Begin Your Pottery

You’ll visit the oldest pottery studio in town and meet the ceramists Antonio and Vincenzo di Simone.

After teaching you about the ancient pottery making story of Castelli, Antonio and Vincenzo will show us their own pieces and their personal collection of ceramics and ancient tools.

Next, you’ll have your first pottery class! The exact nature of the class will be determined based on the skill level of the participants. After booking, you’ll receive a questionnaire to better understand your skill level.

You’ll learn about slip, drying, timing and the baking method.

Traditional lunch in a Castelli trattoria.

After finishing off your pottery class, you’ll visit the International Ceramics collection and pottery school, and UNESCO candidate, Nativity and San Donato Chapel – known as the Sistine Chapel of Majolica.

Complete the evening in Vasco at a traditional restaurant for dinner with new friends.

Accommodation

Explore Vasto and Pottery in the Hills

After breakfast, explore the Vasto historic center.

Discover Loggia Amblingh, a promenade overlooking the fascinating crescent-shaped coastline, the old town with its medieval Castle, charming lanes, a tower, the Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti, dedicated to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet from the town and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

You’ll then move onto Vasto Marina, by the beach, for lunch and some free time to relax, have a walk or swim in the blue Adriatic Sea.

After a short break at the hotel, you’ll visit the little hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore’s “Fattoria d’Arte” (art farm).

Surrounded by an amazing landscape with a stunning view of the sea, mountains, hills and small towns, you can enjoy your second pottery class, followed by a traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara.

Accommodation

Fishing and Landscape Painting

After breakfast, explore the famous Trabocchi coast and visit a traditional trabocco (the symbol of the area), mostly built with acacia wood and railway iron sleepers.

There you’ll have an exclusive watercolor class with Antonio, a local painter, to capture unique landscapes from a beautiful viewpoint on the Adriatic Sea.

Weather permitting, Rinaldo, our host, will demonstrate how to fish from the trabocco and reveal the secrets behind Abruzzo’s unique fishing platforms that have been featured in the BBC TV show: Escape to the Continent.

Rinaldo’s wife, Maria, will prepare fish from the Adriatic Sea for a fresh seafood lunch on the ocean.

In order to fully experience the Italian culture, you need time to explore on your own, so some free time has been scheduled for the tour this afternoon.

During this time, enjoy one of Vasto’s many beaches or museums, wander through town and explore the shops and art galleries, or just have a walk in the “piazza” to enjoy the relaxing Vasto atmosphere.

In the evening go out to find dinner in one of the many restaurants in Vasto. Obviously, Fabrizio will give you suggestions on his favorite places – this evening meal is not included in the price.

Traditional Markets and Authentic Cuisine

In the morning, walk out to visit Vasto’s colorful market and source some seasonal products with your host. Here, you can practice a little bit of Italian even if you don’t speak a word of it… Fabrizio can help!

Next, drive to the beautiful countryside outside Vasto, where you’ll meet Fabrizio’s family and enjoy an exclusive cooking class with them. You’ll learn how easy it is to make fresh pasta and get acquainted with fresh Abruzzo sauces.

An example menu based on Fabrizio’s family recipes includes bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce and polpette (meatballs), and Tiramisù – come hungry!

After a short break at the hotel, you’ll visit the little hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore’s “Fattoria d’Arte”- (art farm), where you’ll have your third pottery class, followed by a traditional dinner with Ettore and his wife Barbara.

Wine and Olive Oil

After breakfast, visit an olive grove that has been farmed by Giovanni’s family for three generations to produce DOP olive oils. He will uncover the secrets of what Homer described as “liquid gold” and you will finish with an olive oil tasting.

Next, you’ll visit an award winning winery that sits between a marine park and the mountains. You’ll enjoy a wine tasting and lunch with pairings of local cheeses and salami, along with a tour of the vineyard and its cellars, organized by the winemakers Emanuele and Nicola.

After lunch and some free time to relax and pack, or do some last-minute shopping, you’ll drive to the little hilltop village of Lentella at Ettore’s “Fattoria d’Arte” for your final pottery class.

In the evening, come together for a farewell dinner party with Ettore and Barbara as an Italian family immersed in the Abruzzo’s countryside.

Departure Day

After breakfast, you’ll head off (usually at 09:00 am) for Rome Fiumicino airport or your next destination (Rome Fiumicino is about 3.5 hours driving from Vasto). Please let us know if you need help with alternative departures and options.