Discover untamed wildlife in the Italian Apennines | Villeta Barrea
Enjoy the purest nature & food in Italy, and support Rewilding Europe to develop the natural habitat of bears and wolves.
Hosted by Bearleader in Hospitality | Chef & Owner Hotel Degli Olmi | Donato Nunzio
Degli Olmi
A ‘Rewilding Europe’ Experience
Discover wildlife in the Italian Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo. This is the untamed heart of the Appenine Chain. With its adjacent regions of Lazio and Molise, it is one of the most protected areas of Italy. Only two hours by car from Rome or Naples, the Parco Nazionale is the truly magnificent ‘green heart’ of Europe. With its rugged mountains and fierce valleys, forests, crystal clear rivers, and glacial lakes. The climate in the Parco is ideal for relaxation and peace in nature.
In the middle of it all is Hotel degli Olmi***. It is located in Villetta Barrea, an attractive and enchanting town at the centre of this natural paradise. Pescasseroli, the historical cultural capital of the Parco Nazionale, is located nearby.
The hotel offers impeccable service, with Chef & Owner Donato Nunzio at the realm. Donato is trained by three Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito, so you can expect excellent, pure Italian gastronomy. His alluring warmth and comforting hospitality are the natural fruition of thirty years of this family-run hotel.
“Our family has recently renovated our third-generation establishment, located in the heart of the Marsican brown bear’s habitat. By visiting us, you’ll have the chance to experience local mountain traditions and enjoy immersive outdoor activities.”
Rewilding Europe
Who would have thought you could watch wild wolves and bears in their natural surroundings, just an hour and a half out of ‘The Eternal City’ Rome? Extensive beech forests are many centuries old and probably among the oldest in Europe. Among the enormous trees and their mossy stems live large populations of wild herbivores like red deer, roe deer and wild boar. In many places, these species share their habitats with large herds of unfenced horses and cattle and represent the wolves' primary prey.
The most charismatic and famous inhabitant of the mountain forests here is the Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies to the region. Rewilding Europe actively works to restore natural processes and landscapes, creating spaces where wildlife and ecosystems can flourish again. They work with local partners to reduce bear mortality and conflict by installing traffic accident prevention measures.
Chef Donato, owner of Hotel Degli Olmi, is working closely with the team of Rewilding Europe, a non-profit organization that selects large pioneering areas in Europe. They work with their partners to make their vision a reality: to ‘rewild’ Europe.
Package
Bookable April 21 – June 30 or September 9 -October 13, 2025
By booking this experience in these months, you can fully experience wildlife in this area. You are also sponsoring the efforts of Rewilding Europe in the meantime. Take this journey with your partner, colleagues or with your family.
INCLUDED
Day 1: Arrival in Hotel Degli Olmi with a welcome drink and a short presentation by Donato, followed by a dinner.
Day 2: Guided walk with national park guides in the surrounding area. A packed lunch is provided. In the afternoon you can relax by the swimming pool area, followed by ‘apertivo’ and dinner in the evening.
Day 3: Visit a local cheese farm in Villetta Barrea with Rewilding Europe Apennines: taste local products, and visit a cheese laboratory. Return to the hotel, relax and enjoy a dinner.
Day 4: Return to the airport, stay longer or proceed with your journey.
Half board: breakfast + 2 evenings 3-course dinner + one evening 5-course tasting menu (excl. drinks)
EXCLUDED
All extra orders outside the program
Flights or transfer.
OPTIONAL
Transport from Rome airport can be arranged, or you can rent a car
Stay longer.
PACKAGE RATE
Bookable on request from April 21 - June 30, or Sept 9 - Oct 13, 2025.
779 Euros, incl. VAT per couple (double room occupancy of the room)*
579 Euros incl. VAT per person (single occupancy of the room)
*Pets are not allowed. Triple rooms consist of one double bed and an additional single bed. Quadruple rooms include one double bed and a bunk bed.
Request availability
Degli Olmi | Rewilding Europe package
Includes 3 nights at Hotel Degli Olmi
Half board stay + hike + activities
Please fill out the form so we can contact you about the details of your booking.
You will not be charged for your request. This package is exclusively available via Bearleaders. You can also email us on sales(@)bearleaders.com