DAY 1 - Sunday, May 26th, 2024

Departure from New York (or from another airport upon request with cost evaluation), Airline and time to be determined.

DAY 2 - Monday, May 27th, 2024

MORNING

Arrival in Rome and transfer by private coach to L’Aquila.
Welcome aperitif at the hotel with tastings of local typical products.

AFTERNOON

Guided walk with a Tour Leader in the historic center of L’Aquila:
Piazza Duomo – A vast square considered the heart of the city.
MuNDA MUSEO NAZIONALE D’ABRUZZO (see photo) – (Entrance for those interested): housed in the former municipal slaughterhouse near Porta Rivera. The collection includes archaeological artifacts found in the Abruzzo region, as well as paintings and sculptures dating from the Middle Ages.
Fontana delle 99 Cannelle – A monumental fountain located in Borgo Rivera, consisting of ninety-three stone masks and six individual spouts from which water flows.
Chiesa di San Domenico – Recognizable for its unfinished facade, which was interrupted in the fifteenth century due to a lack of funds. It has been heavily affected by various earthquakes and is now inaccessible, but its facade has been restored.
Chiesa di San Pietro a Coppito – Best seen at night when lights emphasize the grace of its Romanesque portal.
MAXXI L’Aquila – The new location of the MAXXI NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ARTS of the 21st Century, located in the historic center, is the city’s new cultural offering.
Fontana luminosa – Located on the edge of Parco del Castello, it is the symbol of L’Aquila.
Auditorium del Parco – An architectural legacy from Renzo Piano to L’Aquila after the earthquake.
Basilica di San Bernardino da Siena – Here lie the relics of the famous Saint of Siena, who died in L’Aquila in 1444.

EVENING

Welcome dinner featuring a typical Abruzzese menu.

DAY 3 - Tuesday, May 28th, 2024

FULL-DAY TRIP

Full-day excursion with brief stops along the way at the Palazzo dell’Emiciclo, the seat of the Regional Council of Abruzzo, the Parco del Sole, a project for the recovery of the territory after the earthquake, and the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio.
The Basilica, founded in 1288 by the will of Pietro da Morrone, who was crowned Pope as Celestine V on August 29, 1294, is considered the ultimate expression of Abruzzese architecture as well as the symbol of the city. It was declared a national monument in 1902 and is the site of an annual jubilee, the first in history, established by the Perdono del 29 settembre 1294 and known as the Perdonanza Celestiniana. Inside, the mortal remains of the Holy Pontiff Celestine V are preserved.

The tour continues towards the Cascata Grotte carsiche di Stiffe, a natural spectacle of rare beauty that offers a spectacular experience facing the Gran Sasso. An ideal place for a leisurely aperitif.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a splendid mountain village, an architectural jewel that has experienced depopulation and rebirth. In 2000, a profound transformation of the village into a scattered hotel took place, breathing new life into the environment. Here, you can enjoy lunch at the Locanda Sotto gli Archi, where you can savor traditional recipes and shop in local artisan workshops.

The tour proceeds to Rocca Calascio (see photo), a medieval village built for defense on the highest point of the area.
There is an option to reach the castle on foot in about half an hour for those who desire to do so (3 km).

DAY 4 - Wednesday, May 29th, 2024

FULL-DAY TRIP

Full-day excursion to nearby but distinctive and special locations:
Bominaco – Monastic Complex and Castle.
Navelli – Visit to a saffron production farm (see photo), one of the most famous.
Cooperative Altopiano di Navelli with a visit to the small MUSEUM: “SALA DEI RICORDI” on Via Roma.
Alternatively: “L’Oro di Navelli” or “Antica Taverna di Navelli.”
Saffron is a spice obtained from the stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, also known as true saffron, a plant in the iris family. The true saffron plant grows up to 20–30 cm and produces up to four flowers, each with three intense crimson stigmas. The stems and stigmas are harvested and dried for use primarily in cooking as a seasoning and coloring agent. Saffron, counted among the most expensive spices in the world, is believed to originate from Greece or Asia Minor and was first cultivated in Greece.
Ofena – Visit to a winery with a wine tasting.
Wineries to consider: Vitivinicola Gentile, Cataldi Madonna, Pietrantonj.

Return in the afternoon for free time in the city before dinner.
Dinner in L’Aquila featuring a typical local menu.

DAY 5 - Thursday, May 30th, 2024

MORNING/AFTERNOON

Transfer from L’Aquila to Rivisondoli with various stops along the way.
Alba Fucens, famous for the extensive Roman archaeological excavations, the largest in Abruzzo, enclosed within the ancient city walls.
Celano, where you visit the Piccolomini Castle, of significant historical value.

The tour continues to Scanno, famous for its heart-shaped lake (see photo) and its medieval town characterized by stone houses, alleys, arches, and medieval squares. It’s one of the most well-known and frequently visited villages in the region, known for the Scanno women’s traditional costume, particularly rich in accessories and jewelry. It’s also worth exploring the local goldsmith shops. Lunch by the lake or in the town will be a memorable experience for everyone.

Next, you reach Sulmona, a typical place known for the production of sugared almonds (confetti), famous worldwide. Here, you can explore the various shops as you walk along its streets.

Visit to the CONFETTI MUSEUM OF PELINO:
The museum consists of three exhibition rooms on two floors. The first section displays family memorabilia and precious objects, including old patents from the Pelino factory, important diplomas, and honors, as well as a valuable collection of 19th and 20th-century sugared almond favor compositions. The second room houses precious relics related to the factory’s history, sugared almonds owned by famous personalities, along with a collection of their quotes about Sulmona’s sugared almonds. There’s also a reconstruction of an 18th-century workshop in the last room, complete with machinery used for the production and processing of sugared almonds, various tools, and containers holding the ancient ingredients used in sugared almond cores or coatings.

The museum also documents the introduction of technological innovations resulting from the transition to steam and then electric power, such as the first hot air convector and company electric motor, which shortened the long processing times required.

EVENING

The tour concludes at the hotel, where dinner is served and offers pleasant moments of relaxation.

DAY 6 - Friday, May 31st, 2024

MORNING

Relax in the SPA and free time.

AFTERNOON

Half-day excursion.
Visit to Pescocostanzo (see photo), a city of art with a rich heritage of painters and architects who adorned it.
Roccaraso, a must-visit destination known for its magnificent natural panoramas. Although it was destroyed by the Germans during World War II, it has been reborn with a focus on tourism and economic recovery.

EVENING

Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 7 - Saturday, June 1th, 2024

MORNING/AFTERNOON

Transfer to Campobasso with several stops along the way.
Castel di Sangro, famous not only for its winter tourism but also for the presence of the Ristorante Reale, named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Isernia, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PALEOLITHIC (see photo) – Founded in 1999.
Interview with the museum director about the valorization and coordination of research in the region.
The site’s access requires an entrance ticket, and entry is allowed up to 30 minutes before closing. The museum is located around the archaeological area of Isernia La Pineta and is divided into three buildings of about 4,000 square meters, connected by a long external corridor that guides visitors through the site and the museum with a series of large photographs dedicated to all aspects of research, education, and site and museum valorization. The archaeological area is an integral part of the museum complex, with a pavilion of about 700 square meters featuring two paths at different levels: the upper one for visitors and the lower one for researchers who continue to work on excavation and material study activities found on the site, especially during the summer months.

Castelpetroso, a famous location beloved by Molise residents for its Sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna Addolorata. Its construction began in 1890 and was completed around 1950, with consecration taking place in 1975.
The building imitates the Gothic style despite belonging to the 20th century. A place of popular interest.

EVENING

Arrival at the hotel in Campobasso.
Dinner with typical local specialties.

DAY 8 - Sunday, June 2nd, 2024

MORNING

City tour in Campobasso and participation in the procession of the Misteri of Campobasso. You can attend the Mass at the MUSEUM OF THE MISTERI, which is where the procession begins.
The Misteri procession (see photo) is a parade of 13 large “living tableaus,” representing religious scenes, that traverse the streets of the city. These structures, also called “ingeni,” are carried on the shoulders of at least 12 young people for each Mistero, moving in a rhythmic and synchronized manner under the guidance of a leader. The Misteri are made of metal frameworks to which both children and adults are attached, and they are covered with colorful fabrics, creating the illusion that some characters are floating in the air. Each Mistero is dedicated to a saint and conveys a religious and moral message.
The first Misteri structures were created in 1748 by Paolo Saverio Di Zinno, a renowned artist from Campobasso. Of the original twenty-four “machines,” only eighteen passed the test, while six were destroyed in the earthquake of 1805. Thus, twelve remained until 1959 when the thirteenth Mistero, representing the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was constructed. The other twelve represent: Abraham, Saint Isidore, Saint Crispin, Saint Januarius, Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Anthony Abbot, Saint Leonard, Saint Roch, Saint Michael, Saint Nicholas of Bari, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption.

Santa Maria del Monte Church – Heavily restored in the twentieth century but featuring a series of particularly interesting frescoes behind the altar.
Castello Monforte – The final point of the classic walk, has always been the most inaccessible point in the city, but access to the terrace is allowed, offering the best panoramic view of Campobasso.
Church of San Giorgio and Leonardo – Of Romanesque origin dating back to the 10th century. Inside, it preserves parts of a 14th-century fresco on the octagonal dome.
Church of San Bartolomeo – An important 13th-century Romanesque church. Inside, you can observe the upper part of the Stational Cross, a stone cross from the 14th to 15th century.
Palazzo Pistilli Museum – A museum created from the donation of two private collections, featuring many paintings from the 17th to 19th centuries, particularly by Neapolitan artists.
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity – Built in the 16th century, destroyed by the earthquake of 1805, and rebuilt in neoclassical style. It is the spiritual center of the city.
Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art – Located in the former School of Campobasso, recently transformed into a House of Culture.
MUSEUM OF THE MISTERI – Born from the idea of a sculptor from Campobasso in 1740, contains a collection of misteri, which are sacred representations in the form of mechanical statues that can move thanks to a series of gears.

AFTERNOON

Visit to the atelier of a famous painter and their exhibitions.

EVENING

Dinner with a cooking workshop.

DAY 9 - Monday, June 3rd, 2024

MORNING/AFTERNOON

Transfer to Vasto with various stops along the way:
The first stop is in Civitacampomarano (see photo), a nearly depopulated village with only 350 inhabitants. It is known for its Agionino Castle, an emblem of the past, and its Street art activities that have made it famous throughout Italy. The tour continues with a stop in Larino, rich in history and historical evidence. Larino offers an archaeological park and a medieval structure.
There will be an extended stop in Termoli with a guided walk by the Tour Leader in the historic center. Here, you can see the Swabian Castle, the Trabucco (traditional fishing machine), colorful houses, and the beaches.

EVENING

Arrival at the hotel in the evening in Vasto.
Dinner featuring typical local specialties.

DAY 10 - Tuesday, June 4th, 2024

MORNING

A city walk with a Tour Leader to discover the most important monuments and natural surroundings, Vasto being a renowned seaside paradise.

AFTERNOON

Enjoy relaxation and free time for shopping or at the beach.

EVENING

Dinner featuring a seafood specialty: “brodetto alla vastese,” prepared in terracotta pots where whole fish are cooked.

DAY 11 - Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

MORNING

Transfer to Pescara with various stops in interesting locations:

Lecceta di Torino di Sangro, the cemetery of British soldiers who died in World War II, a solemn and sad testament to the past. An optional visit to the cemetery is available.
It can be reached by bus or on foot along a path in the natural reserve, characterized by oak trees.

Ortona along the “Via Verde dei Trabocchi,” which can be traversed on foot or by bicycle along a recently constructed pedestrian and cycling path. The panoramic views of the sea are stunning. The “trabucco” (see photo), in its Abruzzese and Molisan variants, is an ancient fishing machine typical of the Abruzzo, Gargano, and Molise coasts, protected as a monumental heritage in the “Costa dei Trabocchi” (Abruzzo).

Lunch is a unique and unforgettable experience in a Trabucco.

AFTERNOON

Picciano – MUSEUM OF RURAL TRADITIONS AND ARTS (MUTAC)
Visit the MUSEUM OF RURAL TRADITIONS AND ARTS (MUTAC), a rich repository of history and tradition. MUTAC represents a historical recovery of Abruzzese peasant civilization and aims to transmit this historical heritage to future generations by preserving customs and traditions. Born from the intuition of the distinguished Professor Di Silverio, it is now a museum of great charm due to its evocative environmental reconstructions and is a gem among the cultural assets of Abruzzo.

EVENING

Arrival at the hotel and dinner.

DAY 12 - Thursday, June 6, 2024

MORNING

Visit to the MUSEUM BIRTHPLACE OF GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO, the birthplace museum of Gabriele D’Annunzio, an Italian poet from the 20th century who lived in this city.
The museum is located at Corso Manthoné 116 in Pescara and was declared a national monument in 1927. Since December 2014, it has been managed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage through the Polo Museale dell’Abruzzo, which became the Regional Directorate of Museums in December 2019.
Shopping and free time for lunch.

AFTERNOON

Excursion to Chieti with a visit to the NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF ABRUZZO in Villa Frigerj, which houses the famous Warrior of Capestrano.
The museum is located in Chieti, in an elegant neoclassical villa designed by the Neapolitan architect Errico Riccio at the request of Baron Ferrante Frigerj in 1830. The building overlooks a small hill, originally an agricultural property owned by the Frigerj family located outside the city walls, not far from Porta S. Andrea, the southern entrance to the city, which no longer exists. From the top of the hill, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama, with views of both the municipal villa and the historic center’s buildings, as well as the majestic mountain massif of the Majella with the valley below. On the ground floor, visitors can delve into themes related to ancient statuary, particularly the famous Warrior of Capestrano, an artistic masterpiece from the 6th century BC, showcased in the ‘Al di là del tempo‘ (Beyond Time) room. The room’s design was curated by the artist Mimmo Palladino, who states, “I wanted to almost purify the Warrior from the historical significance and dating that determine it. Those who look at it should draw suggestions that go beyond its chronological placement.”

EVENING

Farewell dinner featuring tastings of white truffle from Carovilli before departure.

DAY 13 - Friday, June 7th, 2024

Transfer to Rome Airport, via private motor coach, for a flight.
Lunch and snack served on board. Same day arrival.