A Taste of Abruzzo, Central Italy and the Adriatic Coast

Abruzzo is one of the best kept secrets in all of Italy. An incredible experience and a fantastic week. I can’t decide if the food was the highlight or the views, or possibly our hosts. Whether you are a novice in the kitchen or a seasoned cook, you’ll enjoy learning something new as you create memories with your new found friends. Can’t wait to go back!

Awesome surprise! From the wonderful staff who make you feel just like family, to our newly acquired friends that we met along the way, this tour is definitely 5-star. The accommodations, meals, cooking classes, offsite excursions, and the absolutely gorgeous hilltop setting all exceeded our expectations. While there was ample time for relaxation, my wife and I experienced not one moment of boredom. This was truly one of the best experiences we have ever had in Italy!

Amazing culinary experience with tours of local area. Amazing food from the first night until the last night ! Our host and staff were the most accommodating . Dino the chef was the best instructor, we all came away with the love of Italian food and the proper way to select fresh ingredients and safely prepare food.

My father's family immigrated to America from the Abruzzo region, so I've always wanted to learn more about my Italian roots. When the opportunity came up to join a small group of friends on a cooking vacation to Abruzzo, I couldn't resist. Everything went so smoothly. Not at all like my previous adventures in Italy. We landed in Rome and were picked up at the airport. While the drive to Abruzzo was almost 4 hours long, it was absolutely gorgeous. We went over the mountains that divide the central part of Italy, and arrived at a hilltop village that was just stunning. Our host and the rest of the staff did everything they could to accommodate any requests and to make our stay more comfortable. Each day we got to roll up our sleeves and experiment in the kitchen during the cooking classes, and at other times we were off on excursions to learn the art of cheese making, olive oil pressing, and even a truffle hunt. On one day we even went to a small village in the mountains to see firsthand how the bells are made for the Vatican. This was by far the most organized and hospitable trip I have ever been on!

This glowing review is long overdue. For years I had been dreaming about the Abruzzo trip. I had read through all the reviews and had never seen so many raves about one experience. And I want to add mine to the pile. I took my 79 year old mother with me on this trip. We are both foodies who love to cook and adventurous world travelers. Originally from NYC we are used to wonderful food and this trip was honestly a highlight in our lives. I am an off the beaten path traveler and this trip met my expectations on every level. The stunning location of this jewel property and the joy of opening my shutters every morning to the bells of the church and the beauty of the view was like living in the film Enchanted April. All the meals were wonderful as were the cooking classes and excursions. The following Christmas we made the tiramisu for our holiday dessert at home and savored our memories of this very special vacation. This trip is an authentic experience of Italy. Breathtakingly beautiful. Peaceful. Deeply restorative. Inspiring. And delicious beyond imagining. We added a week in Florence after this experience to reenter the world and experience more traditional tourist elements as this week in Abruzzo is less about doing and more about being. But that is how I think Italy is best experienced- savoring it, not running around. Just Eating, walking, having conversations surrounded by beauty. If you have been sitting on the fence wondering if this trip is worth the cost and long bus ride from Rome to arrive at the top of the hill- without any hesitation I encourage you to go. I know it will become a highlight of your life too.

This was the best experience ever!! You and your company handled all details of our trip, and we just truly enjoyed our vacation without any hassles. We will definitely contact you for further trips!!!

We had a great trip and loved every minute. Cristina, Sarah, Francesco and Dino were great at their jobs, and lots of fun with all the guests. We loved the recipes and the cookbook, and I am planning to try the stuffed artichokes tonight! We spent four days in Rome before meeting the group for our transfer to Abruzzo.

Our week in Abruzzo was fabulous! Each cooking class was laid out perfectly from the beginning of the history of the dish, to the explanation of ingredients and purpose of exact preparation, to the final serving/plating. The kitchen is set up perfectly. We are fairly experienced as our neighbors are chefs and also own a vineyard. However, I must say: each dish we prepared, both of us learned new and insightful tips on preparation, purpose of sequencing etc. which was very helpful! We absolutely thoroughly enjoyed the week and are doing another Edible Destinations tour next fall in Spain!

The Palazzo far exceeded my expectations. We had such a great time. The accommodations were five stars and so were the cooking classes, meals, and trips. I can't say enough about it. I hope to sign up again next year.

I really enjoyed my trip to Abruzzo. What a beautiful place!! We were literally on top of a mountain. The hosts were wonderful. The food and the cooking classes were great.

This is our last day in Abruzzo...on our way to Rome. This week has been a phenomenal experience. The food was fantastic, Massimo and his staff were wonderfully accommodating, the views spectacular and the people in our group were very nice and friendly. I have been to Europe 9x and this culinary trip has been one of the highlights of our travels. Chef Dino and the rest of the staff put on a show for our final evening with lots of singing and laughter. It ended our trip on a very happy note.