Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera Experience – 11 days small group escorted tour

Meeting at Rome Fiumicino airport at 14:30, 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. In the afternoon, after some free time for lunch at your leisure to explore Sulmona at your own pace for shopping and meeting local artisans, in the late afternoon, we’ll have a wine-tasting class with a professional sommelier for a couple of hours in the centre of Sulmona and learn all about Abruzzo wines. You’ll taste try 3 different wines from local vineyards, with pairings from local cheeses, salami and other specialities

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 at the hotel, we’ll drive to the little hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore’s “Fattoria d’Arte” (Art farm), Surrounded by an amazing landscape with a stunning view of the sea, mountains, hills
and small towns. You can enjoy an artistic experience with Ettore, who will let you create your own Abruzzo souvenir (a postcard made with natural colours produced on-site by mixing leaves and flowers that you can pick on Ettore’s property).  We’ll have an aperitif and a traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife, Barbara.

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 a trabocco (the symbol of the area), mostly built with acacia wood and railway
iron sleepers. Weather permitting, Rinaldo, our host will show us how to fish from it and the secrets and history behind Abruzzo’s unique fishing platforms featured in the BBC TV show: Escape to the Continent.  His wife Maria will prepare fish from the Adriatic Sea for our exclusive lunch on the ocean*.
Free afternoon for your activities, which could include: going to one of the many beaches, visiting Vasto’s museums and art galleries, taking part in some extra activities/excursions, or just doing some shopping, visiting artisans or having a walk in the “piazza” to enjoy the relaxing Vasto atmosphere.

In the evening, you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto. After lunch on a trabocco, based on our many years of experience, we know that nobody is looking for a rich dinner, so our travellers usually enjoy spending time like a local, trying a simple aperitif, a gelato or a pizza. Fabrizio will suggest to you his favourite places.

After check out, we’ll move to Puglia, where we’ll meet the local guide, and we’ll 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 restaurants of Trani. 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 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 restaurants of Conversano. After lunch in the masseria, based on our many years of experience, we know that nobody is looking for a rich dinner, so our travellers usually enjoy spending time like a local trying a simple aperitif, a gelato or a pizza. Katia will suggest to you her favourite place

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the charming village of Locorotondo, whose 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 Bari, the capital city of Puglia. We’ll have a guided tour to discover San Nicola’s church, Frederick II’s castle and the city centre. In a bakery, we’ll also enjoy a tasting of traditional panzerotti (a pocket of dough stuffed with tomato and vegetables or a meat sauce).  Next, we’ll visit a family-run winery where we’ll have a wine tasting and lunch with pairings from local cheeses and salami and a tour of the vineyard and cellars organized by the winemakers. We’ll drive to Polignano, a mare, to discover its incredible sea views and charming alleys. Dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano.

After breakfast (normally 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)