ITALY UNEXPLORED TOURS

Vincenzo’s Plate did a fabulous job. From the warm welcome, to the daily tours, to the cooking lessons, the beautiful dining locations and the delicious food. I would go again tomorrow.

Dreamy blend of magical experience - all the things you love about Italy and things you didn’t know you will love about Italy! Vincenzo and his darling wife Suzanne, our incredible guides , Karen and Guizeppe - were out of this world caring, fun, engaging making this one of the most special week in our lives! Soooo much love & gratitude

This is an amazing tour. From the moment you are picked up in Rome, every day brings something new in the form of history, architecture, foods and people. You will never be bored! Vincenzo makes all of the days so enjoyable and also knows when a break in all the action is needed for a bit of recovery and relaxation. We loved seeing so many places that were not over touristed( if that's a word) Abruzzo has such varied terrain and all so beautiful! I highly recommend this tour!!

OH WOW, WOW INDEED. Words cannot describe how amazing Vincenzo's Plate, Italy Unexplored Tour is. A small group of 10 were awe struck by the history, beauty and culture of the Abruzzo region. As the name of the tour states Unexplored, tourists are few and far between. However, the locals treat you like royalty. From being waited on at a private beach club, pasta cheese and bread making classes where you taste your creations. Private rooftop dining, dedicated wine tastings. The meals, oh the meals. The best of the culinary delights, and wine that the Abruzzo region offers. An absolute standout in my opinion, was when we were sitting around the pool listening to opera. Performed by one Italy's premier Opera Singers and two extraordinary musicians - This was a class performance. An experience that has to be lived to be fully appreciated. This tour so far exceeded our expectations. I strongly urge, if you are thinking of taking this trip, do yourself a good deed, and sign up. YOU WILL NOT REGRET YOUR DECESION.

I honestly don't know where to begin. I grew up an "Italian American". I have roots in Sicily and Foggia Italy. I have always enjoyed cooking for my family and have always attempted to keep the meals healthy, authentic, and tasty. I came across Vincenzo Prosperi some time ago and noticed that he had a tour that he hosted named "Italy Unexplored". I watched a few videos and told my wife about it hoping that we could add it to our list of things to accomplish in the not so distant future (after all we were in dire need of some time away together). Surprisingly enough she immediately told me to book the trip. After months of anticipation we were on our way to Rome. From beginning to end we were completely caught off guard as to how well this experience is put together. We learned about a different way of life that you can never experience through television, YouTube, podcasts, or books. The historical places that this tour brings you to, the food, the knowledge of the tour guides, the dedication of the team, and the new relationships you make from this experience is nothing short of the best. This trip helped rekindle the relationship of my wife and I, Introduced us to some amazing people, made us gain 5-10 lbs ( worth it ), and gave us a finer appreciation of passion. Thank you Suzanne, and Vincenzo Prosperi for an amazing adventure, and for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of the "Italy Unexplored Tour" family. Ps. We will be going again.

Executive Summary: This Tour was epic. Do it. Bring your eating pants. Suzanne and Vincenzo are really lovely people and Antonio, our tour guide, was outstanding. The tour is full on - be prepared to sleep on the bus - but definably an experience that will leave memories, and it was fantastic that they were able to tweak it to visit a local traditional pottery once they discovered that Wifey has a background in ceramics. The Details: So, 1 year on and we're finally getting around to writing this review. Apologies, Suzanne and Vincenzo. We were lucky to get the last 2 spaces on the July 2022 tour at somewhat short notice. As it turned out we managed 2 firsts on the tour: 1) The first non-USA and non-Australian guests (we're Irish, please excuse the accent). 2) The first vegetarian (her, not me! 😄) In general being a vegetarian in Italy sucks, and we have to say thank you to everyone for the effort that went into supporting this baffling life choice - Mrs. Veg was extremely happy (and as full as a banana) going home. This is not just a Food Tour of the Abruzzo region, that's only part of it. Oh, there's food, OK. Lots of food. Really, really, nice food. And wine. I'd swear we drank more wine in that week than the whole of the year before. Probably the 2 years before! This is also a showcase of the history and culture of the region - A Cultural Tasting Menu if you will. Sure you could book a trip to Abruzzo by yourself, but even if you did, you would never get to see all amazing places included on the tour, simply because you would never know they even existed! And one of the best parts: for some reason nobody goes to Abruzzo, so there's no tourists: It's all authentic residential Italians, with a smattering of Italians on holidays. Day 0: Get yourself to Rome, stay at the nominated collection point hotel. Day 1: Collection from Hotel and bus transfer to Abruzzo. Check in at the base of operation for the next few days. Dinner at Nonna's. This is actually Vincenzo's grandmother, so a real proper Italian Nonna, in her own kitchen. Yes, it was as good as you're imagining. Day whatever it was, I forget: Food, Wine, UNESCO Heritage sites, Food, Wine, Local towns and markets, Food, Wine, More Food, More Wine. Ogle at the breath-taking scenery. A visit to the Zaccagnini winery with dinner after occurred somewhere in there. A bit more wine, possibly with more food. A dash of wine, just for good measure. One of the days was a cruise out to the Tremiti Islands. The boat is a 15m yacht. Anchor down, diving platform out, Pool Noodles and Wine O'Clock in the crystal clear, 26°C Adriatic waters while the crew prepare lunch. The last few nights of the tour were spent hotel hopping, staying in the magnificent Sextantio located in the fortified medieval mountain top village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio before heading back to a normal hotel for the final night, where we were treated to a pool-side operatic recital by local musicians. (Insider Tip: Vincenzo can sing). Did I mention the food and the wine? Day 8: Dinner with Vincenzo's family before drop-off back to Rome where you're back on your own merry way. Credit to Vincenzo's Dad who cooks a mean Arrosticini and Porchetta. Top Tip: You may want to hide the bathroom scale for a week or too afterwards! Would we do it again? Yes - Provided a formal accord can be reached with the bathroom scales. It's lying. Don't let it tell you otherwise. Would we recommend this: Absolutely Yes! In the era of cheap Ryanair city breaks this may look expensive, but believe me, it's not. Ignoring the cost of accommodation, transport, food, etc. - which is on-par with what you could do yourself - this tour brings you to places unheard of with a group of people that excel in sharing their local culture, knowledge and experience. And Food and Wine.

I cannot say enough great things about this tour. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The itinerary was full of local atmosphere, beautiful vistas, once in a lifetime experiences, and amazing food. The tour guides were personable, knowledgeable, and constantly went out of their way to ensure everyone had the experience they wanted. The hosts Vincenzo and Suzanne were active participants who were involved in almost everything we did. It was a genuine pleasure getting to know and spend time with them and their beautiful family. I'll never view Vincenzo's cooking videos the same way again. He's not a celebrity, he's a friend. As one of our guides promised in the very first hours of the tour, this was not a tourist trip. It was Italy at its most authentic. I'll never forget it.

only a poet is qualified to write a review of this tour, but I will try anyway. Vincenzo & Suzanne have truly arranged a once in a lifetime experience for their guests on this tour. Everyone associated were exceptional & amazing people - this includes our guides, hosts at various destinations, and our fellow travelers. If you are looking to experience the Abruzzo region of Italy - this is the ONLY tour you need to know. Every day was more amazing than the last. My wife and I will never forget a single minute of our visit, or a single person we met. Famiglia forever!