 You will stay in Arcidossi which is a small medieval village in Southern Tuscany. "Casa Innocenti" is a medieval house that features 4 floors, 20 rooms, a wine cellar and a lovely garden.
All cooking courses are informal and hands on!
Carlo Innocenti is an experienced cook. In the past, he managed and was head chef of the first class cafe Harry's Bar in Punta Ala, an upscale beach resort in the south of Tuscany. He also owned a restaurant in his own house in Arcidosso and has conducted cooking courses in Switzerland. All classes are hands-on and include local wine. The courses are taught in a large rustic kitchen. |
| PACKAGE DETAILS |
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- 6 nights in Arcidossa, in a Medieval Villa
- All meals as indicated
- 4 cooking courses
- Wine/oil tastings
- guide
- 4 guided excursions
- Transfers
- museum tickets
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- 1 week - $3250.00 per person, based on double occupancy.
- 5 nights
$2850.00 per
person
- 4 nights
$2500.00 per
person
- Half-Week:
$2000.00 per
person.
* Note: Our half-week
vacations run
from Saturday
to Tuesday or
Sunday to Wednesday.
- *Note: $400 Single
Supplement for full
week and $200 for ½ week
for all programs
- Deposit: A $500 deposit will hold your reservation. Full payment is due 70 days prior to departure
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March 25 - 31
April 1 - 7
April 15 - 21
April 29 - May 6
May13 - 19
May 21 - 27
June 3 - 9
June 11 - 17
June 24 - 30
July 1 - 7
July 9 - 15
Sept 2 - 8
Sept 15 - 21
Sept 23 - 29
Oct 3 - 9
Oct 22 - 28
Oct 30 - Nov5 (Olive
Harvest week)
Day 1: (Saturday) Arrival in Rome and transferred to the village of Arcidosso. Your host and chef, Carlo, will show you his beautiful home, yours for the week! Relax in the garden or take a walk through the enchanting streets. Later you will enjoy a Tuscan dinner prepared by Carlo.
Day 2: (Sunday) After breakfast your first cooking class will begin around 11:00 in the morning. Your lunch will follow and then you will take off for Santa Fiora. Your tour will take you to other medieval villages of Castel Del Piano, Montegiovi and Montelaterone. Dinner will be at the home.
Day 3: (Monday) You'll start off the day by going to Pitigliano and then to Sorano and have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch you will go to Sovana and then on to Saturnia, the famous spa. Upon your return you will prepare with Carlo a healthy dinner, your second cooking class.
Day 4: (Tuesday) After breakfast you can join Carlo and go to the local grocery stores to buy vegetables, meats etc. Learn how to pick the best food! Once back you will start your third cooking class. Afterwards, you can relax, go for a walk in the village or relax by the village pool. Your evening dinner will be accompanied by a superb wine tasting.
Day 5: (Wednesday) In the morning you will go to Montalcino, a town famous for its grape vineyards that produce the celebrated Burnello wine. Have lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy the village and take time to explore the little shops. You will continue to Peinza and visit the main square. Evening dinner at home.
Day 6: (Thursday) This is your last day in Tuscany and you will enjoy a trip to Montepulciano where you can visit the wine cellars for a wine tasting of Montepulciano's vino di Nobile. In the evening you will have your last cooking class. A farewell dinner!
Day 7: (Friday) After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport in Rome.
| PACKAGE DETAILS |
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- 6 nights accommodations
at Villa Gaia
- all meals as indicated in the itinerary
- 5 hands-on-cooking
lessons
- 2 wine tastings in Montalcino and Montepulciano
- 5 guided tours
- all transfers to and from Florence
- small groups of 4 - 10 people
- museum tickets
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- 1 week - $3250.00
per person, based
on double occupancy.
- 5 nights $2850.00
per person
- 4 nights $2500.00
per person
- Half-Week:
$2000.00 per
person.
* Note: Our half-week
vacations run
from Saturday
to Tuesday or
Sunday to Wednesday.
- *Note: $400
Single Supplement
for full week
and $200 for ½ week
for all programs
- Deposit: A
$500 deposit
will hold your
reservation.
Full payment
is due 70 days
prior to departure
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April 8 - 14
April 22 - 28
May 7 - 12 (5 nights)
May 13 - 19
May 28 - June 2
June 18 - 22 (5 nights)
July 17 - 23
Sept 10 – 14 (4
nights)
Oct 12 - 13 (1/2 week)
Oct 30 - Nov 5 (Olive Harvest Week)
Day 1: Your meeting place will be at the Rome Airport or Rome train station. You will then have a 2 hour drive to Villa Gaia. After you have time to relax you will begin your first cooking lesson followed by dinner.
Day2: Today you will visit the town of Montalcino, a 14th century fortress, and the main piazza. You will stop for a cappuccino and then have time to shop for pottery. After you will visit a winery where you will have a light lunch and a tasting of the best wines. An evening cooking class will be at the villa followed by dinner.
Day 3: Today you will visit the hot springs of Bagni Di San Filippo. Afterwards you will continue to Pienza where you will have a lunch in a local restaurant and then visit the main square, Piazza Poi II. Upon your return to the villa you will prepare a healthy Tuscan dinner.
Day 4: Take a tour of Montepulciano and visit the many architectural masterpieces by Rosselini, and then enjoy a wine tasting at a nearby estate. You Cooking lesson will be at the villa
followed be dinner.
Day 5: Your day will begin with visits to the villages of Monte Amiata. These visits will include the historic center, private gardens and the ancient parish church. You will continue your journey to an abbey and for lunch you will stop in Arcidosso. Your cooking lesson and dinner will be at the villa.
Day 6: Your last day in Tuscany will include a trip to the seacoast, village of Castiglione della Pescaia. This old village is high on a hill with a view over looking the bay. You will enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, you will enjoy a dinner at one of the best known restaurants in the area which specializes in mushrooms and truffles.
Day 7: Transfer to Rome airport of train station in Grosseto for your departure.
Villa Castelletti dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and is located nine miles from the center of Florence.
| PACKAGE DETAILS |
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- Your accommodations will be in mini-apartments, which can accommodate up to 6 people. All the apartments are equipped with modern conveniences.
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- Cost:
1 week - $3390.00
per person
based on double
occupancy.
- 5 nights -
$2950.00 per
person
- 4 nights -
$2475.00 per
person
- ½ week -
$1990.00 per
person
- $400.00 single
supplement for
full week and
$200.00 for ½ week
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March 25 - 31
April 1 - 7
April 8 - 14
April 15 - 21
April 29 – May
6
May 13 – 19
June 3 - 9
June 11 - 17
June 24 - 30
July 1 - 7
July 9 - 15
September 2 - 8
September 23 - 29
October 1 - 7
October 22 - 28
October 30 - Nov. 5 (Olive
Harvest Week)
Day 1: Pick
up in Florence at the
train station at 2pm
or the Florence airport
at 3pm. Then you will
be taken by van to Villa
Castelletti. After settling
in, Linda will show you
around the entire estate. You
will have time to relax
in your apartment before
enjoying a welcome drink
and dinner. You will
meet your cooking teacher
for the week and you
will prepare your first
Tuscan meal with Roberto.
Day 2: After breakfast you will visit beautiful Lucca. After your informative tour you will have free time to shop. You will enjoy a light lunch in one of the many trattorias in Lucca. Later you will have a cooking course followed by dinner.
Day 3: This morning after your breakfast you will have time to relax and enjoy the surroundings before your cooking class starts. After your lunch you will take a drive through the wine region. Here you will enjoy wine tour and a tasting of "vino santo". Later in the afternoon you will visit Pisa and then try a little Pisan cuisine.
Day 4: In the morning you will drive through the Chianti region and visit San Gimignano. Here you will have a chance to shop and stroll along the streets packed with local artisan stores which specialize in leather goods, wooden crafts, and ceramics. You will stop at a local winery and taste Vernaccia, and taste the local delicacies. Cooking course is followed by dinner at the villa.
Day 5: Today you will go to Florence and have a cooking lesson with Sharon, who is restaurant owner and chef of Trattoria Garga. You will have a tour of the outdoor market, have free time to shop, visit the Uffizi, the main cathedral. Later in the afternoon you will meet Sharon and enjoy your hands on cooking class followed by your meal.
Day 6: This morning you will visit the small town on Vinci - home of the great Leonardo Di Vinci! Following you will visit an area of Montalbano and shop at an olive oil farm and have tasting. Then return to the estate to rest and relax before your last cooking class and farewell gala dinner.
Day 7: Farewell to all! You will be taken to the airport or train station in Florence.
This is so much more than a vacation. Carlo takes you into his home as if you were a family member. By day, you tour old Tuscan villages steeped in history and in the evening your pallet is treated to the best food you have ever tasted. This was the vacation of a life time for me. Nantucket, MA
This was absolutely wonderful. Everything was just great, especially Carlo. Putney, VT
The trip was FABULOUS and I am speaking for the entire group. Tuscany was like heaven on earth and Isabella and her family were terrific. I especially enjoyed the felling of being part of a family and the day trips were very well planned. I have to give a special thanks to Fernanda, who was our guide for several of the excursions. She was a pleasure to be with. I would highly recommend it to friends and family. (NY and CT)
We had a fabulous experience! The cooking and touring were a terrific balance. Isabel and her family created a unique family experience that cannot be better! I will recommend this trip to all my friends and colleagues! (CT)
Unlike other tour vacations, you are immersed into the Italian culture since you are brought into the home of our tour hosts...it was a great experience! (Stamford, CT)
I had the greatest time! Everything was fantastic. Carlo, Pascale and Romeo were wonderful, Terme di Saturnia is paradise and the hotel in Florence has a roof garden that is delicious. Thank you so much! (VA) |
