Olive Discovery 4 day break

Friday 7th to Monday 10th November                                

Friday 14th to Monday 17th November

Fully Inclusive £445 + flights, per person

(based on 2 sharing)

This luxury break is an opportunity to visit Le Marche, one of the most beautiful and undiscovered regions of Italy when it is, perhaps, at its most scenic. Autumn is the season of wine production and “new wine” of chestnuts and truffles, the trees are resplendent with red and gold foliage and, of course the olive harvest is in full swing.

Itinerary, based on Friday Ancona arrival

Day 1 Friday

• Collection from airport. Visit to vineyard with lunch.
• Transport to accommodation, welcome drinks, early evening relaxation.
• Dinner in local restaurant with regional specialities.

Day 2 Saturday

• Breakfast (provided in your apartment)
• Visit to Civitanova Market, not too early, have a leisurely start..
• Seafood lunch at coast.
• Either outlet shopping, or visit to beautiful renaissance city of Macerata - your choice.
• Degustation dinner in an excellent restaurant.

Day 3 Sunday

• Breakfast (provided in your apartment)
• Cookery demonstration at the wonderfully eccentric Il Maniero art club, naturally based on local ingredients and olives!
• Lunch - you just made it - it must be good
• Visit an olive grove,opportunity to help pick olives, opportunity to have a glass of wine - as you wish!
• Chill a bit then:
• Dinner, another fantastic loosen your belts evening in a traditional vaulted brick venue.

Day 4 Monday

• Breakfast (provided in your apartment)
• Visit the olive press, and breathe, wow the aroma! collect your special olive oil, then - sorry but
• Transport to airport.

What could make a better Christmas present than extra virgin oil ? You will also have an opportunity to visit a traditional market , designer boutiques and outlet stores or even return home having adopted a personally selected olive tree here in Marche. Naturally we have arranged a visit to a local vineyard where you can sample wines which have been specially selected to enhance the flavour of your food.

On this relaxing break you, in a small group of maximum 12 people, will gain an insight into the cultivation and production of the finest olive oils whilst enjoying delicious regional food, discovering Marcheghiani wines and having the opportunity to pick up some fantastic Christmas gifts. In the rolling hills of central Marche, mid way between the Sibillini mountains and the Adriatic sea, olive production, like life in general still follows traditions observed for generations. The groves are generally small in a patchwork of vineyards, sunflower fields and rolling countryside. They are used mainly to produce the family’s supply for the year. One of the secrets you will discover is that this area produces some of the finest olives and oil.

You will have an opportunity to learn at first hand all about the cultivation of olives , the production of oil, to try your hand at olive picking, to visit a traditional press and observe the fascinating process of making extra virgin oil. You will see for yourselves the octogenarians perched into the trees and precariously loading their crop on the roof of the ancient Fiat 500 and understand that olive oil really does play a part in keeping the population healthy and agile. The heady aroma of the olive press is truly amazing, olive oil tastes at it’s finest when it is newly pressed and you will be the one of the few to experience the taste of the oil from the olives you picked, fresh from the press. Imagine your friends and family’s reaction when you serve the oil which you helped to produce at the dinner table.

Venues for lunch and dinner each day have been carefully chosen to give you the wonderful flavour of different cooking styles and techniques using olives from the region, it’s not just the olive oil which keeps the population healthy well into old age and you will eat the freshest food made with local ingredients and discover the excellent range of Marche wines. At the fascinating Il Maniero Art Club you will have the opportunity to learn and participate in the preparation of local specialities and, of course, to savour them.

What's Included:

• Airport transport to/from Ancona . (others by arrangement)
• All meals
• Aperitifs, wine, water and digestives with lunch and dinner
• Visits to market, outlet shops, Macerata, olive grove, olive press.
• English speaking guide available at all times
• 3 nights accommodation at "trip advisor" best rated accommodation in Marche.
• A litre of freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil, straight from the press.

And What's Not:

• Flights to/from UK (typical price £60 return including taxes).

You will also have an opportunity to visit a traditional market , designer boutiques and outlet stores or even return home having adopted a personally selected olive tree here in Marche. Naturally we have arranged a visit to a local vineyard where you can sample wines which have been specially selected to enhance the flavour of your food.