Exploring the Wild Heart of Italy - Ciociaria & Molise - and Istria, Croatia.
Following in the footsteps of ancient Celtic tribes from the Bronze Age…
[and the ancient Romans too]
INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY.
We will be following in the footsteps of the ancient Celtic tribes of Ciociaria, Molise & Istria who first settled these lands in the Bronze Age around 5,000 years ago. They are all ethnographically linked and they were all conquered by the ancient Romans to be subsumed into the early Roman Empire.
Our handcrafted itineraries include visits to Bronze Age & Ancient Roman archaeological ruins and sites, as well as artisans and producers in each region who are still very much keeping Bronze Age traditions alive through shepherding, olive oil production, biodynamic/organic viticulture and winemaking with indigenous varietals, searching through forests for berries, mushrooms and truffles, native honey, salt panning, cheese making…so much more.
The ‘hidden’ regions of Ciociaria & Molise in central Italy are a whole world away from the usual mass tourism paths of Italy - and if you veer off the track with local friends, Istria in Croatia is largely undiscovered too.
We take our small sustainable groups of conscious, cultured & curious explorers on a series of handcrafted and personally hosted adventures through each of these undiscovered regions. Staying in the same location for our 7 night/8 day cultural travel experiences to become part of the social fabric of the villages we visit. Our life for a week in regional Italy is in restored historic palaces, boutique villas, 1,000 year-old monasteries and in diffused hotels aimed at reviving abandoned villages. In Croatia we head for the antique hearts of hilltop villages or seaside towns.
Join us for a deep dive into the ancient origins of these lands at low-profile archaelogical sites, meander through mountaintop villages, wander through forests filled with rivers and waterfalls, forage in mountain meadows, and experience the joyful vitality of these organic & biodynamic lands through their food and wine, craft and culture, people and places. Our local companions are experienced archaeologists, artisanal producers, culinary creatives, academics, art historians, shepherds, hiking guides and artisans - and all are our very good personal friends. They can’t wait to meet you and share their stories in their own dialects - we’ll provide the translations and context for these passionate & creative individuals.
Kelly & Paolo Picarazzi | Antica Travel Co.
We wholeheartedly believe - and have always aligned ourselves to the ethos in everything we do - of embracing the past to forge a clear path for envisioning and creating an authentic future. Read our Travel Manifesto below.
Antica Travel Manifesto
Antica Travel Co. is a values-based boutique travel company focused on supporting slow and conscious travel.
We exist to appeal to curious and cultured explorers of all adult ages seeking meaningful and culturally immersive travel experiences.
Ideal for Curious Explorers & the Wild at Heart.
“Kelly & Paolo take you deep into the heart of central Italy and immerse you in the incredible history of the Ciociaria region to understand the great civilisations that inhabited this area of Lazio between Rome and Naples over the centuries. You will be delighted to meet local producers passionate about the revival of traditional foods, wine and production methods - all in the unspoilt natural beauty of the Valle di Comino and the Apennine Mountains.
It’s just perfect for the adventurous, the curious, those who are tired of crowds and tourist restaurants, and for those who dislike moving from hotel to hotel to make the most of their vacation. It's a great fit for those who want to learn more and appreciate more, and who want to extract the very essence of life from every day, and who are flexible enough to confidently do so.”
— Janette D, Ciociaria cultural travel experience guest September & December 2018
Immersive Small & Micro Group Tours
Follow us to the Wild Heart of Italy to explore the layers of Samnite [Sanniti/Safineis], Roman and Medieval history in the regions of Ciociaria & Molise in central Italy - once the heartland of the ancient Samnite [Sanniti/Safineis] civilisation of the Bronze Age.
𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 | Víteliú
Long before the ancient Romans, Ciociaria & Molise formed the heartland of one of the original nations of the central Italian peninsula - known as 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 [Víteliú] in the original Oscan language. Víteliú was the home to the twelve Italic tribes of the Samnite civilisation, who formed an alliance to establish a unified country around 300 BC in an attempt to fight back the ancient Romans and defend their lands. The Samnites pre-dated the ancient Romans by thousands of years.
Local Lived Experience
We have hand-crafted our itineraries from over twelve years of on-ground personal research and our groups are guided by our great Ciociarian friends who are local archaeologists, academics, culinary artisans, artisanal producers, hiking guides, art historians, shepherds and artisans.
We are constantly evolving and co-creating our itineraries in collaboration with our local partners. No experience is ever the same. This is born from our passion and belief in supporting the sustainable development of the regions we are visiting, and to align with the personal adventures our conscious, curious & cultured travellers are seeking. Most of all, it’s to revel in the glorious spontaneity, friendly warmth and genuine hospitality of these ancient regions.
Why Travel With Us?
Make a reservation enquiry, ask for Itinerary Highlights, enquire about Private Group bookings
or just say hello!
