Rome, Abruzzo and Molise: the mountains and the sea

The accommodation is one of the highlights of the tour.  It includes stays in a lovely historic hotel in the centre of Rome, just behind the Pantheon; a marvellous ‘albergo diffuso’ where we stay in meticulously restored apartments (with all the modcons) in an historic village in the Gran Sasso National Park; a beautiful, family-run ‘agriturismo’ in the middle of vineyards that has a swimming pool surrounded by gardens; and, to finish 'alla grande', another ‘albergo diffuso’ in very comfortable apartments in the historic centre of Termoli, each with seas views.

The walks on this tour are varied.  They follow trails that have been used by traders, drovers and brigands for millennia.   They include some more challenging walks on the high plains and in the spectacular mountains of the Gran Sasso National Park, as well as gentler walks in the undulating hills of Upper Molise. 

The walks range from seven to fifteen kilometres following well-marked paths over hilly terrain (see the itinerary for details).  While they are definitely walks and not hikes, you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

The food is these primarily agricultural regions is still proudly based on local seasonal produce, the so-called ‘cucina povera’ (although there is nothing at all ‘poor’ about it!).  In some respects it is simple, there are not usually any elaborate recipes or sauces, nor exotic ingredients, but in other ways it is very sophisticated, sagely combining the freshest ingredients with generational traditions to produce some healthy and very memorable culinary experiences. 

The four pillars of the mountain cuisine are seasonal vegetables, bread, cheese and wine.  Local specialities include: pasta alla chitarra (fresh egg pasta cut into long, rough strands, perfect for catching the flavours); legume soups; polenta enriched with cheeses, ragu and mushrooms; scrippelle (egg-based crepes, served in chicken broth); lamb (arrosticini, skewers of tiny cubes of lamb roasted over hot coals); and sweets such as an endless variety of deep fried pastries including cicerchiatta, pan dell’orso and calgionetti.  Down on the coast for the end of the tour, we will enjoy very fresh seafood, including the celebrated 'brodo di Termoli', a stupendous fish soup.

Abruzzo and Molise also produce some very good wines including reds like Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Tintilia and whites such as Trebbiano and Bombino.

Simon Tancred will lead the tour and we will be accompanied on the all walks by a fully qualified local guide.  The founder and director of Hidden Italy walking tours, Simon has over thirty years’ experience hiking and walking in Italy, including twenty-five years leading group tours for Hidden Italy.  ‘Great Walks’ magazine recently said he had the best job in the world… (there are other much more worthy jobs around but I am lucky my passion has become my profession) - click here to read the interview.