Abruzzo Revealed: Coast, Countryside, & Cuisine

Marina di San Vito & Santo Stefano di Sessanio

June 21-30, 2027

Starting at: $6,500/person

Introducing a new tour and new region: Abruzzo!

Often called Italy's best-kept secret, Abruzzo is a region where stunning coastline meets rugged mountains and where culinary traditions remain rooted in family, seasonality, and place. On this thoughtfully curated excursion, you'll experience a side of Italy that feels refreshingly authentic, from seaside villages with views of the Adriatic Sea to hilltop towns surrounded by rolling vineyards. Get ready to be wonderfully immersed into this unknown region.

On this journey, Abruzzo reveals itself through experiences that feel both timeless and deeply local. Share a memorable seaside lunch on a traditional trabocco, glide through breathtaking landscapes aboard a historic train, and enjoy moments to unwind along the Adriatic coast. Roll up your sleeves to grill classic arrosticini and step back in time during your stay at a one-of-a-kind hotel that preserves the spirit and simplicity of village life. With each experience, you'll connect more deeply to Abruzzo's culture, cuisine, and quiet beauty - the kind that lingers long after you return home

Keep reading for Trip Highlights and more important details! Contact us with any questions.

Itinerary

Our 10 days will begin on the coastline with views of the Adriatic Sea, then we continue our journey inland spending some time in the Apennine mountains.

MARINA DI SAN VITO (4 nights) - a charming seaside village along Abruzzo's famed Costa dei Trabocchi, where wooden fishing platforms stretch into the Adriatic and life revolves around fresh seafood and coastal views.

SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO (4 nights) - a beautifully preserved medieval mountain village in the heart of Gran Sasso National Park. Imagine cobblestone pathways, sweeping landscapes, and timeless traditions inviting you to experience Abruzzo as it once was.

ROME Fiumicino (1 night) – we'll spend our final night near the Rome FCO airport for ease of departure on the last day. But this also makes a great jumping off point for staying in Rome a few extra days!

Tour Highlights

Savor a fresh seafood meal above the Adriatic Sea on a traditional wooden platform known as a trabocco.

Travel through Abruzzo's mountains and valleys aboard a historic train for a scenic journey.

Have fun grilling Abruzzo's famous lamb skewers before enjoying this beloved local specialty together.

Experience life in a restored medieval village, where our hotel has become a part of the town, and where history comes to life.

Watch local artisans craft traditional cheeses while sharing the techniques and flavors that define Abruzzo's culinary heritage.

Pricing and other details

EARLY BIRD PRICING through 4/15/26 - Best Price Guaranteed:

Deposit of $3200/person is due upon booking to reserve your spot, along with a signed & completed registration form. Booking is not considered confirmed until deposit has been received.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure, or installments can be made at any time up until that due date.

Pricing includes:

- Nine nights of hotel accommodations (4 nights in Marina di San Vito, 4 nights in Santo Stefano di Sessanio*, 1 night in Rome Fiumicino)

*Please note that the hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessanio is an experience hotel located in a medieval town. This will be a truly immersive, experience-driven stay, with guest rooms thoughtfully restored within historic stone buildings throughout the town. Please note that this unique setting includes cobblestone pathways, stairs, and no elevators, and the décor reflects a simpler time — intentionally preserving the character, materials, and atmosphere of traditional Abruzzese village life.

- All planned excursions & classes, including visits to artisanal producers and a hands-on cooking class.

- Meals included: daily breakfasts at our accommodations and most lunches & dinners. We curate each menu to focus on traditional regional specialties, accompanied by local wines.

- Experienced tour leaders and local guides

- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour

- Airport transfers on specified arrival/departure days/times. We include one group transfer for your arrival and departure at specified times. Any additional transfer will be at your own cost.

- Pre-tour virtual meetings and planning materials.

Not included:
- Airfare

Travel Insurance

- Gratuity for driver and Curata Travel tour leaders, at your discretion

- Any spending during free time, personal purchases, extraneous hotel charges (minibar, laundry service, etc.) and any alcoholic beverages not included with meals.

Each member of the tour will be responsible for booking their own flight into Rome Fiumicino (FCO) & out of the same airport. Flights are not included in the tour cost.

You will be picked up at the Rome Fiumicino airport on June 21 at 12:00p.m., then dropped off at the same airport on June 30 by 9a.m. One group transfer for arrival & departure will be provided.

We strongly recommend waiting to book non-refundable flights until your tour has been officially confirmed (at least 90 days prior to departure). While tour cancellations are uncommon, they can happen if minimum enrollment isn’t met.


If you prefer to book flights earlier, we recommend choosing refundable tickets or travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.

To ensure a high-quality, fully supported experience for all participants, our tours require a minimum number of confirmed guests before departure. Most of our tours operate with ~20 travelers; however, we must confirm a minimum of 12 guests before a tour is guaranteed to depart.

We typically make a final decision 90 days before departure. If the minimum number is not met by that date, we will notify all registrants and offer options including:

✔ transferring to a future departure date
✔ applying deposit toward another tour
✔ a full refund

Important: We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-refundable flights until your tour departure is confirmed.

Our tours are designed for curious, engaged travelers who enjoy being out and about each day. While we don’t run “athletic” trips, our itineraries are active and require a good level of everyday mobility and stamina.

Most days include extended sightseeing, walking through historic centers, standing during guided visits, and getting on and off our touring vehicle multiple times.

You’ll likely enjoy this tour if the statements below feel comfortable and realistic for you:

✅ I can stand for up to an hour at a time

Guided visits at museums, historic sites, wineries, markets, and food producers often involve periods of standing. Seating is not always available.

✅ I can comfortably walk several miles over the course of a day

Daily sightseeing can add up to 8,000–12,000 steps. Walks are typically broken up throughout the day, but may include:

  • Uneven cobblestones
  • Hills or gradual inclines
  • Rural paths at farms, vineyards, or countryside estates

You don’t need to be fast — but you should feel comfortable walking at a relaxed, steady pace with the group.

✅ I can get on and off a motorcoach without assistance

Our tours use comfortable touring vehicles, but they do require stepping up and down multiple times per day. Step heights vary by vehicle and location, and lifts are not available.

✅ I can manage stairs

Many historic buildings, small hotels, wineries, and family-run establishments do not have elevators, or may have only a few steps here and there. Even in hotels with elevators, some areas may still require stairs.

✅ I can handle my own luggage when needed

While assistance is often available, porterage is not guaranteed at every property. Guests should be able to:

  • Roll or carry luggage short distances

We strongly recommend packing light and using manageable luggage.

✅ I have the stamina for a full, multi-day itinerary

Our tours are immersive and full of experiences from morning into the evening. Travel days, hotel changes, and full sightseeing schedules can be tiring — in a good way! Guests should feel comfortable keeping up with a busy but rewarding pace.

A few items of note for some of the destinations and the trip as a whole to help set expectations and better prepare you for the trip. Some of the expectations are outlined in our Traveler Guidebook and the Terms & Conditions form that you will use to register (see specifically the Traveler Code and Traveler Expectations sections), but to reiterate some as they specifically relate to this Abruzzo itinerary.

Cusine - As hopefully most of you know, our tours focus heavily on the culinary specialities of each region and town we visit. So when we arrange a lunch/dinner or culinary experience, we are working with those restaurants to plan menus in advance that highlight the seasonal produce, and dishes that reflect the region we’re in. As part of this tour highlights the coast of Abruzzo, you can expect seafood to be highlighted, for example. We will be collecting some of this information at a later date from you, but if there are food allergies we need to be aware of, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If there are entire categories of food that you just don’t eat (and are not willing to try), this might not be the tour for you! 

Terrain: As you'll find throughout Italy, walkways are often made up of cobblestones and limestone paving. Good walking shoes, being sure on your feet, and staying alert are all key to getting around!

*Please note that the hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessanio is an experience hotel located in a medieval town. This will be a truly immersive, experience-driven stay, with guest rooms thoughtfully restored within historic stone buildings throughout the town. Please note that this unique setting includes cobblestone pathways, stairs, and no elevators, and the décor reflects a simpler time — intentionally preserving the character, materials, and atmosphere of traditional Abruzzese village life.

Excursions: With all of our excursions, you are not forced to participate if something like this is not your ’thing.’ You always have the option to stay behind and enjoy some free time on your own (please note, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, there is no compensation or refund for any portion of the tour or excursion you do not participate in). 

Gallery

Enjoy some highlights of this tour!