Food & Wine Tours - Europe - Italy

Herding the Cattle, Italian Style

San Marcos in Lamis, Apulia to Frosolone, Molise
May 20-30, 2011

We are offering you a rare opportunity to join a historic Italian “transumanza”, the Italian term for the traditional twice yearly migration of cows from the highlands to the lowlands, and vice versa. The word literally means "crossing the land" and you will be moving the herd 150 kilometers from the winter pasture north to the spring one. Join the cowboys from Azienda Agrozootechnica Colatuono led by Carmelina Colatuono, the only Italian Cowgirl, as the podolic cattle herd moves from the flat plains of San Marcos in Lamis, Apulia to Frosolone in the mountainous region of Molise. Spend five days on the cattle drive. Then arrive in Frosolone to a Welcome Party as the cowboys return home after six months away with the cattle.

Proposed Itinerary:

Day 1 Overnight flight to Rome, Italy.

Day 2 Arrive Rome. Transfer to hotel. Evening tour of the historic sites of Rome including the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill. Group dinner.

Day 3 Morning in Rome. Afternoon transfer to Mount Sant’Angelo. Visit the Church of Saint Michele Archangel and visit the artisan shops. Later at the Azienda Agrozootechnica Colatuono (the ranch) in Apulia. meet the cowboys and prepare for next day departure with the herd. Dinner and overnight on the ranch.

Days 4 -7 On the cattle drive moving north to Frosolone. On day 6, arrival in Ripalimosani near Campobasso. Festivity on arrival of the herd in Quercigliole in front of the rural church of the Madonna of the Snow.

Day 8 A long ride today past the Castel di Sangro-Lucera. Ford the Biferno River, and past the mountain villages of Castropignano, Torella and Frosolone in order to arrive in Acquevive. Overnight on the ranch.

Day 9 Participate in the Celebration welcoming the cattle and the cowboys home.

Day 10 Today you can explore the area. Frosolone is best known for its high
quality hand crafted cutlery. Learn about the caciocavallo cheese, handmade from the milk from the podolic cows. Or drive down to the beach along the Adriatic coast.

Day 11 Transfer to Rome for your return home. Or extend your stay for a few more days in Rome.

11 days/9 nights package Includes:

• 1 night in Rome in a 4 star hotel, single or double occupancy
• Private airport transfer in Rome from airport to hotel
• “Rome by Night” sightseeing tour
• Group Dinner
• Private transfer to San Marcos in Lamis
• Overnight at Azienda Agrozootechnica Colatuono
• Trail ride including guides, horses, equipment, tent accommodations, all meals
• 3 nights at Agriturismo Cassetta after the ride
• Winery Tour
• Wine and Cheese Pairing
• Mini Cooking Lesson
• Welcome Home Banquet
• Transfer from Frosolone to Rome airport
• 7 dinners
• 5 lunches
• Breakfast daily

Does not include:

• Roundtrip international airfare
• Meals and beverages not included in itinerary
• Items of a personal nature i.e. laundry, room service, phone calls
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Passport fees
• Checked bags, overweight or extra baggage fees
• Extra days in Rome or tours not included in itinerary

Total price for land package is $3,795.00. Paid in full by February 15, 2011.

Brought to you by:

Gisella Isidori Italian Food & Travel Consultant gisidori@hotmail.com		Donna Sullivan Sullivan’s Custom Tours, L.L.C. donnabsullivan@aol.com Phone: (1) 713-291-3492