Hands-On Cooking Classes and Guided City Tours in Abruzzo Region

Along Italy’s central eastern coast lies the Abruzzo region of Italy, known for its artisanal cheeses and full-bodied wines. On this 7-day, 6-night trip from Epitourean, you’ll stay in the quaint town of Carunchio, nestled in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains near the Adriatic Sea. Each night, you’ll turn in at the Palazzo Tour d’Eau, a 19th-century mansion turned hotel perched on the town’s highest hilltop. Your days will be filled with gourmet meals, hands-on cooking classes, and sightseeing excursions throughout the Italian countryside. Click here for a complete itinerary. The tour includes:

• 6 nights of palazzo accommodations
• 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners
• Transportation to and from Rome airport
• Olive Mill tour and pasta cooking class
• Sommelier’s wine-pairing class
• Vasto tour and Trabocco fishing houses
• Peasant food and biscotti baking class
• Visit to Agnone and Bell Foundry
• Cheese making and porchetta
• Pizza-making farewell dinner class

Culinary-Tour Highlights

Cooking classes: During a pasta-making class, you’ll learn to craft your own gnocchi, cavatelli, and chitarra. Later on, the Palazzo’s sommelier will conduct a lesson on the art of pairing food and wine. Chefs will also demonstrate preparations for classic Italian sauces, and during a dessert-making class, you’ll enjoy sweet bites alongside regional liquors. Last but not least, you will also make authentic Abruzzo-style pizza and appetizers. On another day, you’ll learn more Old World recipes as you create a vegetarian dish and an almond biscotti.

Truffle hunting and salami-plant tour: The group will learn how salami is made on a tour of the plant. Truffle-sniffing dogs assist in a morning truffle hunt.

Excursion to Vasto: On a day trip to Vasto, an ancient settlement on the Adriatic coast, the tour swings through the historical center of Vasto, stops at Piazza Rossetti for shopping, visits a unique Trabocco fishing house, and is topped off with a “Taste of the Adriatic” seafood lunch.

Cheese-making tour: During an afternoon excursion to the inland town of Agnone, you’ll observe the artisanal techniques used to make mozzarella, ricotta, and caciocavallo cheeses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. From what airport does the deal depart? Airfare is not included in this Groupon offer.

2. Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal? Yes. Epitourean can arrange for lodging in Rome either before or after the main tour, plus any day excursions requested.

3. How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available? Groupon customer should call 1-800-390-3292 or email customerservice@epitourean.com to inquire about desired dates. Customer should be a little flexible in choosing their dates. Epitourean will do everything possible to accommodate the requested dates, but we also run this tour virtually every week throughout the year.

4. Does my child need a Groupon, and can they stay in my room? This package is sold on a per person basis regardless of age. Due to the nature of the cooking class focus of these tours, we do not recommend kids under the age of 10. But kids pay the same price as adults in this particular package.

5. What happens if I buy the Groupon and my travel dates are not available? This package is sold on a per person basis regardless of age. Due to the nature of the cooking class focus of these tours, we do not recommend kids under the age of 10. But kids pay the same price as adults in this particular package.

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