Italy 2025
I have been working on this Italian tour since finishing my tours in July this year. Philip and I travelled to Puglia and spent time with Alessandro our dear friend and chef. He grew up here and there is nothing like spending time with a local, meeting his gorgeous parents and being treated to local treats. It was great to revisit the region and to meet a great tour guide called Michele. I am completely excited and thrilled that we have the fabulous Masseria Pistola for our 7 days in Puglia: https://masseriapistola.com
I have read about the garden and wanted to visit, but now we are staying on the same property and can visit the garden at any time.
https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/international/italian-pistola-urquhart
The beginning of the tour will be unusual for me and we will start and end with a one-night stay close to Rome just outside the cutest village of Frascatti. We will assemble and meet each other and Daniele our bus driver and say goodbye 18 days later.
Choosing accommodation is very important to us and the first 4 nights are going to be in Umbria staying at Palazzo Bontadosi in Montefalco: https://hotelbontadosi.it
Philip and I visited this hotel last year and were so impressed by its beautiful renovation.
Montefalco is our base to explore Umbria, taste its wine, visit its gorgeous villages and absorb the history.
We are going to have another one-night stop on the Adriatic coast at San Vito Chietino – known as the Trabocchi Coast and named after the ancient fishing platforms on piles.
However, not before we leave Montefalco, we visit Norcia mid-morning and then drive onto the stunning wild flowering fields of Castelluccio. Philip and I visited the extraordinary plain of Castelluccio di Norcia this year. The flowers that cover the Pian Grande and Pian Perduto at this time of the year are a breathtaking spectacle. The drive down through Abruzzo to the Coast is equally spectacular and will be perfect to end at the coast.
I have planned a week in Puglia around Masseria Pistola so you can enjoy everything that it has to offer.
Following our 7 days at Masseria Pistola, I have chosen to go to Abruzzo – a region not frequented by hordes of tourists but which has so much to offer.
For 3 nights we are having another exceptional experience and we will be staying in the mountains in:
Sextantio Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village. It is located in the mountains of Abruzzo at 1250 meters above sea level, inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. The village is a classic example of an Italian medieval hill town, with perimeter walls encircling houses and squares. This is going to be an experience like no other.
Heading back to Rome we will visit Villa D’ Este in Tivoli and I am thrilled and super excited to obtain a booking at the Gardens of Ninfa. We will arrive back in Frascati at the hotel we started at 18 days before, to enjoy our last night together.
At the moment this tour is sitting on full.
I have been inundated with enquiries and am aware some people are going to be disappointed.
Please note, that all tours involve walking, especially on this tour – Umbria is a hilly place, many villages during the tour will have cobbled streets and steps and days can be hot.
Daily tours and visits are rarely 5 minutes away. Some days require an hour or so of driving to arrive at our destination. Issues like traffic can sometimes be an issue and out of our control.
Coach drop-off points can often mean a 10- and 15-minute walk on cobbled stone streets .
I just want you to be mindful of what you are booking into and it won’t be a surprise.
Italy 2025 Proposed Outline of the Itinerary :
1. Monday 2nd June - Rome / Frascati
I expect everyone to fly into Rome unless you are already in Italy.
I will be arranging Taxi’s to transport groups from the Airport to Frascatti which is about 45 minutes away. We will be spending one night here – so we can meet at 5pm and prepare for the remainder of the tour.
Dinner at Hotel
Hotel : Villa Tuscolana
2. Tuesday 3rd June - Umbria / Montefalco
Orvieto, stop for Lunch.
Montefalco’s historic centre, where we are staying, is characterised by medieval walls and narrow winding streets. The town exudes medieval charm with well-preserved buildings, stone houses and picturesque squares. The local enoteca and bars are known for serving traditional Umbrian dishes, including truffles, cured meats and homemade pasta.
Dinner Montefalco
Palazzo Bontadosi – Montefalco
3. Wednesday 4th June - Umbria / Montefalco
We are going to start with a visit to Carapace. This unique winery was designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro to resemble the shape of a turtle. The building is distinctive and features curved and overlapping metal panels, creating a sculptural and shell-like appearance. Carapace will help us discover Sagrantino wines, a grape variety indigenous to the Montefalco area.
We will head to the birthplace of Saint Francis - Assisi in the afternoon. Have time to visit the Basilica with its stunning Giotto frescoes and enjoy a walk through the charming medieval town.
Dinner Montefalco
4. Thursday 5th June
Umbria / Montefalco
Two of my favourite hill villages in Umbria are Spello and Spoleto. With a stunning view we will have a lunch together before walking up through Spoleto in the afternoon.
Dinner Montefalco
Palazzo Bontadosi – Montefalco
5. Friday 6th June - Umbria / Montefalco
Travelling around Lake Trasimeno we will take a morning coffee stop at Deruta where the stunning ceramics are made, then onto Cortona for a lunch time visit and enjoy its glorious views. On our way back to Montefalco we will go to Peruga for the Passegiata - maybe enjoy an ice-cream or glass of wine late in the afternoon.
Dinner Montefalco
Palazzo Bontadosi – Montefalco
6. Saturday 7th June
Norcia – The town is famous for its overwhelming presence of the so-called norcinerie, butcheries specialized in the production and sale of local produce.
We will have time for a walk and coffee before travelling onto the flower fields of Castelluccio where hopefully we will be immersed in the colours of the wildflowers which cover the surrounding farmland. It’s about 3 hours onto the coast and our one night stay in San Vito Chietino. This area was devastated in the earthquake of 2016 and the drive down is incredibly interesting
Trobocchi Coastline / San Vito Chietino
Hotel La Chiave
7. Sunday 8th June - Puglia
Arrival Day:
We will have a quiet day driving down the Puglian Adriatic Coastline and I hope to arrive in time to relax and become acquainted with our Masseria.
We have our own chef at the villa and after pre-dinner drinks, we will enjoy our first night in these rather fabulous surroundings.
Masseria Pistola
8. Monday 9th June - Puglia
Alberobello
UNESCO-listed Alberobello is the birthplace of Trulli houses. They are characterised by white-washed conical-roofed dwellings and are a statement all over Puglia. Even in our frenetic world of an ancestral rural civilisation, these have never disappeared in this enchanting place.
After the town visit, we'll drive to a nearby dairy farm for a Burrata masterclass that will teach you all the secrets of this worldwide famous Apulian specialty.
We'll visit the farm, see and meet the cows and then be welcomed in the cozy house of the owner for a light lunch where you'll taste a selection of cold cuts, cheeses, mozzarella, burrata and "frise".
In the afternoon we are going to soak up the atmosphere at the seaside town of Monopoli. It makes a splash with medieval churches and castles jutting above the Adriatic. It's also a painter's dream, with bright blue fishing boats adding a pop of colour against whitewashed harbour walls.
Masseria Pistola
9. Tuesday 10th June - Puglia
Olive Oil Visit :
Today we start with a visit to an ancient fortified Masseria (historical farmhouse) surrounded by a magnificent olive grove dating back to Roman times. At the end of the estate, tour, we will experience a professional EVO oil tasting.
Who doesn’t love Ostuni: Its stunning white-painted architecture, its olive oil and wine production. Its history of Norman, Renaissance and Turkish influences and its sheer beauty.
The “white town", is one of the most iconic whitewashed hilltop towns in the region, with gorgeous Eastern Mediterranean charm. Michele will guide us through the narrow, enchanting alleys, reliving its history and pointing out the most interesting sites of this marvellous town.
You can choose a place to have a relaxing lunch before heading back to the Masseria.
Masseria Pistola
10. Wednesday 11th June - Puglia
Grottaglie is the Apulian capital of ceramic production and is as ancient as civilisation itself. This town still hosts more than 100 workshops of artistic ceramics, producing beautiful plates, vases and any sort of piece of art!
We will be visiting a local workshop where you will be able to see the behind-the-scenes production and decoration of plates or vases.
Later in the morning, we will drive to Brindisi. This town is often overlooked but, we are going to spend some time here. This is the end of the Roman road from Rome and sits on a beautiful harbour. It has some great seafood restaurants and we are going to have lunch at one of them. Philip and I stayed in the old town this year and fell in love with the narrow streets, good shopping and atmosphere.
Masseria Pistola
11. Thursday 12th June - Puglia
Matera
Matera is one of the oldest and most unique destinations in Italy, with its sassi (cave dwellings) dating back to pre-Neolithic times. We will learn about this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site- its history, culture, its unique sassi cave dwellings and stunning natural beauty.
This ancient city will capture your soul with its pure charm. Its light, its colours, its views, and its history make it a place like no other. Michele will guide us through its past, its present, its evolution, its culinary traditions, the hospitality of its people and much more!
Masseria Pistola
12. Friday 13th June Puglia
We will discover Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South, a hidden gem of baroque architecture and undoubtedly the most elegant city in Puglia. Our walking guide Michele, will help us to be impressed by the aristocratic old town characterized by impressive Roman ruins, scenographic squares, magnificent baroque churches and palaces.
Near Lecce, we will be visiting a beautiful Masseria for a wine tour to introduce you to the Indigenous varieties of grapes, particularly negroamaro and primitivo
Salento is famous also for its extensive vineyards kissed by the sun and caressed by the wind, producing some of Puglia's most-awarded wineries.
Masseria Pistola
13. Saturday 14th June - Puglia
Ceglie Messapica is one of the most picturesque and authentic towns of Valle d'Itria, with beautiful hill country dotted by trulli houses, making it one of Puglia's most iconic territories.
This town has very ancient and proud origins and is also recognised as the "gastronomic capital of Puglia", so the best way to discover this hidden gem is by tasting local delicacies such as "panino cegliese" and "biscotto cegliese". We are going to do a food tour that will not only be fun but a chance to admire the pristine old town, dominated by the massive medieval castle and the elegant mother church, touring selected charcuteries, bakeries and cafes as a local!
Our last afternoon will be back at the Masseria. Our last chance to take in the garden and maybe a late afternoon wine in their garden bar.
Masseria Pistola
14. Sunday 15th June
Abruzzo- Travel Day - Santo Stefano di Sessanio
It will be an early start – but I would like to go through Cassino before arriving at Santo Stefano di Sessanio. This is a long travel day. Cassino is very close to New Zealander’s hearts and this is a very moving visit.
Just to give you an idea where we are staying in the hills of Abruzzo. Be prepared, this will be a rather different experience.
https://www.sextantio.it/en/santostefano/abruzzo/
Stefano is one of several so-called “diffuse hotels” that certainly ignore the usual hotel model of grouping rooms and facilities under one roof. Instead, Sextantio’s rooms, spa, wine bar, restaurant and reception are scattered in separate buildings formerly used as barns, stables, pigsties, wine cellars and farmers’ or shepherds’ lodgings. Wood and stone cottages have been restyled as suites, the village dungeons serve as a wedding room and a former witch’s lair now hosts business meetings.
We will have a lot to explore on our first night and enjoy dinner in a very different environment.
15. Monday 16th June - Abruzzo
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
We will spend time this morning in the Village before driving to Sulmona one of the prettiest towns in Abruzzo located at the foot of the Majella, surrounded by mountains, where ancient history and a strong tradition for colourful sweets live together. Our drive will be spectacular and with the help of a walking guide this region can be linked to its history and lifestyle.
Sextantio Santo Stefano
16. Tuesday 17th June - Abruzzo
I have a loop route planned that will have us see :
· The Castle of Rocca Calascio - mountaintop fortress.
· Bominaco, a small village with a rich history and a stunning frescoed chapel, often called Abruzzo's Sistine Chapel.
· Lunch at -Aielli one of Italy's most surprising street art villages.
· Afternoon in L’Aquila, the site of the devastating Earthquake in 2009 – a walk in the beautifully restored streets.
Sextantio Santo Stefano
17. Wednesday 18th - Travel Day
On our return to Frascatti today, we will stop at Tivoli to visit the impressive terraces, fountains, and cascades of the Villa D’Este.
Then we will visit the famous Gardens of Ninfa in the afternoon. I have applied and am thrilled that we are booked in.
Frascatti
Hotel : Villa Tuscolana
18. Thursday 19th June
Departure
Tour inclusions
· Accommodation for 17 nights (4 star and special category Villa )
· All breakfasts included along with 15 Dinners and 2 lunches
Travel is to be organised by you.
For all tours Philip and I will already be in Europe.
I deal with Kay Dunn: kayd@travelmanagers.co.nz | 0275222389
She knows all my tours and is amazing.
I am more than happy to have a chat on the phone and go over any queries you may have - 021735617
Tour Costing, Booking Forms - E Mail :
judith@judith-cullen.com