Enlightened FAMtrips

Day 7:

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll meet our guide for our tour of the city of the Sassi, an UNESCO heritage site.

"The Sassi originate from a prehistoric troglodyte settlement and are suspected to be among the first human settlements in Italy. There is evidence that people were living here as early as the year 7000 BC." (Adapted from Wikipedia).

Matera is one of the most interesting, unusual and memorable tourist destinations in Italy. In the remote southern region of Basilicata (also called Lucania), still little-visited by foreign travelers, it is a town famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the Sassi. Curious visitors can stay in caves, wander the lanes alongside the picturesque cave-filled cliffs, and learn the history of this fascinating place.

After our tour, we’ll stop for lunch in a very authentic local restaurant.

The afternoon is free for you to explore, relax and a chance to visit the many lovely craft stores of the town.

Tonight we’ll dine at the hotel.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites | The sassi and the park of the rupestrian churches of Matera

Day 6:

Alberobello to Matera
This morning after breakfast, we have a day dedicated to a guided tour of the village of Alberobello, renowned throughout the world for its famous Trulli, the conical houses.

Alberobello, in the region of Puglia in southern Italy, is a strange and picturesque destination which is becoming an important fixture on the travel itineraries of tour operators as well as independent travellers. The small town has been made a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unusual districts of Trulli, the characteristic, white-washed, conical-roofed houses of the area.
https://youtu.be/I5PFeEc7vY8

Lunch in an amazing local restaurant.

This afternoon we will continue on to Matera for a visit to a traditional bakery in this area.

As the afternoon ends, we will check into such an amazing hotel - authentic to the Sassi zone. The Hotel Caveoso. https://www.caveosohotel.it

Day 5:

After the breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make our way to the Castel del Monte, a suggestive and mysterious 13th century fortress built by Frederick II of Swabia, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily. When the Emperor Frederick II built this castle near Bari in the 13th century, he imbued it with symbolic significance, as reflected in the location, the mathematical and astronomical precision of the layout and the perfectly regular shape. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Castel del Monte is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.

We'll have a guided tour of this amazing fortress.

Now as we've ended our tour, we'll stop for lunch to experience the local cuisine. 

Tonight we stay in the Alberobello area and you have the evening at your leisure.

Castel del Monte - UNESCO World Heritage Site Castel del Monte, or Mountain Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an unusual hilltop castle located in rural southern Italy. Built in the 13th century b...

Day 4 of our FAM to Italy, April 2023:

After a leisurely breakfast at the Castle which consists of delicious fresh pastries, croissants ("cornetto" in Italian"), fresh fruit, as well as waffles among other things and of course a fantastic cappuccino to top it all off! Today is a day dedicated to touring and wine tasting at the Azienda Tilli. Spectacular, breathtaking views and great wine paired with a very nice antipasto. This winery is also family owned, producing some really delicious wines of the region.

Our second winery tour at Dora Sarchese will delight you. From the history of the winery to the spectacular lunch and wine tasting, you will fall in love with this winery!

The next winery, Dora Sarchese, boasts the only fountain in Italy that pours wine! Aside from that, this beautiful winery offers a great selection of wines, one better than the one before it. After touring the winery, we'll be taken upstairs to begin our wine tasting with a 4-course lunch. Trust me, you will NOT go hungry this day!

Back to the hotel, tonight we meet for an amazing 4-course dinner with local wines in the courtyard of the hotel (weather permitting). It's so serene, taking in the beauty of the castle itself and the surrounding landscape.

The rest of the evening is at your leisure. I want to mention also that if you like to take walks in the morning, it's a very peaceful walk down the little country lane outside the castle grounds.

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Day 3: Rome to Abruzzo!

After breakfast at the hotel, we will make our way to Sulmona for about a two- hour guided tour of the town.

"Sulmona became a free commune under the Normans. Under Emperor Frederick II an aqueduct was built in the town, one of the most important constructions of the era in the Abruzzo; the emperor made it the capital of a large province, as well the seat of a tribunal and of a fair, which it however lost with the arrival of the Angevins. Despite that, it continued to expand and a new line of walls was added in the 14th century. " - (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

At the end of the guided tour, lunch in a local restaurant and in the afternoon, we will depart for Castello de Septe! "Considered one of the most beautiful Castles in central Italy, Septe has the privilege of an enviable location; stretched out on a hill crest that overlooks the Sangro Valley, our Castle turns towards the sea on one side and towards the Apennines on the other. After a long restoration the Castle is now used as a hotel and has been declared National Monument by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage." https://www.castellodisepte.com

Tonight's dinner will be on the Trabocco - what once were fishing huts and some now converted to open air ristorantes. An experience to enjoy!

Overnight stay in the widespread hotel.

Day 2 of our Hidden Gems FAM:

Our tour of Rome's hidden gems - St Paul Outside the Walls - one of Rome's four major papal Basilicas and a beautiful, spiritual experience.

Garden of the Oranges - "The Orange Trees Garden is the name used in Rome to describe the Parco Savello. It is about 7,800 square meters and is located on the Aventine Hill. The park offers an excellent view of the city. The garden, as it is today, was designed in 1932 by Raffaele De Vico. It was constructed to offer public access to the view from the side of the hill, creating a new ‘’belvedere’’, to be added to the existing viewpoints in Rome." (excerpt from Wikipedia)

Janiculum Hill - "The Janiculum is one of the best locations in Rome for a scenic view of central Rome with its domes and bell towers. " (excerpt from Wikipedia).

The Aventine Keyhole, The Catacombs and more!

Evening at leisure. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Rome

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April 2023 FAM - Day 1:

After we’ve collected our luggage at Rome FCO airport, Rome Private Excursions will be in the Ground Transportation area waiting for us! Once settled into the Mercedes vans, we’ll begin our orientation tour around the city, with perhaps a brief stop for a cappuccino or caffe latte. Lunch when you’re ready - you can decide.

Finished with our orientation, we’ll check in to our hotel. Time to relax, take a nap, just chill.

We’ll have recommendations for dinner, but be sure to check out the rooftop bar before!

Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for following our business this past year - we appreciate it! Enjoy your day!

Our itinerary for our April 2023 FAM is almost ready to send out!

Help us complete the last part:

Would you rather stay in:

1)Sorrento and tour the Amalfi Coast

Or

2) Naples and a history/culinary tour of the city

Please vote by Friday, 11/25!

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁🍽