SEPTEMBER FOOD AND WINE TOUR
- September 9-18, 2006
(10 Days, 9 Nights)

Tour itineraries:

Friday 8 September - Fly from the airport of your departure to Rome
Day 1 (Saturday 9 September) - Morning, meet our tour director at the Rome-Fiumicino Airport. Transfer to the hotel San Michele in L'Aquila, settle in, welcome meeting and short walking orientation in the magnificent city center. Wine tasting with snacks in a great winery, offering a great selection of the local Montepulciano wines. Special dinner in a local authentic restaurant.
Day 2 (Sunday 10) - Escorted visit to the Gran Sasso mountains, called the "little Tibet of Italy", with its stark, evocatively beautiful high mountain plateau of the Campo Imperatore and the storybook mountain village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Santo Stefano, also famous for its delicius lentils, is listed among Italy's "Top 100 most beautiful villages"! Lunch at "Aufinium" in Ofena, a dining experience that will astound you with multiple courses. Back to L'Aquila, for a more extended visit to the highlights of the city: the Fountain of the 99 spouts, the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio and the Spanish Castle. Dinner at leisure.
Day 3 (Monday 11) - Escorted visit to Pescocostanzo, the jewel of southern Abruzzo, where you will walk the winding pathways of this beautiful artisans' village, with its pristine white medieval houses. See the outstanding Church of Santa Maria del Colle. Ample time to visit the traditional jewelry shops of this village, featuring gorgeous filigree style pieces, as well as the ironworkers' and woodworkers' shops. Lunch at "Paolino", an excellent, traditional restaurant specializing in local dishes with an individual flair. In the afternoon, free time to walk off our meal into Sulmona, world capital of the "confetti" candies. For those who would like, guided tour available of the historical center of the town, also famous to be the birth place of the Latin poet Ovid. A short visit to the Pelino confetti factory and museum is included. Back to L'Aquila, dinner at leisure.
Day 4 (Tuesday 12) - Escorted visit to the unspoilt area of the Subequana valley near L'Aquila: morning visit to the ancient Fossa and the "Dolci Aveia" factory, producing "dolci tipici d'Abruzzo" for 30 years now: renowned pastries, biscuits and cakes; visit the famous Stiffe grottos, then have lunch at Santino's in Villa Sant'Angelo, specializing in mountain cuisine (pappardelle with truffle, saffron, lamb, wild boar etc.). Afternoon, see the picturesque medieval village of Fontecchio, with its spectacular ancient little fountain, then a final relaxing visit to the wonderful churches and castle of Bominaco, immersed in a great countryside scenery. Back to L'Aquila, dinner at leisure.
Day 5 (Wednesday 13) - At leisure
Day 6 (Thursday 14) - Check out from the hotel in L'Aquila. Visit and special wine tasting at the famous Pietrantonj winery in Vittorito, south of L'Aquila, producing one of the best Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Lunch in a local pizzeria, then transfer to our next destination: the 4-star hotel Carlton in Pescara, the "sea capital" of Abruzzo, right on the beach. Walking orientation in the city center, followed by a great sea food dinner (antipasti, fried and roasted fish, calamari etc) at a typical restaurant on the beach.
Day 7 (Friday 15) - Escorted visit to Atri, the Romanesque beautiful town immersed in the olive groves and vineyards. Mass available in the outstanding Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Lunch at Podere San Domenico, an agriturismo specializing in "cucina teramana", where the delightful and funny proprietress Lidia will offer a cooking lesson followed by a vast lunch. The cuisine of Teramo is considered the best and most refined in Abruzzo. Afternoon, visit to the beautiful Teramo, with its ancient Roman walls and theatre, the cathedral of San Berardo and the fascinating city center. Back to Pescara, dinner at leisure. After your "passeggiata", a gelato tasting in the best gelateria on the boardwalk!
Day 8 (Saturday 16) - Morning visit to the sea town of Vasto, with its amazing view on the ocean and the many important monuments, including the castle. Sea food lunch (pasta with fish, "brodetto" vastese etc.). Afternoon, on the way back see the Benedictine abbey of San Giovanni in Venere of Fossacesia, and the coast of the "trabocchi" (the ancient fishing's wooden systems), where the Abruzzese poet Gabriele D'Annunzio got his inspirations to write some of the most memorable Italian poems. Back to Pescara, dinner at leisure.
Day 9 (Sunday 17) - Morning visit to the ancient "Anxanum", nowadays Lanciano, its wonderful center and the so called "Eucharistic Miracle". Have your last great meal of the tour in the "Piazza", under the shade of the century-old monuments. Afternoon, bus drive to the airport area of Fiumicino and check in at our recommended 3-star hotel Cancelli Rossi, 5 minutes from the airport.
Day 10 (Monday 18 September) - Free hotel shuttle service to Rome-Fiumicino Airport, for your flight back home.

Our September Food and Wine Tour includes:

• Hotel accommodations for 9 nights, based on double occupancy:
  - L'Aquila, 5 nights at the 3-star superior Hotel San Michele
  - Pescara, 3 nights at the 4-star Hotel Carlton
  - Fiumicino, 1 night at the 3-star superior Hotel Cancelli Rossi
  - All hotels have air-conditioned rooms with private bathroom and shower, colour-tv, radio-set, minibar, digital safety deposit box and many other facilities (check the hotel websites for all details).
• Breakfast daily, 9 authentic traditional Abruzzese meals - more like feasts! (including two sea food meals)
• A cooking lessons, wine, cheese, olive oil and gelato tastings throughout the tour
• All touring as described per day-by-day itinerary
• Experienced tour guides and staff will escort the group throughout the tour. Our guides have knowledge of the Abruzzo area, all shopping, cultural sightseeing and dining venues you will be visiting
• All transfers by air-conditioned bus throughout the tour, including transfers from and to Rome's Fiumicino Airport (hotel shuttle service for your departure)
• Paid entrance inclusive to all activities and sites
• Land insurance coverage for health, accident and liability
• Brochures, maps and handouts inclusive for all excursions
• 1 day at leisure (*)

Our September Food and Wine Tour does not include:

• Airfares
• Single room: 250 Euros additional charge
• Meals on the day at leisure and when not expressely mentioned
• Personal transport costs (car rental, taxi, trains etc.), phone calls, hotel laundry service etc.
• Individualized assistance during the day at leisure (*)
• Anything not specified above

Tour Price: