Looking for a new kind of holiday? Are you considering culinary travel? Why not explore the rich history, natural beauty, and culinary delights of the most authentic and captivating region in central Italy? Enjoy a relaxing gourmet vacation experience in a beautiful destination! Savor the wine and cuisine of the Adriatic side of the Mediterranean! In our opinion, the best way to discover a region is through food. That is why we created the Abruzzo Cibus Culinary Tours. Cibus in latin means food. Our goal is to show people why Abruzzo is one of the world's finest foodie destinations!
I think this is my 7th visit to the Palazzo. I can't believe it gets better every visit. The landscape was lush from the rains and the Scotch Broom was in bloom lighting up the hillsides in bright yellow. Everything went smoothly even as the owner, Massimo, juggled schedules to keep us out of the rain. Chef Dino gave fabulous information-filled cooking sessions and his meals were over the top. Can't believe Dino keeps finding new creative and delicious recipes. They catered very well to several friends who were with me who had food allergies making sure they enjoyed what we enjoyed with alternate ingredients. There were massages available from Massimo's new spa across the street for an extra charge. What a great way to relax!! We had a fab lunch at the trabucco off the coast of Vasto. The traditional fishing house served up Lucious seafood but again with good alternatives for those who didn't do seafood or had religious constraints. We hit the annual "Infiorata" or Flower Festival and were able to participate with the local people making the flower displays. So wonderful to connect like that! It is a lovely peaceful town that spills downtime side of the mountain. Everyone was so welcoming. I was there with a group of 19 from Saluda, NC and their family and friends on a trip put together by Saluda Sister City. Carunchio is the Sister City to Carunchio. See our 6 by12 foot displays made all of flowers and natural substances.
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Date of stay: June 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This trip is a must for those who want to learn about Italy, the food, the wine, and the Abruzzo area. Hotel is beautifully laid out and so quiet- so it’s easy to relax. The cooking lessons are more than just a recipe, you get the history and the technique to bring out the fullest flavors. Best staff and so caring. Their service goes above and beyond to make you comfortable and feel welcome. Good value and it’s a trip not to miss!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had the good fortune to participate in this weeklong cooking class. The meals were excellent, introducing a stunning selection of Abruzzese dishes emphasizing fresh, high quality ingredients. There were nearly daily excursions (the production of olive oil and cheese, the historic town of Vasto and an excellent seafood feast, the bell foundry used by the Vatican for centuries, and more). Massimo the owner, and Dino, the chef, have worked together for 18 years, fine tuning the experience and welcoming successive groups. The staff members were great- to mention only two, Claudio was a a great tour guide, and Sabina in addition to serving offered interesting jewelry in the gift shop. Perhaps it was the shared interest in Abruzzese culture and cuisine, but our group was interesting and friendly, so we made new friends. The Palazzo is beautifully restored and comfortable, and a massage in the beautiful new spa is a real treat. Another plus, most of the group continued on to other areas in Italy.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Palazzo Tour d’Eau Abruzzo Cibus offers a vacation like no other. It was full of pleasant surprises. Massimo, the owner, is a fabulous host, very informative, and has a great personality. The staff is extremely accommodating and efficient. There is a schedule of the next days happenings posted the night before. Breakfast consisted of a different home made pastry daily, fruit, cheese, cold cuts and coffee. Cooking class was at 10:30 and was so well done. Even experienced cooks could learn lots from Dino. Recipes were made in the authentic Abruzzo way. Lunch was the food that was prepared and was served with wine. Fo ur days had cooking classes. Other days had field trips that were fun and informative. Dinner was at 7:30 and was another fabulous meal. Wine was also included. There was a small bar that was open for drinks before and after dinner. The palace itself is a beautiful restored building, named after the original Spanish family that occupied it. It sits at the top of a little mountain, in a small village 3.5 hours from Rome. I can’t recommend this place enough. Hopefully I’ll make it back there again for another vacation.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I just returned from my third stay at the Palazzo Tour d'Eau in Carunchio. Each time, Massimo, Dino, and the staff make the week a holiday to remember. What Massimo, the owner and host, has created in this remote hilltop town is nothing short of magic. Getting there is simple: you just arrive at the Rome airport. From there, you are transported to the "Palace" where you enjoy incredible meals, wine, wonderful cooking lessons, interesting day tours of the Abruzzo region, and best of all… you are treated as family. One of the things I most liked was how I felt I was removed from the hustle and bustle of other Italian cities with large numbers of tourists. We could focus on learning simple, fresh and delicious recipes, get to know other people in our group, and enjoy amazing meals created by Dino, the chef. His soft spoken instructions, sense of humor, and creative genius made our lessons not only ones I can replicate at home but FUN. Claudio, Chiara, Mariarosa, and Tiziana, the fantastic staff, were friendly and always there to make sure we had everything we needed during our stay. The two highlights of the week for me were the Pizza night and the lunch at the Trobocco. The pizza night marks the finale and celebrates the week. The Trobocco is a unique restaurant in the Adriatic that is only one of 17 left on the coast. We dined on the most incredible seafood in the most incredible 300 year old structure. Then, on Saturday morning after a delicious breakfast, we were transported back to the Rome airport. This is a very special vacation and even if you don't feel like a competent cook, you will enjoy the tour and come home to delight your family and friends with the special Abruzzo recipes you learned.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A fabulous trip of a lifetime! Massimo, Dino and staff were wonderful, fun and so accommodating! The Palazzo rest on the mountaintop of Carunchio surrounded by breathtaking beauty. The food was fabulous and the cooking classes were fun and so informative. Our day trip to the quaint Fishing town of Vasto was a delectable experience along with the town of Agnone to the cheese factory. When they say "come as a guest and leave like family" is so correct, you just hate to leave! whether you go with a friend, a spouse or by yourself, you can be guaranteed a great time! Nicki
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Date of stay: April 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My parents visited the Palazzo Tour D'Eau in 2019, and my mom has been talking about taking me back ever since. I'll be honest, I didn't really know what to expect, and my last experience in Italy left much to be desired. My dad's family immigrated to America from the Abruzzo region of Italy, so I've always been interested in learning more about my Italian roots. When my mom suggested we travel to Abruzzo for cooking class (I love to cook), I was sold. The village of Carunchio is idyllic... stunning, really. It is perched atop a a hill in the mountainous region of Eastern Italy. On a clear day, you will enjoy the most exquisite view. Our host, Claudio, was fantastic, as was the rest of the staff (Dino, Kiara, etc...). He (and the others) did everything they could to accommodate any requests and make our stay more comfortable. During the week, we not only enjoyed cooking classes from a world class chef (Dino), we also ate distinctive and delicious regional specialties. Most days, the staff would take us on outings that highlighted the local culture and commerce. These included a trip to Vasto, (with a short tour of the town), a dining experience in a Trebacco (fishing pier over the Adriatic), a visit to an olive grove, a jaunt to Agnone to see how they make cheese and to visit an Medieval Bell Foundry, and truffle hunting. My mother and I also had the opportunity to go on an ancestry tour, hosted by the wife of the owner of the Palazzo. On this tour, we visited the village where my father's family was born. I learned a lot about the history of the village, as well as where my ancestors lived, worked, and raised their family. Additionally, we learned what the village is known for, and we had the opportunity to tour the church in the village. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. The owner, Massimo, is affable and instantly puts you at ease with his his charm. He is a sommelier, and hosted a wine class for our group one evening. It was equal parts educational and entertaining. He also accompanied us on our tour of the Bell Foundry. If you're looking for an authentic Italian experience, stay away from the busyness of Rome, and visit the Italian countryside. Life moves at a more leisurely pace there, and you'll meet wonderful people whose generosity and kindness will truly touch your heart. I cannot recommend the Palazzo Tour D'Eau highly enough.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Spring and Fall are the best time of the year to travel. You will have the nicest weather at...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We met our fun group at the Rome airport and had an enjoyable ride to Carunchio with a pit stop halfway. We were greeted and introduced to an amazing staff and facility, Palazzo Tour D'Eau. Not necessary, but would recommend the room upgrade. These rooms were spacious and well decorated. On Wednesday, it happened to be our host, Massimo's birthday and he shared his special day with his family and us. His wine presentation should be recorded, very amusing and educational. Dino, the chef, was excellent in his instruction and getting everyone to participate. We had fun and informative excursions nearly every day. It was a bit windy for the fire stoked hot tubs but I did partake with a massage in the spa. We truly felt welcomed as part of the family. Would love to return with our son and his wife.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â Do your research on where you are going and what you will be doing. Read the website. If you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a fantastic experience! My wife and I attended Abruzzo Cibus in September, and everything was perfect, from the staff to the excursions to the food to — did I mention the food? THE FOOD!! I’ve never looked forward to lunch so much in my life. :-)
What can we say about this great tour? The palazzo is beautiful and the town of Carunchio is a fascinating place. The views from the top of the hill are spectacular. Every day was something special, from cooking with chef Dino to learning about wine with owner Massimo to touring with our guide Claudio. And especially great was the company of our fellow guests. This is a five-star experience that you shouldn’t miss. We hope to be back soon!
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great experience. Apparently Marriott does three a year with this organization. It’s beautiful scenery, good recipes and cooking & wine tips, and some educational tours of the region — cheese making, olive oil (of course), truffle harvesting, and the official papal bell maker.
The Palazzo is located at the top of a 2300 foot mountain. View is spectacular. Photo is of the Palazzo from the road below.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Can’t think of anything. The staff is great and they take care of everything.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The prices depend on a number of factors, including room size. Email the Palazzo directly and Massimo will give you the best price. He owns the Palazzo and his prices are about half that of going through a travel agent.
You will need to follow up with the management on price. I believe there are different prices for varying times of the year. I can definitely say it’s worth the price we paid!
They keep you pretty busy with the cooking school. You also take excursions a couple of days. You visit Vasto and see cheese making and a Bell Foundry. Another day you go to do olive oil tasting. It is fun to just walk the picturesque little town which I did every day. If you want to do a trip out of town they will arrange transportation for you. If you happen to not mind driving in Italy and rented a car and have it available but it was nice just to lay back and relax. We also really enjoy just spending time with the other people that were there.
Good question! I wish I had taken binoculars! So many beautiful sights that I wished I could have seen better like mountaintop villages. Also, small gifts. I'm not sure what that would be. A magnet, American snack treats, anything for them to keep as a remembrance. Gratuity was included but I still wish I had a gift of some sort. I took a small notebook and pen for note taking during our cooking classes. The "cookbook" doesn't include as many recipes as I had hoped. So ask questions and take notes! I cannot express how much I loved this tour and the people at the palace! We lived in Italy for a couple of years so I wasn't a newby to Italy but this was fantastic and I know you won't be disappointed. Mary Ann
There are more places to choose from in the Carunchio area.
LOCATION
ItalyAbruzzoProvince of ChietiCarunchio
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Palazzo Tour d'Eau - Abruzzo Cibus?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Casa Natale del Beato Angelo (6.9 miles), Castello Ducale di Carpineto Sinello (6.4 miles), and Chiesa Di Santa Lucia In Gissi (7.1 miles).