Wild Heart of Italy.
Follow us to the undiscovered regions of Ciociaria & Molise in central Italy. Just one hour south of Rome and a whole world away.
We take our small groups (max. 10-12) of curious explorers on 7-night/8-day personally hosted adventure through these undiscovered regions, staying in diffused hotels within ancient castle walls, restored 16th century palaces and 18th century villas, or 1,000 year old monasteries - depending on the itinerary and season you have chosen to join us.
Join us for a deep dive into the ancient origins of these lands and the story of Víteliú at abandoned pre-historic sites, while meandering through mountaintop villages, wandering through forests filled with waterfalls, foraging in mountain meadows, and experiencing the joyful vitality of these organic & biodynamic lands through their food, wine, craft and culture.
Our local guides are experienced academics, archaeologists, artisanal producers, culinary creatives and art historians - and our very good personal friends.
Our personally hosted & inspirationally curated ‘Ciociaria Cultural Travel Experiences’ through the Wild Heart of Italy are fully booked for 2025.
We are now taking reservations for May & September 2026 and enquiries for 2027.
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.
Your Hosts
Paolo is a Ciociarian native and is descended from the Ernici & Volscii tribes of Víteliú and is deeply connected to the land. He also understands each of the dialects of the region, which enables our local producers, artisans and wine-makers to share their stories in their own way and words, with Paolo providing translation. Australian-born Kelly is a global tourism professional with a background in sustainable and cultural heritage tourism. Kelly was noted as one of the global ‘100 Inspiring Women Travel Founders’ by Travel Massive in 2020.
Pictured above: [1] transhumance in Picinisco. [2] the view over the Valle di Comino (Comino Valley) from Alvito - nestled in the arms of the Apennine Mountains and believed to once have been the site of Cominium, the legendary city of the Samnites.
“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 Davis, Ciociaria cultural travel experience guest September & December 2018
