Authentic Italy: The South
Trip Snapshot
Location Molise, Italy
Dates September 12-19, 2011 (8 days)
Price $2,600
trip highlights
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•Venture on excursions to discover the region’s sites, history, food and wine
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•Partake in village traditions and learn age-old customs alongside the locals
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•Learn Italian chef secrets in private cooking courses and share your creations with the village women
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•Relax and explore along the Adriatic sea in the city of Termoli
Day 1: Arrival day. An Italian-style welcome dinner will await you in the village of Sepino (our “home base” in Molise) to begin our authentic Italy experience.
Day 2: Get serenaded by a concert of bells when we visit the city of Agnone, where the most famous bells in the world are built. In the afternoon, enjoy shopping the local markets for the evening meal and then share in a creative culinary adventure with Nelly and her cousin Maria Rosa at La Taverna, where we will invite our Sepino friends for food and song.
Day 3: Venture on a day trip to the scenic region of Abruzzi and discover the local villages and attractions, including the town of Pescasseroli where a renowned Black Madonna rests in the St. Peter and St. Paul Abbey. Enjoy an appetizing dinner out in the Trefontane area, famous for its mineral waters.
Day 4: Explore one of the gems of Molise, the ancient town of Saepinum (Altilia). The city’s intact Roman ruins are an archeological site of great interest and rich in history. In the evening, under Nelly's professional culinary guidance, you will learn to reproduce regional specialties and bring the Italian culture and family traditions back into your world at home. There is an Italian and a chef in every person: ITALIAN IS A WAY OF BEING.
Day 5: See the sights of Campobasso, the regional hub of Molise. Join for an optional walking tour of the city sights, castle, and ancient neighborhoods to get your bearings. Then spend the rest of the day on your own sightseeing or shopping to your heart’s content.
Day 6: Travel to the Adriatic Sea and spend time exploring and relaxing in the seaside town of Termoli. On the way, stop in Larino to see its famous cathedral and Roman amphitheater…and to taste the best gelato in Italy. Enjoy an unforgettable seafood dinner along the coast.
Day 7: Enjoy a leisurely morning in the village and attend Sunday Mass with the locals if you so choose. Visit the Grotta di Santa Cristina and learn the legend of this saint protectress of Sepino and how she is related to Goddess worship. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely hike in the countryside. Experience being part of an extended Italian family by joining the weekly Sunday dinner with the local women of Sepino al “Buco.”
Day 8: Departure day. After breakfast, say farewell to newfound friends – until next time – and continue on your Italian travels or begin heading home.
Itinerary Details
An 8-day Italian adventure that will introduce you to the pristine beauty of the Molise region in central south Italy, an area famous for its rich Italian culture and genuine hospitality, as well as its unique cuisine, wines, olive oils, cheeses and pastas. Molise is characterized by mountainous reliefs, valleys, forests, and coastline. Explore castles, medieval hamlets and ancient Roman ruins, visit the city where the most famous bells in the world are made, partake in village traditions, learn to cook some of the region’s specialties alongside local women, and travel to the sea for breathtaking views and relaxation.
Trip Overview
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“I have been to Italy several times. But, only with this experience led by Nelly, did I feel completely welcomed into Italy. The real cuisine, the history behind the history, being inside the beauty of all of it, experiencing its passion, rather than being an observer looking in on an exotic world.”
-Julia, San Jose