Truffle Hunting in Italy: Virtual Experience

Marino offers great and authentic experiences in his home region, Abruzzo. We tried out the Truffle Hunting Experience end of June, that was truly a lifetime experience: all the children and adults liked it as well. Special thanks to Adamo and his family, and of course the dogs 🙂 Thanks Marino for this unique experience! Keep up the good work!

A Splendid Time! The Best Day of our holiday in Giulianova, Abruzzo. Marino took us to the truffle farm, and we learned all about history, farming, hunting (by dogs) harvesting and finally a Great Dinner with truffles and the whole family. Many photos were taken to remember this Splendid Time. Nor to be missed!

My name is Gail, our experience will Bellavita was awesome and memorable. Professional and educated staff and so friendly! We scheduled a few tours with Bellavita and each one was over the top. We loved the truffle hunt, cheese making!
We felt like family not a number.

My friends and I had an amazing truffle hunting experience with Marino, followed by a delicious meal made with local dishes and ingredients. One of the best meals I had in 5 years living in Italy.

Great experience truffle hunting with Marino and Jet (the dog that actually did the hunting). We learned a lot about truffles, and subsequently had a wonderful meal. The real highlight, however, was spending time with truly charming and welcoming people of Abruzzo.

Fantastic The tour by the local guides, Marino and Alberto, was very interesting and fun. We went out hunting truffles (and actually found some) with three trained and friendly dogs. Our guides and hosts were very kind, communicative and eager to answer all of our questions. Afterwards we went for a delicious dinner (9 courses i think and all with truffles :o) with local wines. Fully recommended.

 Last night we joined Marino (he speaks fluent English) on a truffle hunting tour, we didn't really know what to expect, but the tour was fantastic. Marino knows so much about truffles and what he can't answer the truffle hunter can answer.
Although it is the end of the truffle season the two dogs found many truffles.
After our walk though the trees we went to the truffle Hunters, sons truffle shop where we bought all the truffles that we found on our tour. There are many truffle products available to purchase if we wanted.
I can't wait to do another tour with Marino on our next visit to Abruzzo.

Our day with Marino in Abruzzo was one of the highlights of our entire trip throughout Italy! The truffle hunting was a completely unique experience, the dogs and their handler were amazing to watch and we found plenty of truffles. Would definitely recommend the lunch as well, all the dishes were delicious and showcased produce from the local area and of course truffles. Marino's knowledge of truffles, Abruzzo region and cuisine was extensive and his passion was very evident and we learnt a lot. Must-do experience if you are in the area.

I can’t say enough good things about this company and the gentleman who runs it - Marino. He is genuine, kind, friendly and fun.I booked a solo truffle hunt and meal while visiting the area. The truffle land owner and trained dogs were friendly and welcoming. They immediately began to retrieve black truffles and place them in your hand in exchange for a small treat provided by their owner. By my request, Marino took me to the business/storefront where the different truffles are prepared and where ours would eventually end up. I had the opportunity to purchase many varieties for what I would consider a discounted cost - including, but not limited to white truffles. Marino pointed out, discussed and stopped at important places on the way to our restaurant - He has a very refined and sophisticated palate and enjoys discussing wines, all things Abruzzese and of course his passion for TRUFFLES (Tartufi) - which is absolutely contagious. We ended our delicious meal and walked around the historic neighbourhood (buildings, churches and squares). He shared stories of the region, local customs and festivities and then we returned to my vehicle to say goodbye. I wish you all the best Marino.
Grazie Mille for an unforgettable life experience!

My wife and I went on the truffle hunt one exciting Saturday morning, we'd never been on one before and weren't quite sure what to expect. The whole morning was exciting and fun, watching the dogs darting to find the truffles and rushing to see where they were and taking them from their mouths.We learn't so much and hope that our dog may be able to learn the technique(miracles do happen).We also went to the nearby shop and purchased some truffles to take home. After we went to a restaurant and had a super meal ,a banquet of even more truffles.Marino was great, friendly, informative and so kind. W'd suggest also going to the restaurant as it was a lovely way to end.

My husband and I attended the Truffle Hunt experience, and it was definitely a highlight of our Italy trip. We started the day tasting truffle products at Marino's home, and then were led to the base of a mountain where we met the truffle hunter and his dogs. We got to see the dogs locate truffles, and we were allowed to help dig them up so it was a very hands on experience. After the hunt, we went back to the hunter's store where we could purchase some of the products we tried earlier. We were not pressured into buying anything, but were very excited to purchase the truffle sauces, oils and salt. Last, but absolutely not least, we went to an upscale restaurant where we experienced a ten course truffle meal that was some of the best food of our whole trip. The chef even accommodated my food allergies so I was able to partake in every course. Marino met us there for dessert, and we got to ask questions and get recommendations for other restaurants and sites in Abruzzo. You could tell that Marino and everyone else involved in the experience loved what they do and were knowledgeable about their home region and work. Everyone was very nice and willing to help us have the best experience possible. We definitely feel lucky that we had this experience while in Italy, and have recommended Abruzzo to every person we have talked to about our trip. We hope to be back someday to enjoy the other experiences that Marino has put together. We are so appreciative of the hospitality we enjoyed.

I booked this experience knowing that my friends wife has a passion for Truffles, little did I know that hunting for Truffles in Italy was on her wish list from Twenty years ago. From the first conversation she had with Marino, she knew she was in for the experience of a lifetime.She is gluten intolerant, and Marino easily catered for her disease, it was not a problem, and I am pleased to say, that she did not suffer any side effects. As such Marino and the chef at the restaurant where we had our amazing lunch catered for her precisely. Back to the experience, our walk up the hill with Giovanino and his dogs Luna and Piccolo frantically sniffing out the Truffles was absolute pure enjoyment. The dogs just loved their day out. Whilst hunting for Truffles, Marino and Giovanino shared their knowledge (but not their secrets 🙂 ) of truffle hunting, this our friends wife found extremely valuable as she is growing Truffle trees back home in New Zealand. After our hunt, Marino took us on a short tour of Campli, this in itself was fascinating, in particular the Medico of spices, and the Scala Santa steps. After our tour of town it was on o our degustation lunch at Ristorante where every course was delicious, and of course the conversation flowed with more questions and answers. I would not hesitate to recommend this experience! Marino is an outstanding host, who has an absolute passion for food, and his home town! Book the experience, and you won’t be disappointed!

Recently we had the opportunity to go hunting; truffle hunting.We rarely book tours. We like to travel independently and we don't really enjoy big groups. So, huge credit goes to Marino at Experience Bella Vita for giving us an unforgettable excursion, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Marino has local contacts and extensive knowledge, to be able to share an authentic experience that one wouldn't have access to otherwise. We were booked on the Truffle Hunt and Lunch. And it was fantastic from beginning to end.We arrived at a farm, just after a small village near Teramo. Marino introduced us to Alfredo, a local guy who has had an interest in hunting truffles since he was a boy. He in turn introduced us to his nephews who would also be walking with us in the hunt. And then we were introduced to the dogs, the mamma and her two adorable 5 months old pups. All are trained truffle hunting dogs. Marino took time to explain our route and we set off. He enquired about the challenge of the walk and told us that this can be adapted for walkers who wanted something a little easier. In spite of the scorching heat, we all wanted to reach the highest point to enjoy the views of the Abruzzese countryside. And when we reached the top, the vista didn't disappoint. Stunning Gran Sasso came into sight, surrounded by Abruzzo's beautiful landscape, the Green Heart of Europe.We had a couple of 'false finds', when the dogs sniffed out truffles that are not really fit for human consumption. At least the dogs get to enjoy them. But as we came downhill and approached shade, the dogs became excitable and the first truffle was found. The dogs sniffed and buried a bit and then our friend was passed a shovel to dig up the hidden treasure. It was huge. We all rested in shade for a while but the dogs continued in their search, until they found another truffle and then another. Each time their excitement was infectious.Marino took time to chat with all four of us throughout the walk and he explained about the trees and the local wildlife. Finally we found complete shade. Ombre. It was a perfect shady hideaway, where we cooled off and took a few photos. By this point, tummies were rumbling. Lunch was on our minds. We thanked Alfredo and his nephews and said goodbye to the dogs. Marino drove us to a nearby restaurant, which specialises in truffle dishes. A few minutes later Alfredo appeared at the door, having changed into clean clothes and surprise, he was carrying the truffles found on our hunt. Chef Enrico prepared 18 dishes for us, each equally as good as the last and almost all had truffle infused or shaved on the top. We didn't think we could eat it all but of course, somehow we did! And it was all washed done with plenty of Cerasuolo wine, unique to Abruzzo, made with 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grapes. The truffle flavours and the wine paired perfectly.There are travel days. And then there are great travel days.It was a memorable day with friends; We walked a little and ate a lot, enjoyed the excitement of the hunt, indulged in fantastic food and made a new friend. Perfecto! We would thoroughly recommend this trip.

The truffle hunting experience we did with Marino, Ginesio and Enrico was truly one of the most special and memorable days we've had on our 14 day road trip (and that's saying something since I got engaged on this trip 4 days ago!). If you love nature, dogs, culinary arts, and culture, DO THIS. Learning about the different truffles and seasons, the industry, and how the dogs hunt was fascinating. We found quite a bit on our hunt even for the end of season. Marino, the truffle Hunter Gino and the chef Enrico were all so filled with warmth, hospitality, and obvious love and passion for their region, nature, and the fruits of their environment it was such a special time. After the hunt, we had hands down the best meal we've had in Italy (and it is really steep competition) made by Enrico and all mushroom based with local sourced funghi and truffles. For other Americans who are considering this tour and are unfamiliar with the structure of italian meals- when something says 4 courses...it can actually mean 14 courses. The antipasti was 8 different dishes so we ended up enjoying a casual 4.5 hr 14 course lunch and everything was totally amazing. BEST MEAL IN ITALY. Amazing hospitality and we learned so much and it was truly so, so special. Many many thanks to Marino for setting up this beautiful adventure- we will definitely do other excursions and meet again whenever we are back to visit family in the area.

 I went for the truffle hunt with Experience BellaVita, and had a really unique experience of going out to the woods with an experienced truffle hunter and his two dogs. It was really cool to see the dogs work, and how quickly they would find the truffles. Afterwards we had a really good meal, and all day we got well taken care of by the guide Marino. Can highly recommend!

 Thanks to Marino, our family received unforgettable impressions and a lot of new knowledge about the region.
Truffle hunting is a fun and informative program for the whole family!
Associ, Lola and Piccola are unsurpassed 🐶🐶

Thank you, Marino!

 We went on the truffle hunt and thoroughly enjoyed the gourmet truffle lunch. Simply amazing!! We absolutely loved everything about it. We learned so much and Marino is full of personality and so much passion for what he does. Don’t miss out on this experience!!

 Congratulations to Martino who carries out very interesting activities in our area.
Seeing how dogs find truffles with ease and speed was surprising and fascinating.
I recommend this experience, not tiring and exciting.

 For anybody looking to experience true, authentic Italy and take in the untouched beauty of Abruzzo, Experience Bella Vita is the absolute best. My mother and I enjoyed the Truffle Hunt Tour and Meal and it exceeded our expectations in every possible way. Marino is organized, knowledgeable, and incredibly kind and easy to chat with. Even weeks before the tour began he made the whole process so easy and even offered up suggestions of how to spend any additional free time in the area. The day itself was absolutely perfect. We both got to dig up our own truffles, picked fresh fruit right off of the trees, and had a sensational multiple course gourmet meal with every dish featuring funghi and of course, truffles! It’s been a week since our tour now and my mother and I have mentioned every single day since then about how amazing that meal was. Marino was so much more than a tour guide, providing such a personal experience that you really felt as if you were simply spending the day with a friend. After the tour we had planned to go on a hike in the area at Marino’s suggestion but he surprised us again by offering to accompany us! It was truly an unforgettable experience, full of breathtaking views, gorges, and incredible waterfalls. I can’t recommend Experience Bella Vita enough. For a personalized, unique experience and a look into what life in Italy is actually like, you absolutely can’t do better than this. Truly top notch in every way. My only regret is that we didn’t have more time to experience all that the area had to offer.

 Marino is an amazing tour guide with tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm for Abruzzo. He not only ran a great cooking class with his grandmother, visit to a salumeria, and a truffle-hunting expedition, but also recommended a complete itinerary with hotels, stays in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, visit to Rocca Colascio, Scanno, Pacentro... Wow - what a wonderful way to see this unexplored and authentic part of Italy!

This tour was awesome!!!it went well beyond our expectations and we would definitely recommend it to our closest friends! Marino was very personable and spoke great English. it was very interesting to walk around and see the dogs hunting for truffles, also afterwards was very interesting as well. Marino is quite knowledgeable about Abruzzo and the history. As well, the food was exceptionable! 🙂 We definitely would like to go on his other tours if we make the journey again to Abruzzo Italy 🙂

Marino and his start up business Experience BellaVita is one not to be missed if you happen to be in the region of Abruzzo. Myself and a friend of mine booked ourselves into a truffle hunting tour. It was very well organized and we got see, feel and taste everything truffle. Marino is well connected and will show you things a normal tourist would not see. He went out of his way and beyond our expectations and i am more than happy to be a return customer when i visit again.

Marino's tours are a unique opportunity to discover Abruzzo's local culture and food. His unpretentious and authentic approach was really refreshing and it was a distinct pleasure to meet lovely local people and get a real first hand experience of Abruzzo food and native culture. He was very flexible accommodating my schedule as I was only in the area for a limited time. He kindly fit in the Truffle Hunt and Olive Oil experiences in the same day. In the morning - gifted with good weather, we ventured off for an enjoyable truffle hunt in the Abruzzo countryside with truffle hunter Fabrizio and his dog Olaf, uncovering 6 prized truffles including one white! After we proceeded to Marino's large home kitchen where he prepared delicious, traditional Abruzzese dishes with our tasty score of the day, alongside some fantastic regional organic wines.Later on I got to see start to finish the olive oil making process. I was taken to an olive grove where I met busy local workers occupied with the harvest, and I even got to try some harvesting myself! From there to a locally owned processing factory where we sampled pure, fresh olive oil right from the presses! I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. Marino is a friendly, stellar guide (and cook) and his English is excellent.In addition, he is extremely knowledgeable about local food and culture. I would definitely recommend travellers to venture off and explore the Abruzzo region and getting in on his tours. The next time I'm in Abruzzo I won't hesitate to look him up again to see what he's got going on.

My wife and I had a great time on the truffle hunt led by Marino and his team. Following our successful efforts in the field we came back to Campli and had a wonderful truffle-themed lunch. We learned so much and his enthusiasm for the food and the Abruzzo region was inspiring. He really is a local expert and happily explains anything you'd like to know. I'd definitely recommend this excursion for anyone coming to the area!

 We had a fantastic day with Marino. The truffle hunting was really good fun, I was amazed at how quickly the dogs found truffles and how we were able to take them from their mouths in exchange for a small dog treat! The walk round Campoli was really informative and relaxed, there was no rush, Marino was able to answer all our questions and did everything at a really nice pace. And lunch, lunch was just fabulous. Marino’s a great cook and host. We were seriously well looked after and had a terrific truffle lunch. Thank you so much Marino and your family for this wonderful treat. We will be back!

 Different and amazing way to spend your holiday. We did all those things only locals know exist - truffle hunting, beer festival, discovering hidden river valleys,..
Thanks Marino for this incredible experience!!

 Marino had a fantastic communication skills the truffle hunter was really good. He knew his Springer Spaniel really well and was amazing seeing them following his commands during the hunt. The Springer were well trained. We found a lot of truffles during the walk. The meal was fantastic. We were blown away by the simplicity but powerful flavour of the truffle dishes prepared
Marino knows his area really well