The Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera experience

* 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

• Visit of 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 a 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 wine tasting in the centre of Sulmona and learn all about Abruzzo wines
• You’ll taste 3 different wines from local vineyards, with pairings from local cheeses, salami and other specialties

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: visit Sulmona’s museums and art galleries, take part into some extra activities/excursions, to have a SPA experience in the Hotel wellness center (to book in advance) or just do some shopping visiting artisans or have 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 you his favorite places

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

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 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 of Italy) on the mountains

PM

• Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Scanno
• Transfer to Vasto, check in at Hotel dei 7 in the historical downtown
• After a short break, 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
• Group dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto

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

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 a dessert

PM

• Lunch with the scrumptious dishes that we prepared in the morning, while enjoying the relaxing family atmosphere
• 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
• 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

* 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 10 most beautiful Italian beaches according to the British daily The Telegraph, from 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 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

• 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, which will let you create your own Abruzzo souvenir (a 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 dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara
• If we’re lucky we could help Ettore’s wife make risotto with truffle that grows in Ettore’s land

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

AM

• After check out, we’ll move to Puglia where we’ll meet the local guide Katia and we’llhave a guided visit of the beautiful town of Trani: the little fishing port, the Church of the Templar Knights, the historical quarter

PM

• Free time and lunch on your own in one of the many restaurants of Trani
• Guided tour of Castel del Monte: a UNESCO protected site and a symbol of Puglia
• Transfer to Conversano and check in at Hotel Corte Altavilla in the historical downtown (possibility to have a SPA experience in their wellness center to book in advance)
• Guided walking tour in Conversano: ancient town with its medieval Castle and Romanesque cathedral
• Welcome to Puglia group dinner in traditional restaurant in the heart of Conversano

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

AM

• Guided tour of of Polignano a mare and its wonderful sea
• Transfer to an ancient masseria (typical Apulian farmhouse) in Monopoli and cooking class with traditional recipes

PM

• Lunch will consist of the scrumptious dishes that have been prepared in the morning
• Guided tour of the UNESCO site of Alberobello: walk among the trulli, visit to the trullo “sovrano”and its museum
• Free time and dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano

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

AM

• Guided tour of Bari: San Nicola’s church, Frederick II’s castle and the city center
• Guided tour of a family-run winery and lunch with tasting of the wines and the famous mozzarella cheese of Gioia del Colle

PM

• Visit of a small olive oil mill in the country side of Gioia del Colle where we’ll have an extra virgin olive oil tasting
• Free time and dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano

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

AM

• Focaccia tasting in a very old bakery with a wood burning oven in Altamura, town famous for its DOP bread
• Guided tour of spectacular Matera and its Unesco’s site“the Sassi” (cave houses and rocky churches where time seems to stop)

PM

• Free time for lunch and explore the city on your own
• Farewell dinner at Hotel Corte Altavilla

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

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