Casa Tartufo

The easiest way to get a taste of the local is to sign up for some of the tours organised by the site itself, visiting olive oil producers or sampling local wines accompanied by plates of cheese and salami. Ben and Sabine can also hook you up with a hiking guide to keep you on the right trail and point out points of interest or wildlife. Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi Regional Natural Park, half an hour away, is another fab place for a walk – birds of prey, wild boar and smaller mammals can often be seen as you hike here. In the middle of the park are the limestone karsts of the Frasassi Caves, which can be explored on a paved trail or by crawling through the tunnels on a caving tour. A little further afield, it will take you just under an hour to hit the Adriatic coast – head to Marotta for a family-friendly wide sandy beach with serviced and free areas.