I am so happy to share with you the article in last week’s Lismore Northern Star paper, about my father’s (Sabatino Masci) emotional journey back to where it started for him in Australia in 1952.
Travel to Italy has never gone out of fashion – in fact for Australians it is one of the top destinations we love to travel to alongside France! Almost 1 million Australians travel to Italy each year. That is alot of people, alot of travel and alot of tours to Italy.
Worldwide, the numbers of visitors to Italy total 30 million people which is staggering considering the population of Italy is in the 60 million mark!
Wherever you choose to tour Italy you will certainly come across breath taking scenery, wonderful sights such as historical Italian cities, classic architecture, hilltop villages as well as fabulous art works in wonderful world class museums.
Most travellers choose to visit the holy trinity of Italian cities – Rome, Florence and Venice. The Colosseum and Pantheon of Rome, the amazing Renaissance culture of Florence and the rich traditions, history and waterways of Venice. Each city has its own treasures to offer, but Italy can be and is so much more.
Travel to Italy from Australia takes around 24 hrs and from USA around 8 hrs or so. To travel this great distance definitely must take alot of planning and research to make it the best Italy tour and travel you can do in the time you have. Traditionally Australians tend to travel for 3 – 6 weeks while USA travellers spend around 1 – 2 weeks on their Europe travels. For Australians, Italy travel would comprise at least 2 weeks of their time away.
The preference seems to be a mix of independent travel as well as choosing a tour of Italy.
There are so many choices in the marketplace as to what is the best tour of Italy. The best choice is to be able to include real experiences of village Italy where you can immerse into the true Italian way of life, as well as being able to see important sites of historic and cultural value
By far the most rewarding experience is to be able to travel on the road less travelled to avoid queues and be able to connect with the local Italian people and culture. Only small towns and villages in Italy can offer this to the discerning traveller.
The best time to visit Italy is in the northern hemisphere Spring (May /June) and the Autumn or fall season which is September/October. The crowds travelling to Italy are much less and you can avoid the hottest months as well. Temperatures in the summer can exceed 30 deg C whereas in Spring and Autumn you will enjoy cooler temperatures of 17 – 25 deg C generally.
For travel to Italy it is always best to dress in layers so you will be prepared for various climates. Start the day in a light shirt and pants then as the evening sets in you can add a light jacket or a scarf or cardigan.
It is always best to wear comfortable non slip shoes which can take you from walking in the countryside and national park to strolling through a village or queueing in a line for a museum.
Wherever you travel in Italy, be sure to enjoy the Dolce Vita and take time to relax, unwind and sip your morning coffee in an authentic Italian cafe’ or sit in a piazza or village square and watch the world go by.
Coffees will be in the form of an espresso, which is a very short black coffee..It is unlike the coffees you are used to in Australia or in the States as you will be served a small coffee cup with about 2 cm of coffee!
If you order a ristretto, your coffee will be even smaller with about 1 cm of coffee, packed with a punch of pure coffee heaven.
You may know never, never to order a latte, as you will be served hot milk! Yes that is right, so be sure to ask for a latte macchiato – which is hot milk and a serve of coffee in that.
Enjoy your travels to Italy and be sure to find the right Italy tour for you!
Related Tag: Tours Of Italy
Learn about the latest Italy tours lined up for 2018 with Touring Abruzzo. Read about what is hot in the New Year and the exciting new destinations to central and southern Italy. Viva La Dolce Vita!
Wishing you all a very happy and special Christmas season and thank you to all our valued guests over the years…. Grazie mille!
This next year marks Luciana’s 14th year of travel to Abruzzo, Italy and over the years has shown hundreds and hundreds of wonderful guests the beauty of this central Italian region. In the last 4 yrs, Touring Abruzzo has grown with demand and requests from many past guests and so Luciana has created exciting new Italy tour itineraries which take in areas in central and southern Italy.
Like our small group tour programmes to Puglia – the ‘heel’ of Italy in the south, as well as to ‘Basilicata’ which borders Puglia and which not many travellers know about…until now!
With these fully escorted tours and with Touring Abruzzo’s knowledgeable local guides you will certainly have a full immersion into an authentic Italian lifestyle and see little known or discovered destinations. A real treat awaits you…
The hot new and interesting destination for 2018 ready to be launched by Touring Abruzzo is to the north of Abruzzo,
LE MARCHE – a land straddled between the beauty of the Adriatic coast and the Apennines to the west. Another central Italy region to explore and understand. Travel on the path less visited with us…
Read more here in Touring Abruzzo’s latest newsletter
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Mentions of Italy instantly invoke thoughts of mouth-watering food, rich local wines and family heritage dating back hundreds of years. You can experience all that and more by exploring Italy with our tours of Italy. Consider a small group tour of Italy to Abruzzo – one of Italy’s most stunning and untouched regions. By travelling with us to Abruzzo we explore traditional slow cooking, authentic food, Italian heritage, local nature and undiscovered treasures of the region as Luciana continues her mission to spread her knowledge of all things Abruzzese. Now in her 13th year as a travel ambassador, Luciana Masci, director of Touring Abruzzo, encompasses the best of Abruzzo for those who are new to the region, and those who are coming back for more.
She is still leading her small group tours to this hidden gem in central Italy with her dynamic team of local guides and professionals. There is a wide choice of 4, 8 and 10 day Abruzzo tour programmes which are all inclusive. This means there is virtually no further cost out of pocket once you have booked. You can just sit back and enjoy the journey.
“With my tours and cooking classes I am not only able to share the secrets of this wonderful region, but also recipes and history that have been passed down through my own family and are close to my heart.”
Having lived and worked in Abruzzo over the last 13 years Luciana has been able to reconnect with her ancestral heritage, her family and her village.
“Discovering my ancestral heritage was truly inspiring, and something I have had the privilege of sharing with my past tour guests in Abruzzo.”
Over the last few years Luciana has also added new exciting destinations in Italy – to make any vacation in Italy a complete one. There are now itineraries featuring other undiscovered gems in southern Italy – Basilicata and Puglia. Each explore southern Italy’s rich history, local cuisine and stunning scenery. As of 2018, Touring Abruzzo will also offer a new entry – small group tours of central Italy to the Marche region. This region lies just above Abruzzo and is worth considering on your next Italy tour. Dates have been arranged so that you can bookend 2 short programmes together such as Abruzzo then Marche or Abruzzo followed by Puglia.
What other reasons do you need to travel to Italy with Luciana and her dynamic team in 2018?
Private tours to central and southern Italy will continue to be available and heritage tours of Abruzzo will also be available.
You can contact Luciana to know more about Marche tours.
The central Italian region of Abruzzo known as the country’s ‘best-kept secret’ is giving up more of treasures to its visitors this year. And culinary delights are at the top of the list.
Steeped in fascinating history and breathtaking landscapes Abruzzo is beginning to show on the radar of people looking for the quintessential Italian food and wine travel experience.
Luciana Masci, director of Touring Abruzzo is passionate about food and where it comes from and how it is prepared and has been a member of Slow Food Italy for a long while. It was founded by Carlo Petrini in 1989 as a reaction against fast food and fast life. Today the Slow Food organization has over 100,000 members in 132 countries.
Ms Masci says the culinary delights of Abruzzo are becoming a big attraction with well travelled people looking for an authentic Italian experience.
Read the latest E-newsletter September issue by Touring Abruzzo
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Italy is one of the world’s most beautiful places and there is no better way to experience a vacation in Italy than with a tour company. There are so many companies offering Italy tour packages, whether it be to Puglia in the south or more north to Abruzzo Italy has so much to see. However, if you’re travelling to Italy and looking at some Italy travel company packages then there are some things you have to watch out for!
Large Tour Groups
If you’re planning a vacation in Italy, especially a region like Abruzzo Italy, where there are significantly less tourists, then the best way to do it is with a small tour group. Many companies offering Italy vacation packages have really large tour groups, which means you get less one on one time with your guide. Italy tour packages that include huge tour groups can take away any personal
Why Choose Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours
Many people dream of having a vacation in Italy, but going from the dream to the reality isn’t always easy. That’s why so many people choose to enjoy their vacation in Italy with the help of a high quality tour and travel guide like Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours. If you’re planning a vacation in Italy, here are a few reasons you may want to consider Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours yourself.
Our Italy Tour Packages Are The Best
There’s hardly a lack of Italy tour packages available these days, but there is a pretty big difference between the quality of what’s on offer. When you’re looking at taking a vacation in Italy, you want to make sure you’re getting the highest quality Italy tour packages, not just crowded group trips that offer little value. At Touring Abruzzo we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality Italy tour packages with small groups and a focus on the individual experience.
We Provide Authentic Italy Vacation Packages
Authenticity is such an important part of visiting a destination, and visitors want to know they’re getting to see the real Italy when they travel. That’s why Touring Abruzzo Italy is so happy to offer the most authentic of Italy vacation packages. We have a strong focus on using local guides and knowledge to ensure the Italy vacation packages we offer are a unique and authentic experience. If you want the Italy vacation packages that give you a chance to see the true Italy, it’s Touring Abruzzzo Italy who offers them.
We Offer A Variety of Italy Travel Packages
Many Italy tour guides offer only a limited number of Italy travel packages, which means you need to keep trying to find new providers if you really want to see more of Italy. This isn’t true at Touring Abruzzo, where we offer a wide range of Italy travel packages to suit any preference. From long trips to day trips, and covering many of Italy’s best and most impressive regions, our Italy travel packages are guaranteed to take your breath away.
This is just a few of the many reasons that it pays to choose a trustworthy tour provider like Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours to take you to Italy. Our satisfied customers cannot speak highly enough of our service, and we look forward to making you one of them by helping you experience Italy like never before.
A Wealth of Italy Vacations With Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours!
For those who dream of taking a trip to Italy and seeing all that ‘The Boot’ of Europe has to offer, there are Italy tours to suit everyone at Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours. Our tours of Italy stand out from the rest for their authentic, locally-connected guides and insider knowledge as well as the many experiences and locations we visit.
At Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours we believe that everyone’s trip to Italy should be unique to them, and should perfectly match everything they have always wanted to experience in Italy. That’s why we are proud to offer an enormous range of tours to Italy, spanning so much of what the land of pasta and pizza has to offer.
Our wide range of tours takes place in several Italian regions including Abruzzo, Basilicata, Puglia, and more. The Abruzzo region is where many of our Italy tours take place. We have Italy tours that encompass all of your senses, exploring the tastes of the Abruzzo area, the unseen backroads of the villages, and the unique cultural offerings of Abruzzo and its people.
If you’ve already seen Abruzzo, why not choose from one of our other Italy vacation packages, such as those exploring Puglia or Basilicata. These are the tours of Italy that will totally immerse you in Italian culture and heritage. There are endless tastes to sample, artisan products to try, and unique towns and villages to wander in with our expert guides. Yes, our tours to Italy allow you to see it all!
If you can’t choose between Abruzzo, Basilicata and Puglia, why not avoid missing out by choosing to take our Treasures of the South tour, the best in our tours to Italy. This tour takes in all three of these stunning southern regions, allowing you to see Italy as you never have before with our Italy vacation packages
Outside of the main regions, we cover you could take a wander down the Amalfi Coast on our stunning coastal tours of Italy ore explore the beauty of Lazio and Campania on our ‘Treasures of the Appian Way’ tour. Alternatively, if our longer tours do not suit your itinerary, get in touch about a customised private tour that provides a truly personalised experience. Italy has so much to offer, and no trip to Italy would be complete without a quality locally-guided tour from Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours.
Italy Tour Packages – Travel Italy
To come to Italy is the dream of many. Australians are great travelers and Italy and France are on the top of their list for their European vacation.
Italy’s 20 regions are so diverse from north, central and southern Italy.
The grand tour to Italy almost always includes the obligatory stops in Rome, Florence and Venice. To see these great historic cities are a must, however with it comes many crowds and tourists and queues of people waiting to see the same places.. People holding guide books and iphones, reading the same notes, pushing to see similar sights, it can often be daunting.
If you travel off the beaten track and east of Rome towards the Apennines and the Adriatic Coast you will get to Abruzzo. A region which has everything you dream of for an Italian vacation… minus the crowds.
Here are some reasons why Abruzzo has it all:
Book Your Next Trip To Italy – Visit Abruzzo:
Abruzzo has so much to offer from National parks, great Mediterranean coastline and beaches, ancient hilltop villages harbouring traditions and cultures as well as a great variety of cuisine.
Here you can immerse yourself in the freshest air, live like a local and meet real Italians who will welcome you with a smile.
Italy Vacations – Hike Abruzzo:
A region in Italy with 3 National Parks is quite unheard of. Abruzzo is truly the green heart of Italy and being only 3 hrs east of Rome, you can be a world away hiking in the spectacular Gran Sasso National Park where the highest peak of the Apennines looms.
It is a sanctuary for wildlife such as chamois, wolves, bears, royal eagles and otters.
Italy Tour Packages – Eat Abruzzo:
Indulge in wonderful traditional dishes rarely seen on tourist menus. Menus only written in Italian or restaurants with no menus at all, just what is fresh on the day. The Slow Food tradition is alive and well and food travels only kilometres to arrive at the table. Exquisite truffles abound here and after a private truffle hunt you can indulge in an excellent truffle degustation. Our Italy vacation packages include the finest Italian food so that you can indulge in the tastes of traditional Italian dishes.
Italy Vacation Packages – Drink Abruzzo:
The Abruzzo region is one of the top 5 producers of wine in Italy.
Here you can meet the producers and visit the winemakers and enjoy fine Montepulciano d’Abruzzo red wine. Included in our Italy vacation packages is tasting the finest wines from traditional Italian winemakers.
Vacation Abruzzo Italy – Explore Abruzzo Italy:
Abruzzo needs to be explored- wonderful secrets need to be discovered which often lie behind closed doors.
To meet a cheesemaker making great pecorino sheep’s milk cheeses, to cook Italian food with a local Abruzzese lady in her home or to meet a goldsmith who creates great pieces in gold filigree are all waiting to be experienced. Book a vacation in Italy today with Touring Abruzzo Italy Tours.
Italy Travel Packages – Photograph Abruzzo:
With 65% of this mountain region boasting hilltop villages and the perfect backdrop of the Apennines it is a photographer’s paradise.
The quiet alleyways, ancient churches and stunning countryside dotted with olive groves and vineyards are all images of real country Italy. We make sure that you visit these cultural areas in our exclusive Italy travel packages.
Tour Abruzzo Italy:
In Abruzzo English is not widely spoken and travelling to Abruzzo is not about ticking off historical sites and buildings but immersing yourself in the real Italy which is not always accessible to the mainstream tourist. However for those discerning travellers Touring Abruzzo with Luciana offers a truly up close and personal insight into an authentic Italy.