Grand Tour of Abruzzo
Starting at € 4.312,50 per person
7 Days, Private Journey: Grand Tour of Abruzzo
Visit and discover Santo Stefano in Sessanio, Campo Imperatore, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Rocca Calascio, Navelli, Sulmona, Anversa degli Abruzzi, Rocca Scalegna, Pescocostanzo
Abruzzo, is a region a world away from modern Italy. One of the lesser known and unexplored regional destinations Abruzzo has it all.
This includes massive mountain ranges, stunning lakes, the Adriatic coastline, UNESCO heritage sites, three national parks, some of the most beautiful and fascinating medieval Italian towns and last but not least an eclectic and varied cuisine that changes from the mountains to the coast. With no crowds and easy access from Rome, Abruzzo has something for everyone, from the adventure and sports traveler to the history buffs, from the food and wine aficionados to beach lovers.
Itinerary at a Glance
- DAY 1 ARRIVAL ROME FIUMICINO AND TRANSFER TO SANTO STEFANO IN SESSANIO
- DAY 2 DISCOVER SANTO STEFANO, CAMPO IMPERATORE CASTELVECCHIO CALVISIO AND ROCCA CALASCIO
- DAY 3 EXPLORE NAVELLI AND VISIT A SAFFRON PRODUCER
- DAY 4 GUIDED TOUR OF SULMONA AND VISIT OF A RENOWNED LOCAL WINERY
- DAY 5 WALK WITH THE SHEPHERDS AND GOLE DEL SAGITTARIO NATURAL PARK
- DAY 6 DISCOVER ROCCASCALEGNA CASTLE AND ENJOY LUNCH ON A TRABOCCO
- DAY 7 EXPLORE THE LOVELY TOWN OF PESCOCOSTANZO AND VISIT THE WOLF RESERVE
- DAY 8 DEPART ROMA FIUMICINO
INCLUDED WITH EVERY LUXURY TAILOR MADE JOURNEY
- Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
- Full Breakfast Daily Included
- Multilingual Local Guide
- Hand-Selected Luxury Accommodations
- 24/7 On-Call Support
The starting price is for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 4-star or Luxury B&B accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates. Supplements may apply over holiday periods, festivals and special events. International air not included.
Grand Tour of Abruzzo | FULL ITINERARY
1
Arrival at Rome International airport and private transfer to your accommodation in Santo Stefano Sessanio, a medieval village in the Gran Sasso Mountains. Here you will be staying in a unique “scattered hotel”. Check into your accommodation and rest of the day at your leisure for resting and relaxing.
2
This morning wander the cobbled alleyways of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and visit the stores to meet the local artisans and have a look at their amazing crafts and food produced in the area like honey, farro and lentils.
Around 11.30 pm you wil head to the alpine meadow of Campo Imperatore known as “Italy’s Little Tibet”. Here you will enjoy an alfresco lunch. Next continue to Castelvecchio Calvisio, an ancient fortified village that still preserves a very special atmosphere. Your next stop is Calascio. From here we will take a walk up to the nearby impressive Fortress of Rocca Calascio, the highest fort in Italy.
Late afternoon return to your accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
Late afternoon return to your accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
3
Following breakfast your driver will take you to Navelli, a charming and elegant little town that lends its name to the entire plateau. Navelli is famous for the production of some of the finest zafferano (saffron) in the world.
You will explore this lovely village before visiting a local saffron producer who will guide you through the secrets of mastering this fantastic spice from its beautiful and delicate blossom to dressing a delicious Risotto Milanese.
Next in a local restaurant you will attend a Saffron Masterclass and enjoy a delicious saffron lunch.
In the afternoon you will visit an ancient restored olive oil mill and have the chance to taste a spicy, delicious extra – virgin oilve oil.
Late afternoon return to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, dinner and overnight stay.
4
Following breakfast and check out your driver will take you to Sulmona, a fascinating town full of history and art, located in the stunning peaks of the Majella National Park in Abruzzo.
With your guide explore this charming little town and admire its several squares, churches and palaces of historical significance. Sulmona is also famous across all of Italy and beyond for the production of the country’s finest sugared almonds, known in Italian as “confetti”.
Lunch in a local trattoria. Next continue to one of the most prestigious wineries of Abruzzo. After a walk through the vineyards you will taste the superb wines produced at the Estate. At the end of the visit your driver will take you to your accommodation in Castel di Sangro.
5
Following breakfast and check out your driver will meet at your hotel and take you to Anversa degli Abruzzi, at the doorstep to the National Park of Abruzzo where you will accompany the shepherds into the national park to pasture their sheep and enjoy the dazzling views of the mountains all around. Lunch in a local trattoria.
After lunch you will visit the Natural of Le Gole di Sagittario inside the Abruzzo National Park. Along the way you will stop at the hermitage of Sant Domenico, situated on the extraordinarily green Lake of Sant Domenico. Return to your accommodation in Castel di Sangro, dinner and overnight stay.
6
Following breakfast your private driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Roccascalegna. Accompanied by a private guide discover this extraordinary fortress perched on the edge of a massive basalt cliff. Next you will head to Costa dei Trabocchi (Trabocchi Coast) and enjoy lunch on a trabocco, a traditional fishing machine which sit out over the water. After lunch you will visit the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, perched up high overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Late afternoon return to your accommodation in Castel di Sangro. Dinner and overnight stay.
7
Following breakfast and check out your driver will take you to one of the most charming villages in Abruzzo, Pescocostanzo, bestowed with the title of “I Borghi Piu Belli d’Italia” and home to various Renaissance and Baroque monuments. Lunch in a local restaurant.
This afternoon, accompanied by an enviromental tour guide, you will visit a reserve nearby, where we will have the chance to admire the Apennine Mountain Wolves, who live there.
Next continue to Fiumicino and check into your accommodation.
8
Following breakfast and check out transfer to Rome International airport by the hotel shuttle.
