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Overview

Explore Authentic Italy from the Mountains to the Sea with Molise Culinary Tours

View of the farm and farmhouse in Molise that will be your home for your culinary vacation in Italy.Molise is located on the mid-southeastern coast of Italy. It is one of the country’s smallest and least-known regions, to the point that there is a running joke in Italy (and among the Molisani) that “Molise non esiste” (Molise doesn’t exist). This quirky obscurity makes it one of the coolest destinations for a cooking vacation in Italy. A green, largely mountainous paradise, it is an agricultural region, and a key producer of wine, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy. It is also a key player in food production, with pasta, dairy, oil, and cured meat products widely produced in the area, and a coastal region strong in fishing.

One of the many mountainside villages to be found and explored in Molise, Italy, during a culinary vacation with The International Kitchen.Discover stunningly-perched mountain villages on a culinary vacation in Italy, as well as the picturesque, ages-old “tratturi,” the drover trails formed over centuries by pastoral farmers during the season migrations of their flocks. Visit the ancient ruins of the Samnite peoples, ancient inhabitants of Molise, as well as the local craftspeople who for centuries have worked their trade in the region creating, most famously, folding knives, bells, and even bagpipes!

Cured meats, cheeses, and herbs are some of the staples of “la cucina Molisana” of the interior, and fish and seafood dishes of that along the coast. You will explore all of these Molise region traditional foods during your hands-on cooking lessons and foodie tours that are part of your culinary vacation in Italy. (Learn more about the food & wine of Molise.)

Your hosts for your culinary vacation in Italy.Whether you are learning about the ancient grains grown on the farm, tasting the region’s scrumptious slow-cooked pork dish (pampanella), or sitting down with your hosts for a glass of wine, this is an Italian culinary vacation that will satisfy your tastebuds and create memories to last a lifetime!

From your excursions to see local villages, amazing natural beauty, and suggestive archeological sites, to your hands-on cooking classes exploring regional recipes handed down for generations, you will get an intimate introduction to this beautiful land.

Learn more about the region of Molise.


Molise Food and Wine Tour Details

This farm-to-table culinary tour in Italy is an amazing environment for a cooking vacation in order to be able to share their culture: both the Molisani food culture as well as their ancient, proud traditions.

Your cooking vacation in Molise will be an authentic experience, with accommodations at a lovely family-run farm surrounded by orchards and fields.

 

Itinerary

Sunflowers growing on the farm in Molise that will be your home for your culinary vacation in Italy.Explore a day-by-day itinerary and experience one of the most authentic regions of Italy during a culinary vacation in Molise. A sample itinerary follows, but the activities are subject to change according to the season.

Day One

  • Transfer from Pescara, Rome, or Naples to your home for your cooking vacation in the Molise countryside. (Transfer not included, to be quoted separately depending on the arrival city and number of people; or you may choose to arrive on your own with a rental car) .
  • Your accommodation is a charming family run farmhouse, surrounded by fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, and fields. The farmhouse today welcomes those who want to rediscover nature and an authentic way of enjoying life and food, thanks to its renovated spaces and the products of the farm. Your hosts, brother and sister Salvatore and Marina, will welcome you to their family farm with a welcome dinner with local wine.
  • Overnight.

Visiting the stunning mountainside village of Bagnoli del Trigno in Molise during a cooking vacation with The International Kitchen.Day Two

  • After breakfast with local products, your day will start with an unforgettable excursion to the village of village of Bagnoli del Trigno, located close to a rocky massif that stands out between the Trigno river and the Vella torrent. The village is divided into two areas, “Terra di sotto” and “Terra di sopra.” Bagnoli del Trigno is known locally as “La Preta” and is one of the most picturesque towns in Molise. The village is also called the “Pearl of Molise,” because the town winds around a steep rock on which lies an ancient castle.
  • Later continue on with your driver and guide to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Canneto, a majestic complex located in the midst of Molise’s uncontaminated countryside; and then it is on to the Theater of Pietrabbondantre, which is considered the most important cultural site of the cult of the ancient Samnite people who lived in Molise long ago.Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Canneto in Molise, Italy.
  • Next stop will be the small village of Agnone, famous for the Bell Museum. Here you will enjoy a delicious local lunch based on truffle recipes.
  • After lunch the last stop will be in the beautiful unearthed city of Altilia Sepino , a well-preserved Roman town.
  • Return back to your accommodation to enjoy your dinner with typical recipes of this beautiful region.
  • Overnight at the farmhouse.

Delicious homemade cavatelli pasta with a meat ragu, made during your authentic culinary vacation in Italy.Day Three

  • After breakfast, meet your host and get ready to discover the world of the ancient grains. You will learn everything about wheat, pasta, and bread, followed by a hands-on cooking class featuring the preparation of fresh pasta and bread. During some months of the year, you will also have the chance to see the combines in action or the sowing of grains in the fields.
  • Lunch based on your efforts will follow with wine.
  • In the afternoon, join your host for a tasting class on extra virgin olive oil. This activity will take place at the farmhouse and in its olive groves, as well during a visit of some local producers and a local olive mill. Of course tastings of different kind of olive oil with bread will follow (known as the “fettunta”!).
  • Dinner at the farm with local products.
  • Overnight.

Biking the countryside during your culinary vacation in Italy.Day Four

  • After your delicious breakfast, meet your host Salvatore and get ready to discover the countryside by E.bike! The easily passable path is about 28 km and last about 2 to 3 hours. Your e-biking tour will be on paved and gravel roads with no traffic, through the countryside, gentle hills, and along lakes. Have a picnic lunch in a very beautiful setting. (We can also substitute a half day of horse back riding, or a cooking class with a local housewife to create a full Molisan menu.)
  • In the afternoon travel with your driver and guide to the village of Larino, one of the most important tourist resorts in Molise. In the past it was an important Roman town, and it was during that time that the ruins of the amphitheater and the villas with their splendid mosaic floors were constructed. In the center of the village you will visit the beautiful, medieval ducal palace, as well as the cathedral dedicated to San Pardo and the Assunta.
  • An image of the paper flowers ready for a local festival in MoliseNext, take part in another local activity of Larino, the “Paper flowers” and “papier-mâché” workshops, which are used to decorate oxen and cows during certain festivals, such as the festa di San Pardo (May 25-27 each year), in which the citizens of Larino have a parade of floats decorated with colorful paper flowers drawn by cows and oxen.
  • Return back to the farm, dinner and overnight.

Seascape of the Tremiti islands along the eastern coast of Italy.Day Five

  • After breakfast, private transfer to San Salvo port on the Adriatic sea, where you will get ready for a boat excursion to the Isole Tremiti.
  • Known as the “Adriatic Pearls,” the Tremiti islands represent one of the most beautiful marine reserves of the entire Mediterranean, and includes the coastal area around the islands of San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia and Pianosa. We will propose a day of sea, sun, and relaxation, or you may choose to explore the seabed of this beautiful marine reserve. You will discover the picturesque coves where you can dive into the blue of the Adriatic, and you will enjoy a great fish-based lunch cooked by your Captain, including a toast with fresh sparkling wine in the middle of the Adriatic sea!An ancient vaulted way on San Nicola Island, part of the Tremiti Islands in Italy.
    (If the season or the weather does not permit the boat excursion, we will propose an alternative tour: perhaps a visit of local wine producers to taste the “Tintilia of Molise” and a class on the “red gold” of Molise (the tomato); or a “day as a shepherd” excursion walking along the ancient “traturri,” the shepherd’s paths that have been created over centuries of use and now bisect the land in a picturesque network.)
  • Return back to your accommodation in late afternoon for your dinner with your hosts.
  • Overnight.

An Italian village in the hills of the Molise region.Day Six

  • After breakfast, once again meet your host Salvatore and transfer to the Paladino cheese farm to learn about (and prepare) Molise’s so-called “wearable cheese” (la treccia di Santa Croce di Magliano). Local women rediscovered and protected this typical regional product, which is unlike anything you’ve experienced! You will have the opportunity to taste the cheese during a light lunch of local products.
  • After lunch your next stop will be the medieval village of Bonefro, which was created around a monastery on a hill below Monte Rucolo and near the Gola del Varco, a stream that joins Fortore shortly after the town. This is a territory with unspoiled nature and a stunning view characterized by the powerful image of the castle and the church of Santa Maria delle Rose.
  • A hay bale in a field in the region of Molise, Italy, as experienced during an authentic cooking vacation with The International Kitchen.One last highlight of the day will be a stop in the town of San Martino in Pensils to taste “Pampanella”! Pampanella is a slow-cooked pork dish that is completely covered in a mixture of sweet and hot ground red pepper, garlic, sea salt, and splashed at the end of the cooking process with a touch of white wine vinegar to perk up the flavors. It is a simple and sublime local product that you can’t find anywhere else. You can eat it as a main course, on a sandwich, add slices of it to an antipasto spread, or even add some of the chopped meat to a ravioli filling . Spice and pork lovers rejoice!
  • Return back to the farm, farewell dinner with your hosts and overnight.

Sheep grazing during a farm-to-table experience in Italy with The International Kitchen.Day Seven

  • Breakfast and check out. Transfer back to Pescara, Rome, or Naples. (Transfer not included, to be quoted separately depending on the departure city and number of people; or you may choose to depart on your own with a rental car) .

Trip Details

Included in the 6-Night Mountain Cooking Vacations in Molise

Accommodations

6 nights at a renovated farmhouse B&B in Molise

Food & Beverages

  • Daily breakfast
  • 5 lunches
  • 6 dinners

Classes & Instructors

Depending on the season, your culinary vacation in Molise will include one or two cooking classes at the farm. One cooking class will focus on the farm’s ancient grains and include hands-on preparation of fresh pasta and bread. Depending on the season, another class might feature the preparation of a full menu with a local housewife. 

Excursions

  • Visit of Bagnoli del Trigno, including the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Canneto and the Theater of Pietrabbondantre
  • Visit of Agnone and the Bell Museum
  • Visit of the Roman town Altilia Sepino
  • Visit of the olive groves and mill with olive oil tasting
  • E-bike excursion through the countryside
  • Visit of Larino, including workshop on making the famed paper flowers of Larino
  • Boat excursion to the Tremiti Islands
  • Visit of local cheese farm
  • Visit of the medieval villages of Bonefro and San Martino in Pensils

Other possible excursions, depending on season, weather, and the interests of the travelers: half-day horse riding; visit of local wine producers with tasting; class focussed on the “red gold” of Molise (tomatoes); a “day as a shepherd” exploring the traturri (the ancient shepherd paths that bisect the countryside).

Transfer Details

Transfers not included, but can be arranged as follows:

  • from Pescara airport or train station – starting at 230 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Rome – starting at 450 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Naples – starting at 380 Euros each way for 2-4 people

Additionally, if you would like to arrive/depart on your own with a rental car, we can help make those arrangements.

Miscellaneous

  • Entrance fees
  • Driver & English-speaking guide for all excursions

Not Included

  • Transfers (quoted separately)
  • Gratuities

Accommodation Information

Your accommodations are at a family-owned farmhouse surrounded by orchards, vegetable gardens, and views over the valley. The farmhouse’s 8 bedrooms are inspired by the traditions of Molise, and have been recently redone in a style that mixes creativity and comfort. Rooms feature en suite baths, flat screen TVs, mini-fridge, and air conditioning. 

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Molise Culinary Tour Pricing & Dates

Want a slice of authentic Italian life? Explore Molise cooking vacation packages and tour dates.



Molise Foodie Tour Sample* Low Season Pricing:
March through June, September through November

for a minimum of 4 people

6-night Program

US$4135 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$300 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

*Pricing can depend on specific dates booked. Please inquire with specific dates for detailed pricing.

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Final payment due 60 days prior.

Please inquire for discount for groups. 

Cost of transfers not included, can be arranged as follows: 

  • from Pescara airport or train station – starting at 280 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Rome – starting at 520 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Naples – starting at 430 Euros each way for 2-4 people

Additionally, if you would like to arrive/depart on your own with a rental car, we can help make those arrangements.

Molise Foodie Tour Sample* High Season Pricing:
July & August

for a minimum of 4 people

6-night Program

US$4315 per person based on double occupancy

  • Add US$360 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)

*Pricing can depend on specific dates booked. Please inquire with specific dates for detailed pricing.

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Final payment due 60 days prior.

Please inquire for discount for groups.

Cost of transfers not included, can be arranged as follows:

  • from Pescara airport or train station – starting at 280 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Rome – starting at 520 Euros each way for 2-4 people
  • from Naples – starting at 430 Euros each way for 2-4 people

Additionally, if you would like to arrive/depart on your own with a rental car, we can help make those arrangements.


Molise Food & Wine Tour Dates

Our authentic Molise culinary vacation in Italy is available March through November for a minimum of 4 people.  Please inquire with specific dates!

2024
Available March through November. Please inquire for dates.

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We Can Help Plan The Best Culinary Vacations in Molise

Exploring Molise on an authentic culinary vacation in Italy.
Discover the small, intimate region of Molise while staying at a working farm surrounded by nature and welcomed by your warm hosts. Learn about regional dishes and products, explore the stunning countryside, and visit the small perched villages of Molise. Contact us to learn more about Molise authentic culinary tours. Contact us for more information, or you can indicate your interest during check out and we will follow up with you directly! Contact Us
 

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FAQ

What is famous Molise food?

Molise is known for delicious pasta dishes. Try cavatelli with broccoli and chili and fusilli with lamb ragù  – these are must-try Molisani classics.

 

Is Molise a part of Abruzzo?

Molise and Abruzzo used to be a single region (called Abruzzi e Molise), that’s why the cuisine and the culture of the two regions are similar. Molise was established as a separate entity only in 1963.