Day 1
You will be met this morning by Luciana, your Abruzzo specialist guide, at your hotel in Pescara, where you will start your fabulous getaway. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Adriatic coastline, where you can stop to unwind and soak up the delightful Italian atmosphere over your morning cappuccino by a seaside town. Enjoy your first traditional lunch in Abruzzo, set in a delightful restaurant in the foothills of the Apennines.
This afternoon, explore the nearby fortified hilltop village of Civitella del Tronto, inhabited since pre Roman times with its first historical records as a fortified village dating back to the 11th century. There will be time to stroll through the village exploring the romantic narrow alleys and watch the world go by and enjoy a gelato or caff in the local bar. Indulge in traditional dishes such as local Pecorino cheese, air dried salumi and spaghetti alla chitarra con polpettine di carne.
Meal plan: lunch and dinner.
Day 2
This morning you will visit a private olive oil producer whose family has been growing, gathering, and harvesting olives for centuries near Sant'Omero. Learn all about the amazing differences between extra virgin, virgin, and olive oils and taste their exquisite extra virgin olive oils.
Continue with a visit to a local winery in Controguerra, meet a charming winemaking family, and learn all about winemaking in Abruzzo. You will visit their extensive vineyards and indulge in tastings of heritage grape varieties such as Pecorino and Cococciola, as well as traditional and award winning Montepulciano, Cerasuolo and Trebbiano wines.
Later, you will explore a little of the outdoors and enjoy a short walk to a hidden grotto, a place of worship for many inhabitants from Neolithic times with the cult of Hercules to be later replaced in the Christian era with rituals of worship for the Archangel Michael. Enjoy a relaxing drink or aperitivo and dinner at a charming local osteria with your hostess Annamaria.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3
You will head to the nearby village and learn all about Abruzzos prized truffles. Surprisingly, over 80% of Italys truffles come from Abruzzo. Understand how truffle dogs are used to find these gourmet delights and enjoy delicious tastings of truffle pastes and cheeses infused with truffle. Meet a local truffle hunter who will share his passion for truffle hunting and truffle dog training. Taste some delicious samples of seasonal truffle products and take a private cooking class, where local cooks will share with you their passion for traditional Abruzzese cooking.
Prepare a 4-course lunch using fresh and seasonal local ingredients as well as luxury local truffles. Learn the secrets of slow food as you create wonderful antipasti, traditional home made pasta, deboned leg of turkey filled with parsley, garlic, and truffle, and delicious desserts. Explore the delightful town of Ascoli Piceno, which lies just over the Tronto river in Le Marche region. Enjoy a passeggiata along the corso, stroll to take in the local atmosphere and watch the world go by Italian style or shop for Italian shoes or leather handbags.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 4
Travel through stunning scenery in the Gran Sasso National Park with amazing views of the Apennines and the largest peak in this mountain chain. Nestled in this national park is the small medieval village of Castelli, famous for its maiolica ware ceramics since the 14th century. The tsars of Russia collected these valuable pieces and now the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg has a priceless collection there.
There will be time to stroll by ceramics shops and studios of artists, where you may find treasured pieces of Italian ceramics. You will then visit the bustling port city of Pescara, on the Adriatic coastline, where you can relax with a coffee, gelato or aperitivo in one of Pescaras lovely cafs and reminisce over the wonderful few days spent in this beautiful part of Italy. You will be transferred to the Pescara Central Station or to your hotel in Abruzzo by early afternoon.
Meal plan: breakfast and morning tea.
