Experience BellaVita - Authentic Culinary, Cultural & Genealogy Tours in Abruzzo -

Francesca Alessandroni

Complimenti a Martino che porta avanti attività interessantissime del nostro territorio.
Vedere come i cani trovano con facilità e velocità i tartufi, è stato sorprendente e affascinante.
consiglio questa esperienza, non faticosa ed entusiasmante. Serata conclusa con un'ottima cena a base di funghi e tartufi.

Eros Durante

Un giovanotto interessante. Una bella realtà in Abruzzo.

Jessica Betts

My mother and I arranged a custom tour with Marino. The purpose of our trip was to explore Abruzzo, the region of my mothers birth.

From the moment I enquired about the trip, Marino has been wonderful. Marino arranged a zoom call with us to understand what we wanted from our trip and to get a gauge on what we wanted to see. From there, Marino arrange the itinerary and made accommodation recommendations. All this info was set out in a clear itinerary for us to review and collaborate on.

Marino and his team were with us every step of our 10 day trip. We visited amazing places from quaint little towns, beautiful lakes, canoe ride on a pristine river, forest & waterfall walks, A  BBQ in the Campo Imperatore mountains,  mushroom foraging in the forest, a day tour of the city of L’Aquila (and surrounds), a fortress visit with the most phenomenal views of Abruzzo and a visit to an olive oil factory with olive oil tastings. So many highlights, including a day making pasta with Marino at his family home and sharing the meal with his family.

Marino and his team (Riccardo & Danilo) were knowledgeable english speaking guides with excellent communication.

Marino is a professional, who will not only look after us while on tour with him, but also while in Italy. Marino assisted us with booking taxis and bus tickets to other parts of Italy during our stay.

For an authentic visit to Italy, we could not recommend ‘Experience BellaVita’ more. From mountains to sea, rivers to lakes and cities to towns, you can experience it all with Marino.
Highly recommended.

Daughters of the Red Sunset (Maria Muscarella)

I can’t begin to express how amazing our experience with Marino and Experience BellaVita was! It started with a video call where Marino listened to the long list of things that my husband and I hoped to do while in Abruzzo. He took these ideas and put together an amazing itinerary, not just of what his company could offer, but also what we could do and see in our ‘off’ time, hotel recommendations, AND all of the gluten/dairy free restaurants in the area for me! Our first tour day was spent with Marino and his amazing family. We went on a truffle hunt, learned about truffle growing and the truffle industry, and then sat down (in his Uncle’s home!) to a seven course truffle meal, created by Marino’s cousin. Marino and two of his cousins joined us for the meal and there was a lot of laughter and great conversation. It really couldn’t get more authentic! We even got to try Marino’s home made wine! Over the next few days we toured beautiful old towns, walked through ancient ruins of towers and forts, and learned of the 3000 year history of the Transumanza and how sheep have shaped the area. We tried the world’s first sheep milk parmesan, were treated to delicious meals of local foods and wines, and even toured a few areas not usually seen by tourists since Marino grew up in the area and has connections. Marino and his crew went well above and beyond what was expected or even hoped for. I couldn’t recommend them more and will definitely book with them again in the future!

Marlie Besouw

Met een groep van 56 vrouwen hebben we een ontzettend mooie tijd in de Abruzzo gehad dankzij Marino! Alles was erg goed geregeld en verliep soepel. We hebben erg leuke activiteiten gedaan op bijzondere locaties waar we zelf niet zomaar zouden komen. Marino, heel erg bedankt en wellicht tot ziens!

Ben Ingersoll

The BellaVita tour with Marino was truly an unforgettable 5 star experience. My wife and I were seeking an opportunity to visit Italy like a local, and without the crowds. Marino took care to speak with us to learn about our preferences and requirements as we had our children and grandparents along. He curated an experience unlike anything we could have imagined and coordinated a call to review and ensure it was on point prior to booking.

This consisted of a cooking class, tour of local farm where we made cheese, truffle hunting, five star lunch on a traboochi, and journey into a village with a castle dating from the tenth century. The journey started with a welcome dinner in a restaurant owned by his friend featuring local cuisine and tasting menu.

Highly recommend this tour.

irene rasetti

A Dream Italian Experience - Tailored to Perfection!

If you’re searching for a personalized, once-in-a-lifetime experience in Italy, look no further than Marino’s Experience Bella Vita. From start to finish, it was truly exceptional.

When I first reached out, Marino took the time to listen carefully to our ideas and interests, crafting an itinerary that perfectly matched our travel dreams. As a first-generation Canadian with parents from Abruzzo, I have fond memories of visiting the region throughout my youth. Now, many years later, I wanted my teenage son to experience his heritage and witness the beauty of this incredible land. Through emails and video chats, Marino curated an unforgettable 10-day journey.

We landed in Rome, rented a car, and set off for Teramo, our home base, where we met Marino in person. He arranged the ideal accommodations, giving each of us personal space to unwind after our days of exploration. Every day was meticulously planned—some with Marino as our guide, introducing us to his friends, family, and locals, and others perfectly designed for us to explore on our own with tailored navigation and stops.

Our itinerary included a private vineyard tour, hidden gem restaurants, a truffle hunting excursion followed by a truffle feast, a day in the stunning Gran Sasso, and visits to charming medieval towns. We even had a pasta-making lesson (and, of course, plenty of pasta eating!). A surprise stop at a local truffle festival added to the magic, and each day we enjoyed breathtaking landscapes, from mountains to the sea.

Marino is warm, incredibly knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about sharing Abruzzese culture. What set this trip apart was the level of care and attention to detail that made it feel authentic, as though we had a local insider’s pass to the real Italy.

I cannot recommend Experience Bella Vita enough. If you want to explore Abruzzo, the land of the “Forte e Gentile,” in a way that feels intimate, special, and completely tailored, this is the experience for you.

Grazie mille for a trip we will never forget, Marino. We can’t wait to return!

Iris Laven

Een bijzondere ervaring waarbij we met een groep van bijna 60 vrouw sterk kennis mochten maken met de échte Italiaanse cultuur. Zeer enthousiaste reisleider die met enorm veel passie en plezier ons een prachtig kijkje heeft gegeven in Abruzzo met een zeer persoonlijke touch!

Een aanrader wanneer je niet de standaard toeristische attracties wil nagaan en het échte traditionele Italië wil ervaren.