Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome to Vasto
You'll arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 2:30 PM and get picked up for a private drive through the Abruzzo mountains and national parks. The route takes you to Vasto, an ancient Roman town right on the Adriatic coast. After checking in at Hotel San Marco in the old town, you'll meet your Italian teacher and tour leader, then head out to a traditional restaurant for a welcome dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome group dinner at a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto)
Included Activities
- Welcome group dinner at a traditional restaurant in Vasto
Landmarks/POIs Rome Fiumicino Airport Vasto - Day 2
Vasto
Starting after breakfast, you'll visit a local winery positioned between a marine park and mountains for your first Italian language class covering food, olive oil, and wines. The winemakers will take you through the vineyard and cellars before lunch with wine tasting and local cheese and salami pairings. Later in the afternoon, you'll walk through Vasto's historical center to see Loggia Amblingh, the medieval castle, cathedral, and Piazza Rossetti. You may meet local artisans or artists, then have the evening to yourself with an optional dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet), Lunch (Lunch with wine pairings from local cheeses and salami at winery)
Included Activities
- Italian language class at winery focusing on food and wine vocabulary
- Vineyard and cellar tour with winemakers Emanuele and Nicola
- Wine tasting with local cheese and salami pairings
- Lunch with wine pairings at winery
- Exploration of Vasto historical center: Loggia Amblingh, medieval castle, Cathedral, Piazza Rossetti
- Meeting with local artisans or artists
Optional Activities
- Dinner at one of Vasto's various restaurants
- Aperitif, gelato, or pizza in local establishments
Landmarks/POIs Loggia Amblingh Vasto Medieval Castle Cathedral of Vasto Piazza Rossetti - Day 3
Vasto
After breakfast, you'll head to Vasto's colorful market to pick up seasonal products while practicing your Italian. From there, you'll drive into the countryside to join Fabrizio's family for an exclusive cooking class making fresh pasta and learning traditional Abruzzo sauce preparation. Lunch features what you'll prepare: bread with meat sauce, pasta alla chitarra, meatballs, and typical Abruzzo biscuits. Later you'll visit an olive grove managed by Giovanni's family for three generations to learn about DOP olive oil production and taste different oils. The evening is yours for an optional dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet), Lunch (Lunch with scrumptious dishes prepared during morning cooking class in family atmosphere)
Included Activities
- Visit to Vasto's colorful market with Italian language practice
- Exclusive cooking class with Fabrizio's family on fresh pasta and Abruzzo sauces
- Lunch featuring family recipes: bread with meat sauce, pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce, polpette, and tarallucci
- Visit to olive grove with three-generation family farm
- DOP olive oil tasting and education from Giovanni's family
Optional Activities
- Dinner at one of Vasto's various restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Vasto Market - Day 4
Trabocchi Coastline
After breakfast, you'll explore the Trabocchi coastline and Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, known for its beautiful beaches with views of snow-capped mountains. An Italian language course in this coastal setting covers trabocchi, seaside vocabulary, and Mediterranean plants. You'll visit a trabocco fishing platform made from acacia wood and railway sleepers, and if weather permits, Rinaldo will show traditional fishing methods. His wife Maria prepares fresh Adriatic fish for lunch served above the ocean. The afternoon is free for beach time, biking, or relaxing. Optional dinner on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet), Lunch (Exclusive lunch of fresh Adriatic Sea fish prepared by Maria, served above the ocean)
Included Activities
- Short easy walking in Punta Aderci Nature Reserve
- Italian language course focused on Trabocchi, seaside, and Mediterranean topics
- Visit to trabocco fishing platform
- Fishing demonstration from trabocco with Rinaldo (weather dependent)
- Lunch featuring fresh Adriatic Sea fish prepared by Maria above the ocean
Optional Activities
- Beach activities
- Biking
- Extra activities or excursions
- Dinner at one of Vasto's various restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Punta Aderci Nature Reserve Trabocchi Coastline - Day 5
Abruzzo Farmhouse - Roccascalegna
After breakfast, you'll travel to a farmhouse where Pina and Berardino host a slow food experience. Your Italian language class covers rural life and medieval castles, then you'll participate in farm work: milking a cow, making pizza scima (yeast-free pizza), tasting organic wines and cheeses, making ricotta, and collecting vegetables for lunch. A farm-to-table lunch follows using ingredients from the property. In the afternoon, you'll drive inland to explore Roccascalegna, a hilltop village with a castle and charming views. The evening offers an optional dinner or aperitif back in Vasto.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet), Lunch (Farm-to-table lunch with organic wheat, bread, pasta, eggs, olive oil, wines, cheeses, salami, and vegetables from the farm)
Included Activities
- Italian language course at farmhouse about rural life and medieval castles
- Cow milking experience
- Learn to make pizza scima (yeast-free pizza)
- Organic wine, cheese, salami, and olive oil tasting at farmhouse
- Ricotta cheese making
- Farm vegetable collection for lunch preparation
- Farm-to-table lunch with ingredients from farmhouse
- Exploration of Roccascalegna village and castle
Optional Activities
- Dinner or aperitif at restaurants and wine bars in Vasto
Landmarks/POIs Roccascalegna Castle Roccascalegna - Day 6
Lentella
After breakfast, you'll drive to the hilltop village of Lentella to visit Ettore's Art Farm with views across seaside, mountains, and small towns. Your final Italian language class focuses on art, flowers, and plants. You'll create your own postcard using natural colors made from leaves and flowers found on the property. Afterward, an aperitif and traditional farewell lunch with Ettore and his wife Barbara wraps up the experience. The rest of the day is free for relaxing, packing, or any last-minute shopping.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet), Lunch (Traditional farewell lunch with aperitif at Ettore's Art Farm with Ettore and his wife Barbara)
Included Activities
- Italian language class at Art Farm about Italian art, flowers, and plants
- Artistic experience creating postcard with natural colors from leaves and flowers
- Aperitif and traditional farewell lunch with Ettore and Barbara
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping in Lentella
Landmarks/POIs Lentella - Day 7
Vasto to Rome
After breakfast, you'll head to Rome Fiumicino Airport, a drive of about 3.5 hours from Vasto. Departure is usually at 9:00 AM, which gives you time to catch an afternoon flight. Book your flight accordingly to allow for the travel time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily breakfast buffet)
Landmarks/POIs Rome Fiumicino Airport
