Tour of Abruzzo

Arrive in Sulmona for check-in at the hotel. The tour of Abruzzo begins by visiting a local vineyard to discover the secrets and the flavours of the wine of Abruzzo. Come back to Sulmona and have dinner in a local restaurant in the historical center.

A “sweet” start with the visit to the oldest “confetti” factory of Sulmona. Discover the soft aroma and  the unforgettable taste of these sweets famous all over the world. Then discover the beauty and the history of Sulmona with a local guide and meet the cooking teacher to shop in the famous old market in Garibaldi square. The market is a weekly traditional event and has been part of the local culture for the last centuries. Buy the ingredients and walk through a colourful market, in one of the biggest square of Italy, surrounded by an astonishing landscape of mountains. Then transfer to the beautiful village of Pacentro for a cooking class on traditional local recipes. Enjoy the lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon in Pacentro at leisure. Gather for an aperitif and finish the day with a dinner in this suggestive village.

Abruzzo is the Italian region famous since centuries for his pastoralism economy. In the morning drive to Scanno and its mountains through a breathtaking scenic journey, amazing ravine, steep rock walls and colourful lakes. This evocative scene was mentioned in the nineteenth century by several romantic English and European travellers. The famous italian poet D’Annunzio set also one of his masterpiece “La fiaccola sotto il moggio” in the village of Anversa. Spend the morning discovering with a local guide the charming beauty of Scanno famous for its unique and refined gold manufacturing. In the last century the village set the scene, due to its particular beauty, for photographers like Bresson and Giacometti. Have a typical lunch and coming back to Sulmona stop and visit a local farm to learn about the traditional farming activities of Abruzzo. Return to the hotel free time and dinner at your leisure.

Move to the area of Navelli where in a wonderful plateau one of the best saffron in the world is cultivated since centuries. Discover more on the so called “red gold of Abruzzo” and other typical products. After lunch, move to Campo imperatore through a scenic drive surrounded by an unique astonishing landscape. After a stop for a breathtaking view of the Gran Sasso peaks, spend the afternoon in the peace of amazing landscapes visiting local farms and taking wonderful pictures. Move then to the valley of Capestrano for a delicious dinner in a typical biologic farm to table restaurant. Come back to the hotel.

The last day of the tour begins with a breathtaking route across mountains with the sea as its final destination. Arrive after an amazing  scenic journey to the little village of Fara San Martino which is famous for hosting some of the best pasta makers factory in Italy, including De Cecco. Start a short but extremely picturesque walk through a narrow canyon and bare rocks to reach the ravined benedectine abbey of San Martino. Visit this unique site carved from the same rocks that dominate the narrow passage. After this immersion in nature and history have a light lunch in the nearby village. Later continue to Roccascalegna. This location is one of the most photographed and legendary castles in Abruzzo. The unique architecture, the physics-defying way the castle was built, the defensive walls and the tricks they used to make the structure and its inhabitants completely self-sufficient evokes a total medieval atmosphere. Discover all the secrets and the old legends that made this castle famous well over the regional borders already back in the 15th century. Then drive to the Adriatic coast and relax in the suggestive town of Vasto. Spend the evening relaxing with an astonishing panorama and an exquisite typical dinner from the Abruzzo seaside. Come back to Sulmona and stay overnight.

Hotel checkout and farewell.