Unusual Marche & Abruzzo

Departure is an exciting time for many travellers. It marks the beginning of an adventure. Today you will start to be part of a community, which will give you a rewarding travel experience. You will have the opportunity to turn a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you to BOLOGNA. After your welcome at the airport, we will head to Fano, a pretty seaside resort in the Marche region, located on the Adriatic coast, about 50 km south of Rimini, where we will arrive in the late afternoon. The region of Marche will give you dream beaches, historic villages of great charm perched on gentle hills where time seems to have stopped, unique natural and artistic beauties, excellent gastronomy and wines of the highest quality. Hotel accommodation in Fano, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will dedicate the morning to visit Pesaro. Birthplace of Rossini, the famous composer of the Barber of Seville. Pesaro is with its golden beaches, a popular seaside resort and, on the other hand, a city with a rich cultural past with a historic center of the classic Roman cross structure with archaeological finds
Roman, medieval walls and splendid Renaissance palaces. Lunch in a typical restaurant, actually in the oldest tavern of the city built in an old palace of the sixteenth century. In the afternoon we will go to the Natural Park Monte San Bartolo north of Pesaro and make a short stop at Fiorenzuola di Focara, a pretty medieval village 200 m above sea level that has a free beach, paradise for lovers of tranquility. Our day will end with the visit of Gradara, a beautiful medieval village perfectly preserved and dominated by its splendid fortress (entrance included). Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Urbino, the birthplace of Raphael, rich in art and history, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998, stands majestically among the hills of the Marche protected today by its Renaissance walls remained almost intact. In the company of a local guide, we will walk through its many narrow and winding alleys, the vaulted passages, which give it an incomparable charm, we will admire the Republic Square, the splendid Ducal Palace, where we will see the apartments of the Dukes of Urbino but also works by Uccello, Raphael (entrance included). After a good typical lunch in a restaurant in the center, we will continue our discovery with the birthplace of Raphael (entrance included), the oratory of Saint Joseph that encloses, a crib in stucco, considered the oldest crib in the world, made with life-size sculptures (entrance included). Dinner and overnight in hotel in the region of Montesilvano in Abruzzo.

After breakfast, drive to Lanciano, a splendid medieval town on the Adriatic coast and visit its historic centre, divided into four ancient districts that rise on three hills. We will walk along the scenic road that runs along one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in Italy: the «Trabocchi» Coast. This stretch of coast that sees the alternation of sandy beaches or pebbles to rocks and beautiful cliffs overlooking the sea takes its name from the “Trabocchi” or “Trabucchi”, particular wooden buildings made up of a pile house that extends from the beach towards the sea, once  “fishing machines”, as Gabriele D’Annunzio called them, today they are mostly restaurants with few tables and a true cuisine of fish. Lunch in a overflow (visit of the overflow included). In the afternoon, we will continue to Ortona, beautiful town overlooking the sea. We will visit its historic centre. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Atri, one of the most beautiful and important cities in the region, which has managed to preserve a historical heritage, architectural and cultural testimony of its glorious history. This elegant town is rich in works of art. We will visit the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Municipal Theatre (outside), the Church of Santa Riparata with its rich baroque decorations, the Medieval fortress of Capo d’Atri and the belvedere Domenico Martella that will offer us a magnificent panorama on the calanques surrounding the city and on the massif of the Gran Sasso. We will continue in the direction of L’Aquila, a city with many facets, born, according to legend, from the union of 99 castles in Abruzzo. The original number of castles was 100, but in the end one fell back and 99 squares with 99 churches and 99 fountains were founded. After lunch, visit the historic center of L’Aquila that preserves, even if devastated by the earthquake of 2009, splendid monuments. Return to the hotel area Sulmona, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Sulmona, famous for the production of confetti and for having given birth to Ovid. Visit the city with the Cathedral of San Panfilo, the Holy House of SS. Annunziata (outside), the Church of S. Maria della Tomba with its romanesque-gothic facade and the Confetti Museum (free admission). Lunch in Sulmona. In the afternoon we will leave for Pescocostanzo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We will stroll through the charming streets of the historic center, characterized by the ancient noble palaces, the beautiful Collegiate Church, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Colle, and the old workshops specialized in the processing of precious metals and iron. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for Tivoli, a privileged holiday spot during the late Republican era of rich Romans who built their villas here, first of all the Emperor Hadrian himself, visiting the Villa d’Este and its magnificent gardens. Villa d’Este will impress you with the beauty of its rooms and its magnificent garden, which includes an impressive concentration of fountains, caves, water features, waterfalls and caves immersed in lush nature (entrance included). Lunch. In the late afternoon hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.

On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. We will accompany you to the airport to help you with the boarding logistics. Today we close a chapter and open a new one, we will say goodbye, but you are part of our community, you will carry with you the promise of new future adventures even more extraordinary. While you wait for your flight, reflect on the extraordinary experiences you have experienced during your journey: from delicious dishes to natural wonders discovered along the way. You will prepare to face the daily routine with new energy. Good return home.