About Majella Tours of Italy
Meet Michelle
My name is Michelle DiBenedetto-Capobianco.
I’m a daughter of Italian immigrants, mom to three boys and a corporate lawyer-turned-cooking-school-owner in New York.
Since 2017, I have organized experience-based, small-group tours of my beloved, unspoiled central Italian region of Abruzzo – a land of sprawling national parks, pristine Adriatic coastlines, hidden hermitages carved into stone and rambling medieval villages.
While Abruzzo will always be first in my heart, I've been fortunate to travel deeply throughout Italy and am thrilled to offer tours in other territories that I love including Puglia & Matera and the Italian Riviera in 2025.
La Majella ("Mah-yel-lah")
My father, Gino, was born and raised in Salle, a tiny town located in the Parco Nazionale della Maiella (or Majella*, as it was originally called in Roman times) in Abruzzo. Named for the beautiful Dea (goddess) Maja, for the Abruzzesi, the Majella mountain is revered as “La Madre” – the mother – a proud and nurturing symbol of the region’s land and fertility.
*A quick personal aside – during a visit to Salle when I was a teenager, my then precocious 6-year old cousin, Davide - now the mayor of Salle - nicknamed me “Majella” as he led me around town spewing gossip about the villagers! The name stuck!
Travel Deeply & Sustainably in Italy
Abruzzo - With one-third of the region designated as national park land, Abruzzo is wild and untouched. It's a place to feel free - to stand in an open grassy plain dotted with wildflowers in the shadow of a majestic mountain and simply breathe the crisp, clean air. From heart-shaped Lago di Scanno to Rocca Calascio, the imposing fortress in the sky, to the mysterious Costa dei Trabocchi along the Adriatic Sea, Abruzzo leaves intrepid travelers with the feeling that they have uncovered a secret Italy.
Puglia + Matera - The up-and-coming region of Puglia and the fascinating ancient city of Matera are part of Italy's deep South. Located at the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia runs along the southern Adriatic coast, and is characterized by its warm & welcoming locals, exemplary cooking and some of the most unique architecture you’ll find anywhere in Italy. Matera, located in the neighboring region of Basilicata, is an important cultural gem of Southern Italy, known for its Sassi cave dwellings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Italian Riviera - Liguria, on Italy’s northern Mediterranean coast, is home to the famed Italian Riviera, glamorous Portofino, and the five colorful fishing villages collectively known as Cinque Terre, as well as lesser-known but equally stunning towns such as Camogli & Chiavari. In collaboration with my friends at Beautiful Liguria, I've designed an exclusive food-centric tour with an eye towards sustainability and geared toward travelers and food lovers seeking a deeper experience led by passionate local guides, chefs and artisans.
Explore Culture through Local Food & Wine
Italy's regional cuisines are extremely diverse, but share in common an insistence on using local ingredients and respecting tradition. Our tours offer a deep dive into regional culture through one-of-a-kind food experiences including hands-on cooking classes & workshops; private olive oil & wine tastings; and farm-to-table meals in one-of-a-kind settings.
Get to Know Locals
We use local guides on all of our tours - winemakers, olive oil producers, chefs, nature guides, innkeepers & artisans. They will welcome you with open arms and go out of their way to share with you their passion for their beloved territory.
