What sets you apart?
\nAt Experience BellaVita, we work to promote and sustain Abruzzo\u2019s culinary & cultural traditions, especially those which are endangered of becoming obsolete.<\/p>\n
Our mission is to guide you in your discovery of authentic, wholesome and sustainable, Italian countryside living in the region of Abruzzo or as we like to call it the \u2018bella vita,\u2019 via a truly unique experience which will be tailored to your specific interests and needs.<\/p>\n
Many curious minds who are inspired by Italy\u2019s culture, food and beauty are keen to experience, and have an insider look at the real Italy and lifestyle, or as we know it: \u2018the dolce\/bella vita\u2019 during their travels here. They want an authentic look at how we, passionate Italians, live and what we eat, drink, our cultural traditions, and a bona fide peek into our everyday lives. But not all travellers manage to discover all this. Are you curious as to why that is? Well, it could be one or more of the following. An unfamiliarity of the region, language barriers, local travel logistics. However, the perfect solution to these challenges is professional, native tour leaders, who have extensive cultural, regional and local knowledge, and up-to-date information. Not to mention having curious minds themselves and a passion for their work and the area in which they live and a desire to share! Being very familiar with their locales, inside and out, along with cultural and historical knowledge, they are proficient in planning the best, unforgettable Abruzzo adventures catering to individual interests and needs. <\/p>\n
Authentic Local Knowledge, Family Traditions
\nWe are Abruzzo natives and our families have lived in the region for generations. That said, we have many connections in our locales and private access to harder-to-reach places, like historic residences & our friends\u2019 private domiciles and businesses. You will hear stories first-hand from Abbruzzese natives and have the opportunity to discover and sample old family recipes that locals pass on from generation to generation. We provide exclusive culinary experiences and show you how we, the locals live. In addition, speaking the local dialect, we are privy to connect with local, lesser-know artists and artisans, professionals, and off-the-beaten-track places where non-locals wouldn\u2019t think to venture. <\/p>\n
International Expertise and Background
\nSeveral of our Experience BellaVita family have also travelled extensively or lived abroad, and gained international experiences. This expertise, together with our firm, authentic local knowledge, allows us to deliver high-quality and unique services to our visiting clients. Besides our organized and professional approach, we are here for you in not only Italian, but also fluent English and Spanish.<\/p>\n
100% Local = High-quality
\nGreat emphasis is placed on working together with the best, high-quality local producers and artisan partners, no matter if it is accommodation, transport services, wineries, restaurants, or trekking tour guides, etc. Before forming a partnership, we personally vet and get to know our partners via our own incognito experience as tourists, just like you, and we select only the best ones! They are as enthusiastic about Abruzzo and their profession as we are and share the same dedication to our local culture and heritage. <\/p>\n
Our Abruzzo Mission
\nThink globally, act locally! We are strongly dedicated to giving back to our community. We support local, small, and family-run companies. This way, we boost the local economy of these fascinating hamlets that are otherwise endangered of vanishing. On the other hand, we hope that our mission will inspire other young passionate locals to move back to their towns and keep their traditions alive with the support of curious visitors like yourself.<\/p>\n
Small groups, slow experiences, and sustainability
\nWe will introduce you to our slow-life experience and you will discover our authentic, provincial Italian lifestyle or \u2018bella vita\u2019. We limit the number in our tour groups to 8 people to provide you a personal and unique experience. Whether you\u2019re travelling alone or are part of a small group, we provide all the personal attention you would require. We genuinely care about quality and not quantity.
\nSo far we have proudly guided more than 400 satisfied travellers from 35 countries around the world, and who we consider friends and an extended part of our Experience BellaVita family. We care not only about promoting our local community, it\u2019s sustainability and preserving its traditions, we want to share our enthusiasm and pride with all that visit. <\/p>\n
Be our Experience BellaVita Friend!
\nYou are not just another tourist for us! You arrive as a guest and leave as our friend, after:
\nHaving enjoyed every single moment of your stay with us in Abruzzo! (We hope!)
\nTaking along with you memories of all of which you experienced, like new recipes, tastes, culinary and various rustic skills, and local traditions. We hope you will be inspired to share these memories with friends and family and even return again one day to visit us again!
\nWe encourage everyone to keep in touch! Tour guests can expect to be informed of news firsthand. Complete with interesting facts, new partners, and more opportunities to discover Abruzzo!<\/p>\n
What are some interesting facts about your business?
\nWe are the first and only one in the world to offer a Virtual Truffle Hunt! We came up with a fantastic idea to share our passion and knowledge for one of the world\u2019s most coveted foods online! We incorporate a live, informative session on truffles, truffle growing, and the mysterious business of truffles, along with a pre-recorded truffle hunt video, and finally a Q&A period for curious attendees to query us further and test our knowledge, and all this online via Zoom! <\/p>\n
We are also the first and thus far the only tour\/experience group in the world* to offer a Virtual Beekeeping Experience where bee-lovers and conservation-minded folk can contribute to save the bees and support local beekeepers by adopting a personalized* beehive! \u2018Personalized,\u2019 meaning we actually paint the hive adopter\u2019s name right on to the hive, watch the video <\/p>\n
Overall, Italy-curious visitors choose us because we\u2019re passionate natives rooted in Abruzzo. If we are considering a collaboration we personally handpick our local collaborators like secret shoppers! We want that our wine, cheese and oil producers to be enthusiastic as we are about our homeland, who all have unique stories to share!<\/p>\n
During the pandemic, our small communities were hit hard. In order to support our local food producers (with whom we organise our tours), we decided to collaborate on an initiative to share their products via a \u2018Experience BellaVita Abruzzo Gift Box.\u2019
\n we thought it perfect for those who were forced to cancel their travel plans or simply for those who just love Italian food! It is available to order online and it has been very successful!<\/p>\n
Our Merits
\nWe feel blessed and proud to have hosted over 400 happy and satisfied travellers from 35 different countries worldwide, many of who we now consider friends.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re continuously flattered and appreciate all the positive feedback we receive. A number of guests who have also visited Tuscany, even freely admit that they particularly prefer Abruzzo for its authenticity & warm hospitality.<\/p>\n
Experience BellaVita\u2019s Founder
\nMy name is Marino Cardelli, and as the founder of Experience BellaVita I will be your personal Tour Leader during your visit to Abruzzo in Central Italy.<\/p>\n
I was born and raised in Campli, a beautiful little village in Abruzzo which was recently listed as one of the finest \u2018borghi\u2019 in Italy – quite an important distinction for us! Campli is located just a short distance from the city of Teramo. I’m truly passionate about our regional gastronomy, culture and history, and I enjoy sharing my local knowledge with inquisitive visitors of this spectacular area. In my spare time, you can find me either cooking or exploring, as I enjoy meeting new people and discovering fascinating locales, historical places of interest, and sampling food and drink from around Abruzzo.<\/p>\n
In the past I had moved away from home to attend university in Edinburgh and following graduation I spent some time working in Scotland. However despite my success\u2026 I found I wanted to distance myself from corporate environments and return to my grass roots.
\nDuring my stay in the UK and before deciding to return to Italy, I pondered as to why tourists primarily visited Italian tourist hubs such as Florence, Venice and Rome, and didn\u2019t venture further? When aside from visiting famous monuments and museums, other less-travelled areas of Italy like Abruzzo, have so much to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas there a way I could share my passion for my home-culture and gastronomy while contributing to the local economy\/sustainability and enrich the experience of travellers visiting my region? Could I actually get travellers interested in Abruzzo and off-the-beaten-track travel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, I decided to return home and begin this concept of presenting authentic Abruzzo culture via food tours, cooking demos and exploration of this lesser-known destination with its pristine nature, majestic mountains, national parks, and a long stretch of beautiful seaside coast and call it \u2018Experience BellaVita.\u2019 Within my first year I had many travellers from all over the world. I also become a certified tour manager in Italy and recently advised the local government on initiatives to promote sustainable tourism in Abruzzo.<\/p>\n
Experience BellaVita Tour & Services
\nHeritage Services
\nReconnect with your Italian heritage, learn more about your Italian ancestors, visit their hometowns, meet relatives, discover their way of life and acquire help with Italian citizenship. We can help make it all happen.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.experiencebellavita.com\/tour\/abruzzo-heritage-services-tour-of-abruzzo%e2%80%8b\/<\/p>\n
Day Experiences
\nA set of authentic experiences including: truffle hunting, cookery classes, cheese-making, wine & olive oil tastings, visits to wineries, villages and independent artisans.<\/p>\n