Activities

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Our experience is built around experiencing different aspects of life in this region of Italy and is meant to serve as an introduction to this part of the country. It’s a way to get a taste of what is available here. Each day is a bit different, seeing a different angle of the life here, but we’ll always remain focused on learning about the variety of sites and flavors of the region. There are not set things to do on set days and we will have plenty to do in the time we are together. I want to work with you though to make sure that we don’t feel either overwhelmed or rushed.

The time we are together is based in Abbateggio with the D’Angelo family. This means we really only need to unpack once. Then all that is left is to enjoy ourselves. This type of accommodation is called an agriturismo and is quite common throughout the country. The products produced on the farm are used in the kitchen. They make their own bread and cheese. They make their own wine. They grow and produce their own olive oil. They raise, butcher, cure, and cook their own meat. They grow a major part of all of their vegetables here and can and preserve them to eat throughout the year. This means they work hard. But it also means they are very proud of their home and are excited to be able to share it with us.

The schedule is designed to serve us.

There will be a schedule of events each day that we can participate in, and they will serve to deepen our awareness, appreciation, and appetite for what we have in front of us for the week.

We have plenty to do in a week. And I want to work with you to make sure that the last things we feel are either overwhelmed or rushed. I have an outline for “themes” for the days we are together. The main point is for us to always have enough time to enjoy what we are doing in any particular moment. Whether we are visiting an ancient hermitage carved out of the side of a mountain, learning how to make cheese, hiking in the hills, or wandering along the seaside. There will always be enough time to stay present and enjoy ourselves.

There will be one “Free Day”, and by this I mean exactly that. There will be no scheduled events that day, but there are many different activities that people may want to take part in. There is an opportunity to go horseback riding in the park or take a rock climbing class. If the weather is particularly nice you may pack some lunches and go hiking or have a picnic. It is up to each of us to follow what we would like. Also you may want to just sleep in and leisurely enjoy the day. Nearby there is a town built atop thermal hot springs where you can spend the day soaking in geothermal heated pools and get spa services at a number of different spas. We will be able to help provide transportation for the day, but the costs of lessons, spa entry and services or other excursions are not included in the price. If you do decide to spend the day at the hotel we will be able to provide your meals, as long as you let us know in advance.

All meals that we eat away from the hotel are at restaurants that exemplify the quality and richness of the regional culture and cuisine. Please let me know of any dietary considerations you may have before we arrive in Italy so that I can address them with our hosts.

Each Morning we have the option to participate in  simple and fun Italian language class over breakfast to learn a few new words and/or phrases relating to the day’s events, but remember, we travel with a translator all the time.

A sample itinerary for a week might look like this:

SATURDAY – Arriviamo (We arrive)

• Meet at the Rome Airport and take a van to Abbateggio
• Stop for lunch and welcome
• Arrive at the hotel in Abbateggio and check in
• Afternoon napping, walking nearby, settling in
• Dinner at the hotel, and meet our hosts: Donatella and Giancarlo

SUNDAY – Dove Siamo? (Where are we?)

• Italian lesson at breakfast (always optional)
• Morning with Donatella, Giancarlo, and their family. Tour of the hotel property.
• A walk in the nearby hills for  natural and cultural history
• Lunch
• Tour of the family’s land
• Afternoon bread / pizza making class at the hotel
• Dinner at the hotel

MONDAY – Di dove viene il cibo? (Where does the food come from?)

• Italian lesson at breakfast (always optional)
• Visit with a local architect restoring traditional earthen homes
• Visit a nearby bio-dynamic farm for a tour and lunch
• Afternoon visit to a small village
• Dinner at a local restaurant in the National Park

TUESDAY – Vini de la Zona (Wine of the region)

• Italian Lessons at breakfast (always optional)
• Trip to a nearby town and visit a winery . Wine tasting.
• Lunch at the home of a local Wine producing family
• Afternoon trip to the Roman city of Chieti and the archaeology museum there
• Dinner back at the hotel

WEDNESDAY – La Maiella (The Majella Park)

• Italian lesson at Breakfast (always optional)
• Visit some of the towns and villages inside the national park
• Picnic lunch in the mountains or Lunch in a village restaurant
• Cooking Course in traditional fresh pasta and sauce at the hotel
• Dinner at the hotel

THURSDAY – Al mare (The sea)

• Italian lesson at Breakfast (always optional)
• Visit some towns and beaches along the coast
• Seafood Lunch at a restaurant along the coast
• Afternoon in Pescara for walking/ exploring/ shopping
• Dinner in Pescara by the sea

FRIDAY – Giorno Libero (Free day)

• Italian lesson at Breakfast (always optional)
• Horseback, Spa, Walking in the Park, Climbing, Shopping etc
• Lunch at Il Portone, if around
• Hiking, Relaxing, etc
• Dinner out somewhere, or at the hotel

SATURDAY – Ciao Abbateggio! (Goodbye Abbateggio)

• Italian lesson at Breakfast (always optional)
• Lunch at Il Portone, say goodbye to Abbateggio
• Go to hotel in Rome. Free evening in Rome…

SUNDAY – Ciao Amici! (Goodbye friends!)

• Leave on morning flight or continue an adventure (up to you!)