Flavors and Wines of Abruzzo between the Mountains and the Sea

Arrival in Pescara, get settled in your room at Hotel Plaza
In the afternoon we meet our English speaking guide for a tour of the beautiful city Pescara, on the Adriatic sea.
We will enjoy a welcome dinner together in Pescara with traditional food where you will feast on typical regional dishes.

In the morning departure for San Clemente a Casauria, place of the marvellous Benedectine Abbey, national monument and old town in the Middle Ages which started in Abruzzo the great tradition of olive and vineyard growth. Example of excellent architecture built with the Majella stone on Roman remains, the Abbey is the symbol of the region. After the visit, departure for Casale Centurione an old farmhouse in the area of Manoppello, placed among wonderful hills for a great cooking class based on the preparation of the “Fiadoni” (typical Abruzzo snacks baked and usually served as aperitifs) and the “Chitarrina“ pasta, traditional hand-made egg and flour pasta shaped with the famous old kitchen tool similar to a “guitar”, dressed with tiny meat balls in tomato sauce. During the preparation, you will taste local cold cuts and cheese accompanied by vegetables and wine of the farm.
Back to hotel, afternoon and dinner on your own.

In the morning departure for an old village, Rosciano, on a hill surrounded by the Montepulciano vineyards. A cooking class is expected in a beautiful old aristocratic Mansion. The landlady will welcome us for a great cooking experience with home made pasta called “sagne” accompanied by chick-peas or beans while tasting local products.
After the class, a short drive to the very famous winery Chiusa Grande located in Nocciano. Visit of the winery and wine tasting. Among the most well known and appreciated wineries of the region in the world, here the red Montepulciano wine offers a special bouquet! 
Back to hotel. 
Dinner at the best Pizzeria in the Pescara city centre.

Departure to Fossacesia Trabocchi Coast.
Visit of the gorgeous Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere dominating the gulf of the coast. Unique in its genre, the Abbey was in the Middle Ages an important agricultural centre and pilgrimage destination. Still today it welcomes many visitors becoming a place for special weddings and events.
From the very beautiful Park of the Abbey you can admire the famous TRABOCCHI, old fishing machines since 1600, projected for the fishermen who lived in poverty and had their food only by eating fish. Nowadays some Trabocchi have been transformed into cosy restaurants where great fish meals can be enjoyed and it is a real special experience! Lunch with the fresh fish on the trabocco and taste of the wines to be matched with the fish. On the way back to Hotel a short stop is due at a winery for wine tasting.

Back to Pescara.
Dinner on your own.

Departure for Sulmona. On the way, stop in Popoli at Valle Reale winery for a visit and wine tasting. Located in the National Park of Majella mountain this winery is a very well known one, specialized in “high culture of mountain wines”.
Then drive to Sulmona, the world wide famous town of CONFETTI and love sung in the poetry of the Roman Poet Ovidius! Visit of the old factory Pelino, which has provided the best royal houses with their delicious confetti on the occasions of royal weddings.

Lunch in the old village nearby Pacentro, original place of the family of the rockstar Madonna, at the very good restaurant, tasting the best and typical products of the mountain accompanied by the special Cerasuolo wine produced in the Peligna Valley surrounded by Morrone massif. Visit of the medieval village and the old castle. Back to hotel.
“Aperitivo cenato” in Pescara - this means: more than an aperitif and less than a dinner, after a great lunch.

Departure for Loreto Aprutino area, center of the so-called triangle -with Moscufo and Pianella- of the green gold of Abruzzo: olive oil. The village is on top of a hill surrounded by a gorgeous landscape dominated by the profile of Gran Sasso mountain, called the Spleeping Beauty.

A short drive to the winery Nicoletta de Fermo for a visit and wine tasting. Drive to Pianella for an unexpected olive oil tasting.

Back to Pescara for a rest.


Farewell dinner in Lanciano at the great restaurant La Corona di Ferro.

We will start the day and end our wonderful time together with a quick breakfast at the hotel, and then you will depart from the Bologna airport or train station.