Abruzzo in Autumn
Reasons to join us
Small group - maximum of 10 people: Travel off the beaten path: Wander the streets of untouched villages: Experience authentic Abruzzo cuisine: Join a cooking class to learn traditional recipes: Seafood lunch on a traditional Trabbocco: Remote hermitages
Departs:
Roma Termini Train Station
Duration
10 nights, 11 days
Inclusions
Fully escorted tour with Antonio and Fiona - English speaking tour leaders and local interpreters - travelling in a private air-conditioned mini-bus with charming and well appointed accommodations. The tour includes all meals with table wine and soft drinks, all entry fees and additional activity costs as described in the itinerary.
Please advise us of any dietary requirements as we can cater for vegetarian and gluten free.
Please note: vegans will have difficulty in Abruzzo
Exclusions
Air fares, travel insurance, food and beverage outside of meal times unless stated in the itinerary, additional beverages other than what is provided, personal purchases, other activities not listed in the itinerary and personal travel costs.
What to Expect
Our tours cater to those who have an endless curiosity for the world, have most likely been to the major cities and seen a fair share of castles, cathedrals and museums. We aim to show you Abruzzo - not sanitised, not sophisticated, but raw and beautiful.
It's a land of Romans, Samnites and Vestini; It is rugged with mountain ranges and filled with natural beauty; It is challenging for transport and the roads are narrow and winding in many places; It is traditional and without pretense - hilltop towns really are on hilltops and come with all the stairs and cheek-by-jowl housing that you imagine; It is a land that has been invaded and conquered many times and the vestiges of past invasions persist with abundant castles and watchtowers, abbeys and hermitages, medieval towns and cities.
You will see Abruzzo's natural beauty, climb to some extraordinary sites and wonder at the ability to build these edifices in the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries; You will visit small towns that still support local communities and see not only how they used to live, but how they adapt to modern living in ancient buildings; You will eat incredible food and you will fall in love with Abruzzo
Find our 2026 pricing here
Abruzzo in Autumn Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
We collect you from Roma Termini train station at 11am. Then we travel away from the metropolis to the beautiful town of Sulmona - home of Ovid and our base for the next 4 days. We stop for lunch on the trip and arrive in Sulmona around 2pm. The afternoon is yours to unpack and wander the beautiful town before we meet up at 5pm for aperitivo and follow this with a welcome dinner.
A big day in the itinerary, we travel north to see some extraordinary limestone caves, have lunch in a medieval town with genuine Abruzzo cuisine before we climb to one of the most spectacular castles in Abruzzo - it's well worth the effort as the views are breathtaking.
We return to Sulmona in the evening and come together for dinner
Today is all about Sulmona. We start at the local markets before taking a walking tour of this ancient town, exploring the art, alleys, confetti and coffee houses. We pause for lunch at a Sulmona institution and proceed to the Pelino factory to see the famous 'confetti' being made and some of the incredibly artistic creations it is used for.
Dinner tonight is in a restaurant that takes Abruzzo traditional cuisine and brings it into the 21st century
We start the day with a visit to a local apiary with Alex. The honey in this region is driven by the forests and the chestnut honey is a life-changing experience.
We drive onwards through the Gol di Sagittario to the picturesque town of Scanno - where we have several hours to explore the town, the liquorice and jewellery shops and walk the forested hills. We will lunch at a local café before heading to a local house for a traditional dessert cooking class. Dinner tonight will be a Michelin starred restaurant.
We farewell Sulmona and head south into the small region of Molise. We start with a cheese making class using raw milk then head to an astounding archaeological site with theatre, temples, stores and more. Lunch in a local trattoria before we head back to the main town for an afternoon walk and a visit to the bell foundry which has been operating for 1000 years on the same site.
We drive to new accommodation this evening and dinner will be very casual as we expect some tired teddies in the group
This morning is coastal - we head first to Lanciano for a morning stroll and light breakfast before arriving at the coast for a seafood lunch on a traditional trabbocco. Afterwards we'll head to the elegant town of Ortona to view the remains of the Spanish castle, walk the seaside promenade, partake in a gelato perhaps and linger as the sun sets.
Today we don't travel too far. We start the day in Guardiagrele - a hilltop town with a beautiful old centre, home to ceramicists and metalsmiths for centuries. We will visit the museum of traditional artisans but otherwise the town is yours to explore at leisure. We will drive along the mountain side that gives extraordinary views to the coast and reveals surprising towns before a relaxed lunch. Afterwards we will visit a small monastery with a remarkable entry path before witnessing the waters pouring from the mountains that feed the coastal plains, but importantly some of the best pasta makers in the region. Dinner is nearby with an enthusiastic chef who cooks only what is available in season and on the day.
We will climb to a hill top castle today which sits above a cute village before we visit a local Pepperoncini farm and 'frantoio' (oil mill) - the area is know for sweet chillies that are used in a multitude of products.
Lunch today is in Valeria's house with views to the Maiella Mountains and Antonio in the kitchen. Later we will head to Tornareccio to view the incredible mosaics of the village. After a long lunch, this evening's meal will be light and simple.
It's a food day! We start with a cooking class with Stefania in her home to discover the traditional pasta of Abruzzo - chittara - as well as a sheep's cheese ravioli. We will cook and eat our lunch and take plenty of ideas away.
After a stroll along the waters edge we head inland to a small craft brewery and frantoio. Here we will be tasting beers and olive oil (but not together).
Finally we will visit the Castello Ducale in Casoli - a beautiful small town to wander the streets and maybe find a cooling aperitivo. Dinner will be at a typical locanda very popular with locals.
Today we head north to the hermitage of Santo Spirito Maiella - one of the extraordinary hermitages built into the sheer rock walls of the valleys around here. We will have a guided tour which includes some exclusive parts of the hermitage.
Afterwards we will need refreshment in Roccamorice with a lovely lunch planned and a chance to taste some local liqueurs made from gentian or alternatively some craft beers.
After a leisurely lunch we will head further into the mountains to a 9th Century Abbey surrounded by magical countryside and a gentle walk to the source of the Alento River.
Our final day. We take time for a relaxed breakfast together and then return to Roma Termini around 1pm