Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome to Sulmona
You'll arrive at Rome Fiumicino airport and head to Sulmona, the birthplace of the Roman poet Ovid. Your guide Fabrizio will meet you, then you'll settle in at Hotel Ovidius for a welcome dinner to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at Hotel Ovidius)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at Hotel Ovidius
Landmarks/POIs Sulmona - Day 2
Sulmona
After a traditional Italian breakfast, you'll visit the Confetti Museum to learn about sugar-coated almonds and taste samples. Then you'll walk through Sulmona's medieval aqueduct and check out its churches before a traditional lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own—museums, galleries, the hotel spa, or local artisan boutiques are all options.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional breakfast made of freshly baked bread, whole fruit country-style preserves, cake, pastries, coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juice), Lunch (Traditional lunch in the centre of Sulmona)
Included Activities
- Visit Confetti Museum
- Confetti tasting
- Guided discovery of Sulmona including Medieval aqueduct on Piazza Garibaldi and Church of Santa Maria Annunziata
- Traditional lunch in the centre of Sulmona
Optional Activities
- Visit Sulmona's museums and art galleries
- SPA experience in Hotel wellness center (must be booked in advance)
- Shopping and visiting local artisans
- Dinner on your own in one of Sulmona's restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Confetti Museum Piazza Garibaldi Church of Santa Maria Annunziata - Day 3
Sulmona to Vasto
You'll drive through the Abruzzo mountains and National Parks toward the Adriatic coast, stopping at the Hermitage of San Domenico in Villalago. From there, you'll explore Scanno, one of Italy's beautiful villages with artisan boutiques, and have lunch there. Later you'll visit an artisanal jewelry shop to see how the traditional Presentosa jewel is made, then continue to Vasto for a group dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch in a restaurant in Scanno), Dinner (Group dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto)
Included Activities
- Visit Hermitage of San Domenico in Villalago
- Visit village of Scanno
- Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Scanno
- Visit artisanal jewelry shop (Presentosa jewel)
- Group dinner in a traditional restaurant in Vasto
Landmarks/POIs Hermitage of San Domenico Scanno Vasto - Day 4
Vasto
Start at Vasto's local market to see seasonal products and practice your Italian. Later you'll head to the countryside for a hands-on cooking class with Fabrizio's family, learning to make fresh pasta and Abruzzo sauces. You'll eat what you prepare for lunch in a family setting, then spend the afternoon exploring Vasto's historic center with its Medieval Castle, Cathedral, and Piazza Rossetti.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch consisting of scrumptious dishes prepared during the morning cooking class, including Bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce, polpette (meatballs) and Tarallucci (typical biscuits from Abruzzo), while enjoying the relaxing family atmosphere)
Included Activities
- Visit Vasto's colorful market
- Exclusive cooking class with Fabrizio's family - fresh pasta and Abruzzo sauces
- Lunch with dishes prepared during cooking class
- Guided visit of Vasto's historic center including Loggia Amblingh, Medieval Castle, Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti
Optional Activities
- Dinner on your own in one of Vasto's restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Vasto Market Loggia Amblingh Vasto Medieval Castle Vasto Cathedral Piazza Rossetti - Day 5
Vasto
After breakfast, you'll walk through Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, one of Italy's nice beaches. Next, you'll visit an award-winning winery between the marine park and mountains for wine tasting and lunch with local cheese and salami pairings, plus a vineyard tour. In the afternoon, head to the hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore's Art Farm to create your own Abruzzo souvenir with natural colors, then have aperitif and dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with wine pairings from local cheeses and salami at award-winning winery), Dinner (Aperitif and traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara)
Included Activities
- Short and easy walk in Punta Aderci Nature Reserve
- Wine tasting at winery
- Tour of vineyard and cellars
- Lunch with pairings from local cheeses and salami at winery
- Artistic experience at Ettore's Art Farm - create Abruzzo souvenir
- Easy walk at Ettore's Art Farm
- Aperitif and traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara
Landmarks/POIs Punta Aderci Nature Reserve Lentella - Day 6
Vasto
You'll visit the village of Roccascalegna and its castle, ranked as one of Italy's most beautiful hilltop towns. See a traditional trabocco fishing platform and learn fishing secrets from host Rinaldo (weather permitting), and his wife Maria will prepare fresh Adriatic fish for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax at beaches, visit museums, or just soak in the local atmosphere.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fish from the Adriatic Sea prepared by Maria)
Included Activities
- Visit Roccascalegna castle and charming village
- Visit trabocco (traditional fishing platform)
- Fishing demonstration from trabocco (weather permitting)
- Lunch with fish from the Adriatic Sea prepared by Maria
Optional Activities
- Visit one of the many beaches
- Visit Vasto's museums and art galleries
- Shopping and visiting local artisans
- Dinner on your own in one of Vasto's restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Roccascalegna - Day 7
Vasto to Conversano
After checkout, you'll travel to Puglia and meet your new guide Katia for a guided visit of Trani, including the fishing port, Church of the Templar Knights, and the historical district. You'll have free time and lunch on your own in Trani, then transfer to Conversano. Check in at Hotel Corte Altavilla and take a walking tour of this ancient town with its medieval Castle and Romanesque cathedral before a Welcome to Puglia group dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome to Puglia group dinner in traditional restaurant in the heart of Conversano)
Included Activities
- Guided visit of Trani - fishing port, Church of the Templar Knights, and historical district
- Guided walking tour in Conversano with medieval Castle and Romanesque cathedral
- Welcome to Puglia group dinner in traditional restaurant in Conversano
Optional Activities
- Lunch on your own in one of Trani's restaurants
- SPA experience in Hotel Corte Altavilla wellness center (to book in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Trani Church of the Templar Knights Conversano Conversano Medieval Castle Conversano Romanesque Cathedral - Day 8
Bari - Polignano a Mare
You'll drive to Bari for a guided tour of San Nicola church and Bari Vecchia, the historic center where locals make fresh pasta in charming streets. Taste traditional panzerotti at a local bakery, then drive to Polignano a Mare for lunch where you can explore sea views and wander through charming alleys.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch in Polignano a Mare)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bari - San Nicola church and Bari Vecchia (Old Bari)
- Tasting of traditional panzerotti in a bakery
- Traditional lunch in Polignano a Mare
Optional Activities
- Dinner on your own in Conversano
Landmarks/POIs Bari San Nicola Church Bari Vecchia Polignano a Mare - Day 9
Monopoli
You'll head to an ancient masseria (traditional Apulian farmhouse) in Monopoli for a hands-on cooking class making orecchiette pasta, melanzane alla parmigiana, and almond sweets. Enjoy your prepared dishes for lunch, then take a guided tour of Monopoli, a seaside town with interesting corners and fascinating alleys to explore.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with scrumptious dishes prepared in the morning cooking class, including orecchiette pasta, melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana) and Almond sweets (a typical Apulian dessert))
Included Activities
- Cooking class with traditional recipes - orecchiette pasta, melanzane alla parmigiana, and Almond sweets
- Lunch with dishes prepared during cooking class
- Guided tour of Monopoli
Optional Activities
- Dinner on your own in one of Conversano's restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Monopoli - Day 10
Locorotondo - Alberobello
Visit an ancient olive oil mill for extra virgin olive oil tasting, then explore the village of Locorotondo with its circular shape and interesting alleys. Continue to the UNESCO site of Alberobello for a traditional lunch and a guided tour where you'll walk among the unique trulli houses.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch at UNESCO site of Alberobello)
Included Activities
- Extra virgin olive oil tasting at ancient olive oil mill
- Exploration of Locorotondo village
- Traditional lunch at UNESCO site of Alberobello
- Guided tour and walk among the trulli in Alberobello
Optional Activities
- Dinner on your own in one of Conversano's restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Locorotondo Alberobello - Day 11
Matera
You'll drive to Matera in the Basilicata Region for a guided tour of the UNESCO site called the Sassi, with its cave houses and rocky churches. Spend time exploring Matera on your own or relax, then have focaccia and bread tasting with light lunch in a traditional bakery. Return to Hotel Corte Altavilla in the evening for a farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Focaccia and bread tasting with light lunch in a traditional bakery in Matera), Dinner (Farewell dinner at Hotel Corte Altavilla)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of UNESCO site of 'the Sassi' in Matera
- Free time to explore Matera
- Focaccia and bread tasting with light lunch in a traditional bakery in Matera
- Farewell dinner at Hotel Corte Altavilla
Landmarks/POIs Matera Sassi - Day 12
Conversano to Bari
After breakfast, you'll depart for Bari airport or your next destination (about 45 minutes driving from the hotel to Bari airport, or 40 minutes to the Bari train station).
Landmarks/POIs Bari Airport
