A Culinary Vacation in Vasto

See the sample itinerary below for a wonderful 11-night cooking vacation in Abruzzo, Puglia, and Matera. Itinerary can vary a bit by week. 

Day 1

• Rome Fiumicino airport pick up at 11:30 am, transfer to Sulmona, the town of the Roman poet Ovid, the most illustrious son of Sulmona (click hereto 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

• After a leisurely traditional breakfast made of freshly baked bread, whole fruit country-style preserves, cake, pastries, coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juice:
• 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
• 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 SPAexperience 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 ownin one of the many restaurants of Sulmona.

Day 3

• After checking 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) in the mountains with its fabulous alleys, churches, landscapes and artisans’ boutiques.
• 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

• 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)
• 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 .
• In the evening you may have 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. 

Day 5

• After breakfast, we’ll explore the famous Trabocchi coast. We’ll start with a short and easy walk inside Punta Aderci Nature Reserve, 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.
• 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 amazing landscape with a stunning view of the sea, mountains, hills, and small towns, you can enjoy an easy walk and an artistic experience with Ettore, who will let you create your own Abruzzo souvenir (a postcard made with natural colors produced on site by mixing leaves and flowers that you can pick on Ettore’s property)
• We’ll have an aperitif and a traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara.

Day 6

• 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.
• His wife Maria will prepare fish from the Adriatic Sea for us
• 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

Day 7

• After checking out, we’ll move to Puglia where we’ll meet the local guide Katia and we’ll have a guided visit of the beautiful town of Trani: the little fishing port, the Church of the Templar Knights, and the historical district.
• Free time and lunch on your own in one of the many restaurants of Trani
• 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 a traditional restaurant in the heart of Conversano.

Day 8

• After breakfast we’ll drive to Bari, the capital city of Puglia. We’ll have a guided tour to discover San Nicola’s church and the city center called Bari Vecchia (Old Bari) where you can meet local ladies making fresh pasta in the middle of enchanting streets, and where you can taste some of the local specialties.
• We’ll drive to Polignano a mare to enjoy a traditional lunch and to discover its wonderful sea views and charming alleys.
• After the lunch in Polignano, 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. 

Day 9

• After breakfast we’ll move to an ancient masseria (typical Apulian farmhouse) in Monopoli and cooking class with traditional recipes such as orecchiette pasta, melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana) and Almond sweets (a typical Apulian dessert)
• Lunch will consist of scrumptious dishes that have been prepared in the morning.
• Next, we’ll have a guided tour of Monopoli, an enchanting seaside town with a lot of history, surprising corners, and fascinating alleys.
• Dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano

Day 10

• After breakfast, we’ll drive south to visit an ancient olive oil mill where we’ll have an extra virgin olive oil tasting.
• Next, we’ll explore the charming village of Locorotondo, whose name derives from the Latin Locus Rotundus and literally means “round place” recalling the circular shape, which is repeated on several rings between suggestive alleys and streets.
• Next, we’ll move to the UNESCO site of Alberobello to enjoy a traditional lunch in this unique town.
• Next, we’ll have a guided tour and walk among the trulli
• Dinner at your leisure in one of the many restaurants of Conversano

Day 11

• After breakfast, we’ll drive to spectacular Matera in the Basilicata Region.
• Next, we’ll have a guided tour of the Unesco site of “the Sassi” (cave houses and rocky churches where time seems to stop)
• After some free time to explore Matera by yourself or to relax, we’ll have a Focaccia and bread tasting with a light lunch in a traditional bakery in Matera.
• Next, we’ll come back to your Hotel in Conversano
• You will have more free time to relax and pack or do last minute shopping, before we enjoy a farewell dinner at Hotel Corte Altavilla

Day 12

• 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)