Italian Cooking School – Plus Rome Extension

We’ll be staying in the hilltop village of Carunchio, in the medieval Palazzo Tour D’Eau. The palace has recently been restored to its former glory, and all the modern amenities have been added for your comfort. Rooms are well appointed and each has a panoramic view of the surrounding rolling hills and Italian Cypress’. You can awaken to the sound of church bells, still keeping time for the townspeople of Carunchio.

Day 1, Friday: Take an overnight flight to Rome

Depart for overnight flight, arriving in Rome the next morning. 

Day 2, Saturday: Arrival in Carunchio

We will drive over the Abruzzo mountains to the Palazzo Tour d’Eau in Carunchio, where we will stay for the duration of our visit.  After some down time to rest, we will meet our hosts for a tour and drinks.  We will then share a welcome multi-course dinner prepared by one of the expert Abruzzo Cibus chefs.

Day 3, Sunday: Old-Town, Quick Lunches, Olive Oil Press Tour 

Following a walking tour of the old-town, we will don our chef hats and start cooking!  Today’s theme is “quick and healthy homemade meals.” After learning about traditional ingredients of Abruzzo dishes, we will make some delicious pasta dishes with flavorful sauces. Then we will get to dine our creations.  After some free time to rest or walk around a bit, we will take a private owner-led tour of an organic olive oil press, learn about traditional methods of making “real extra-virgin olive oil,” and even partake of a professional olive oil tasting.  

Day 4, Monday: Pasta Making and Wine Tasting 

We now get to try our hand at making delicious pasta in various colors and shapes. Learn the secret tricks to ensure perfect pasta – alla chitarra, gnocchi, cavatelli, and even stuffed pasta – every time.  After enjoying our freshly made pasta, we will meet an Abruzzo Cibus sommelier who will teach us wine sampling techniques while also filling us in about local Abruzzo wines.

Day 5, Tuesday: Trabocco Fishing House and Vasto

Today is a fun fish-filled day that begins with a visit to a Trabocco fishing house that is unique to this region of the Adriatic coast. Following is a delectable seafood sampling lunch at a favorite restaurant in town.  Then there will be some free time to explore the shops in the town of Vasto, a great opportunity for souvenirs, shoes, jewelry, and even lingerie.  Dinner will be served back at the Palazzo, or palace, in English.

Day 6, Wednesday: Peasant Food, Biscotti, and Truffle Hunting 

We will have a lesson in old world peasant food and preparing a tasty vegetarian dish, which is actually quite gourmet by today’s standards. Then it is time to practice making the best almond biscotti ever made, and this recipe includes a secret Abruzzo twist. After lunch, we will enjoy free time and be able to choose between walking around Carunchio or hiking a nearby trail. If the weather cooperates, we will have further options including truffle hunting or receiving massages.  

Day 7, Thursday – Cheese Making in Agnone, Artisan Bells, and Homemade Pizza  

Today begins with a short drive to Agnone, famous for its high quality cheese, where we will visit a local family who produces some of the best mozzarella, burrata, and caciocavallo around. Changing gears, we will tour a historic artisan bell foundry, famous for still making church bells manually for the Vatican, and learn about the manufacturing process.  For lunch we will savor a porchetta sandwich paired with Italian beer. For our last dinner back at the palazzo, we will have a hand in making woodfired pizza. Starting with stretching the dough, then adding our favorite toppings, and finally baking it in the Abruzzo Cibus artisan wood fired oven.  This will be the best pizza you’ve ever made! 

Day 8, Friday – Arrivederci!

Take a morning flight, arriving home the same day.

Pre-trip – Rome

If you’ve never been to Rome, this is your chance to explore the eternal city. You’ll stay 3 nights near the forum at a 4 star hotel. We’ll visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Catacombs, and so many more antiquities.

Day 1, Tuesday May 9:

Depart home for an overnight flight to Rome, arriving the following morning.

Day 2, Wednesday May 10:

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your 4 star hotel near the center of Rome. Settle in and explore the city before we meet for dinner at an awesome authentic Roman restaurant.

Day 3, Thursday May 11:

Today we take a full day guided tour of this Eternal City. We’ll have an unforgettable experience with a skip-the-line tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. An expert guide will passionately lead you through the fascinating Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, with the legendary Michelangelo’s frescoes, providing you with historical facts and leaving you plenty of time to take photos and to absorb the breathtaking beauty of the masterpieces.
Next, you enter Saint Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church building, where you will admire some Baroque masterpieces and the breathtaking statue of “Pietà” by Michelangelo.
The tour finally ends in Saint Peter’s Square with its marvelous Bernini columns. You will admire Saint Peter’s dome, created by Michelangelo, and the balcony where the Pontiff gives the blessings. Here you will see Sistine Chapel’s roof where the white or black smoke comes out from in case of the new Pope’s election and the famous obelisk in the middle of the square
At the end of the visit, you have some time on your own for lunch in the Vatican area.
After this, meet your private driver who will show you around the city center, where you will see the main attractions of the Eternal city like Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Navona Square and much more, before dropping you off at your hotel at the end of the day.

Day 4, Friday May 12:

Today we take an all day guided tour of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Naples. We will meet our guide early morning for the 2 hour drive to Pompeii where we’ll have a tour of this archaeological site. Hear the history and view the spot where people huddled as Mt. Vesuvius erupted. After lunch we’ll go to Herculaneum, a similar site not far away. Then we’re off for a quick driving tour of Naples before heading back to our hotel.

Day 5, Saturday May 13:

Today we check out of our hotel and join the rest of the group heading to the Abruzzo Cooking School in Carunchio, Italy!

Inclusions:

3 nights 4 star hotel in Rome

All meals including 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners

Services of an English-speaking guide with private van and driver each day. All tours are private, just for our group.

All admissions as described

Cost:

$900 double occupancy

$1,200 single room upgrade

Post-trip – Venice

Venice, built nearly 1,000 years ago in marsh lands for protection, is fabled for its beautiful canals and monuments. Unfortunately, it’s sinking at an alarming rate. See it before it’s gone.

Day 1, Friday, May 19:

As our fellow travelers wing their way home, we board an afternoon flight directly to Venice. We take our private transfer to Venice Port, and from there a water taxi to our hotel, just off the Grand Canal. After settling in, we’ll have dinner at one of Venice’s most famous restaurants close to St. Mark’s Square.

Day 2, Saturday, May 20:

After breakfast we’ll take a full day tour of the many sites and monuments. Our guide will teach us the history and they influence of this city-state in the region and beyond. We’ll visit several of the grand palaces and learn about their residents. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a 4 course dinner – Venice style, with show.

Day 3, Sunday, May 21:

Today we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

Inclusions:

2 nights 4 star hotel in Venice

Airfare to Venice

All meals including 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners

Services of an English-speaking guide. All tours are private for our group.

Cost:

$900 double occupancy

$1,200 single room upgrade