Exploring the Wild Heart of Italy - Ciociaria & Molise - and Istria, Croatia.
Following in the footsteps of ancient Celtic tribes from the Bronze Ageโฆ
[and the ancient Romans too]
ANTICA CULTURAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. CIOCIARIA & MOLISE in the wild heart of Italy | ISTRIA, northern Croatia.
INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY.
Our Antica cultural travel experience itineraries follow in the footsteps of the ancient Celtic tribes of Ciociaria, Molise & Istria - the Hernici & Volscii, the Safini and the Histri - who first settled these lands in central Italy and Croatia in the Bronze Age around 5,000 years ago. Each of these tribes and regions are ethnographically linked and intertwined together - and they were all conquered by the ancient Romans to be subsumed into the early Roman Empire between 300-177 BC.
The handcrafted itineraries include visits to Bronze Age & Ancient Roman archaeological ruins and sites, as well as intimate experiences with artisans and producers in each of the regions. These local artisans and producers are still very much keeping Bronze Age traditions alive through the ancient practices of shepherding, olive oil production, biodynamic/organic viticulture and winemaking with indigenous varietals, searching through forests for berries, mushrooms and truffles, native honey and beekeeping, salt panning, artisanal cheese makingโฆand so much more.
We take our small and micro sustainable groups of conscious, cultured & curious explorers on a series of personally hosted adventures through each of these undiscovered regions. We stay in the same location for our 7-night/8-day cultural travel experiences to become part of the social fabric of the towns and villages we visit.
Join us for a deep dive into the ancient origins of these lands at low-profile archaelogical sites, meander through mountaintop villages and mountain meadows with us, wander through forests filled with rivers and waterfalls, 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 canโt wait to meet you and share their stories in their own local dialects - weโll provide you with the translations and context for these passionate & creative individuals. Youโll never forget them.
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.
Upcoming Antica Cultural Travel Experiences
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Wild Heart of Italyโข - Ciociaria
SPRINGTIME. CENTRAL ITALY
09-16 May & 23-30 May 2027
Micro-group max. 6-8 guests
A 7-night/8-day food & wine cultural travel experience through the Valle di Comino of Ciociaria in central Italy. Following in the footsteps of the Italic Volscii tribe during the Bronze Age Sanniti [Samnite] civilisation, as well as the ancient Romans. A Springtime adventure revelling in seasonal produce & cheesemaking, featuring a private cooking experience with a fine-dining chef and local vineyard visits tasting the singular wines of Ciociaria, including indigenous varietals.
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Wild Heart of Italyโข - Molise
EARLY SUMMER. CENTRAL ITALY
20-27 June 2027
Micro-group max. 6 guests
A dedicated 7-night/8-day cultural travel experience with two days in the Valle di Comino of Ciociaria before transferring for five days in magical neighbouring Molise - the most remote region of Italy. Our hand-crafted itinerary focuses on the history, artefacts and ruins left behind by the ancient Sanniti [Samnite] civilisation. We will be following in the footsteps of the Italic tribes of the Volscii & Safini from the Valle di Comino in Ciociaria, and up over the Apennines into the Sanniti heartland of Molise.
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Wild Heart of Italyโข - Ciociaria
AUTUMN. CENTRAL ITALY
05-12 & 19-26 September 2027
Micro-group max. 6-8 guests
A 7-night/8-day food & wine cultural travel experience through two distinct areas within Ciociaria in central Italy. Following in the footsteps of the Italic Ernici & Volscii tribes during the Bronze Age, as well as the ancient Romans. An Autumn adventure featuring a shepherd walk in the Apennines to a mountain meadow farm with a forest BBQ, an ancient olive grove during harvest, uncovering wild forest truffles, and a banquet in a hidden medieval tavern underneath a castle.
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Ancient Tribes & Trufflesโข - Istria
AUTUMN. NORTHERN CROATIA
06 - 13 October 2027
Small-group max. 12 guests
A 7-night/8-day food & wine cultural adventure through the ancient and enchanted region of Istria in northern Croatia during the local truffle season to experience its famed white & black truffles. Following in the footsteps of the Bronze Age Histri tribe and ancient Romans. An enigmatic journey back into a forgotten time.
Make a Reservation Request or Booking Enquiry.
We are also happy to tailor itineraries and dates for Private Experience Groups
Ideal for Curious Explorers & the Wild at Heart.
โKelly & 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.
Itโs 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.โ
โ 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.
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Vรญteliรบ
Long before the ancient Romans, Ciociaria & Molise formed the heartland of one of the original nations of the central Italian peninsula - known as ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ [Vรญteliรบ] in the original Oscan language. Vรญteliรบ 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, itโs to revel in the glorious spontaneity, friendly warmth and genuine hospitality of these ancient regions.
Why Travel With Us?
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