STORY INSPIRATION | PRESS RELEASE
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Victoria Rossi | iMedia | 212-537-9080 | victoria@i-media-international.com
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TIME-SENSITIVE | Summer & Fall Travel Experience
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When in Rome, Get Your Truffle Culture On With A Day Trip to the Historic Village of Pettino
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Immerse yourself in traditional Umbrian culture with a truffle hunting jaunt sprinkled with Pecorino cheese and a pasta-making demonstration, capped off with an Umbrian lunch with local villagers.
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(New York, New York - July 2019) --
When in Rome, don’t do as the Romans do.
Step back in time to a simpler way of life, rich in centuries-old traditions, family that extends to an entire village, and foods harvested and made by hand. This is life today in
the village of Pettino,
in Umbria, Italy--
just two hours away from the crowds of Rome.
Surrounded by truffle-rich forests, the fresh aroma of nature and food, and the breathtaking beauty of the sky-high mountains and flower-filled fields,
Pettino is the destination for the traveler seeking a cultural and culinary immersive experience
, memories of which will last a lifetime.
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The Setting
Pettino is a small historic village
nestled on a peaceful plateau perched over 1100 meters in altitude, surrounded by Umbria’s stunning Apennine Mountains. The old stone buildings, ploughed fields and small piazzas reveal a traditional Italian way of life and culture rarely encountered in other parts of Italy.
The village has a
constitution dating back to 1486, years before America was even discovered
, and sets forth the foundation for how land is used and managed for farming around Pettino.
The locals keep the land the way their ancestors did, growing mountain cereals such as farro and lentils, as well as crops to feed the animals – sheep, cattle, and goats kept in barns mingled among the houses – and from the beautiful natural birch forests they gather truffles, porcini mushrooms, and wood to heat the town’s wood-fired pizza oven.
The Culture
Truffle Hunting in Umbria
is an age old tradition
and in Pettino, there has been a truffle hunter in every family as far as the locals know. The forests surrounding the village, made up of beech and oak trees, are rich in the famous Umbrian black truffles of both the winter and summer varieties. The infamous white truffles are found in the valleys below the mountains.
- Summer is black truffle season while the fall brings on the coveted white truffles
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One of the more unique truffle hunting experiences in the area, is that offered by
Wild Foods Italy.
What makes them unique is their close familial ties to the village of Pettino and that they are the only local operation to offer a fully immersive cultural experience that extends beyond just a truffle hunt.
The day starts with a cup of authentic Italian espresso coffee before you head out for the truffle hunt which will be accompanied by a mountainside snack including Pecorino cheese, truffle-topped eggs or other goodies, and Prosecco. Upon returning to the farm, you will enjoy a traditional handmade pasta-making demonstration along with various food, wine, and cheese tastings. Lunch will follow with your fellow truffle hunters, the family and local villagers.
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Day Trip From Rome
For summer and fall visitors to Rome or Italy, a day or weekend trip to Pettino offers a culturally-immersive trip and a great way to take a day out of your Rome vacation and experience traditional Italian culture and cuisine.
It’s only a 1.5 hour scenic train trip from Rome’s Termini station to Spoleto. A family member from the Wild Foods Italy farm, probably cousin Alessandro, will pick you up and drive you to your
truffle hunting adventure
and cultural experience.
For your return trip, you will arrive in the Spoleto train station in time to catch the 4:07pm regional train back to Rome. You could also catch a later train to Rome and visit Spoleto’s historic center.
BONUS:
- Visitors to the region can add to their truffle hunting trip visits to the many festivals held in the region during the summer and fall seasons, including the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Spoleto Festival, and/or the Pettino Village Festival, among several others.
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TOUR AVAILABILITY
Available 3 to 4 days a week from mid-March through to mid-December.
Group sizes are from 2 to 16 people. Limited availability.
SUITABLE FOR
The Wild Foods Truffle Hunting day is great for couples, families and people of all ages
It’s great for foodies and wine-lovers, or for anyone just wanting to immerse themselves in the landscape, people and culture of Umbria.
Prices start at €150/person
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Wild Foods Italy is a family-owned organic farm in the village of Pettino in the Umbrian Apennine Mountains of Italy. The family has been living in Pettino and farming the land surrounding the village for generations unknown, recently opening their farm to the public. On the farm they hunt for truffles, graze sheep, cows and goats in the mountain pastures, make Pecorino cheese, salami, prosciutto and other traditional delicacies, and maintain a traditional, simple way of life in this beautiful part of the world. Their public experiences include their Wild Foods Truffle Hunt, the exclusive and bespoke Epicurean Experience, and a stay at the luxurious Black Truffle Lodge.
Additional Hi-Res pictures available.
Media Contact:
Victoria Rossi | 212-537-9080 ext. 601 | victoria@i-media-international.com
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