Why You’ll Love This Trip

• Explore four lesser-known regions of Italy, away from the country’s busiest tourist circuits.
• Enjoy a slower pace, with three nights in each destination for a more immersive and comfortable journey.
• Stay in carefully selected 4★ boutique hotels, countryside properties and charming local stays.
• Experience Tropea’s dramatic coastline, Matera’s UNESCO-listed Sassi, Abruzzo’s mountain villages and Molise’s deeply authentic rural character.
• Taste the real Italy through local specialties, from Calabrian seafood and ’nduja to Aglianico del Vulture and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines.
• Discover artisan traditions, scenic drives, village life and cultural encounters that feel genuine rather than staged.
• Balance guided experiences and tastings with free time, creating the right mix of structure, flexibility and discovery.

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Who This Trip Is For

This journey is ideal for travelers who have already experienced Italy’s classic highlights and are now looking for regions that feel more authentic, local and less crowded.

It is especially suited to:

• food and wine lovers drawn to regional ingredients, traditional recipes and family-run producers;
• curious travelers who enjoy village life, artisan workshops, landscapes and slower rhythms;
• couples, friends and small groups seeking comfort and character without excessive formality;
• guests who prefer meaningful travel experiences over fast-paced sightseeing.

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Day 1 – Arrival in Calabria

Arrive at Lamezia Terme Airport, where you will be met and privately transferred to your selected boutique coastal hotel on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

After time to settle in and enjoy the atmosphere of Southern Italy’s coastline, your journey begins with a welcome dinner featuring fresh local seafood and regional wines — a perfect first introduction to the warmth and flavors of Calabria.

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Day 2 – Calabria – Tropea & the Tyrrhenian Coast

Spend the day discovering Tropea, one of Calabria’s most beautiful seaside towns. Explore its cliffside historic center, panoramic terraces and lively piazzas overlooking the sea.

In the afternoon, enjoy a tasting of local specialties such as ’nduja, Pecorino del Monte Poro and seasonal produce that reflects the bold culinary identity of the region.

Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening by the coast.

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Day 3 – Calabria – Coastal Leisure & Local Flavors

Your third day in Calabria is designed at a slower rhythm. You may relax by the sea, enjoy time at the hotel, or continue exploring the surrounding coastline and villages.

Optional experiences can include a sunset boat excursion, additional tastings, or a deeper culinary experience focused on Calabrian traditions.

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Day 4 – Calabria to Basilicata – Arrival in Matera

Depart Calabria and travel onward to Basilicata, crossing inland landscapes that reveal another side of Southern Italy.

Upon arrival in Matera, join a guided visit of the extraordinary Sassi, the UNESCO-listed cave dwellings that make the city one of the most fascinating destinations in Italy. Learn about its unique architecture, layered history and remarkable cultural transformation.

Check in to your boutique hotel or cave-style property. Dinner is arranged in a restored cave restaurant, where regional flavors are served in a truly atmospheric setting.

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Day 5 – Basilicata – Matera in Depth

Today offers more time to experience Matera beyond its first impressions. Wander through its stone lanes, scenic viewpoints and ancient quarters, or simply enjoy free time to absorb the city’s unique atmosphere at your own pace.

Optional experiences may include visits to rock churches, artisan workshops or additional guided cultural explorations.

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Day 6 – Basilicata Countryside & Aglianico del Vulture

Head into the Basilicata countryside to discover small hill towns, artisan traditions and the quieter rhythms of rural Southern Italy.

You may visit local ceramic or weaving ateliers and meet craftspeople preserving time-honored skills. Later, continue to a family-run wine estate to taste Aglianico del Vulture, one of Southern Italy’s most distinctive red wines.

Return to Matera or your countryside accommodation for an evening at leisure.

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Day 7 – Basilicata to Abruzzo – Into the Mountains

Leave Basilicata behind and travel north towards Abruzzo, a region of dramatic mountain scenery, strong traditions and some of Italy’s most striking natural landscapes.

After arrival, settle into a countryside inn or mountain lodge surrounded by nature. Depending on timing, the afternoon may include a first introduction to the area through a village walk or quiet time at the property.

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Day 8 – Abruzzo – Wine & Nature

Today is dedicated to Abruzzo’s landscapes and winemaking traditions. Visit vineyards known for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano, meet local producers and enjoy tastings that highlight the character of the region.

In the afternoon, spend time in or near Gran Sasso National Park, with the possibility of a gentle walk, scenic drive or optional e-bike experience suitable for varying fitness levels.

Return to your accommodation for a peaceful evening.

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Day 9 – Abruzzo – Villages & Shepherd Traditions

Discover another side of Abruzzo through its mountain communities and food heritage. Visit a traditional village and stop at a shepherd’s cheese farm, where you can learn about local production methods and enjoy tastings of regional cheeses.

The rest of the day remains relaxed, allowing time to appreciate the landscape, the property, or a local trattoria recommended by your hosts.

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Day 10 – Abruzzo to Molise – Rural Italy Revealed

Continue towards Molise, one of Italy’s least visited and most surprising regions, known for medieval towns, agricultural traditions and a deeply authentic atmosphere.

Along the way, stop in Sulmona, famous for its colorful confetti candies, and visit an artisan workshop to learn how they are made.

Arrive in or near a medieval hill town in Molise and check in to a simple yet characterful boutique property.

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Day 11 – Molise – Villages, Traditions & Slow Rhythms

Spend the day exploring Molise’s lesser-known beauty through its villages, local traditions and rural identity.

This is a region that rewards slow travel: quiet streets, historic stone centers, local food traditions and a sense of Italy untouched by mass tourism. Optional experiences may include countryside tastings, artisan encounters or cultural activities rooted in local heritage.

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Day 12 – Molise – Leisure & Authentic Encounters

A third night in Molise allows time to slow down even further and experience the region in a more natural, unhurried way.

You may enjoy the area independently, visit nearby villages, or add an optional experience focused on traditional music, local cuisine or agricultural heritage. This final full day helps the journey end with the same calm rhythm that defines the entire itinerary.

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Day 13 – Departure

After breakfast, your journey through Forgotten Italy comes to an end.

A private transfer will take you to Rome or Naples Airport, depending on your onward travel plans.

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What’s Included

Accommodation

12 nights in carefully selected 4★ boutique hotels, countryside inns and characterful local stays across:

• Calabria
• Basilicata
• Abruzzo
• Molise

Transportation

• Private arrival transfer from Lamezia Terme Airport to your hotel in Calabria
• Transfers between destinations as per itinerary
• Private departure transfer to Rome or Naples Airport

Guided Tours & Experiences

• Guided exploration of Tropea and tasting of Calabrian specialties
• Guided visit of Matera’s Sassi
• Visits to artisan workshops as per program
• Wine tasting in Basilicata featuring Aglianico del Vulture
• Wine tastings in Abruzzo featuring Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano
• Visit to a shepherd’s cheese farm in Abruzzo with tasting
• Cultural and village-based experiences in Molise, as per program

Meals

• Daily breakfast
• Welcome dinner in Calabria
• Dinner in a cave restaurant in Matera
• Selected tastings as specified in the itinerary

Support

• English-speaking guides for included scheduled experiences
• On-trip assistance from our local team during business hours

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What’s Not Included

• International flights to and from Italy
• City or tourist taxes, payable locally
• Meals and drinks not specifically mentioned in the program
• Optional activities and private upgrades
• Personal expenses, gratuities and travel insurance

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Upgrade Your Forgotten Italy Journey

This itinerary can be elevated to a premium or ultra-luxury experience with upgraded hotels, private drivers, dedicated guides, exclusive tastings, farm-to-table dinners, sunset boat excursions and tailor-made cultural experiences.

Our travel designers can adapt the journey to match your preferred level of comfort, style and exclusivity while preserving the spirit of Italy’s most authentic and lesser-known regions.