Abruzzo Cookery&Foodie Experience

Luxury Edition

November - April

DAY ONE – Sunday

Rome  – Celano – Cheese Making - Villa Danilo

• 10:30/11:00am: Meet in Rome, either at Rome FCO Airport with Host or Rome centre in front of the Atlantico Hotel on Via Cavour (near Termini Station)
• Our journey of discovery starts with a very scenic drive along the Autostrada dei Parchi as we head into the Abruzzo region along the most beautiful Autostrada in Italy through the Gran Sasso mountain Range
• Our first stop will be in the fascinating medieval town of Celano, dominated by its dramatically impressive Castello Piccolomini, a former Fortress the foundations of which date back to the XII century
• Typical lunch in the shade of the Castello at Madonne delle Vigne hosted by Mamma Luisa and Chef Sandro, as we talk about the intriguing history of this town that spans centuries and includes Roman Emperors and Popes enjoying glasses of Prosecco, Montepulciano and Trebbiano
• After lunch, we set off towards a nearby small cheese factory in the heart of the National Parks to peek on the fresh production of local Pecorino and Ricotta with a chance to make our own fresh cheese or mozzarella  with our good hosts
• Then it will be time to reach the lovely Hotel Villa Danilo in Gamberale, in the Maiella National Park
• Welcome drink, presentation of staff and introduction to your Abruzzo Cookery & Foodie MasterExperience with Gino, Pasquale, the Nonna  and the Chefs
• Exquisite dinner at Villa Danilo followed by a good night’s rest

DAY TWO – Monday

Pasta & Sauces Cookery lesson - Olive Oil & Wine Tasting - Exclusive Dinner

• After breakfast, it will be…sleeves up for a morning hands-on cooking Masterclass at Villa Danilo with Mamma Annina and Chef  to disclose the secrets of fresh pasta, lasagna, tomato sauces and the very best of fine Abruzzese and Italian cuisine.
• We will  also indulge in the preparation of typical desserts like pizzelle!
• Lunch to sample the fruits of our labour sipping glasses of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

• 17:00: After lunch and in the most leisurely fashion we will head towards the nearby town of Bucchianico for an olive oil tasting experience at lovely Francesca’s passionately restored 17^th century olive mill
• Just before dinner, an Italian Aperitivo in Piazza with the locals
• A short stroll down Bucchianico’s narrow alleyways and we are all in for a treat as

dinner nearby will also be an indulging wine experience!

• Our sommelier Claudio will open his exclusive cantina for a wine-tasting aperitif and gala dinner with a delicious selection of local specialties!

• Return to Villa Danilo for a good night’s rest after a busy day!

DAY THREE – Tuesday

Authentic Truffle Hunt - Vegetarian class at “Il Mulino” Agriturismo

• 10:00am: This morning, an authentic truffle hunt in the woods with our local truffle hunter Primiano along with his precious truffle gold diggers “Ruby” and “Miss”
• Our destination will be our host’s most secret spots in Abruzzo to unbury the precious underground delicacy… let’s cross fingers for good luck!
• Lunch will be back at our hotel with Risotto al tartufo…we’ll hopefully have our own fresh truffles!
• Later this afternoon we set off to reach a special venue, our XV Century Watermill venue “Il Mulino” in the hilltop village of Roio Del Sangro, where our hosts Chef Mirella, Chef Alessia and Pino will entertain us in a hands-on veggie cookery session
• Our lesson will cover the preparation of vegetarian specialities using the best local produce, wild greens & leaves, mushrooms and truffles
• Dinner to follow and return to Villa Danilo

DAY FOUR – Wednesday

Sulmona - Market – Wine Tasting – Pizza Masterclass

• After breakfast, we head toward the classically beautiful Roman town of Sulmona, world renowned for being the birthplace of Ovid, the Latin Poet of Love and for its confetti
• A leisurely stroll through this historical village to visit its shops and its market in Sulmona’s busy Piazza Garibaldi towered by the historical Roman Aqueduct
• Lunch will be at the beautiful Valle Reale Winery in Popoli, where our lovely hosts will introduce us to some of the most exclusive organic Abruzzo wines in stunning surroundings!
• A walk through the vineyards before sitting for lunch accompanied by highly selected wines knowledgably introduced and described by our hosts
• Return to Villa Danilo
• 6:30pm: Evening  pizza making class...ready to spin and bake in a proper wood-burning oven for dinner??

DAY FIVE – Thursday

Costa dei Trabocchi Discovery & Fish MasterClass - Rome

• After breakfast, time to say goodbye to our Hosts at Villa Danilo as we take on a lovely drive along the beautiful Costa dei Trabocchi to the beautiful town of Fossacesia and its XII century Abbey of S. Giovanni in Venere overlooking the stunning Golfo di Venere and the oldest olive tree in Abruzzo

• Today’s cooking class will be unique: our hosts will guide us through the preparation of fine, yet simple, fish dishes…a tantalizing gastronomic experience with Master Chef Mirko
• Time permitting, we will visit more of the Costa dei Trabocchi as we head towards the coastal town of Ortona, a famous port village dating back to the Roman Empire
• Home to Francesco Paolo Tosti, the Italian Composer who became Singing Master to the British Royal Family in 1880, Ortona features the Passeggiata Orientale, a lovely elevated stroll coasting the Adriatic Sea culminating with Ortona’s monumental military bastion, the Renaissance Aragonese Castle

• After a leisurely visit, transfer to Rome….arrivederci Abruzzo!!

FULL ITINERARY & PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: