Foraging in the Woods around Villa Inglese

The woods, hills and mountains around Picinisco are abundant. It is an herbalist, mycologist, fauna, foraging, truffle hunting, wildlife paradise. We at Villa Inglese are completely immersed in this culture and we are organising events so that you can join in too. 

Break the industrial chain, submerge yourself in nature as the hunter gatherer and come foraging with us. It’s fun, competitive, obsessive and has a risk factor - are these mushrooms really edible or ….aaah!  Just joking, the locals have a saying that their ancestors died in order that they should know what to eat so you're in very safe hands!! We work with highly qualified guides who will lead you on any foraging excursions should you so wish...

Only a few of all the mushrooms growing in area only a few are edible. Here are three of the most prized specimens: funghi porcini. ovali and galette or finferle

Orapi is a mountain spinach that has become a symbol of the culinary traditions of the Parco Nazionale D’Abruzzo. Picinisco dedicates a festival to orapi every spring as a symbol of all the foraged wild ingredients that can be found in the mountains. 

There is also an abundance of truffles a little higher up in the mountains, especially across the valley above Alvito. Campoli Apenino is particularly famous. In the photo above is Cleopatra a truffle hunter, from the hills above the neighbouring town of Gallinaro.

Funghi porcini in Camicia, avvolti e cotti nei loro succhi, con solo un po' di timo selvatico, un po' di aglio e una noce di burro, sono solo uno dei deliziosi piatti che compaiono nel menu di Villa Inglese.