Abruzzo and Umbria Tour May 9 – 18, 2023

• Arrival at the international airport, Roma Fiumicino (FCO), transfer and check-in to a 3-star hotel in Rieti. It takes about 1.5 hours to get from the airport to the hotel
• Lunch at a local seafood restaurant in Rieti, “La Taverna del Capitano”
• Relaxing afternoon in Rieti. Rest, stroll and visit the historic center
• Welcome dinner with chef Gregorio Spinzo at a traditional “trattoria”
• Overnight at the hotel in Rieti

Day 2. May 10th, Wednesday. Relax aka “piano piano” morning; wine tasting; dinner at a tipycal agriturismo

Rieti is a city in Lazio region, central Italy. The town centre stands on a small hilltop, commanding from the southern edge the wide Rieti valley, at the bottom of Sabine mountains and of monti Reatini, including mount Terminillo. San Rufo is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic church located in the town of Rieti, region of Lazio, Italy. The piazza in front of the church is said to be the geographic center of Italy

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Late morning departure to visit “Tenuta Santa Lucia”. The Santa Lucia estate covers 45 hectares which, knowing how to cultivate with knowledge and love for cultivation, have proved to be excellent for the production of different types of wine, high quality wine: Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Cabernet, Alicante, Carignano, Falanghina, Sauvignon, Malvasia
• Tour of the vineyard and return to the “cantina” for wine tasting and lunch
• Afternoon departure to Greccio. Visit San Francesco d’Assisi sanctuary
• Pizza pizza pizza! Pizza dinner at “Cuore di Bufala” in Rieti
• Overnight at the hotel in Rieti

Vineyard

Day 3. May 11th, Thursday. Cantina Chiorri – Assisi

Assisi, a medieval city built on a hill, is the birthplace of Saint Francis, closely associated with the work of the Franciscan Order. Its medieval art masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto, have made Assisi a fundamental reference point for the development of Italian and European art and architecture.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Late morning departure to Cantina Chiorri. Visit the vineyard and the cantina, wine tasting and lunch with traditional delicacies from the area
• Afternoon departure to Assisi. Visit the town, shopping and relax.
• Dinner at a typical restaurant “Le Tre Porte”
• Overnight at the hotel in Rieti

Day 4. May 12th, Friday. Spoleto – Umbria

Spoleto is a city in Umbria. It’s surrounded by hills, olive groves and vineyards. Dating from the 12th century, Spoleto Cathedral has a porticoed facade embellished by a mosaic. Inside is a cycle of frescoes by the medieval artist Filippo Lippi. The National Archaeological Museum complex displays items from the Bronze Age and Roman times. It also includes the restored Roman Theater.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Morning departure to Spoleto
• Open air lunch in Spoleto at an agriturismo. “La Sinfonia”. The term agriturismo covers a large number of different services available in the countryside, from simple affordable farm holidays to stays in old houses or farms converted into luxury villas. Various types of accommodation are on offer, with or without meals provided, in bed and breakfasts, cottages, villas, or apartments.
• Afternoon in Spoleto tour of the town with a private guide
• Return at the hotel
• Dinner at “Centopercento Gusto”
• Overnight at the hotel in Rieti

Cattedrale

Day 5. May 13th, Saturday. Teramo. Hands on pasta and Abruzzese cuisine with grandmother Amelia and her family

Teramo, 150 kilometres from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines (Gran Sasso d’Italia) and the Adriatic coast. The town is located by the confluence of the Vezzola and Tordino rivers, on a hillside area where the terrain features along with the Mediterranean climate make the territory rich in vineyards and olive groves. The economy of the town is mostly based on activities connected with agriculture and commerce, as well as a sound industrial sector: textiles, foods, engineering, building materials and ceramics.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out
• Departure to Teramo. Morning in Teramo, visit some of the churches and cathedrals, walking and shopping at the local stores
• Late lunch at Home-restaurant “Da Susanna”. Hands on tipycal abruzzese cusine with grandmother Amelia.
• Check-in to the hotel “Gran Sasso & SPA”
• Free evening in Teramo
• Dinner open
• Overnight at the hotel in Teramo

Day 6. May 14th, Sunday. Ortona. Saint Thomas celebration and festival.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Morning departure to Ortona, a seaside town
• Visit the town and Saint Thomas church
• Lunch at a local seafood restaurant, “Tapini”
• Afternoon in Ortona
• Return to the hotel
• Dinner at a local restaurant with “arrosticini”, sheep and lamb kebabs, at “Condito”
• Overnight at the hotel in Teramo

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Departure to Vallecastellana
• Lunch with “porcini” mushrooms and local meats, with wines from the area
• Return to the hotel
• Dinner at a local restaurant

• Overnight at the hotel in Teramo

Day 8. May 16th, Tuesday. Rome “The Eternal City”. A day as a Roman with chef Rayn, Gregorio’s friend.

• Late morning departure to Rome

• Check in to the hotel in Rome
• Pizza Bianca with “Porchetta” or “Mortadella” at Mizio’s, a very popular roman street food
• Walk from Colosseo to Piazza Venezia to Pantheon
• “Spritz”, the most popular Italian aperitivo, in Piazza Navona
• Dinner at local restaurant for an authentic “Carbonara”

• Overnight at the hotel in Rome

Day 9. May 17th, Wednesday. Rome

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Free day to explore Rome and all the historical sites. We will give you all recommendations for places to visit and restaurants to have a great romanian lunch
• Lunch open
• Free afternoon for rest, shopping in town and packing
• Dinner at “BENCO’” a calabrian contemporary restaurant
• After-dinner drink at the rooftop “Terrazza Borromini”

• Overnight at the hotel in Rome

Day 10. May 18th, Thursday. Departure – Arrivederci e Grazie! Have a safe trip!

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Departure from the hotel with transfer to the airport FCO