A typical itinerary for a photography holiday to Abruzzo

Absolutely everything mentioned in the following itinerary is included in the price of the holiday. Many of our guests do not spend any money while away!

Day 1

Welcome drinks and Villa Danilo

After landing you will be given a warm Abruzzese welcomed at the airport by your tutors and guides. From here we drive to our beautiful rural hotel in the heart of the Majella National Park, Villa Danilo. On arrival we will enjoy a poolside glass of Prosecco and some nibbles. Before dinner the tutors will give a brief introduction to the holiday with an aperitif, of course, and then it’s down to the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant for your first of many mouth watering meals.

Day 2

Photography lesson and the Medieval town of Pescocostanzo

A good night's sleep is followed by a traditional Abruzzese breakfast. After a photography class by the pool, we travel to the beautiful medieval town of Pescocostanzo. Here you have the chance to experiment with composition while exploring the cobbled alleyways of this historic town.

Picnic lunch in the hills of the Majella National Park (May-September)

From here we drive into the heart of the Majella National Park where there is plenty of opportunities to take stunning landscape shots. It is here, by a picturesque mountain stream, that we enjoy an unforgettable picnic lunch, courtesy of Villa Danilo’s head chef, who only uses the very best local ingredients.

Leisurely afternoon, truffle hunting and dinner

After a slow drive down the hill, where we stop off along the way at some of the most stunning vistas, we arrive back at the hotel. As the shadows lengthen, we put on our walking boots and wander into the hills to go truffle hunting with a local hunter and his dogs. After finding some truffles (hopefully!) we can sit in the long grass and watch the sunset over the Abruzzese landscape.

This evening, following a look at the day’s images, we have dinner at an idyllic agriturismo, in a recently renovated water mill.

Day 3

Morning photography lesson and our next hotel

After a photography class by the pool, we drive through some stunning scenery, stopping off on the way to take in and photograph the landscape. Soon we will arrive at our next hotel in Torricella where the owner, Nicola, will give us a warm welcome. After settling into our rooms, Nicola will be eager for us to sit down to a hearty Italian lunch, which he will have prepared with his mother, Rosanna.

The ancient town of Gessopalena and dinner

A leisurely afternoon in the town of Torricella is followed by a visit to the ruined hilltop town of Gessopalena. Here we will have our third photography lesson and experiment with what we have learnt. As the sun goes down, the evening is welcomed in with a salami and cheese-tasting experience and a glass or two of some ice cold Prosecco, all while taking in the spectacular views of Abruzzo. From here we drive to one of the region’s most celebrated agriturismos to feast on some exquisite local food and wine, followed by a look at everyone’s photographs.

Day 4

The hilltop town of Pennadomo, Roccacalegna castle, wine tasting and lunch

This morning we will put everything that we have learnt so far into practice. We first visit the photogenic hillside village of Pennadomo and its breathtaking rocky peak, the top of which has commanding views of Lake Bomba and the Abruzzo hills. We then drive to Roccacalegna, a medieval castle perilously perched on a rocky outcrop. After exploring the castle, we have a wine and cheese tasting session before sitting down to lunch.

Leisurely afternoon and gala dinner

This afternoon is spent back at our hotel where you have the chance to sit individually with a tutor and go through your photographs. This evening we will be eating at another of Abruzzo’s highly regarded agriturismos, where we will feast on a mouth watering array of locally grown food and wine while looking at everyone’s photographs. If we are lucky, before we leave, we will also be treated to the beautiful operatic singing voice of Anton, the farmer and agriturismo owner.

Day 5

Pasta making and goodbyes

After a leisurely breakfast, Nicola’s mother, Rosanna, kindly shows us how to make fresh pasta the Italian way! While Rosanna prepares a beautiful farewell lunch for us, there is just time for a final trouble shooting session, before we sit down to eat the fruits of our morning’s labour. But soon it’s time to leave Hotel Cape and say our farewells to Nicola and Rosanna, as we head back to the airport and arrivederci!