2008 Itineraries
-Gourmet Weekend Getaway. Every Friday from May 23- Oct 26,2008. Other dates upon request.
- Discover the l'Aquila province Tour departs August 3
- Discover the Chieti and Pescara provinces Tours depart June 1; Sept 14; Sept 28; Oct 12
Wine and Dine in the Apennines
Your Gourmet Weekend Getaway in Abruzzo, Italy.
Every Friday from May 23- Oct 26,2008. Other dates upon request.
Indulge in a private cooking class for a maximum of 6 people in Abruzzo, the undiscovered gem of central Italy. Your weekend begins with your transfer from Pescara airport or station to your accommodation in an isolated hilltop village in the Apennines, bordering the Maiella National Park
Day 1 - Friday
Arrival: Pescara
Met at Pescara airport upon arrival of your Friday flight (eg from London Stansted or Frankfurt Hahn) or at Pescara station and transferred to your accommodation. Welcome gourmet hamper in room upon arrival. Enchanting 5 course welcome dinner awaits.
Day 2 - Saturday
Guided Village Walk, Cooking Class and Private Concert
Enjoy a private guided Walking tour visiting local artisans and shops including goldsmith, ceramic shops and wrought iron workshops.Time to unwind and soak up the village Italy atmosphere over your morning cappuccino. Late afternoon transfer from your accommodation to your private COOKING CLASS. COOKING CLASS: 4 course dinner to be prepared and then enjoyed together. Learn the secrets of slow cooking as you create wonderful antipasti, home made pasta, dessert and more… Be serenaded in the beautiful Abruzzese evening with your own private international tenor and local musician. A evening to remember! Return to Accommodation
Day 3 - Sunday
Village Market-Wine and Oil Tastings Departure from Pescara 
Visit a bustling village market in the morning, which comes alive with colourful stalls selling local produce. Indulge in a private Wine and Olive Oil Tasting savouring the very best the region has to offer. Depart for transfer to Pescara airport/station for your flight.
Breakfast Light Lunch Dinner
Along the Shepherds Tracks
Day 1 - Sunday
Arrival: Rome to Ortona
You will be met at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino or Termini Central Station from 8.30 am. A small private air-conditioned coach will transfer you to Abruzzo in time for lunch at a country farmhouse. The afternoon is at leisure or unwind in a wine spa bath, followed by welcome drinks at the accommodation, then an exquisite seafood dinner overlooking the Adriatic.
Day 2 - Monday
Loreto Aprutino - Olive groves, Medieval Church and Art
A scenic drive today through stunning countryside covered profusely with over 400,000 olive trees. Lunch at a charming country restaurant in Loreto Aprutino overlooking olive groves and gentle verdant hills. Meet a local producer and enjoy tastings of his Montepulciano wines and exquisite olive oils. Marvel at a superb 15th century fresco cycle. Evening: A magnificent tour highlight awaits with Michael Howard star tenor serenading us in a Victorian parlour with songs by Abruzzese composer, F.P.Tosti.
Day 3 - Tuesday
Pescara - Local vineyards, Wine tastings
Today we visit the Museum of the Abruzzo people, housed in an 18th Century Bourbon Jail beautifully displaying the traditions of sheep rearing and cheese making, grape harvesting, olive growing, jewellery, traditional costumes, ceramics and maiolica ware. Time for shopping Italian style - for those leather shoes and bags! Afternoon visit to local cellars and enjoy tastings of Montepulciano and Trebbiano wines. A delightful 3 course dinner will be served at the country farm house.
Day 4 - Wednesday
Chieti - Coastal scenes. Transfer to National Park
After breakfast we visit Chieti, a charming hilltop town where we can explore its ancient streets and alleys. Marvel at the elegant 19th century Opera House, and visit the colourful local market, pizzerias, gelaterias and cafes. Afternoon sightseeing takes in the Adriatic coast with ‘trabocchi’ - ancient fishing structures as well as the majestic 12th century church of S. Giovanni in Venere. Enjoy slow food at its best with an exquisite 4 course dinner in a converted mountain grotto.
Day 5 - Thursday
Gorge Walk -Picnic Lunch- Scenic drive - Cooking class - Concert
After a short walk in the spectacular gorge we will see ruins of a 9th Century monastery with sensational views to Monte Amaro and surrounding villages. We return to a sumptious al fresco picnic lunch. In the evening create delicious regional specialties in a hands on cooking session with wonderful local Abruzzese Women.As we enjoy the meal, be entertained by star tenor Michael Howard, joined by the local musicians. A truly unforgettable evening!
Day 6 - Friday
Monasteries - Guardiagrele- Artisans, Goldsmiths
Arrive at Pennapiedimonte, a village literally built into the rocky sides of the Appenines. Take in breathtaking mountain scenery with our leisurely alpine valley walk 669m above sea level and catch glimpses of grazing mountain sheep and goats. A magical 4 course lunch in a superb restaurant and a local favourite, set in a beautifully restored 19th century carpenter’s workshop. Unwind afterwards as we stroll around Guardiagrele and meet traditional craftsmen in wrought iron work and goldsmiths making Abruzzese jewellery. Evening at leisure.
Day 7 - Saturday
Cheese Factory and Tastings - Medieval Castle
Drive along the picturesque edge of the Maiella National Park and visit a local cheese factory. Be delighted with tastings of fresh mozzarellas, ricotta, giuncata and pecorino cheeses. Visit the medieval castle of Roccascalegna perched on a rocky outcrop with the magnificent Appenines as backdrop. Leisurely lunch at a nearby Agriturismo. Evening - at leisure, or come with us to relax with the locals in a village bar.
Day 8 - Sunday
Departure for Rome Fiumicino Airport. End of Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport at Fiumicino or make your own arrangements for your onward journey.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Medieval Magic of Abruzzo
Day 1 - Sunday
Arrival: Rome to Sulmona, Medieval Joust
Our guests arrive in Abruzzo for a welcome lunch. The magical evening unfolds as we visit the fascinating town of Sulmona, where we will witness the medieval fair and Joust.
Day 2 - Monday
Sulmona - Roman Ruins, Medieval Churches and Art
Take a trip through time with us as we explore Sulmona's past, home to monks, poets and Romans through the centuries. We visit the ancient ruins of a noblemans house, with frescoes from Roman times, see ecclesiastical art from the middle ages and traditional costumes from more recent times. Wander the backstreets of the town discovering quiet courtyards, the beautifully restored opera house and the medieval Aquaduct. Then there's time to sample the specialties of Sulmona as we visit an old Confetti factory where sugared almonds have been made according to ancient recipes for centuries.
Day 3 - Tuesday
Sulmona-Pasta factory, Cheese tastings
We visit a family run pasta factory producing all forms of noodles according to a closely guarded family secret, followed by a cheese factory specialising in sheeps cheese. We pass through breath taking scenery on our way to lunch in a tiny village perched on a rocky outcrop, long the favourite retreat of artists and monks. In the evening we take a passeggiata through another enchanting nearby village. Relax in the square and listen to the village church chime enjoying your gelato as you watch the locals taking their evening stroll. La Dolce Vita!
Day 4 - Wednesday
Sulmona-Santo Stefano - Local markets, Olive oil tastings
We visit a local market, busy with local producers and mouth watering produce before winding our way up to the enchanting village of Santo Stefano perched at 1250m above sea level. Its laneways too small for modern vehicles, this little hamlet, complete with a solitary Medici built tower is truly one of the jewels of Abruzzo, a place where time has stood still. Here you will have the pleasure of staying in accommodation from the dark ages, tastefully renovated to include all modern conveniences. On our way we visit an ancient olive press and sample the delicious extra virgin olive oil. In the evening we sample local specialties by a mountain lake including pasta with saffron and zucchini.
Day 5 - Thursday
Medieval Castle-L'Aquila
We meet in the morning at the Medieval gate, where once the drawbridge stood, for a walking tour of town, squeezing through narrow gates and corners where lovers once met, to the tower built by the Medici family and then to stand before the ancient gaming house and courthouse or Casa del Capitano. Then we continue our journey to visit a thousand year old castle, one of the emblems of central Italy and featuring in countless films, Rocca Calascio. We lunch high up at 1460m near this mighty ruin after taking in the stunning panorama of the Appennines culminating in the Gran Sasso itself. In the evening we visit L'Aquila, capital of the region of Abruzzo, sampling local wines at the Enoteca before taking our evening passeggiata along the cobbled laneways.
Day 6 - Friday
Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso, Al fresco Picnic
A visit a local village to sample mountain cheeses from the alpine pastures before travelling on to the majestic Campo Imperatore at nearly 1800m, an alpine plain 20 km long and 12 km wide bounded by rugged mountains in the shadow of the Gran Sasso. Here we might have the chance to glimpse an Alpine Shepherd tending his flock or wild horses, or circling hawks. We visit the Gran Sasso where once Benito Mussolini was held prisoner, before returning for an al fresco picnic lunch with arrosticini, skewers barbequed in the local style. Squisito!
In the evening we dine in a Medieval Convent - Italian style- savouring the local specialities.
Day 7 - Saturday
Wine Tastings, Cooking Class, Concert
Today we marvel at ancient frescos and meet local wine producers with accompanying tastings of exceptional Montepulciano wines. Another highlight of our Medieval Magic tour is our cooking class where we will prepare, with the guidance of wonderful Abruzzese women, local specialities from mouth-watering antipasti to delicious desserts - all accompanied with wonderful Italian songs sung by Michael Howard, international Tenor. Dance the magical night away with our Abruzzese hosts to the strains of traditional songs.
Day 8 - Sunday
Departure for Rome Fiumicino Airport. End of Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport at Fiumicino or make your own arrangements for your onward journey.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner