Experience BellaVita is a family-run and independent company that offers curious visitors, travelers unique local culinary and traditional experiences in Abruzzo. But not just this, our aim is also involving the best local producers, such as wineries, factories, farmers, into our activities.
Ciao!
My name is Marino Cardelli, and as the founder of Experience BellaVita I will be your authentic Tour Leader while visiting our region in Central Italy, Abruzzo.
I was born and raised in a small village next to Teramo. I’m passionate about our regional gastronomy, history, and culture and sharing my local knowledge with visitors to this spectacular area. In my spare time, I either cook or travel around as I enjoy meeting new people and discovering new areas and places. I speak English, Spanish, Italian, and Abruzzese (our local dialect).
Within our first 3 years, we have already hosted more than 400 happy tourists from 38 different countries.
Read more about Marino
During the last years, I also gained international experience while graduating in Edinburgh and traveling around the world. Despite my international work success, I decided to exchange the busy corporate environment for presenting authentic Abruzzo culture via food tours, cooking classes, and exploration of this lesser-known, hidden gem destination with its unforgettable nature, majestic mountains, national parks &reserves, and the long stretch of beautiful seaside coast. I realized how much I am keen on sharing my passion of Abruzzo with others. This is how my dream came true, and the Experience BellaVita was born.
Smart Ambassador of Abruzzo
Throughout the last years, I’ve become a licensed Italian Tour Leader and also have been selected as Smart Ambassador of Abruzzo by the local government.
The role of Abruzzo Ambassador is crucial as thanks to this, I am able to contribute personally to the development of the tourism strategies of my region.
If you would like to know more about my duties, please read my article here: Abruzzo Smart Ambassadors.
Wine Sommelier & Food Enthusiast
I love to cook and I’m very picky and selective when it comes to food & drinks. I always look for the best quality and excellent eating experience.
With the quality of the restaurants in Abruzzo, it is not hard to have an average and good meal, but trust me! it gets hard when you look for the BEST and for a place which offers a great selection of wines too.
That is also why, I’m constantly improving my cultural and wine knowledge with the help of attending a 3 years long Sommelier course at the Italian Sommelier Federation (FIS). On all the FIS events, I can invite my guest to join me at exclusive tastings, and having personal connections with most of the wineries & businesses in and beyond the Abruzzo region as well.
WHY ENJOY ABRUZZO WITH US?
Our Values
What drives us at Experience BellaVita is enthusiasm and passion for food, traditions, art, traveling and people. Through these unique experiences, we want to:
- Providing our visitors – who become our friends – unforgettable moments.
- Giving back to “Madre Natura” what she has been giving us and respecting it.
- Supporting the local economy of small fascinating Abruzzese villages that are threatened to disappear forever without the support.
- Reducing the emigration of young passionate folks like us, and bring them back to Abruzzo.
- Helping small home-producers.
BellaVita Selection Process
For our BellaVita Experiences we search for and select our collaborators personally. All of them are small entrepreneurs, artisans, and producers based in Abruzzo who are passionate and keep Italy’s old traditions alive.
On our scouting, we always pretend to be tourists, if the person, wether at a b&b, at a restaurant or at a farm can transfer us emotion, passion and enthusiasm for what they do then we decide to present ourself and start a collaboration
While doing this selection and work, we are dedicated to devoting part of our profit annually to the development of the local economy with events and projects aimed to do so.
Some of the social projects we partnered with:
- inTERazioni – Promotion of cultural activities and tourism in the hinterland of Teramo, in Abruzzo.
- Campovalano Viva – Promoting tourism through one of the best sagra (Food festival) of Abruzzo. Helping running the iconic ‘Sagra del Tartufo’ (the Truffle Festival), which attracts and hosts more than 30 thousand visitors from all over the region and beyond each year for an entire week.
Our Family Members
Official 2nd Level Sommelier
Food & Wine Expert
Official Tour Leader of Abruzzo
Smart Ambassador, Abruzzo
Food & Wine Expert
Official Tour Leader of Abruzzo
Smart Ambassador, Abruzzo
What he likes the most: traveling through Abruzzo on the hunt for a thrilling dining experience.
Nonna Amina is 83 years young and still very active, cooking as if there was no tomorrow.
She also takes care of our 90y old Nonno.
She also takes care of our 90y old Nonno.
What she likes the most: Cooking Pasta alla Chitarra.
Mamma Anna is responsible for making sure no one is leaving home without a coffee and some freshly baked biscuits.
What she likes the most: preparing fried dishes, like cotolette, artichokes, zucchini and many more.
With 6 dishes on his hands, Papa' Bruno makes sure everyone gets a warm plate and some fresh fruit from our garden.
What he likes the most:
Giuseppe is part of the 4th-grade family generation of cheesemakers in Abruzzo.
He and his family are fantastic people. Genuine, Strong and Gentle
He and his family are fantastic people. Genuine, Strong and Gentle
What he likes the most: looking at the ricotta forming up, like if it was his first time.
Ginesio was one of the first truffle hunters in Abruzzo. He started hunting almost 25 years ago: he developed extraordinary skills to find those unique pieces.
When going for a hunt, Luna dog gets rewarded with a window-seat for an efficient truffle hunt. Piccola, the sister, sits in the back.
These kind creatures aren’t just dogs, they are Ginesio’s children, who find the truffles exceptionally quickly.
When going for a hunt, Luna dog gets rewarded with a window-seat for an efficient truffle hunt. Piccola, the sister, sits in the back.
These kind creatures aren’t just dogs, they are Ginesio’s children, who find the truffles exceptionally quickly.
What they like the most: letting our visitors give treats to his dogs after they found the truffles.
Vincenzo is Marino's neighbor and a professional beekeeper. He has been doing this for 40 years and loves to share his knowledge and passion with our visitors.
What he likes the most: petting his horse and growing farm vegetables.
Andrea has got a small stone mill where he grinds only local grains, some of which come from Giuseppe's farm.
What he likes the most: preserving the ancient traditions, like the weaving of onions you can see on the picture.
The Faraone family runs one of the most historic wineries of Abruzzo: dated back in 1930 with grandpa Alfonso in 1930, and then continued with Giovanni who made the first ‘Metodo Classico’ wine of the region.
Today, the history of the winery is secured with Federico and his family who carry the family secrets blended with fresh energies.
Today, the history of the winery is secured with Federico and his family who carry the family secrets blended with fresh energies.
What he likes the most: venturing on crazy cycling adventures.
