Italian Cooking Vacation in Abruzzo
Abruzzo is an unspoiled, authentic part of Italy situated due east of Rome on the Adriatic coast, and is a perfect spot for an Italian cooking vacation. The region boasts miles of seaside and pristine beaches, medieval villages perched on hilltops and nestled in valleys, and natural wonders in its famous parks. Indeed, a full third of the region is protected parklands full of lush forests, majestic mountains, and charming towns. Your home for our fabulous cooking vacations in Abruzzo is the town of Carunchio, an ancient borgo perched on the top of a hill in southern Abruzzo.
Situated at the top of Carunchio is the recently restored palazzo that will be your home during your Abruzzo cooking holiday. Owner Massimo left a job in corporate America to return to his homeland and provide an authentic and unforgettable culinary vacation for his clients. As a result, Massimo has created a lovely small hotel in the middle of Abruzzo complete with a gourmet restaurant and a charming, separate teaching kitchen for the cooking classes. The result is one of our best Italy food and wine tours.
One of Massimo’s passions is wine, and during your stay in Abruzzo you will enjoy one of the most famous of central Italian wines, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, during vineyard tours and a wine tasting, and will learn how to pair the wines with traditional Abruzzese food.
Abruzzo combines some of the finest of traditional Italian products such as cured prosciutto and salami, sheep’s milk cheese, and homemade pastas, with fresh seasonal produce. You will discover how this has created a regional cuisine that is both simple and full of natural flavors.
The natural landscape of Abruzzo (mountains to coast) means access to both wonderful meats and fresh seafood that you can taste (and cook!) during our cooking vacations in Abruzzo. Your cooking lessons will explore healthy Mediterranean cuisine, homemade pastas and sauces, and mouth-watering desserts.
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Sapori d'Abruzzo Cooking Tour Details
Your amazing Abruzzo cooking tour will take place in a small, authentic Italian village. You will discover the authentic cuisine of Abruzzo on this Italian food and wine tour, including such traditional pastas as pasta alla chitarra, gnocchi, cavatelli, and regional “peasant” dishes that have been made for centuries.
Abruzzo Cooking Vacation Itinerary
Discover our day-by-day itinerary, during which you can experience one of the most authentic cooking vacations in Italy during our Abruzzo culinary tours.
Day One
- Meet the arrivals transfer at 1:00 pm at the Rome airport, then head across the beautiful Central Apennine mountains directly to the Palazzo in Abruzzo where you will be staying.
- In the evening you will attend a multi-course welcome dinner to help you get acquainted and settled in.
Day Two
Day Two- The day starts after breakfast with a visit of the town to get you oriented for the week.
- Next, explore the basic ingredients of Abruzzo cuisine and make some delicious and quick Italian meals, which will be easy to reproduce at home.
- Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the late afternoon visit a local olive oil mill for a visit and tasting.
- Dinner at the palazzo and overnight.
Day Three
- For your second cooking lesson, you will learn a variety of shapes, colors and types pasta—the menu might include everything from pasta all alla chitarra to gnocchi, lasagna, and stuffed pasta. You will be taught the tricks of the trade so your pasta turns out perfect every time.
- Today’s lunch will be based on your cooking efforts.
- After lunch, sample some Abruzzo wine and learn how to pair food with wine with the guidance of your sommelier.
- Free time to relax.
- Dinner at the palazzo and overnight.
Day Four
Day Four- Your day starts off with a trip to the Adriatic Coast. In Vasto you will have the chance to sunbathe, shop, and do a little sightseeing of the coast’s unique trabocco fishing houses.
- Enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the finest restaurants in Vasto. After, enjoy time on your own exploring the town.
- Return to the Palazzo for dinner and overnight.
Day Five
Day Five- Breakfast at the palazzo.
- Today you will learn some recipes of the old world, known locally as “peasant food.” While it used to be the food of the poveri, it is now considered some of the most authentic regional food. For dessert, learn to make the best almond biscotti, with an Abruzzo twist.
- After lunch, time to walk around the town and enjoy the peaceful environment, to take a nice hike on a nearby trail, or (weather permitting) as seasonal activity such as truffle hunting.
- Dinner at the palazzo and overnight.
Day Six
Day Six- Breakfast, followed by an excursion to Agnone, in the region of Molise.
Watch real family production of mozzarella, ricotta cheeses and cacio cavallo. - Afterward, visit an ancient bell foundry, which provides bells to the Vatican city, and learn about the phases of the manufacturing.
- Lunch will be an authentic local street food specialty: a porchetta sandwich.
- Head back to the palazzo for a rest.
- This evening, it is time to learn authentic Italian pizza, made in a wood fired oven.
- Overnight.
Day Seven
- Following an early breakfast, finish any last minute shopping in the town and return transfer to the Rome airport.
Sapori d'Abruzzo Cooking Tour Details
Included in the 6-Night Abruzzo Cooking Vacation Package
Accommodations
6 nights in a beautiful, restored private ‘palazzo.’
Food & Beverages
- All meals included, with local red wine (white wine is avaiable for purchase)
Classes & Instructors
Your four cooking lessons will be led by the wonderful chef of the Palazzo, Dino Paganelli. Dino is a native Abruzzese who graduated from the top cookign school in Abruzzo. He is a wonderful, patient teacher who will lead you on your exploration of Abruzzese cuisine.
Excursions
- Olive oil press
- Adriatic Coast and trabocco fishing houses
- Agnone with cheese producer visit
- Bell foundry
- Shopping
Transfer Details
- Roundtrip group transfers from Rome airport at pre-arranged time, with pickup around 1:00pm.
- Departure transfer from Abruzzo after breakfast, please plan your flight accordingly.
- If the transfer times necessitate an overnight stay in Rome, we would be happy to assist you in making arrangements.
- Transfers are also possible from Pescara (please inquire).
Country:
Italy
Region:
Abruzzo
Tour Dates:
Available every week Sunday to Saturday from April to mid-November. Please review our complete pricing details.
6 Nights
Starting at
$2,750
Accommodation Information
In a small hillside town near the Apennine mountains sits the lovely Palazzo that will be your home. Restored in 2002, the residence features a gourmet restaurant and just six spacious bedrooms with stunning panoramic views of the valley and countryside.
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Pricing & Dates of Cooking Holidays in Abruzzo, Italy
Find pricing and dates for our authentic cooking vacations in Abruzzo below, and contact us to start planning your Italian cooking holiday.
Abruzzo Cooking Vacation Pricing:
April through November
6-night Program
US$2750 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$500 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Tour Dates
Our cooking vacations in Abruzzo are available the following weeks, Sunday to Saturday, April to mid-November. Please inquire for updated availability!
2022
April 3-9
April 10-16
April 17-23
April 24-30
May 1-7
May 8-14
May 15-21
May 22-28
May 29-June 4 (sold out)
June 5-11 (sold out)
June 12-18 (sold out)
June 19-25
June 26-July 2 (sold out)
July 3-9 (sold out)
July 10-16
July 17-23
July 24-30
July 31-August 6
August 7-13
August 14-20
August 21-27
August 28-September 3 (sold out)
September 4-10 (sold out)
September 11-17 (sold out)
September 18-24 (sold out)
September 25-October 1 (sold out)
October 2-8 (sold out)
October 19-15
October 16-22
October 23-29 (sold out)
October 30-November 5
November 6-12
November 13-19
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We Can Help Plan Your Best Cookery Holiday in Abruzzo, Italy!
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FAQ about Cooking Holidays in Abruzzo, Italy
What is Abruzzo traditional cuisine famous for?
Abruzzo cuisine is considered some of the purest of Italian regional cuisines. The region was relatively isolated for centuries due to the largest tracts of unpopulated mountains and park lands resting between it and other regions. This resulted in a unique and well preserved local cuisine that draws on the presence of the sea, mountains, and plains. It is known for its pastas, meats in the interior, and seafood along the coast. It is also known for its full-bodied red wine, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
What to do in the Abruzzo region?
The interior of Abruzzo is full of national parks and nature preserves, making it a wonderful place to hike and explore. The coast has miles of pristine beaches to enjoy, as well as its iconic fishing huts (trabocchi), restaurants, and shops. And there are numerous hilltop towns that date back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
What is Abruzzese pizza?
Abruzzese pizza is a rustic type of tart made with thin pastry and filled with any number of ingredients including cheese, eggs, meats, and vegetables. In the Teramo area, “Easter pizza” is actually a sweet leavened bread.
What is the most popular food in Abruzzo?
One of the most popular foods in Abruzzo is maccheroni alla chitarra, which are long, thing strands of pasta similar to spaghetti, but square in shape instead of round. Lamb is popular, due to the presence of so much pastoral land, including arrosticini, grilled lamb skewers that are served with a simple bruschetta. And of course seafood is popular on the coast, including cozze di Vasto, an appetizer of stuffed mussels.
Country:
Italy
Region:
Abruzzo
Tour Dates:
Available every week Sunday to Saturday from April to mid-November. Please review our complete pricing details.
6 Nights
Starting at
$2,750
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