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Cultural, Patron Saint Celebrations & Grape Harvest Experience in Abruzzo

Fabrizio Lucci

Founder & Tour Guide of Italia Sweet Italia

Fabrizio Lucci

Founder & Tour Guide of Italia Sweet Italia 

28 September-4 October 2024

Fully escorted small groups tour up to 12 travelers

Book with flexible conditions

Need to cancel your trip due to COVID-19? You can reschedule your booking free of charge or receive a credit for your non-refundable deposit and re-book anytime. Find out more here about our FLEX AND SAFE Booking Policy

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!

Join us on a 7-day Italian cultural and culinary vacation in Abruzzo, one of the most stunning and culturally rich regions in Italy.
For anyone eager to live an immersive adventure in the Italian culture and traditions, where you really get to know the food, region and people, your host and local guide Fabrizio, together with his family & friends, has put together amazing experiences that combine passion, beautiful places and locals to show you the best of the region’s off-the-beaten-track secrets. This is a fully escorted tour that will give you the insights to daily life, food & wine, culture and production in Abruzzo and will let you discover the authentic Italy in a balanced mix of experiences, relax, adventure and learning.
The highlight of this tour is the chance to experience and have fun picking grapes and visiting a winery while it transforms grapes to awards winning Abruzzo wines and enjoy Vasto Patron Saint Celebrations.

Who is this tour suitable for?

Like-minded travelers - Everybody that travelled enough to know that touristy vacations are just not them - Travelers that appreciate la dolce vita and want to learn something new - Solo travelers (there is no single room supplement) - Couples - Group of friends - Families

HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY

Day 1 | Rome airport pick up and welcome to Abruzzo dinner! (D*)

* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

PM

  • Rome Fiumicino airport pick up at 12:30 pm and transfer to the ancient Roman town of Vasto on the Adriatic Coast

    (click here to discover more about Vasto) after crossing beautiful Abruzzo mountains looking at amazing landscapes, hilltop villages and castles

  • Check in at the charming and family run Hotel dei 7 (or a similar accommodation) in the historical downtown
  • Get to know your local guide and Italia Sweet Italia founder Fabrizio and learn more about this 7-day cultural and culinary vacation
  • Walk to a traditional restaurant to enjoy a welcome dinner in the heart of Vasto
Day 2 | A visit to the market, make homemade pasta with Mamma, explore Vasto (B, C, L)

* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

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

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 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 with 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 explore Vasto historic center: 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
  • Before free time, we’ll meet some local artisans or artists
  • 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 3 | Discover the fascinating Trabocchi coast, fish based lunch on a trabocco fishing hut, visit C6th Abbey (B, L, D)

* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

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 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 our exclusive lunch on the ocean

PM

  • In the afternoon feel free to relax or take some great photos of the surrounding beautiful marinescape
  • On the way home, we’ll visit the enchanting San Giovanni in Venere Abbey that sits on a hill dominating the coastline, surrounded by orange, olive, oak and pine trees
  • Group dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto
Day 4 | Grape harvest, wine-tasting and free time to enjoy the Patron Saint Festival (B, T, L)

* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

AM

  • After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll drive to an award winning winery that sits between a marine park and the mountains
  • We’ll meet the winemakers Emanuele and Nicola that will tell us their fascinating story and teach us some secrets about the Abruzzo wines, such us Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Pecorino and Cerasuolo
  • We’ll visit the cellars before walking through the vineyards to help harvest grape for a short time (if you prefer to relax you can enjoy, of course, some good wines)
  • Next we’ll enjoy a wine tasting and a traditional picnic lunch in the vineyards with pairings from local cheeses, salami and other specialties surrounded by a magical atmosphere

PM

  • We know that not every minute of your time must be packed with organised events, this way you will 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 be: go to one of the many beaches, visit Vasto’s museums and art galleries, take part into some extra activities/excursions, or just do some shopping visiting artisans or have a walk in the “piazza” to enjoy the relaxing Vasto atmosphere
  • Enjoy the Patron Saint Festival (San Michele Arcangelo) atmosphere. It is a great occasion to join religious, food and music events during a deeply felt three-days-celebration, that ends with a fireworks show with the Adriatic sea on the background
  • In the evening you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto or street food markets
 
Day 5 | Visit a typical “agriturismo” to learn everything about Abruzzo farming, farm-to-table lunch and explore Roccascalegna Medieval Castle (B, C, T, L)
* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

AM

  • After breakfast we’ll make our way to a farmhouse where Pina and Berardino will reveal the secrets of farming letting you immerse in an authentic slow food experience. You could relax in the beautiful Abruzzo countryside or take part into some or all of these experiences
  • We’ll milk a sheep or a cow
  • We’ll learn how to make a special bread called “pizza scima – stupid pizza”, a pizza without yeast
  • After collecting some organic wine from their winery, we’ll have an aperitif including a taste of their production: cheeses, salami and extra virgin olive oil
  • Next we’ll learn how to prepare ricotta cheese
  • Finally we’ll collect the fresh vegetables from their garden that will be used for our farm-to-table lunch
  • A delicious traditional farm-to-table lunch will be prepared and served
  • Almost everything we’ll eat is produced in the farm (wheat to produce the organic flour to make different kinds of breads, cookies and fresh pasta together with eggs from their hens, organic extra virgin olive oil, wines, liquors, juices, jams, cheeses, many varieties of salami, meats and vegetables)

PM

  • In the afternoon, immersed in the nature and surrounded by amazing sceneries, we’ll drive in the inland to explore the enchanting Abruzzo’s 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
  • After the big lunch at the farm, in the evening you may enjoy a dinner or aperitif on your own in one of the many restaurants and wine bars of Vasto
Day 6 | Olive oil tasting, art experience and lunch with an artist, pizza & tiramisù family party & farewell dinner (B, T, L, C, D)
* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

AM

  • After breakfast we’ll visit an Olive Grove that has been farmed by Giovanni’s family for three generations to produce DOP olive oils. He will unfurl the secrets of what Homer described as “liquid gold” and we will finish with an olive oil tasting
  • Next 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, which will let you create your own postcard made with natural colors produced at the moment mixing leaves and flowers that you can pick at Ettore’s property
  • We’ll have an aperitif and a traditional lunch with Ettore and his wife Barbara

PM

  • After some free time to relax and pack or do a last minute shopping, we’ll have a farewell party with Fabrizio’s family. You will enjoy the Abruzzo wines and food in a very relaxed atmosphere or help Adele and Mamma Anna Maria to make tiramisù and many kinds of pizza including the world famous Margherita or local ones with typical toppings such as the renowned “ventricina” salami
  • In the evening we’ll have the last dinner together as an Italian family immersed in the Abruzzo’s countryside
Day 7 | Saturday | Goodbye and transfer to Rome airport (B)

* B= Breakfast | L=Lunch | D=Dinner | T=Tasting | C=Cooking Lesson

After breakfast we will leave (usually at 09:00 am) for Rome Fiumicino airport or your next destination (Rome Fiumicino is about 3,5 hours driving from Vasto) so make sure to get an afternoon flight (after 3:00 pm).

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NOTE ABOUT YOUR ITINERARY 

Your Itinerary is a guide to your activities during the week. However, sometimes we modify the final itinerary to take advantage of the season and the weather. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a fabulous time, and that sometimes means tweaking the schedule even after your arrival. Your guide will provide suggestions during the week, and the group will decide if any modifications are desired. Be assured that only enhanced experiences are ever considered.

PRICE

28 September-4 October 2024: € 1,985.00*

Prices are per person and land only, with accommodation in a twin/double room with ensuite bathroom. Airfare and travel insurance are not included. There are no single supplements for solo travellers.

Click here for exchange rate

During this tour you will stay at the centrally located 3* Hotel dei 7. Recently renovated, this simple but comfortable hotel provides 18 rooms with updated ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, safe rooms, elevator, and WiFi (sometimes a comparable accommodation may be proposed).

You can also choose to upgrade to a lovely boutique residence located in the heart of Vasto. Originally an 18th-century mansion, it has been renovated into an upscale B&B with 5 bedrooms, located on the Amblingh promenade. Discover more here and inquire for a quote.

WHY US?

WE ARE PROUD TO BE LOCAL

  • Only 100% authentic experiences
  • Deep connections with the people who live here
  • We have a passion for our culture and our communities

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP

  • Read the glowing reviews from our  guests on Tripadvisor
  • We know how to make you feel right at home
  • We keep our groups small so we can  take care of every detail

SUSTAINABILITY AND PASSION

  • We promote the local culture as a sign of responsible travel
  • We are focused on preserving our way of life
  • We involve small, family-run and passion-driven businesses

FAQ

Italia Sweet Italia (ISI) is a small incoming tour operator specialized in organizing vacations around Abruzzo Italy, our home. ISI is a fully licensed company covered by insurance policy no. 4378340 by Europe Assistance Italia S.p.A. band authorised by the local government to create and sell tour packages from 2011. 

Our mission is to show people from all over the world the beauty of Abruzzo and other Italian regions so they can experience our homeland, traditions, arts and folklore in a unique way, also demonstrating the benefits of sustainable tourism to everyone. In order to help you discover everything Abruzzo and other Italian regions have to offer, we organize small groups (up to 12 people) escorted tours including cultural, culinary, active, pottery, Italian language and ancestry experiences. We are happy to create a tailored vacation around your wishes. Our tours provide you with the rare opportunity to be invited into homes and farms, as well as into the daily lives of locals.

ABRUZZO TOURS

Yes, Fabrizio will be happy to guide you to let you discover his Abruzzo although there may always be some unforeseen events that may make it necessary to replace Fabrizio with another experienced and trusted Abruzzese guide who has worked with Fabrizio for many years.

ABRUZZO AND PUGLIA TOUR

Yes, Fabrizio will be happy to guide you for the first 5 days of the tour to let you discover his Abruzzo although there may always be some unforeseen event that may make it necessary to replace Fabrizio with another experienced and trusted Abruzzese guide who has worked with Fabrizio for many years. In Puglia there will be Katia, an enthusiastic local guide who share our philosophy and we prefer to have people that love and know everything (or almost) about their region just like Fabrizio does for Abruzzo. It’s best to have the knowledge of a local to appreciate all that is local. Rest assured that we designed the tour together and Fabrizio has personally met the local suppliers to make sure they share Italia Sweet Italia’s philosophy and style to create new and unique trips to support small local businesses and sustainable tourism.

TOURS IN OTHER ITALIAN REGIONS

No, Fabrizio won’t personally lead these tours. We prefer to entrust our trips to enthusiastic local guides who share our philosophy. While it would be wonderful to have Fabrizio accompany the tour, we believe in giving space to individuals from the area who have a deep love and knowledge of the region. Nonetheless, Fabrizio has worked closely with local suppliers to ensure they align with Italia Sweet Italia’s values and style. This collaboration allows us to create new and unique trips while supporting small local businesses and sustainable tourism.

Here are some general information, please read in the final part of the tour brochure that you can download by clicking on the Download free brochure button (button you will find on the page you are reading) all the details about the pick up time, drop off, the duration of the transfer to and from the hotel and the meeting point which is very simple.

Pick up

For all the small group tours listed in our calendar, the pick up is planned at 12:30 pm on day 1 at Rome Fiumicino airport  for tours in Abruzzo, Puglia and Le Marche and at 2:30 pm at Bologna and Palermo airports for tours in Emilia Romagna and Sicily.

Drop-off

For the drop-off we usually leave the hotel at 9:00 am after breakfast.

Private pick-up and drop-off for group tours

Of course, we are always happy to support you to organize a private pick up/drop off only for you to let you join our small group tours listed in our calendar

Connecting to or from another part of Italy

If you are connecting to or from another part of Italy we are happy to assist you in planning your pre and post trip connections. If your planned arrival or departure does not coincide with the specified meeting time we can assist you in booking a private transfer at an additional cost or some extra nights.

Once a complete booking is made you may also contact us directly for further details and assistance. We are always here to help and have insider knowledge and on the ground support to ensure you find the best option available to arrive or depart from your tour.

Make sure to arrive at the meeting point on time but don’t get stressed

Please note that all guests joining our tours are responsible for ensuring they make it to the meeting point by the indicated time. Those who are unable to be on time will not be guaranteed a transfer from the airport and will have to seek other arrangements to participate in the remainder of the tour. Anyway, don’t worry, in most cases, there are public buses or trains that connect the airport with our locations. 

Private pick-up and drop-off for group tours

Of course, we are always happy to support you to organize a private pick up/drop off only for you to let you join our small group tours listed in our calendar which needs to be quoted as an extra cost.

Connecting to or from another part of Italy

If you are connecting to or from another part of Italy we are happy to assist you in planning your pre and post trip connections. If your planned arrival or departure does not coincide with the specified meeting time we can assist you in booking a private transfer at an additional cost or some extra nights inItaly. 

Once a complete booking is made you may also contact us directly for further details and assistance. We are always here to help and have the insider knowledge and on the ground support to ensure you find the best option available to arrive or depart from your tour.

For arriving in Italy (Rome or other airports) from abroad, we recommend allowing an average of 1.5 to 3 hours before our meeting.

This timeframe accounts for the time needed for the customs clearance process, baggage retrieval, and reaching our meeting point.

Our travelers typically take between 40 minutes and 1 hour to complete these procedures.

Arriving early will allow you to manage any delays and complete the checks without rushing.

As for returning from Italy ((Rome or other airports) to your Country, we suggest arriving at the airport at least 2 or 3 hours before the scheduled departure time of your international flight.

This additional time is necessary for check-in, security screening, and customs checks for international flights.

Please note that these times are indicative and may vary depending on passenger flow and the efficiency of checks at the time of travel.

Therefore, it’s advisable to plan with some extra time to avoid stressful situations.

To book your flights and check available schedules, we recommend using the website www.skyscanner.com.

This tool allows you to compare different flight options and find the best solution for your travel needs.

  • Our tours are suitable for everybody that travelled enough to know that touristy vacations are just not them and long for more authentic travel, ways to truly experience the culture and people they’re visiting
  • Our travellers appreciate la dolce vita and the pleasures of exquisite food, wine, and fellowship with others who share their passions
  • Our guests are not afraid to take bold steps…to learn something new…to explore something completely out of the ordinary
  • The minimum age for pre-arranged tours is 14 (14-18 accompanied by an adult) with no upper age limit. For tailor-made and private tours any age is fine
  • Our tours are perfect for solo travellers (we don’t charge single room supplements for our 7-day tours in Abruzzo), couples, groups of friends and even families are welcomed
  • Our guests don’t need to have any experience in cooking or painting or do pottery or speaking Italian to join our tours. Our experienced course tutors will soon discover your level of knowledge and will adapt their approach accordingly

All classes are taught in both Italian and English so you’ll have the opportunity to learn and practice a little bit of Italian

The booking process with Italia Sweet Italia is very simple. All you have to do is follow the 2 easy steps. At any stage you are welcome to contact us and we will help you with any doubts or problems:

  1. To Pay a deposit of 25% per person by:
  2.     Credit card using the book now button on the tour page
  3.   Bank Transfer

(Italia Sweet Italia Holidays di Lucci Fabrizio)

Account number: 1231254113 IBAN: IT21R0526277910CC1231254113 SWIFT: BPPUIT33 Banca Popolare Pugliese – Società cooperative per azioni Via XXIV Maggio, 25 66054 Vasto (CH) – Italy. Motivation of the payment: Deposit for Tour… to add name of the tour, month and year). Please inform your bank to make it directly in €.

  1. You pay the 75% balance within 45 days before arrival

You can pay the balance by Bank Transfer or Credit card (you will receive an automatic email from our booking platform).

Tours booked less than 45 days before their start date must be paid in full

Welcome to Italia Sweet Italia, where each day blends cultural immersion, scenic beauty, and culinary delights. Arriving at Rome Fiumicino airport, our team whisks you away to Sulmona or Vasto amidst the stunning Abruzzo landscape. After settling in, explore at your leisure before a warm welcome briefing with our guide. Indulge in authentic Italian cuisine at local eateries, with flexibility to accommodate preferences. From optional activities to leisurely strolls, every moment promises an unforgettable Italian adventure. Read more 

PHOTOS

MAP

REVIEWS

Price: € 1,985

Cultural, Culinary and Active Tours in Italy - Enquiry

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

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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

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