fbpx
Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
The Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera Experience
The Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera Experience
Previous slide
Next slide
Join us on a 12-day unique Italian cultural and culinary escorted tour to visit 3 of the most stunning Italian regions: Abruzzo with its charming mountain villages, 3 National Parks and the fascinating trabocchi (special fishing structures, a symbol of the area); Puglia with its UNESCO sites, castles, beautiful medieval towns and coastal villages; and Basilicata with the enchanting Matera, elected European capital of Culture for 2019.
Your hosts and local guides, Fabrizio and Katia, together with their families & friends, have put together amazing experiences that combine passion, beautiful places and locals to show you the best of Abruzzo & Puglia, allowing you to live an immersive adventure in the Italian culture and traditions, where you really get to know the food, region and people. This is a fully escorted tour that will give you insights to daily life, food & wine, culture and production and will let you discover the authentic Italy in a balanced mix of experiences, relaxation, adventure and learning.
The highlight of this tour is the chance to discover and experience different local cultures that have in common, the warm hospitality of local people, great food and wine traditions.
Picture of Fabrizio Lucci

Fabrizio Lucci

Founder & Tour Guide of Italia Sweet Italia

Contact Fabrizio to request as private

In the meantime, you will receive the PDF brochure of this tour and start planning the offline tour.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Live like a local and sleep in the historical center of 3 charming ancient towns
  • Visit 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Matera and Alberobello
  • Enjoy amazing landscapes that spread out from the sea to the mountains
  • Prepare homemade pasta and focaccia with local women
  • Discover the fascinating trabocchi fishing huts
  • Explore enchanted mountain and seaside villages
  • Make your own souvenir with a local artist
  • Visit Abruzzo’s acclaimed wine makers

DATES

Price: from € 3,565

Fully escorted small groups tour up to 12 travelers

6-17 April 2025

11-22 May 2025

8-19 June 2025

21 September-2 October 2025

5-16 October 2025

9-20 November 2025

ITINERARY

Day 1 | Sunday | Rome Fiumicino airport pick-up, Sulmona and welcome to Abruzzo dinner (dinner)

PM

  • Rome Fiumicino airport pick up at 12:30 pm, transfer to Sulmona, the town of the Roman poet Ovid, the most illustrious son of Sulmona (click here to discover more about Sulmona)
  • Get to know your local guide and Italia Sweet Italia founder Fabrizio and learn more about this 12-day Italian cultural vacation
  • Check in, relax and enjoy a welcome dinner at Hotel Ovidius in the heart of Sulmona
Day 2 | Monday | Confetti Museum, explore Sulmona’s historic center and traditional lunch (breakfast, confetti tasting and lunch)

After a leisurely traditional breakfast made of freshly baked bread, whole fruit country-style preserves, cake, pastries, coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juice:

AM

  • Visit the Confetti (sugar-coated almonds) Museum, where you can see a wide display of old-fashioned confectionery machines and equipment, memorabilia and precious, rare objects relating to the ancient Sulmonese art of confectionary
  • After confetti tasting, we’ll discover Sulmona and see the Medieval 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

PM

  • We know that not every minute of your time needs to be packed with organized events; you will also be able to explore on your own and actually live like an Italian
  • So today you’ll have a free afternoon for your own activities, which could include: visiting Sulmona’s museums and art galleries, taking part in some extra activities/excursions, having a SPA experience in the Hotel wellness center (must be booked in advance) or just do some time shopping, visiting artisans or taking a walk in the “piazza” to enjoy the relaxing Sulmona atmosphere

In the evening, you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Sulmona. Obviously Fabrizio will suggest to you his favorite places
Day 3 | Tuesday | Amazing Abruzzo mountains landscapes, Scanno and Vasto on the Adriatic Coast (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

AM

  • 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 be staying for the next 4 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 of Italy) in the mountains with its fabulous alleys, churches, landscapes and artisans boutiques

PM

  • Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Scanno
  • We’ll also visit an artisanal jewelry shop where they make the “Presentosa”, a famous traditional jewel from Abruzzo, a very ancient piece of art which dates back to the 18th century
  • Transfer to Vasto, check in at Hotel in the historical downtown
  • Group dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto
Day 4 | Wednesday | A visit to the market, make homemade pasta with Mamma and explore Vasto (breakfast, cooking lesson, lunch)

AM

  • We’ll walk and visit Vasto’s colorful market to get seasonal products. Here you’ll have the possibility 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 of a menu based on Fabrizio’s family recipes, includes Bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce, polpette (meatballs) and Tarallucci (typical biscuits from Abruzzo) 

PM

  • Lunch on the scrumptious dishes that we prepared in the morning, while enjoying the relaxing family atmosphere
  • After a short break to relax, in the afternoon we’ll go on a guided visit of Vasto’s historic center. 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 town and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (click here to discover more about Vasto)
  • In the evening you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto. After the big family lunch, based on our many years of experience, we know that nobody is looking for a rich dinner, so our travelers usually enjoy spending time like a local trying a simple aperitif, a gelato or a pizza. Obviously Fabrizio will suggest you his favorite places
Day 5 | Thursday | The Trabocchi Coast and Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, visit a winery with tasting and easy walk in the nature and make your own souvenir with an artist (breakfast, wine tasting, lunch, dinner)

AM

  • 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 12 most beautiful Italian beaches according to the National Geographic, from where you can also admire snow-capped mountains at certain times of the year
  • 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

PM

  • 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 own special Abruzzo souvenir—a postcard crafted with natural colors 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 simply 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
Day 6 | Friday | Explore Roccascalegna Medieval Castle, fish-based lunch on a trabocco fishing hut and free time (breakfast, lunch)

AM

  • After breakfast, immersed in the nature and surrounded by amazing sceneries, we’ll drive inland to explore Abruzzo’s enchanting castle in the sky in the charming village of Roccascalegna, ranked by Condé Naste Traveler as one of the 9 Most Beautiful Hilltop Towns in Italy
  • 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 that have been featured in the BBC TV show: Escape to the Continent
  • His wife Maria will prepare fish from the Adriatic Sea for us

PM

  • Free afternoon for your own 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 ambiance
  • In the evening, you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto
.............contact Fabrizio to find out the rest of the itinerary

AM

  • After breakfast, immersed in the nature and surrounded by amazing sceneries, we’ll drive inland to explore Abruzzo’s enchanting castle in the sky in the charming village of Roccascalegna, ranked by Condé Naste Traveler as one of the 9 Most Beautiful Hilltop Towns in Italy
  • 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 that have been featured in the BBC TV show: Escape to the Continent
  • His wife Maria will prepare fish from the Adriatic Sea for us

PM

  • Free afternoon for your own 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 ambiance
  • In the evening, you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto
Picture of Fabrizio Lucci

Fabrizio Lucci

Founder & Tour Guide of Italia Sweet Italia

Contact Fabrizio to request as private

In the meantime, you will receive the PDF brochure of this tour and start planning the offline tour.

REVIEWS

Why a small group of travelers and a local tour operator

Here’s why we believe that traveling with a small group of people and a local tour operator as we are can really make the difference:

We love our region – Attention to details – Local knowledge and experience – Support sustainable and responsible travel - Live like a local – Feel part of a big family – Make new friends – Explore on your own – Everybody feels at home – Small groups tour up to 12 travelers. Click here to learn more!

Organized Tour or DIY (Do It Yourself): Choosing the Perfect Adventure for Your Dream Vacation in Italy

Click here to read
the blog article
Contact Fabrizio to request as private
TRIPADVISOR
CONTACT

If you have any questions or an authentic Italian vacation idea for yourself or a group that you would like to discuss with Italia Sweet Italia please do get in touch with Fabrizio by any of the methods below:

SOCIAL
Facebook Youtube Flickr Linkedin Tripadvisor Pinterest Twitter Instagram

Click here to Schedule a Free Consultation with Fabrizio to Discover more about Abruzzo and our Tours

MOST POPULAR TOURS

© 2023 Italia Sweet Italia Holidays S.R.L. Unipersonale | Partita Iva/Codice Fiscale: 02811920699 | Via Circonvallazione Histoniense n. 501/A – 66054 Vasto (CH) – Italy | Terms of Use

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Cultural, Culinary and Active Tours in Italy - Travel Privately

To get more info and for booking enquiries, select your preferred starting date, add your personal data and needs and I’ll get back to you with more information accordingly as soon as I can! Thanks, Fabrizio, Founder and Tour guide

  • This tour can be booked privately from a minimum of 6 travellers
  • There may be an additional fee when booking this tour privately

Discover Authentic Italy With Fabrizio: How to Plan an Amazing Tour of Abruzzo

Our 6-part free email course will walk you through everything you need to know about planning - and enjoying! - an amazing tour of Abruzzo.

We will not share your information with anyone.