Episodio 1/30

@ La Morra, Piedmont
Gourdon 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
"Wasn’t it worth coming all this way, Gourdon," said Tess, "for this experience alone?"
Gourdon, admiring the scene they were now in, heartily agreed!
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
"I'm going to have me a hazelnut gelato at the hotel tonight, Spark!" announced Gourdon.
"I can never decide what my favourite flavour is! I love the pistachio, also the chocolate mint, and the vanilla is fabulous, too!" responded Spark.
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
“Where are we now, Gourdon?” asked BLUEY.
"If it's Tuesday this must be Tuscany!" joked Gourdon. "Only kidding—let me check the map!"
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
“Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Gourdon. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Dear one.
“No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Gourdon, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Gourdon."
"It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Dear one indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'"
Gourdon seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", he grumbled.
Dear one sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead."
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
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Dumbledore.
"Me too!" said Gourdon. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
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
Gourdon was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, Grayson!” he exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!"
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 does Benvenuti a tutti! mean, Blossom?" queried Gourdon, admiring the front of his travel itinerary.
"It means 'Welcome, everypet!" replied Blossom.
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
“Ooh, it's just starting to drizzle, Gourdon!” said Redington. “Can you hold my gelato and map while I dig out my Pac-a-Mac?"
Gourdon good-naturedly took charge of Redington's possessions while he emptied his rucksack of a pack of sandwiches, a Thermos flask, a pair of galoshes, a bag of toffees, a paperback novel, a bottle of mineral water, an address book, some postage stamps, an assortment of different coloured biros, a bottle opener, a couple of old train tickets, a handful of golden and silver moles, a hotel key, some shopping receipts and a selection of rather battered sachets of salt, sugar and tomato ketchup before locating the Pac-a-Mac right at the bottom. This he donned and then Gourdon helped him put everything back in his rucksack.
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
"Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Snuggles?" remarked Gourdon.
"You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Gourdon. 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!"
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
"Here's another bit of trivia for you, Honey!" called out Gourdon. "The Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como has featured in which two well-known films?"
"I don't know, Gourdon. Which films were they?"
"The James Bond film Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones," responded Gourdon.
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
“Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Gourdon, sipping a leisurely espresso.
"Well, I don't know," said Pika. "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."
Gourdon considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then."
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
Lucy was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as Gourdon unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which he succeeded in knocking Lucy’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Lucy, 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!”
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
“Let's practise some Italian phrases, Gourdon!" said Chica. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Grazie!”
Clutching the postcard, she looked at her friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Prego—which means ‛you're welcome!'”
Gourdon looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Chica? If I've performed a very minor service and you've said 'Thank you', do I need to say anything back? It's not like I made you a cake or mowed your lawn. I just handed you a postcard. You said 'thank you'. Couldn't I just smile slightly or something?"
Chica mused for some minutes. "The English language lacks the exact equivalent of prego or bitte schön and similar phrases in use in Continental Europe. Still, when in Rome ...!"
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 Gourdon'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
"That was a lovely risotto we had for supper last night, wasn't it, Tammie?" remarked Gourdon.
"On our table the waiter explained that risotto is a rice dish with origins in Lombardy. It’s cooked in a broth to make it creamy. It must be made with a short-grain variant of Italian rice, usually Arborio, as this absorbs less water and gives the risotto a sticky texture," said Tammie.
Swan Lake
This swan stands pensively by beautiful Lake Garda in Italy.

Episodio 17/30

@ Master that Pasta!
"A bit of trivia here, midnught!" remarked Gourdon, 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, Gourdon!"
"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 midnught.
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
"It says in our brochure that Italy has produced many luxury sports cars, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. That's impressive, isn't it, schrute?" remarked Gourdon.
"Well, they certainly are amazing, Gourdon," responded schrute. "But I'd rather own a little Fiat 500! They are terminally cute!"
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
“Ooh, it's just starting to drizzle, Gourdon!” said Wyatt. “Can you hold my gelato and map while I dig out my Pac-a-Mac?"
Gourdon good-naturedly took charge of Wyatt's possessions while he emptied his rucksack of a pack of sandwiches, a Thermos flask, a pair of galoshes, a bag of toffees, a paperback novel, a bottle of mineral water, an address book, some postage stamps, an assortment of different coloured biros, a bottle opener, a couple of old train tickets, a handful of golden and silver moles, a hotel key, some shopping receipts and a selection of rather battered sachets of salt, sugar and tomato ketchup before locating the Pac-a-Mac right at the bottom. This he donned and then Gourdon helped him put everything back in his rucksack.
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
“Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, Gourdon?” suggested Marmaduke, sinking down on a convenient tree stump.
Gourdon agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
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
"What are you doing, Tess?" asked Gourdon, coming across his friend in the hotel lounge, clutching a notebook and pen.
"I'm keeping a diary of our experiences on this trip, Gourdon. I don't want to forget anything!" responded Tess. "Oh, and the tour guide taught me a lovely phrase just now—Dall'Italia, con amore!—'From Italy, with love'. I'm going to use it on my postcards home to my Mum."
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
“Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Gourdon, sipping a leisurely espresso.
"Well, I don't know," said Queenie. "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."
Gourdon considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then."
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
"Italy—the perfect choice for our travels this summer, Gourdon!" enthused Sunshine.
"Yup. Pizza, pasta, Prada. I can't wait to get to Milan!"
"Oh! I was thinking more of world famous paintings and architecture, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, the Colosseum of Ancient Rome, Venice's canals, Pompeii, the opera. Italy has given the world so much!" said Sunshine.
Gourdon unwrapped a torta al cioccolato pastiglia for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the packet to Sunshine. "Sure! You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy."
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
"It says in our brochure that Italy has produced many luxury sports cars, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. That's impressive, isn't it, George?" remarked Gourdon.
"Well, they certainly are amazing, Gourdon," responded George. "But I'd rather own a little Fiat 500! They are terminally cute!"
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
“You know, I'd like to spend a whole week in this region here, Gourdon!” said Edwina.
"It's very pleasant indeed—but you never know, the next part of the tour might be even better!" replied Gourdon.

Episodio 26/30

@ Little Italian Town
Gourdon was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, Flip Flop Flap!” she exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!"
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
"We'll be spending at least three days in Venice, as there's so much to see, Gourdon!" remarked Gordon. "It says in our brochure it's one of the most recognisable destinations in the world thanks to its unique construction of canals and bridges. It says the main city of Venice is made up of 118 islands connected only by 400 bridges and 170 canals. It’s renowned for its gondolas, flat bottomed Venetian rowing boats that are the equivalent to taxis. Becoming a gondolier is no easy feat as you need a professional licence that’s only granted after 400 hours of training."
"It doesn't sound as bad as London black cab drivers having to take The Knowledge before being granted a licence. That can take three or four years!" remarked Gourdon.
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
“I don't know how to pronounce half of these place names, Gourdon!” said Snowilicious ruefully.
"Never mind," said Gourdon. "We'll look them up when we get back to the hotel tonight!"
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
“I don't know how to pronounce half of these place names, Gourdon!” said Jesse ruefully.
"Never mind," said Gourdon. "We'll look them up when we get back to the hotel tonight!"
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 Gourdon'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.
Gourdon has completed their tour of "Northern Italy - Milan and Turin"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of Italy!