Villaggio del Sole

For a taster of the peaceful wooded countryside of Piedmont, go hiking in the Valle Andona, Valle Botto and Valle Grande Nature Reserve (15 minutes’ drive), or explore the way-marked trails on horseback (20 minutes). Keep your fitness levels up by playing tennis on the municipal courts of Cortanze (10 minutes) or book a round of golf at Golf Feudo Di Settime (20 minutes). Spot the Celtic symbols carved on the stone exterior of the Romanesque-era Church of San Secondo (five minutes) or take time to wander around the peaceful cloister of Canonica di Vezzolano (25 minutes), a lovely eighth-century abbey. A peek at the Casegrotta di Mombarone (15 minutes) reveals a forgotten way of life in rural Piedmont, with displays of agricultural tools and cooking implements in abandoned dwellings. Prefer big-city lights? Turin (55 minutes) rewards a visit with spectacular art galleries, the interactive National Museum of Cinema and a happening café and bar scene. Closer to base camp, historic Asti (25 minutes) is home to Roman ruins, medieval towers and a Gothic-era cathedral – not forgetting many bars dedicated to serving the local speciality wine, fizzy Asti Spumante.