Celebration through the ages

Tour programme

May 18 - 24, 2021

This is a trip for those who like the idea of ​​combining the exploration of Abruzzo with some of the most important holidays in the region. In small towns of Abruzzo, you can accidentally come across holidays with deep historical roots. It is surprising that these holidays are not commercialized for tourists, rather they are celebrated by the townspeople to preserve the memory of historical events. The inhabitants of nearby towns often join the locals in celebrating these holidays. As it is almost impossible  for a traveler from another country to find information about these holidays, we would be happy to share our knowledge about them with you.  

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Day 1 Immersion

You come to Torre dell’Angelo, where you immediately immerse yourself in the atmosphere of rural life. You can use this day to ‘switch gears’ to resting, start enjoying the beauty of the surrounding nature and tune in to your journey.

Day 2 Celebration through the ages

After breakfast, we will follow our guide on a walk around a small hill-top town Guardiagrelle – historically known for its blacksmithing – where we will visit a blacksmith workshop and a few city sights. We will also look into a local Pasticeria and taste the unique dolce which is only made in this town. We will then continue our journey into a nearby located medieval castle, where we can enjoy the sight of a castle church, then descend into the castle basements in order to try local wines in one of the oldest wine cantines in the area.

After lunch we will move to a close-by medieval town Buchianico to become participants of an annual holiday, called “Festa dei banderesi” that traces its roots back to the events of the 14th century. The celebratory cortège dressed in medieval costumes and women, adorned with hundreds of thousands of flowers, will become the scenery of our dinner on the streets of the festive town.

Day 3 Costa dei Trabocchi

After breakfast, we will begin our journey south, along the Adriatic Sea, to the unique Costa dei Trabocchi. We will visit a medieval monastery built in an amazing location, which the ancient Romans chose for their temple. If we get lucky, we might even hear the holy music under the arches of the ancient church.

Then, after a walk around a small town that was inaccessible to the invaders in the middle ages, we will explore a Traboccho and even taste the seafood delicacies during lunch there. After a truly Italian lunch we will walk around the medieval fortress, located on a picturesque cliff and then return to our rural home in order to enjoy the sunset behind the peaks of Gran Sasso.

Day 4 Culinary experience and Volto Santo

We will start the day in a hospitable rural house overlooking Maiela, where the hostess will teach us to cook the traditional Abruzzese pasta using antique tools. After lunch, we will see one of the most important relics of the Christian world, Volto Santo. 

Then we will continue our walk along the creek in order to admire the temple hidden in the mountains, the first version of which was built in the time of Charlemagne. Nearby we will visit a wine cantina where we will try eco-wine and find out how it is produced.

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Day 5 Town of the Holly Angel

After breakfast, we will take a walk through the narrow streets of a medieval town which bears the name of “Holy Angel”. This is the same town, the outlines of which we can observe daily from Torre dell’Angelo. The town was placed 6th in the Forbes list of cities that are best suited for retirement. We will then have a tasting of wines and local produce at a nearby winery.

A guided tour of the cantina will reveal to us how these wines are made. After a walk through the vineyards, we will move to another small town, which, for one week every year, goes back to the medieval times. In the evening, we will have a dinner on the terrace, where our friends will introduce you to the traditional costumes, songs and dances of this area.

Day 6 Ceramics and a shepherd’s land

We will spend the morning in a small mountain village, where almost every family has been making ceramics for several centuries. We will visit the church, which has been a source of inspiration for these masters throughout all that time. Afterwards, we will visit one of the oldest ceramic workshops in the village. After lunch in a small village restaurant, we will travel to the Campo Imperatore for a short walk.

We will explore Abruzzo from a bird’s eye view, while being on the ruins of a medieval fortress, which served as the set of several movies. Dinner will be waiting for us in our rural home.

Day 7 Farewell and departure

Trip’s price is 1690 euro, single supplement is 580 euro.

The price is per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement is for those who are traveling alone and/or have a room to yourself.

What’s included:

  • Torre dell’Angelo stay for 7 days and 6 nights
  • All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Visitation fee for all historical attractions, cultural and musical events, holiday’s celebrations, tastings and workshops
  • All ground transportation during the trip
  • All guides

Book your tour, choose your own dates if the group is more than 6 people: