Tour in Abruzzo
Villages of Abruzzo and the Gran Sasso D’Italia (4 days)
Day 1: Chieti National Archaeological Museum
Departure early in the morning. Free lunch along the way. Meeting with the guide for the visit of Chieti, a city of ancient origins located in a panoramic position over the Val Pescara. The baroque cathedral dedicated to San Giustino is splendid, while the historic city centre is the harmonious result of Renaissance and eighteenth-century buildings. Entrance to the National Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo Villa Frigerj which houses the most important archaeological collection in Abruzzo that documents the culture of ancient Abruzzo from proto-history to the late imperial age. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: L’Aquila
Breakfast. Meeting with the guide and day dedicated to visiting the city of L’Aquila, founded at the push of Frederick II of Swabia and for a long time the capital of the Abruzzi and the scene of important historical events. Rich in splendid works of art ranging from the mid-thirteenth century to the Baroque age, among the most beautiful monuments the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio where Pietro dal Morrone became Pope Celestino V in the summer of 1294 and where his body today preserved and venerated, the Basilica of San Bernardino da Siena, the Fountain of the 99 Spouts – the symbol of the medieval city, the Spanish Castle of the sixteenth century, the splendid Piazza del Duomo. Free lunch. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Penne – Atri – City Sant’Angelo
Breakfast and transfer to Penne for the guided tour. Pinna Vestinorum was the name assigned to the place by the Roman conquerors. In addition to its rich historic centre, Penne preserves the productive vocation of the territory centred on the cultivation of cereals, olive trees and vines with excellent and renowned DOC products. Transfer to Atri and free lunch. In the afternoon guided tour of the Renaissance city, rich in works of art: the Cathedral of the Assumption which preserves a splendid Renaissance pictorial cycle, Palazzo Acquaviva which was the home of the Dukes who ruled Atri from the 13th to the 18th century, the Municipal Theater, the church of the Augustinians. Continue with a walk on the Belvedere of Città Sant’Angelo from which you can admire the Adriatic coast and the Gran Sasso, and the bulk of the Collegiate. In the end, return to the hotel, dinner and night.
Day 4: Teramo Gran Sasso
Breakfast and transfer to Teramo, on the slopes of Gran Sasso and the capital of the province of the same name. Guided tour of the Cathedral, Porta Reale and Sanctuary of the Madonna Delle Grazie, Roman Theater, Domus and Mosaic of the Lion. Free lunch and a return trip with arrival in the late evening.
- 3-star hotel near the places of visit
- Half board
- Visits with professional guides
- Entrance to the National Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo
Excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrances
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Tourist tax
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
- Net rates in euros, subject to confirmation (excluding weekends and holidays) – 1 free ticket for every 25 paying guests
- Document required: valid identity card. The program could be reversed.
- n.b. the program can be adapted to customer needs
- AXA Compulsory Multi-Risk Policy (Medical Expenses and Cancellation) € 10 per person.
- Single room supplement € 25 per person per night. Possible city tax to be paid directly at the hotel.
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled
L'Aquila, the Abruzzo National Park and the Trabocchi Coast (4 days)
Day 1: FORTRESS OF CIVITELLA DEL TRONTO
Departure early in the morning. Free lunch. In the afternoon, guided tour of the Fortress of Civitella del Tronto, built by the Spaniards in the second half of the 16th century and set on top of the town like an acropolis. Important work of military engineering, with its 500 meters in length and 25 thousand square meters of surface, it is one of the largest fortifications in Europe. The drawbridge, the ramparts, the walkways, the squares of arms, the military quarters, the prisons, the powder kegs, the ovens, the stables, the cisterns, the Governor’s palace, the church of San Giacomo, attract thousands every year of visitors.
Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: L’AQUILA – ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and transfer to the Abruzzo capital, the ancient city of L’Aquila. Guided tour of the city founded by Frederick II of Swabia and for a long time the capital of the Abruzzi and the scene of important historical events. Rich in splendid works of art ranging from the mid-thirteenth century to the Baroque age, among the most beautiful monuments the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio where Pietro dal Morrone, who had it built, became Pope Celestino V in the summer from 1294 and where his body is now preserved and venerated, the Basilica of San Bernardino da Siena, the Fontana delle 99 Cannelle – a symbolic monument of the medieval city, the Spanish Castle of the 16th century, the splendid Piazza del Duomo. Free lunch and transfer to the Abruzzo National Park area for a guided tour of the Pescasseroli Visitor Center with the Naturalistic Museum and the Wildlife Park. Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: LAKE SCANNO – SULMONA
Breakfast and departure for Lake Scanno and guided tour of the village among the most beautiful in Italy, nestled in the Upper Sagittario Valley, where nature has created a canyon with narrow and deep walls in a verdant and prosperous landscape. Surrounded by the Marsicani Mountains, within the Abruzzo National Park, Scanno is the preferred holiday destination and has been declared the ‘Borgo dei Fotografi’, thanks to the wonderful panorama. Free lunch. Continue to Sulmona, a medieval city with Roman origins set between two mountain massifs in the heart of the Abruzzo region. In addition to being widely recognized as the home of sugared almonds, Sulmona is also the birthplace of the poet Ovid, the place where Celestino V – Pope of the great refusal – sought relief in the thirteenth century, and finally the production center of the famous Red Garlic of Sulmona. Visit of the Mario Pelino Confetto Museum. Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: ABBEY OF SAN GIOVANNI IN VENERE – THE COSTA DEI TRABOCCHI
Breakfast and departure for the visit of the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere for a photo stop from above towards the sea and the individual visit. Continue to San Vito Chietino to admire some of the most characteristic “Trabocchi”. The trabucco or trabocco is an ancient fishing machine typical of the Gargano, Molise and Abruzzo coasts, protected as a cultural heritage in the Costa dei Trabocchi. Free lunch in San Vito Chietino where you can taste fish dishes in the various self-service rooms. Return trip with arrival scheduled in the evening.
- 3 * hotel with half board
- Visits with professional guides
- Entrance fees included (Fortress of Civitella del Tronto, Pescasseroli Visitor Center with Museum and Wildlife Center, Sulmona Confetto Museum)
What’s excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrance fees not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Tourist tax
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
- Net rates in euros, subject to confirmation (excluding weekends and holidays) – 1 free ticket for every 25 paying guests
- Document required: valid identity card. The program could be reversed.
- n.b. the program can be adapted to customer needs
- AXA Compulsory Multi-Risk Policy (Medical Expenses and Cancellation) € 10 per person.
- Single room supplement € 25 per person per night. Possible city tax to be paid directly at the hotel.
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled
Loreto and the Sanctuaries in Abruzzo (4 days)
Day 1: SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO
Early morning departure for Loreto. Free lunch. Guided tour of the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto. The Basilica of the Holy House is one of the main places of Marian worship and one of the most important and visited Marian shrines in the Catholic world. Inside the basilica, Catholics worship the remains of what, according to tradition, is the Holy House of Nazareth, where Jesus lived. At the end, continue to the nearby hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: SANCTUARY OF SAN GABRIELE DELL’ADDOLORATA – L’AQUILA
Breakfast. Transfer to the Sanctuary of San Gabriele dell’Addolorata which is located at the foot of the Gran Sasso, in the municipality of Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia, in the province of Teramo. The Abruzzo sanctuary includes 4 main structures: the convent, which houses the headquarters of the Passionists, wherein 1862 St. Gabriel of the Addolorata died. Guided tour and free lunch. Transfer to the Abruzzo capital L’Aquila, for a guided tour of the city founded by Frederick II of Swabia and for a long time the capital of the Abruzzi and the scene of important historical events. Rich in splendid works of art ranging from the mid-13th century to the Baroque age, among the most beautiful monuments the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio where Pietro dal Morrone, who had it built, became Pope Celestino V in the summer from 1294 and where his body is now preserved and venerated, the Basilica of San Bernardino da Siena, the Fontana delle 99 Cannelle – a symbolic monument of the medieval city, the Spanish Castle of the sixteenth century, the splendid Piazza del Duomo. In the evening, transfer to the nearby hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: SULMONA – HOLY FACE OF MANOPPELLO
Breakfast and transfer to Sulmona for the guided tour. In addition to being widely recognized as the home of sugared almonds, Sulmona is also the birthplace of the poet Ovid, the place where Celestine V – Pope of the great refusal – sought relief in the thirteenth century, and finally the production centre of the famous Red Garlic of Sulmona. Visit of the Mario Pelino Confetto Museum. Free lunch. In the afternoon we will visit one of the most famous pilgrimage sites: the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello. The Basilica houses one of the most famous and important relics of the Christian world. In fact, the Holy Face is exhibited in the tabernacle of the main altar, considered by many to be the authentic veil with which Veronica covered the face of Jesus taken down from the cross. The precious relic consists of a transparent veil, on which bloodstains and the features of a male face with open eyes and a half-open mouth are imprinted. According to recent studies, this relic is to be considered the true image of Christ. Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: SANCTUARY OF THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE OF LANCIANO – COSTA DEI TRABOCCHI – GORNO (668 KM)
Breakfast. Arrival in Lanciano for a guided tour of the historic centre: Piazza Plebiscito, the Cathedral, the Church of the Miracle, the Town Hall, the civic tower, the Fenaroli Theater. We continue with the Church of San Francesco where – in the eighteenth century – “The Eucharistic Miracle” took place. This is inferred from historical circumstances and concomitances due to the persecution in the East by Emperor Leo III, the Isaurian, who began ferocious persecution against the Church and the cult of sacred images (iconoclasm). In conjunction with the “iconoclastic struggle” in the Eastern Church, many Greek monks took refuge in Italy, among them the Basilian monks, disciples of St. Basil (329-379) Bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia (in present-day Eastern Turkey). Some communities of them took refuge in Lanciano. One day a monk while celebrating Holy Mass was assailed by doubt about the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Having pronounced the words of the consecration on the bread and the wine, suddenly, before his eyes he saw the bread transform into Flesh, the wine into Blood.
Free lunch. In the end, return trip with expected arrival in the evening.
What’s included
- 3 * hotel with half board
- Guided tours as per program
- Admission to the Mario Pelino Confetto Museum
What’s excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrance fees not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Tourist tax
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
Informazioni importanti
- Net rates in euros, subject to confirmation (excluding weekends and holidays) – 1 free ticket for every 25 paying guests
- Document required: valid identity card. The program could be reversed.
- n.b. the program can be adapted to customer needs
- AXA Compulsory Multi-Risk Policy (Medical Expenses and Cancellation) € 10 per person.
- Single room supplement € 25 per person per night. Possible city tax to be paid directly at the hotel.
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled
Hermitages and Castles in Abruzzo (4 days)
Day 1: FORTRESS OF CIVITELLA DEL TRONTO
Departure early in the morning and stop for free lunch along the way. In the afternoon, guided tour of the Fortress of Civitella del Tronto, built by the Spaniards in the second half of the 16th century and set on top of the town like an acropolis. Important work of military engineering, with its 500 meters in length and 25 thousand square meters of surface, it is one of the largest fortifications in Europe. Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: SPANISH FORT – PICCOLOMINI CASTLE
Breakfast and transfer to L’Aquila for a guided tour of the Spanish Fort, designed by Pirro Luis Escriba of Valencia, a Spanish military architect, built on the highest point of the city in 1534, with the Gran Sasso behind it. The Fort is the symbol of the Spanish domination over the city, for whose construction very high taxes were imposed which squandered the people of L’Aquila. Continue with the panoramic tour of the historic centre: the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio where Pietro dal Morrone became Pope Celestino V in the summer of 1294, the Basilica of San Bernardino da Siena, the Fountain of the 99 Spouts, the Piazza del Duomo. Free lunch and transfer to Celano for the guided tour of the Piccolomini Castle, protected by a mighty wall, marked by walkways and ramparts, which overlooks the majestic and imposing plain of the Fucino once a lake. Continue to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: HERMITAGE OF SANTO SPIRITO – ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA ARABONA – ABBEY OF SAN LIBERATORE A MAJELLA
Breakfast. Day dedicated to the spiritual world on the slopes of the Majella National Park. The first historical information on the Hermitage of Santo Spirito a Majella dates back to 1.053 when the future Pope Victor III lived there together with other Hermits. Pietro da Morrone, future Pope Celestino V, arrived there in 1.246 and renovated it by building other rooms used for hermits. Transfer to Manoppello to visit the Abbey of Santa Maria Arabia, built-in 1208 by the Cistercian monks on the site of a pagan temple of the “Goddess Orbona” or on the altar “Deae Bonae”. Stop for free lunch. In the afternoon, visit to the Abbey of San Liberatore a Majella whose foundation is shrouded in legend. The oldest one wants that two Roman patricians donated the goods for the construction to San Benedetto, while the other connects it to the victory of Charlemagne over the Lombard forces in 781. A community of monks already existed around 884, when it was compiled the Memoratorium of Abbot Bertario on the possessions of Montecassino in Theatine Abruzzo. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: ARAGONESE CASTLE OF ORTONA – DUCAL CASTLE OF CRECCHIO
Breakfast. In the morning, travel to Crecchio where we will visit the Ducal De Riseis-D’Aragona Castle which stands on a hill between the Arielli river and the Rifago river and consists of four angular towers and an imposing city wall. On 9 September 1943, King Vittorio Emanuele III, the queen and Prince Umberto, fleeing Rome after the armistice of 8 September, stopped off in this castle. Today the castle houses the Archaeological Museum of Byzantine and Early Medieval Abruzzo. Continue to Ortona with a visit to the Aragonese Castle, an authentic jewel dating back to the 15th century, perched on the promontory overlooking the sea, a suggestive fortress dating back to 1450 AD. which was to protect the port from attacks by the Aragonese. Free lunch in the ancient historic centre to taste typical local dishes. Return journey with arrival in the evening.
What’s included
- 3 * hotel with half board, visits with professional guides
- Entrance fees included (Fortress of Civitella del Tronto, Celano Castle, Crecchio Castle, Aragonese Castle)
What’s excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrance fees not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Tourist tax
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
Informazioni importanti
- Net rates in euros, subject to confirmation (excluding weekends and holidays) – 1 free ticket for every 25 paying guests
- Document required: valid identity card. The program could be reversed.
- n.b. the program can be adapted to customer needs
- AXA Compulsory Multi-Risk Policy (Medical Expenses and Cancellation) € 10 per person.
- Single room supplement € 25 per person per night. Possible city tax to be paid directly at the hotel.
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled