10 days, 9 nights · Best for Travelers craving authentic mountain Italy far from the crowds
Undiscovered Abruzzo: The Italy You’ve Never Seen 11 Days / 10 Nights
Castles in the clouds, wild peaks, and villages time forgot, a private romantic escape.
Some corners of Italy still belong to those willing to look beyond the postcards, and Abruzzo is the finest of them all. Pressed between the snow-capped spine of the Apennines and the wild shores of the Adriatic, this is a land of soaring peaks, emerald rivers, and honey-colored villages that seem to grow straight from the rock. On this romantic journey for two, you trade crowds for cloud-high castles, guided city walks for unhurried country drives, and tourist menus for shepherd’s arrosticini and Sulmona’s famous sugared almonds.
You will stand at Rocca Calascio, the highest fortress in the Apennines, watch wild horses drift across the Campo Imperatore plateau, glide over the crystal-clear Tirino, and lose yourselves in the medieval lanes of L’Aquila, Pacentro, and Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Hand-selected hotels, an English-speaking driver, and your own rental car for the open road keep every day intimate and flexible, while a final night in Rome adds an unforgettable Eternal City flourish. This is the Italy your friends have never seen, and the one you will never forget.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
L'Aquila, Abruzzo
L'Aquila
Mountain capital cradled beneath the Gran Sasso
We base you in L'Aquila, the proud capital of Abruzzo, rebuilt and radiating quiet resilience beneath the mighty Gran Sasso massif. By day you explore the UNESCO-listed Basilica di Collemaggio with its pink-and-white facade, the medieval Fountain of the 99 Spouts, and elegant piazzas lined with artisan shops and sun-dappled cafes. From here we take you to Rocca Calascio, the highest fortress in the Apennines, and across the vast Campo Imperatore plateau where wild horses graze. You wander the restored medieval hamlet of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and discover the rare frescoes of the Oratory of San Pellegrino in Bominaco.
Three nights here put you at the heart of the Apennines, close to the Gran Sasso and the castles that crown Abruzzo's wildest landscapes.
Arranged for you: We arrange your hand-selected hotel, private transfers from Rome Fiumicino, a local guide in L'Aquila, and a full-day excursion to Rocca Calascio, Campo Imperatore, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and Bominaco.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in L'Aquila
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Sunset aperitivo at Campo Imperatore Day Trips · Half day
We arrange a private stop on the plateau with wine and local cheese as the light falls gold across the peaks.
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Cooking class with a mountain shepherd Day Trips · Half day
Learn to shape cavatelli and prepare traditional Abruzzese lamb dishes in a stone farmhouse.
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Guided hike on the Gran Sasso Day Trips · Full day
A private mountain guide leads you along alpine meadows and ridgelines beneath Corno Grande.
Day by day in L'Aquila
Your Abruzzo love story begins the moment you leave home. This evening you depart New York from either JFK or Newark on a comfortable overnight flight bound for Rome, the gateway to a side of Italy that most travelers never reach.
Settle into your seats, enjoy dinner high above the Atlantic, and drift off as the hours slip by. By morning you will wake refreshed on the doorstep of the Eternal City, with the wild mountains of Abruzzo waiting just beyond.
Touch down at Rome Fiumicino, where an English-speaking driver is waiting to sweep you away from the crowds and north into the Apennines. As the highway gives way to winding mountain roads, Roman umbrella pines surrender to soaring peaks and stone-built villages.
By afternoon you arrive in L’Aquila, the proud capital of Abruzzo, cradled beneath the mighty Gran Sasso massif. Check into your hand-selected hotel, unwind, and raise a glass of local Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to the journey ahead.
This morning a local guide leads you into the elegant heart of L’Aquila, a city lovingly rebuilt and radiating quiet resilience. You stroll grand piazzas and honey-colored streets, pausing at the UNESCO-listed Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, whose pink-and-white geometric facade is among the most beautiful in all of Italy.
Nearby, the medieval Fountain of the 99 Spouts pours from ninety-nine carved stone faces, each one different, a centuries-old mystery. The afternoon is yours to linger in artisan shops and sun-dappled cafes, or simply to wander the old town hand in hand.
Today delivers a moment you will remember forever. You ascend to Rocca Calascio, the highest fortress in the Apennines, floating almost 1,500 meters above the valley with views that stretch to the horizon, a setting so cinematic it has starred on the silver screen.
From there you cross the vast Campo Imperatore plateau, often called Italy’s Little Tibet, where wild horses graze beneath Corno Grande. You wander the restored medieval hamlet of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, admire the rare frescoes of the Oratory of San Pellegrino in Bominaco, and pause beside the emerald waters of Lago di Capodacqua.
Sulmona, Abruzzo
Sulmona
Birthplace of Ovid in the green Peligna Valley
Sulmona becomes your elegant home for five nights, a beautiful small city nestled in the Peligna Valley and the birthplace of the Roman poet Ovid. You stroll the grand Piazza Garibaldi, framed by a soaring medieval aqueduct, and visit a historic confetti workshop where sugared almonds are shaped into flowers entirely by hand. We take you along the Tirino River, one of the clearest in Europe, where the water runs so transparent that boats seem to float on air. You wander the medieval lanes of Pacentro, counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy, and discover Campo di Giove cradled beneath the Majella peaks.
From Sulmona you reach Roccaraso's alpine meadows, the contemporary murals of Aielli, and the dramatic Gole di Fara San Martino, a slender canyon carved deep into the massif. Five nights allow you to settle into the unhurried rhythm of Abruzzese life.
Arranged for you: We arrange your hotel in Sulmona, a local guide for the city tour and confetti workshop, a Tirino River excursion near Capestrano, and the scenic transfer from L'Aquila through the Gole di Fara San Martino and Roccascalegna.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Sulmona
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Private truffle hunt in the Majella foothills Day Trips · Half day
A truffle hunter and his dog lead you into the forest, then share the harvest over lunch at his farmhouse.
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Horseback ride in the Peligna Valley Day Trips · Half day
We arrange a private ride along ancient shepherd paths with views of Morrone and Majella.
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Wine tasting at a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo estate Day Trips · Half day
A private visit to a family winery with cellar tour, vertical tasting, and lunch among the vines.
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Guided kayak on the Tirino River Day Trips · Half day
Paddle the crystal waters with a naturalist guide who points out herons, otters, and waving reeds.
Day by day in Sulmona
Leaving L’Aquila behind, today’s drive is an adventure in itself. You travel through the dramatic Gole di Fara San Martino, a slender canyon carved deep into the Majella massif, where sheer rock walls soar hundreds of feet on either side.
Further along, the storybook Roccascalegna Castle appears, perched impossibly on a rocky spur above its village. By evening you reach Sulmona, your elegant home for the days ahead, nestled in the green Peligna Valley.
A local guide reveals Sulmona, one of Italy’s most beautiful small cities and the birthplace of the Roman poet Ovid. You stroll the grand Piazza Garibaldi, framed by a soaring medieval aqueduct, past palazzi, churches, and centuries-old shopfronts.
Sulmona is also the world capital of confetti, the delicate sugared almonds shaped into flowers and bouquets. You visit a historic workshop where they are still crafted entirely by hand, a sweet tradition to taste and to carry home.
Today belongs to nature and to the two of you. You follow the Tirino, one of the clearest rivers in Europe, where the water runs so transparent that boats seem to float on air above waving green reeds.
A gentle paddle or a riverside walk near Capestrano makes for an unforgettable, romantic interlude, with herons in the shallows and the Abruzzo hills mirrored on the glassy surface. Cap the day with a long, slow country lunch.
With your rental car you set your own pace among the hill villages of the Peligna Valley. First you wander the towered lanes of Pacentro, counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy, where medieval stone houses tumble down the hillside beneath a proud castle.
Then you climb to Campo di Giove, a mountain village cradled beneath the peaks of the Majella, where the air is crisp and the vistas endless. There is time to linger over espresso in a quiet piazza and soak in the unhurried rhythm of Abruzzese life.
A day of delightful contrasts awaits. You begin in Roccaraso, Abruzzo’s beloved mountain resort, framed by alpine meadows in summer and glittering slopes in winter, a breath of fresh, high-altitude air.
Then you discover Aielli, an ancient stone village whose walls have become a canvas for striking contemporary murals, an open-air gallery crowned by the Torre delle Stelle observatory, where earth and sky seem to meet.
Rome, Lazio
Rome
The Eternal City, your journey's fitting finale
You return to Rome for a final night in the Eternal City, trading wild peaks and silent villages for the timeless grandeur of floodlit fountains and grand piazzas. The evening is yours to savor, perhaps a dinner in the lantern-lit lanes of Trastevere or a passeggiata past the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. One night here allows you to ease back into the rhythm of the city before your flight home, a fitting close to an extraordinary journey through the Italy most travelers never discover.
Arranged for you: We arrange your hotel in Rome and private transfer from Sulmona.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Rome
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Private after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums Day Trips · Half day
We arrange exclusive evening access with a guide who leads you through the Sistine Chapel in near silence.
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Food tour of Testaccio market and trattorie Day Trips · Half day
A local guide walks you through the neighborhood market and stops at family-run spots for supplì, cacio e pepe, and maritozzo.
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Sunset aperitivo on a private terrace Day Trips · Half day
We arrange Prosecco and Roman snacks on a rooftop overlooking the city as the domes turn gold.
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Ancient and Old Rome Walking Tour, Skipping the line at Colosseum Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayUnlock the secrets of the Eternal City, skip the lines and step into the world of emperors, gladiators, and gods on this lively, story-filled Roman adventure.
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Full Day Rome Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DaySee Rome your way in one unforgettable day. Vatican treasures, Imperial ruins, and iconic monuments with the ease of a dedicated tour escort.
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Papal Audience in Saint Peter’s, Vatican City Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayWitness a truly unforgettable moment in Rome, attend a Papal Audience and receive the Pope’s blessing.
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Rome by Bicycles Tour with English Speaking Guide Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DaySee more of Rome with less effort, cruise past iconic landmarks on a fun, guided bike ride made for everyone.
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Rome by Night Guided Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
See Rome at its most magical, an evening stroll through illuminated fountains, grand piazzas, and ancient ruins.
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Rome by Night guided Tour with Dinner & Show Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Fall for Rome after dark. Glowing landmarks, a romantic evening stroll, and dinner with live music to seal the moment.
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Rome: The Eternal & Ancient Rome Tour Combo Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayExperience the magic of the Eternal City with a full-day tour showcasing Rome’s most iconic historical sites.
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Rome: The Eternal City Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Discover Rome’s most iconic monuments in comfort on this tour.
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Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Guided tours Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Skip the lines and step straight into the Vatican’s greatest masterpieces. Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica with an expert guide.
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The Ancient Rome Tour Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators, discover the power, passion, and innovation that shaped the world in Ancient Rome.
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The Ancient Rome Walking Tour, Skipping the line at Colosseum Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a Day
Experience the ancient highlights of the Eternal City with a guided walking tour that takes you through Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
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The Christian Rome & Catacombs Tour with Hotel Pick Up Guided Tours and Sightseeing · Tour in a DayJourney through Rome’s spiritual heart, explore ancient basilicas, sacred relics, and the origins of Christianity in the Eternal City.
Day by day in Rome
You bid a fond farewell to the mountains and travel back toward Rome, trading wild peaks and silent villages for the timeless grandeur of the Eternal City.
The evening is yours to savor, perhaps a final Italian dinner in the lantern-lit lanes of Trastevere, or a passeggiata past floodlit fountains and piazzas, a fitting finale to an extraordinary journey.
Day 10
Arrivederci, Italy, Until Next Time
After breakfast you are transferred to Rome Fiumicino for your return flight home, your hearts full and your camera rolls overflowing.
You leave with something rare, the memory of an Italy most travelers never discover, and the quiet certainty that you will return. Arrivederci, until your next Trips 2 Italy journey.
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
We missed our connecting flight in Munich. I had just got through customs and was looking up the number to call when Trips 2 Italy called me. They told me exactly what to do and they already knew what flight we had been rebooked on.
Ready to make it yours?
Send us this adventure with your changes. An Italian-born planner builds the first full draft and calls you to walk through it.
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Questions travelers ask
When is the best time to visit Abruzzo?
Abruzzo is beautiful year round. Late spring through early autumn is ideal for exploring the villages, hiking the Gran Sasso and enjoying the Tirino River, while winter brings snow and skiing to Campo Imperatore and Roccaraso. Your journey can be tailored to the season you prefer.
How do we get around during the trip?
This journey blends a car with an English-speaking driver for arrival transfers and full-day guided excursions with a rental car for the days you wish to explore the hill villages at your own pace. It is the perfect balance of comfort and freedom.
Are international flights included?
Yes. The package includes round trip flights in economy class from New York, using the JFK and EWR departure gates, arriving into and returning from Rome Fiumicino. Alternative U.S. departure cities are available on request.
Can this itinerary be customized or extended?
Absolutely. Every Trips 2 Italy journey is fully customizable and can be extended with additional nights, regions or experiences. This sample is designed to inspire your own unforgettable Italian escape.
What kind of hotels are used?
You stay in hand selected 3-Star, 4-Star or 5-Star hotels chosen for character, comfort and location, matched to your preferences and budget.
Is this trip suitable for couples?
Yes. With its scenic drives, intimate villages and unhurried pace, this off the beaten path itinerary is designed as a romantic escape for two, though it adapts beautifully for friends or independent travelers.