior of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a 1518 church known as the Sistine Chapel of Milan. This is a detail of the ceiling with frescoes by Aurelio Luini.

Episodio 9/30

@ Sesto Calende
"... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Maggie Moo?" remarked Samwise Gamgee.
"I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Maggie Moo.
Samwise Gamgee chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne."
Sesto Calende
Sesto Calende is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. It is at the southern tip of Lake Maggiore, where the Ticino River starts to flow towards the Po River. The main historical sight is the Abbey of San Donato, built in the 9th and 10th centuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30 Sesto_Calende

Episodio 10/30

@ This Cloistered Space
"A bit of trivia here, Sparkle!" remarked Samwise Gamgee, reading from their tour brochure. "Can you name two films that popularised the Vespa as the ultimate way to explore Italy?"
"I don't think I can, Samwise Gamgee!"
"Well, to be fair, they were both from before we were born. The 1953 film, Roman Holiday, and La Dolce Vita in 1960. It says the latter is a particularly good film."
"We'll have to see if we can watch them when we get back," said Sparkle.
This Cloistered Space
The peaceful Abbey of San Gemolo, in Ganna, Lombardy, Italy. It dates back to the twelfth century and is located in Valganna, bordering the regional park of Campo dei Fiori Varese.

Episodio 11/30

@ Rich Man's Retreat
"'Bella Italia!'" read out Zoomer from their tour brochure. " 'A country in which you will be swept off your paws by quaint seaside villages, pastoral countryside, idyllic islands, dramatic mountains and ancient historic cities. It's easy to understand why Bella Italia is one of the most romantic destinations in the world.'"
Samwise Gamgee settled back in his tour bus seat. "It's certainly been all that so far, Zoomer!"
Rich Man's Retreat
Lake Como, Italy has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has many villas and palaces such as Villa Olmo, Villa Serbelloni, and Villa Carlotta. Many famous people have had and have homes on the shores of Lake Como.

Episodio 12/30

@ Lake Como, Italy
"Wasn’t it worth coming all this way, Samwise Gamgee," said Nibbles, "for this experience alone?"
Samwise Gamgee, admiring the scene they were now in, heartily agreed!
Lake Como, Italy
As a tourist destination, Lake Como is popular for its landscapes, wildlife and spas. It is a venue for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. In the area surrounding Lake Como there are several farms which produce goods such as honey, olive oil, cheese, milk, eggs and salamis.

Episodio 13/30

@ Stelvio Pass, South Tyrol
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Barnaby. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Samwise Gamgee thought about this. "Good scheme!" he said.
Stelvio Pass, South Tyrol
The full 47 km/29 miles long Alpine pass is not exactly a beauty — but visually, the Stelvio Pass, Italy, is one of the most dramatic passes in the Alps, due to its incredible wall of switchback turns.

At first you will drive through thick wood before the landscape opens up and you will be mostly surrounded by rocks. Only a few small green bushes and some grass is breaking this slightly unreal landscape.
But the Alpine pass is a absolute masterpiece of road engineering and often referred to as "Queen of Pass Roads" Probably because with a stunning 2,757 m (9,045 ft) above sea level the road is "among the highest driving roads in the world".

Episodio 14/30

@ Italian Mountain Hike
“I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, Samwise Gamgee,” mused Mystic, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of her pen. “Is it two ts and one r?”
“Simples,” grinned Samwise Gamgee. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.”
“Middle Earth!” cried Mystic.
Italian Mountain Hike
Pets should wrap up warmly before exploring the winding paths of this mountainous terrain!

Episodio 15/30

@ Athlete in Altitude
Half way through Samwise Gamgee's tour of "Northern Italy - Milan and Turin", he finds a special prize!
Italy City Skyline (panoramic)
A classic panoramic-style view of a famous city in Italy. Which one, we can't tell you. Seriously. Our notes are smudged.
Athlete in Altitude
The chamois is a very small bovid. Chamois usually use speed and stealthy evasion to escape predators and can run at 50 kmh (31 mph) and can jump 2 m (6 ft 6 in) vertically into the air or over a distance of 6 m (20 ft). Female chamois and their young live in herds of up to 15 to 30 individuals; adult males tend to live solitarily for most of the year.

Episodio 16/30

@ Swan Lake
"It would be great to live on a houseboat in Italy!" said Sea Breeze enthusiastically. "You can sail round most of the country, and when you get tired, just moor the boat and hop in a bunk!"
Samwise Gamgee considered this carefully. "I don’t think houseboats are designed to go on the sea, Sea Breeze. You’d have to get a proper yacht, or something.”
Swan Lake
This swan stands pensively by beautiful Lake Garda in Italy.

Episodio 17/30

@ Master That Pasta!
"It must be so romantic working on a vineyard, Samwise Gamgee," said Moo contentedly sipping grape juice after a hard day’s sightseeing. "Imagine picking the ripe grapes while the sun sets and seeing them turned into wine!"
"Hmm—now imagine being up at dawn in the cold of January and February pruning the woody stalks by hand and crushing them up for compost,” said Samwise Gamgee. “Then more work throughout spring, leaf pruning later in the year, followed by grape pruning. It doesn’t stop.”
Moo waved her glass. “I’ll have staff to do all that,” she said.
Master That Pasta!
Italy has more than 400 known pasta shapes! Here are just a few: from the top left: orecchiette ("little ears"); ziti; farfalle ("butterflies"); rigatoni ("ridges"; and (centre) tagliatelle.

Episodio 18/30

@ Alpine Panorama
"Flitter," gulped Samwise Gamgee apprehensively, "Have you seen this item on the itinerary? We'll be going to see an active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, on the Naples leg!"
"Don't worry, Samwise Gamgee!" said Flitter reassuringly. "It's not erupted since 79 CE. Admittedly, on that occasion, it did wipe out the Roman city of Pompeii and an estimated three million inhabitants, but today Mount Vesuvius is a large national park that attracts tourists wanting to hike up to the top and take a look inside. The brochure says the trail to the top is beginner-friendly and about a 2½ mile (4km) round trip."
Alpine Panorama
Belluno, in the Dolomites. One of the main sites of the nearby town is its 16th-century cathedral, with an 18th-century bell tower.

Episodio 19/30

@ Tyrolean Vista
“What have you got in your rucksack, Ciaré?” asked Samwise Gamgee. “It looks very full!”
“I’ve come prepared for anything, Samwise Gamgee,” responded Ciaré. “There’s canvas deck shoes, tennis shoes, flip-flops, sandshoes, walking boots, sandals, loafers—you name it, I’ve got it!”
Tyrolean Vista
Province of Trentino, north of Verona. Despite the over-whelmingly mountainous nature of the territory, agriculture remains important. Farms often join together to form larger co-operatives. The most important produce comprises vegetables, apples and other fruit, principally the grape, which is important especially for its quality, and is used for the production of dry and sparkling wines.

Episodio 20/30

@ Canale di Tenno
Maybelle was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as Samwise Gamgee unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which he succeeded in knocking Maybelle’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Maybelle, irritated. “We’re about to pose on either side of this amazing scene—the picture will all be of your map if you don’t fold it up pronto!”
Canale di Tenno
is an obligatory stop for those who desire to immerse themselves in the magic of a place of the past, where you breathe history, art and culture.The village, entrenched on a mountain slope halfway between Lake Garda and the Alps, has recently been included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy: note the narrow paved alleys, arcades, small internal squares, the houses set one against the other like in the ancient villages of the 13 century.

Episodio 21/30

@ Old Italian Pilgrim
"Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Casper?" remarked Samwise Gamgee.
"You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Samwise Gamgee. She said the gestures originate from the Romans who used chironomia, which incorporates hand movements into everyday language. They aren’t random gestures, each one has a meaning; so as a foreign pet, you never really known what they mean!"
Old Italian Pilgrim
The Casa degli Artisti (Home of the Artists), dedicated to the painter Giacomo Vittone, is found here and is a residence and meeting place for artists from all of Europe. From here, you can view beautiful Lake Garda, and the imposing mountains behind, or you can reach Lake Tenno, one of the cleanest stretches of water in Trentino, known for its deep turquoise colour and small islet.

Episodio 22/30

@ Oranges and Lemons of Lake Garda
“Would you pass me the binoculars, Samwise Gamgee?” said Paws. "I think that's an Alpine swift flitting around over there! They spend most of their lives in the air, you know."
Oranges and Lemons of Lake Garda
Know ye the land where the cypress and myrtle
Are emblems of deeds that are done in their clime?
Where the rage of the vulture, the love of the turtle,
Now melt into sorrow, now madden to crime!
Know ye the land of the cedar and vine,
Where the flowers ever blossom, the beams ever shine;
Where the light wings of Zephyr, oppress’d with perfume,
Wax faint o’er the gardens of Gúl in her bloom;
Where the citron and olive are fairest of fruit,
And the voice of the nightingale never is mute;
Where the tints of the earth, and the hues of the sky,
In colour though varied, in beauty may vie,
And the purple of ocean is deepest in dye;
Where the virgins are soft as the roses they twine,
And all, save the spirit of man, is divine?
’Tis the clime of the East; ’tis the land of the Sun—
Can he smile on such deeds as his children have done?
Oh! wild as the accents of lovers’ farewell
Are the hearts which they bear, and the tales which they tell.
Extract from The Bride of Abydos By Lord Byron (1788–1824)

Episodio 23/30

@ Lemon Trees at Lake Garda
“Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Samwise Gamgee?” said Jazzabell. "It looks fantastic!"
"I'll get my camera ready," said Samwise Gamgee.
Lemon Trees at Lake Garda
If you are looking for an itinerary that can offer you the beauty of Lake Garda as well as its history and tradition, explore the lemon houses along the western shore of the lake, that is also called, not by chance, Riviera dei limoni.

Episodio 24/30

@ Glacial Lake
Samwise Gamgee and Zoey were entranced on reaching this Mediterranean viewpoint and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side!
Glacial Lake
Near Italy’s Austrian border—just outside Tarvisio and near the hamlet of Fusine—are two glacial lakes, Lago Inferiore and Lago Superiore. As part of the Parco Naturale dei Laghi di Fusine, these lakes are encircled by hiking paths that offer spectacular views of the surrounding Giulian Alps.

Episodio 25/30

@ Lake Garda
"Clyde," gulped Samwise Gamgee apprehensively, "Have you seen this item on the itinerary? We'll be going to see an active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, on the Naples leg!"
"Don't worry, Samwise Gamgee!" said Clyde reassuringly. "It's not erupted since 79 CE. Admittedly, on that occasion, it did wipe out the Roman city of Pompeii and an estimated three million inhabitants, but today Mount Vesuvius is a large national park that attracts tourists wanting to hike up to the top and take a look inside. The brochure says the trail to the top is beginner-friendly and about a 2½ mile (4km) round trip."

Episodio 26/30

@ Little Italian Town
"I'm going to have me a hazelnut gelato at the hotel tonight, Adept Sanitation Juggernaut!" announced Samwise Gamgee.
"I can never decide what my favourite flavour is! I love the pistachio, also the chocolate mint, and the vanilla is fabulous, too!" responded Adept Sanitation Juggernaut.
Little Italian Town
A typical Italian town where pets can enjoy exploring the winding backstreets. Note the ornate street lamp!

Episodio 27/30

@ Bardolino Pizzeria
“Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, Samwise Gamgee?” suggested Nibbles, sinking down on a convenient tree stump.
Samwise Gamgee agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Bardolino Pizzeria
Bardolino and Bardolino Superiore are Italian red wines produced along the chain of morainic hills in the province of Verona to the east of Lake Garda. Bardolino takes its name from the town Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda.

Episodio 28/30

@ Villa Cortine Palace, Sirmione
“Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Samwise Gamgee, sipping a leisurely espresso.
"Well, I don't know," said Tigger. "It's not all about drinking coffee and gazing at the sea. You have run up and down stairs to operate the light and the foghorn, and there may be no running water or electricity apart from a generator."
Samwise Gamgee considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then."
Villa Cortine Palace, Sirmione
Villa Cortine in Sirmione, Northern Italy, has beautiful gardens where you will find a pool, a tennis court and a private pier. Guests enjoy free use of parasols and sun loungers at the beach. Close to Catullus's Villa at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, at Villa Cortine Palace you will be able to enjoy the same views across Lake Garda as Roman nobles once did.
Interiors at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel are charming, with marble décor and frescoed walls.

Episodio 29/30

@ Sirmione, Lake Garda, Italy
"The tour guide said we'll be visiting Il Duomo. I asked her what that was and she said it meant 'the cathedral' in Italian. But there are lots of cathedrals in Italy!" remarked Samwise Gamgee.
"When they say Il Duomo they most often mean the one in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It says in our brochure it was first built in the 13th century, with the dome added in the 15th century. It has a pink, white and green exterior in a gothic style with a large dome on top. Sounds beautiful!" remarked Inukshuk.
Samwise Gamgee mused for a minute. "I guess it's like when we were touring England last spring, everypet in London would talk about 'The Monument'—to the Great Fire of London of 1666—as if there were only one monument in the whole of London, instead of thousands!"
Sirmione, Lake Garda, Italy
An elegant resort town on the southern edge of Lake Garda, Sirmione has attracted holiday-goers for centuries. 13th-century Scaligero Castle and the Roman ruins of the Grotte di Catullo are top of the list for most visitors, as is swimming in the lake’s crystal-clear waters.

Episodio 30/30

@ Arena di Verona, Italy
As Samwise Gamgee's tour of "Northern Italy - Milan and Turin" comes to an end, he rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day.
Italy City Skyline (standard)
This standard view of a popular Italian city is a great backdrop for your next photoshoot. No pet will ever believe you were never really there.
Arena di Verona, Italy
The Verona Arena was developed in the 1st century, and the building which serves as an Amphitheatre still stands. The gigantic theatre has a seating capacity of 30,000.
Samwise Gamgee has completed their tour of "Northern Italy - Milan and Turin"! Your PnF tour of Italy is now over, but PnF will hold a new event again soon!