Truffles, nature and culture

The truffle is for many gourmets one of the highlights of the taste experience. What many do not know, it's not just the Piedmont that stands for truffles! They are equal to the Marche. As this Central Italian region is not only ranked 2nd at Lonely Planets for a recommendable holiday, but is also an insider tip for Italy lovers for a long time, we would like to invite you to a unique experience with this trip. Both the gourmets and hikers for moderate tours, nature and culture lovers get their money. Spend a week that offers a lot of variety, enjoyment and an enchanting environment, the Sibillini mountains.

1st day: Benvenuti in the land of harmony
Arrival by flight in Ancona with pick-up by the tour guide or in your own car at the Fiastra lake in the Sibillini mountains. Even those arriving by train will be picked up.
Through the enchanting mountains, the approx. 1.5 hour drive to your hotel is an experience. Depending on the time of arrival, a small excursion or just a walk along the lake can be made after checking in.

2nd day: truffle and panorama full
After a hearty breakfast, join the truffle expert and seeker Felice for your first truffle experience. Together with the dogs it goes through meadows and forests - depending on how fast the dogs find the truffles. In the search you followed no signposted paths, but the fur noses. Now you can watch for yourself how the valuable tubers are dug up after having found the right place in a teamwork of animals and humans.
After a hopefully fruitful search, you will return to the Osteria del Lago to experience further processing. This means that for lunch you will have fresh truffles on your plate!
In the afternoon, take a trip to Sassotetto and Ragnolo. You will be delighted to see the panorama that is up here. The Piceno (the southern part of the Marches) is now at your feet.
In the evening you will be spoiled with the culinary treasures of the mountains.

Day 3: The journey to the moon and the Middle Ages
One of the most beautiful destinations around Lake Fiastra are the Lame Rosse. These impressive and bizarre rocks give the impression that they are not on the earth, but on the moon. This requires a hike, starting at the dam of the lake. Through holm oak groves and macchia (do not worry, it is a hiking trail), you will then reach this huge formation, which opens suddenly out of nowhere in front of you. (GZ 3 hours, about 230 m difference in altitude). After a short break and the exploration of these bizarre sandstone formations, it's the same way back to the lake. From here, you will start for a delicious small lunch before visiting a charming little village, Sarnano, in the afternoon. The medieval cityscape can be seen from afar. A town that has almost completely retained its original structure. It is no wonder that it is one of the "borghi più belli d 'Italia", one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy.
In the late afternoon you will return to the hotel to be pampered again in the evening with the traditional dishes of the Marche.

Day 4: How many will be today?
Once again, you will get to know the rich nature of the Marche with Felice, the truffle hunter. With the truffle dogs you go back to tuber search. Of course, your camera will be used very often, because you will experience a true picture postcard idyll as it can hardly be found anywhere else.
Your truffle yield will be served to you in the evening, as you will continue exploring Tolentino first. Here you will have a delicious lunch in a charming little restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Basilica of San Nicola da Tolentino. It is considered one of the most important sanctuaries in central Italy and was built in the first half of the 15th century.
After the severe earthquake of 2016, the church was reopened in 2018. Church visits dedicated to a saint always contain many stories. Of course, we will not withhold these from you.
Through the so completely untouched landscape you return to the hotel, where in the evening you will again enjoy a wonderful menu with the truffles found in the morning.

Day 5: The rebellious monks and the grip on the stars
Today you will go on a hiking tour again. From a small village, Monastero, not far from the Osteria, you will make an interesting way to the Grotta dei Frati. (GZ 3,5 hours, height difference 170 m). Through holm-oak forests you come to a small promontory, where a tiny church was built in a large grotto by the "Clareni", a split-off, rebellious Franciscan suborder. The rebellious monks lived here in this absolute solitude of the woods from the 13th to the 16th century. This place can probably be described as unique. Here you will then have a picnic before returning to the bus on the same route. The day of the whims continues. Now drive to Pintura di Bolognola and from there to the Rifugio di Fargno at 1811 m altitude. Any description of this location could not reflect what the visitor is expecting. First and foremost a boundless expanse with a view over the Sibillinen, in the sky now and here resident eagles and many falcon species. In every season a completely intact nature with its many flowers, cattle that can graze without fences where they like it, flocks of sheep that are held together by their herding dogs ... a paradise where you forget the time because it has no meaning up here. It is advisable to take a short walk. Who even likes the Pizzo Tre Vescovi (281 m difference in altitude). Anyone who comes here will understand a sentence that is usually only smiled at: you can hear the silence!
When the sun goes down, she does not just do it like that. It is spectacular to watch the sunset, as the sky turns from yellow to red when the sun has disappeared. Then it's time to have dinner. The choice is limited, because here is no electric line, the electricity is generated by a generator.
Now that the night has fallen, the romantic part begins: the grip on the stars. Since far and wide no light illuminates the night, so do the stars. It seems like you can grab them with your hands and take a walk on the Milky Way. Millions of times it sparkles and twinkles, and many become aware at such moments of how great the universe and nature are - and how small man is.
Now it's time to leave. On the downhill ride it is not uncommon to have to stop now and then when family porcupine crosses the street ...
After this versatile day, all that remains is to wish you a peaceful night.

Day 6: Pecorino, little Loreto and a secret
On your last day of stay, we do not want to deprive you of the real preparation of Pecorino cheese. To do this we drive to Cupi to a farm where the old art of cheese-making is maintained according to ancient tradition. You will see how cheese and ricotta are made from milk. This is not a matter of minutes, so you have a little break between the different stages of production to have a look around. After about 1.5 hours, the cheese molds are ready to mature. When tasting this homemade and hand-made sheep's cheese you will surely notice the difference to the industrial cheese.
Nearby, in the middle of the greenery, there is a Shrine of the Virgin Mary, the Sanctuary of Macereto, popularly known as the Little Loreto. Built between 1528 and 1538 around a rustic chapel from the 14th century, there is a statue of the Madonna, which was worshiped here.
From this point of view, the further course will be a secret. You may trust us; it will be an interesting afternoon! In the late afternoon you return to the Osteria and in the evening you will experience truffles full again!

7th day: Arrivederci Marche
Today is the day of the return journey. We hope you had fun and can take home new experiences. Transfer to the airport or train station.
© ulla Kastner

Min. 2, max. 10 participants
More partecipants on request

Travel data:
June 27th to July 2nd, 2022 (summer truffle)
17th to 22nd Oct. 2022 (white truffle, surcharge + € 50.00)

Services included:
5 x HB in the Osteria del Lago, bath / toilet, hairdryer, heating, TV, near the lake, extensive breakfast
3 x lunch in typical small restaurants
1 x picnic, in bad weather in the restaurant
2 x truffle hunt (approx. 1.5 hours each)
2 x hikes, doable for everyone
1 x Pecorino cheese production
All excursions
All transfers from / to Ancona or train station in Ancona by minibus (sen)
Constant travel companion and licensed hiking guide

Not included:
getting there
Possibly Entrances
Beverages with the exception of mineral water and espresso with meals
Private expenses

Please note that walking shoes are essential. Preferably also hiking sticks.
Although these are not difficult hikes, the trip is not well suited for people with walking difficulties.

Prices:
€ 1,520.00 p.p. in a double room from 4 people
€ 1,350.00 p.p. in a double room from 6 people
€ 1,220.00 p.p. in a double room from 8 people
€ 1050.00 p.p. in a double room from 10 people
Double as single € + 125.00