Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera Experience – 12 days small group escorted tour

We will meet at Rome Fiumicino airport at 12:30 and transfer to Sulmona, the town of the Roman poet Ovid, the most illustrious son of Sulmona. Check-in, relax and welcome dinner at Hotel Ovidius in the heart of Sulmona

After a traditional leisurely breakfast of freshly baked bread, country-style fruit preserves, cakes, pastries, coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juices. Visit the Confetti (sugar-coated almonds) Museum, where you can see a comprehensive display of old-fashioned confectionery machines and equipment, memorabilia and precious, rare objects relating to the ancient Sulmonese art of confectionery.
After a confetti tasting, we’ll discover Sulmona and see the Roman aqueduct on Piazza Garibaldi and the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata with its majestic bell tower. We’ll have a traditional lunch in the centre of Sulmona.

After lunch, you’ll have a free afternoon for your activities, which could include visiting Sulmona’s museums and art galleries, taking part in some extra activities/excursions, having an SPA experience in the Hotel wellness centre (must be booked in advance) or do some time shopping, visiting artisans or taking a walk in the “piazza” to enjoy the relaxing Sulmona atmosphere. In the evening, you are free. You may experience some dinner in one of the many Sulmona restaurants in the evening. We will suggest to you some of our favourite places.

After check out, we’ll drive across the wonderful Abruzzo mountains and National Parks to the ancient Roman town of Vasto on the Adriatic Coast, where you will stay for the next 3 nights. On the way to Vasto, we’ll visit the enchanting Hermitage of San Domenico in Villalago and the village of Scanno (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy) in the mountains. Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Scanno.
Transfer to Vasto, and check in at Hotel San Marco in the historic downtown. After a short break, we’ll go on a guided visit to Vasto’s historic centre. We’ll explore Loggia Amblingh, a promenade overlooking the fascinating crescent-shaped coastline, the old town with its medieval Castle, charming lanes, a tower, the Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti, dedicated to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet from the city and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto.

We’ll walk and visit Vasto’s colourful market to get seasonal products. Here you’ll be able to practice a little bit of Italian even if you don’t speak any of it. Next, we’ll drive to the beautiful countryside of Vasto, where we’ll meet Fabrizio’s family to have an exclusive cooking class with them, and we’ll learn how easy it is to make fresh pasta, and we’ll be introduced to Abruzzo sauces.  An example menu based on Fabrizio’s family recipes includes Bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce, polpette (meatballs) and a dessert.  Lunch with the delicious dishes that we prepared in the morning while enjoying the
relaxing family atmosphere.

After a short break to relax, we’ll go on a guided visit to Vasto’s historic centre in the afternoon. We’ll explore Loggia Amblingh, a promenade overlooking the fascinating crescent-shaped coastline, the old town with its medieval Castle, charming lanes, a tower, the Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti, dedicated to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet from the city and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In the evening, you are free. You may experience some dinner in one of the many Vasto restaurants in the evening. We will suggest some of our favourite places to you.

After breakfast, we’ll explore the famous Trabocchi coast. We’ll start with a short and easy walk inside Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, one of the 10 most beautiful Italian beaches according to the British daily The Telegraph, where you can also
admire snow-capped mountains. Next, we’ll visit an award-winning winery that sits between a marine park and the mountains. We’ll sample wine tasting and lunch with pairings from local cheeses and salami and a tour of the vineyard and cellars organized by winemakers Emanuele and Nicola.

After lunch in the winery and a short break at the hotel, we’ll drive to the little hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore’s “Fattoria d’Arte” (Art farm). Surrounded by an enchanting landscape with breathtaking views of the sea, mountains, rolling hills, and charming villages, you can indulge in an easy walk and a unique artistic experience with Ettore. He will guide you in creating your unique Abruzzo souvenir—a postcard crafted with natural colours made from leaves and flowers that you can gather from Ettore’s property. (For those who prefer not to join the artistic activity, there are other delightful options: wander through nature amidst captivating artworks, unwind with a glass of fine wine, or marvel at the stunning panorama of the sea, majestic mountains, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque hilltop villages)

We’ll have an aperitif and a traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara.

After breakfast, immersed in nature and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, we head inland to explore Abruzzo’s enchanting castle in the sky in Roccascalegna, a charming village chosen by Condé Naste Traveler as one of the 9 most beautiful mountain towns in Italy.
We then visit a trabocco (the symbol of the region), built mainly from acacia wood and iron railway sleepers.
If the weather is good, our host Rinaldo will teach us how to fish from there and the secrets and history behind the unique fishing spots. His wife Maria cooks Adriatic fish for us.
The afternoon is free to enjoy your own activities, for example, visiting one of the many beaches, visiting Vasto’s museums and galleries, participating in additional activities and excursions, or even shopping, visiting artisans or enjoying a stroll in the “piazza”.
You can treat yourself to dinner in one of Vasto’s many restaurants in the evening.

After check out, we’ll move to Puglia, where we’ll meet the local guide and have a guided visit to the beautiful town of Trani: the little fishing port, the Church of the Templar Knights, and the historical quarter. Free time and lunch on your own in one of the many Trani restaurants. Transfer to Conversano and check in at Hotel Corte Altavilla in the historical downtown (possibility to have a SPA experience in their wellness centre to book in advance). Guided walking tour in Conversano: an ancient town with its medieval Castle and Romanesque cathedral. Welcome to Puglia group dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Conversano

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Bari, the capital city of Puglia. We’ll have a guided tour to discover San Nicola’s church and the city centre called Bari Vecchia (Old Bari), where you can meet local ladies making fresh pasta in the middle of enchanting streets.

We’ll drive to Polignano a mare, to enjoy a traditional lunch and discover its incredible sea views and charming alleys. After lunch in Polignano, based on our many years of experience, we know that nobody is looking for a heavy dinner, so our travellers usually enjoy spending time like a local, trying a simple aperitif, a gelato or a pizza. We will suggest to you our favourite places

After breakfast, we’ll move to an ancient masseria (typical Apulian farmhouse) in Monopoli and cooking class with traditional recipes such as orecchiette pasta, melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana) and Bocconotti (a typical Apulian
dessert). Lunch will consist of the delicious dishes prepared in the morning. Next, we’ll have a guided tour of Monopoli, an enchanting seaside town with a lot of history, surprising corners and fascinating alleys. Dinner at your leisure in one of the many Conversano restaurants.

After lunch in the masseria, based on our many years of experience, we know that nobody is looking for a heavy dinner, so our travellers usually enjoy spending time like a local trying a simple aperitif, a gelato or a pizza. We will suggest our favourite place to you.

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the charming village of Locorotondo. Its name derives from the Latin Locus Rotundus and means “round place,” recalling the circular shape, which is repeated on several rings between suggestive alleys and streets.
Next, we’ll move to the UNESCO site of Alberobello to have a guided tour and walk among the Trulli. In this unique town, we’ll enjoy a traditional lunch. Next, we’ll visit an ancient olive oil mill where we’ll have an extra virgin olive oil tasting. Dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the spectacular Matera in the Basilicata Region. We’ll have a guided tour of the Unesco site of “the Sassi” (cave houses and rocky churches where time seems to stop). Next we’ll have a Focaccia tasting in an ancient bakery with a wood burning oven in Altamura, town famous for its DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) bread. After some free time to relax and pack or do last minute shopping, we’ll have a farewell dinner at Hotel Corte Altavilla

After breakfast (usually at 09:00) departure for Bari airport or your next destination (45 minutes driving from Hotel to Bari airport and 40 minutes to Bari train station)