ABRUZZO FOOD AND WINE TOURS 2011
 2011 Tour Dates:
- May 28 to June 6
- October 1 to 10
10 Days, 9 Nights
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Foods, wines, traditions, family...
Abruzzo is the long-lost Italy you've been searching for: awe-inspiring mountains, wooded solitudes, verdant gentle hills rolling toward warm sandy beaches, bustling medieval cities and unspoiled hill towns where centuries-old traditions persist, and generous welcoming people. Untouched by mass tourism, it offers an unrivaled opportunity to experience an unadulterated and genuine culture. Abruzzo's craftsmen, practicing centuries-old arts like ceramic, lace, wrought iron and jewelry making, are among Italy's finest. And the region's cuisine is perhaps Italy's most diverse and imaginative. Abruzzese cooks have long been considered among Italy's best.
You will be delighted as you visit vineyards and wineries, observe family-owned olive oil manufacturers and cheese producers. Each day you will discover the diversity and excellence of Abruzzo's unrivaled cuisine, enjoying traditional dishes in first-class restaurants or at country farms, specialized in recipes with home-grown ingredients and genuine products. In addition to these culinary activities, see Abruzzo's craftsmen practicing centuries-old arts like ceramic, lace, wrought iron and jewelry making.
And to make your tour an experience you'll treasure for years to come, we offer an exclusive opportunity to visit your ancestral towns, and get in touch with your lost Italian family! We can arrange for you a daily visit during the tour (there is one day at leisure) to see that dear, never forgotten place of your forebears, the landscapes that they always kept in their hearts, and to perhaps meet, at last, the relatives of whom your parents and/or grandparents spoke!
Day-per-day itinerary
Click on the links to open new webpages and learn more about places, hotels, restaurants, producers etc.
- Friday (May 27, Sept 30)
Fly from the airport of your choice to Rome Fiumicino
or reach Pescara by other means
- Saturday (May 28, Oct 1)
 Morning: flight arrivals in Rome-Fiumicino airport. Transfer to Pescara (bus ride: 2h 30m). Arrival in Pescara, and settle in at the 4-star Hotel Victoria, time to rest (read what independent travelers say about the Hotel Victoria!).
Late afternoon: welcome meeting at the hotel reception. Then, walking orientation in the immediate city center, very busy for the Saturday night's passeggiata. Dynamic and wealthy, Pescara is the largest Abruzzese city, and among the main commercial and tourist centers along the Adriatic coast. Its sandy beaches extend for over 20 uninterrupted km. Pescara is also famous as the birth place of Gabriele D'Annunzio, one of the main Italian poets of the 20th century, and the seat of the 2009 Mediterranean Games. Dinner at Locanda da Pia, to start getting familiar with the generous foods of the region and your new companions. Walk back to the hotel, for your first overnight stay in Abruzzo.
Meals included: dinner
- Sunday (May 29, Oct 2)
 Morning: Visit to Scanno: walk the old narrow streets of the well preserved village situated in the middle of the intact natural environment of the National Park of Abruzzo. Scanno, considered by many to be the true symbol of Abruzzo, is also known for its active crafts and the old women still dressed in traditional costumes. This is the birth place of the "presentosa", a gold filigree medal traditionally donated on the engagement day. Sunday's mass available.
Noon meal at Posta Pacentrana, on the road to Pacentro.
Afternoon: transfer to Sulmona, world capital of the confetti candies. According to historians, the first confetti were produced on 14 d.C.: by that time, they were considered extremely rare sweets. Guided tour of the historical center of the town. Sulmona is also famous for being the birth place of the Latin poet Ovid. See the Cathedral of San Panfilo, the Annunziata church and Piazza Garibaldi with its medieval aqueduct. Then, back to the hotel, evening and dinner at leisure.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Monday (May 30, Oct 3)
 Morning: visit to the celebrated Camillo Montori winery in Controguerra, producing some of the best award winning wines of Abruzzo (Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Cerasuolo, Colline Teramane, Colli Aprutini, Controguerra). Follow wine experts for an in-depth visit to the winery, and learn everything about the wine making process. Enjoy wine tasting with a great selection of different labels.
Noon meal based on traditional sea food in Giulianova at "Locanda il Moro". This restaurant, right in front of the beach, is considered among the best in the region of its kind.
Afternoon: visit the olive oil farm Matalucci, located in the picturesque countryside near Pineto (bus ride: 20m): learn about the extra-virgin olive oil process, and how they produce it according to the oldest trations. Finally, taste "pane e olio". Then, back to the hotel, evening and dinner at leisure.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Tuesday (May 31, Oct 4)
 Morning: transfer to Elice, in the beautiful western hillside area of Pescara, for a visit to the Pastificio La Mugnaia, to learn how they make this particular kind of pasta, typical of Elice, thanks to the quality of the river Fino. Following, visit to the nearby family-run factory producing traditional cookies and cakes (dolciumi d'Abruzzo). Then, visit to the Museum of Arts and Traditions of the Farmer in Picciano, contains hundreds of items used or made by Abruzzese peasants: oil and wine presses, farm implements, pasta makers, textiles, kitchenware...
Noon meal at ristorante "Terre e Sapori", specialized in innovative recipes based on homemade pasta.
Afternoon, transfer to nearby Cittą Sant'Angelo, a medieval town overlooking the Adriatic Sea for scenic views. See also the beautiful cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo. Then, back to the hotel, evening and dinner at leisure.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Wednesday (June 1, Oct 5)
Free Day. You may plan with us a personalized visit to your ancestral village where to meet your relatives or make a family research, or simply enjoy Pescara, with its many shopping facilities and its beautiful sandy beach.
Meals included: breakfast
- Thursday (June 2, Oct 6)
 Morning: Check out from the Hotel Victoria, then visit to the ancient Roman town Atri, province of Teramo, with its many treasures of art. See the Museo Capitolare and the newly restored church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its amazing frescoes by Abruzzese artist Andrea De Litio, contemporary of Giotto. "Hatria", a Roman colony from which many historians also derive the name of the Adriatic Sea, is today one of the most important historical, cultural and artistic centres in Abruzzo. The surrounding landscape is also impressive for the canyon-like calanques and the partly-unexplored caves. Then, reach Podere San Domenico, where chef Lidia, the delightful and funny proprietress, will offer an Abruzzese cooking lesson (homemade pasta, scrippelle 'nbusse), followed by a vast lunch based on home-grown food and arrosticini, delicious spit-roasted meat sticks typical of Abruzzo.
Afternoon: we leave Lidia and head for Loreto Aprutino, to check in at your second tour base, the historical residence 4-star Castello Chiola. Time to relax, then aperitifs and a special dinner in the astonishing scenery of this centuries-old palace, dating back to the year 864. The impressive and stately castle arises from the top of the hill around which nestles the medieval town.
The castle, itself, is one of the tour highlights! (Read what independent travelers say about the Castello Chiola).
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Friday (June 3, Oct 7)
 Morning: From Loreto Aprutino, drive through the impressive rocky mountains of the Gran Sasso until Campo Imperatore, a vast plateau rightly called "Little Tibet of Italy". Visit to the cheese making farm "Gran Sasso" at Castel del Monte, producing some of the best cheeses of Abruzzo, including the "canestrato". Cheese tasting. Noon meal in Castel del Monte, a well preserved mountain village. This town was chosen in late 2009 by George Clooney as the main set for his movie "The American".
Afternoon: transfer to Castelli, an impressive village located at the foot of Mount Camicia, and see how some of the finest artisans work in the ceramics laboratories, and which techniques they actually use. Visit also the School of Art with its museum and the church of San Donato, with its breathtaking XV-century floor and ceiling entirely decorated with sixteenth century polychrome bricks. Stroll around the many stores of the village.
Then, back to the hotel, evening and dinner at leisure.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Saturday (June 4, Oct 8)
 Morning: Visit the beautiful town of Guardiagrele, south of Chieti, hometown of Nicola da Guardiagrele, unsurpassed master of Abruzzo jeweller's art, and "capital" of copper and wrought-iron crafts. This centre has also become universally famous as the "noble stone city" in D'Annunzio poem "Trionfo della morte". When you first arrive, you're welcomed by the sight of the Majella on the horizon, and the hills and calanques around. See the wonderful Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the treasures of the region. Inside the town, wherever you look, traces of a rich past appear from walls and common houses. Noon meal at Villa Maiella, one of the few restaurants of Abruzzo selected with the highest scores by the main cooking guidebooks (Gambero Rosso, Michelin etc.).
Afternoon: Back to Loreto, some time on your own before enjoying your last evening in Abruzzo.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Sunday (June 5, Oct 9)
 Morning: Check out from the Castello, then transfer to Chieti. This city lies on a crest along the Pescara river with its unmistakable profile with the high belltower of San Giustino against the sky, a few km away from the Adriatic Sea, and with the Majella and Gran Sasso in the background. It was a Roman town, Teate, and important medieval centre, that's why walking through the city you see Roman and medieval ruins side by side. See also the Cathedral of San Giustino (mass available). Then, transfer to Celano, near Avezzano, for a traditional noon meal at "Guerrinuccio" specialized in meats and mountain cuisine.
Late afternoon: drop off at the 4-star Hilton Rome Airport or the 4-star Seccy Hotel (bus ride: 1 and a half hour), best hotels available in Fiumicino, for your last night in Italy, at 10-minute distance from the flight terminals. Evening and dinner at leisure (alternatively, we'll help you coordinate transportation options and any post-tour planning, in case you desire to stay in Italy longer, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead).
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
- Monday (June 6, Oct 10)
Morning: room check out, go the airport, according to your flight schedule.
Meals included: breakfast
These itineraries may slightly change, according to unforeseeable closings, unexpected events or new seasonal options, but always in the travelers' best interest. The general itinerary (included towns and activities) will remain the same.
Our 2011 Food and Wine Tours include:
- 9 nights hotel accommodation, based on double room occupancy: 5 nights in Pescara at the 4-star Hotel Victoria, 3 nights in Loreto Aprutino at the 4-star Castello Chiola, 1 night in Rome-Fiumicino at the 4-star Hilton Rome Airport or the 4-star Seccy Hotel.
All hotels have fully equipped rooms with private bathroom and shower and many other facilities (check the hotel official websites for all details).
- Rich continental breakfast daily, both buffet and a la carte
- 9 authentic Abruzzese meals - 7 lunches and 2 dinners - based on the best traditional recipes. Lunch is the main meal of the day in Abruzzo.
- 1 Abruzzese cooking lesson at Lidia's
- Wine, cheese and olive oil tasting
- All touring as described per day-by-day itinerary
- Experienced tour guides and staff throughout the tour. Our local guides have knowledge of the Abruzzo area and of all shopping, cultural sightseeing and dining venues you will be visiting
- All transfers by air-conditioned minibus throughout the tour, including airport pick up and drop off with Rome-Fiumicino
- Paid entrance inclusive to all activities, sites and museums
- Group protection coverage for health, accident and liability by Europ Assistance
- Abruzzo guide books, maps and brochures inclusive for all visits
The Tours DO NOT include:
- Airfares. Contact your travel agent, or buy tickets on your own. Then, let us know your flight details: we'll pick you up at your arrival time in Rome
- Single accommodation (that is a double room for single use), additional charge: 300 euros
- Suite accommodation at all hotels, additional charge: 650 euros
- Lunch on the day at leisure (Wednesday), and dinners when not expressly mentioned
- Personal transport costs (car rental, taxi, trains etc.), phone calls, hotel laundry service etc.
- Individualized assistance during the day at leisure (Wednesday): contact us long in advance, in case you want to use our guide and transport services: our team has limited availability
- Anything not specified above
Tour Fees:
- TOUR PRICE: 2,190 euros per person, double occupancy
(no minimum group participation, maximum group: 20 people)
- Initial deposit: 290 euros to confirm reservation (the deposit is non-refundable, unless the tour is cancelled)
- Final payment: 1,900 due no later than 60 days before tour starting date (in case you won't be able to join the tour for any unforeseeable event, we will refund you the total final payment amount)
- Single room supplement: 300 euros ("single" is a wide "double room for single use")
- Suite room supplement: 650 euros
For any further tour, booking and payment information please fill the form on line or email us to:
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