Hannibal Tour Pyrenean and Alpine climbs from Biarritz to Alba

We focus on unique memorable properties – Italian castles, Benedictine monasteries and historic treasures. We have carefully selected the places where we stay based on their personality and the hospitality of our hosts. Be it Paradors in Spain, Manoirs in France or Agriturismi in Italy, we seek to connect you with the places we travel in through the accommodations we choose

In the heart of the land of the Cathars this hotel is overlooked by the imposing Peyrepetuse fort. With a lovely rustic charm this place allows us to explore one of the more remote parts of our route.

Dating back to the 11th century our castle abode was built on the ruins of a Roman settlement. Long the military stronghold of the Pallavicino family it is now considered one of Italy’s premier country hotels.

Over 500 years of welcoming guests – art, history and tradition merge with all the latest modern comforts. This 4-star hotel is perfectly positioned in the historic centre of Reggio Emilia. We have got to know Umberto Sidoli well over the years and his hospitality is always second to none.

Long a favourite of ours this country estate in the Gavi hills exudes charm and luxury. Dating back to this 18th century the Moccagatta family have created an oasis of calm that is always hard to leave.

We choose our restaurants because they are exceptional and unique. Whether they are haute cuisine, a meal at a local farm, fine Italian 4 course dining or local boar stew, every meal is guaranteed to be memorable.

Situated within the walled borgo of Rivalto, Sabrina and her team excel with their seasonally focussed menus and some of the finest fresh tortelli pasta you’ll ever taste. The bottega (pictured) serves to set the scene as you enter the restaurant.

Always in the running for the best meal of the tour this restaurant prides itself on using fresh produce from their market garden. Situated in the ‘most beautiful village’ of Olargues the backdrop (pictured) is only matched by the quality of the cuisine.

Linked to the Villa Sparina winery eating in the wine cellar always provides an atmospheric setting to dine on the fine Piemontese gastronomy they provide. Fresh agnolotti are often a feature and the wines never disappoint.

Overlooking Rome our final tour restaurant prides itself on creating the perfect expression of a fusion of styles based on exclusively Mediterranean ingredients. A wine cellar with over 20,000 bottles helps set the scene.

Something we always take pride in are the on-the-go picnics we set up for lunch. Whether is be a platter of homemade sandwiches or a smorgasbord of local produce we always seek to give you a sense of place through the food we serve.

‘I will either find a way, or make one’ Hannibal

Hannibal Barca is one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

As a leader of the ancient superpower, Carthage, he waged a
lifelong war against the Romans and nearly destroyed them.
And yet, today we know very little about Hannibal or his people:
the Carthaginians. What we do remember is one of his amazing
feats: to fight the Romans on their own turf, Hannibal led an army
that included nearly forty elephants, over the frozen mountain tops of the Alps and into Italy.

That achievement, leading the largest land animal over one of the
biggest mountain chains, was just part of an incredible journey that took Hannibal and his force of sixty thousand men from southern Spain, through France, into Italy via the Alps and finally, over the sea and back to the now Tunisian city of Carthage. For Hannibal Barca this was a very personal conflict – a family affair. As a boy he’d sworn to his father Hamilcar that he would fight Rome to the death and his top generals were his two brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago. Their struggle was the main event during the biggest and bloodiest conflict of ancient times, the century long Punic Wars (264-146 BC). With Hannibal as commander, it really looked as if Carthage was going to win. European civilisation came so close to being something very different – Rome-free, and yet Rome totally dominates our imagination when we think about the ancient world. When Hannibal lived, things were very different.