A SIP FOR THE SOUL

Nurture your soul and tickle your taste buds on this full-day excursion to San Clemente a Casauria and San Liberatore a Majella. Guests will gain a fuller understanding of Abruzzo’s remarkable artistic heritage on visits to two religious sites and lift their spirits as they sip fine wine at a well-established estate.

Meet your private guide and driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to San Clemente a Casauria, one of Abruzzo’s most striking and best preserved medieval abbeys. According to tradition the complex was built in 871 AD by Emperor Ludwig II after a vow he made during his imprisonment in the Duchy of Benevento. Originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the abbey received its current consecration to San Clemente when the saint’s earthly remains were moved here in 872. Repeatedly plundered by the Saracens and Normans in the following decades, the abbey was completely rebuilt by the Benedictine monks in the 12th century and can be admired today in all its original Romanesque splendour. A monumental three-arched portico welcomes visitors to the church and protects its beautifully carved marble portals and bronze doors. Among the precious artefacts to be found inside are an ambo, a candelabrum, a ciborium and an urn containing the relics of San Clemente, all fine examples of the extraordinary artistic heights attained by local craftsmen in the Middle Ages.

After the visit rejoin your driver and reach a renowned wine estate, set in a splendid position offering wonderful views of the surrounding hills and mountains. Founded in 1978 as a small cantina, this family-owned winery has taken gigantic strides and is ranked today among the region’s leading estates. Three hundred hectares of vineyards are planted with traditional grape varieties of Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Pecorino and Passerina and expertly turned into exquisite red, white and rosé wines which are receiving growing recognition from wine enthusiasts worldwide. Here, on a visit to the vineyards and wine making facility, guests will get to know about wine production and ageing techniques and witness the efforts of the owners not only to promote Abruzzo wine’s reputation for excellence but also to foster the development of culture and the arts. Indeed, scattered throughout the premises you will see works of art belonging to the estate’s private collection and created by famous contemporary masters such as Franco Summa, Mimmo Paladino, David Bade and Pietro Cascella. A tasting of the estate’s wines will allow you to better appreciate the results of over forty years of wine growing wisdom… cheers to Abruzzo!

After some free time for lunch at a nearby restaurant, a 40-minute drive will bring you to the last stop on your tour. The origins of the Abbey of San Liberatore a Majella are wrapped in mystery. Tradition has it that a church dedicated to Christ the Liberator was first built in 781 on the site of a battlefield at the request of Charlemagne to celebrate the victory of his army over the Lombards. According to another popular legend the abbey was founded even earlier, in the mid-500s, following a donation by two illustrious senators to Saint Benedict himself. Whatever the true story, historical documents prove that the abbey existed in 884 and, after an earthquake that almost razed it to the ground in 990, it was completely rebuilt in the 11th century. Over the decades San Liberatore rose to become Abruzzo’s wealthiest and most powerful monastic centre, as well as a thriving cultural and artistic hub. Sadly, after the suppression of religious orders in 1806, the monks were forced to leave the premises, leading to the abbey’s abandonment and inevitable decline. It wasn’t until the 1960s that a restoration project breathed new life into the complex, permitting the recovery of a portion of its treasures. Although many of the abbey’s structures, including the monks’ cells, library, gardens and workshops, are long lost, the site still offers visitors a glimpse of its former glory. Your guide will show you round the Romanesque church and point out its major highlights. Not to be missed are the 1275 floor mosaic, the exquisitely chiselled ambo and 13th century frescoes.

After the tour your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.