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Cooking and Wine-Tasting in Tuscany

Highlights

  • Stay in the charming town of Barga overlooking stunning scenery.
  • Visit beautiful medieval market towns in the surrounding area.
  • Includes all meals, wine, accommodation & return airport transfers from Pisa.
from £1591 pp
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7 Nights

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What you'll do

Overview

Promising to be not only a cooking experience but also a cultural one, this family-run 7 night Italian cooking and wine holiday near Lucca has hands-on lessons to learn delicious rustic Italian meals and recipes while visiting culinary highlights such as local markets and vineyards!

2024 dates
24th Aug                   20th Oct
3rd Sept                    5th Nov
22nd Sept                 30th Nov
12th Oct                    7th Dec

2025 dates
11th Jan                    24th Jun
1st Feb                      5th Jul
22nd Feb                  27th Jul
4th Mar                    5th Aug
22nd Mar                 23rd Aug
1st Apr                      2nd Sept
12th Apr                   14th Sept
22nd Apr                  23rd Sept
3rd May                    4th Oct
13th May                  14th Oct
24th May                  25th Oct
3rd Jun                     8th Nov
14th Jun                   6th Dec

Come immerse yourself in the life of a true Italian chef in one of the most beautiful parts of northern Tuscany. Learn all the basics of Italian cooking techniques from seasoned chef Rita  while enjoying the local wines and traditions this area of “La Garfagnana” has to offer.

During your time here, you’ll will visit  local markets and wander the unique streets of Barga, known as one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy. Together you’ll work to prepare traditional, regional meals, then sit as family to enjoy them along with wine, music and song.

Relax the evenings away as you immerse yourself in the Tuscan lifestyle. This is not one of those bus tour holidays where you are expected to follow a rigid group schedule, on this Italian cooking holiday Rita is accommodating to her guests’ interests and whims. Better yet, Rita is fluent in both English and Italian, so you can relax into the Italian culture wherever she takes you. 

Arrival and welcome dinner

– Arrival at Pisa airport.

– Transfer to residence (1 hour 15 minutes) where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a discussion regarding the week’s activities before settling in and relaxing in your room.

– In the evening, chat with the locals at your Tuscan home for the week while you enjoy a little wine tasting and dinner.

Visit to Barga and afternoon cooking lesson

– After breakfast, you will head to the medieval village of Barga where you can walk the ancient streets and step inside the 11th Century cathedral and take a moment to take in the picturesque views of the Serchio valley.

– A light lunch in Barga will be followed by a cookery lesson starting at about 2:30pm.

– Your cookery lesson that day will last 3-4 hours and you will learn to make fresh pasta and various sauces.

– After the lesson, take some time out to relax on the veranda before indulging in the meal you’ve prepared.

Free time in Lucca, Pisa & BBQ dinner

– After breakfast, you’ll head to Pisa to admire the ancient Piazza Miracoli with the cathedral and famous leaning tower; with a stop at Ponte del Diavolo on the way.

– Enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant in Lucca.

– In the afternoon, you can wander the unique shops in Lucca  and admire the historic cathedrals and squares at your own pace.

– In the evening you’ll head home to enjoy a social BBQ dinner.

Market, afternoon cooking & live music

– After breakfast you’ll travel to Castelnuovo Garfagnana to wander around the sprawling market and have lunch in a local wine and grocery store.

– Back at home, it is Pizza and Focaccia night; all made in a wood fired oven and eaten on the veranda, accompanied by live music from Alex.

A day of fresh seafood

– After breakfast you’ll  head to Fornaci di Barga to buy fresh vegetables and visit the fish  store.

– This afternoon you shall make “spaghetti alle vongole” – spaghetti with clams  for  lunch.

– Have some time to relax before an evening of fresh seafood. The menu tonight includes fish soup, fried calamari, calamari salad, a sauce for crostini, and a favourite local dish of octopus and potato salad.

Tour and lunch in Castelnuovo Garfagnana & vegetarian classics

– After breakfast you’ll visit a vineyard in Montecarlo, Lucca with a light lunch.

– Today you’ll have an afternoon cooking lesson focusing on vegetarian classics, such as savoury pies like “sformato di patate, sformato di verdura , torta di farro, Zuppa di farro and perhaps melanzane alla parmigiana. You won’t even miss the meat!

Village and Vineyard visit

– After Breakfast you’ll head to the little village of Sommocolonia, an ancient hill town with incredible views!! It was the home of Rita’s parents before they emigrated to Scotland, and she has fond memories that she would love to share with you.

Next is a visit the Vineyard “Concori”. Here you’ll walk the vineyard and learn about making wine, followed by a wine tasting and lunch.  You can have an afternoon to relax,  or the group can decide what they would like to have a go at in the kitchen for a fantastic farewell dinner.

Departure day

– This will be your last breakfast together before Rita and Alex see you off to the airport where you will fly back home with amazing memories, experiences and new cookery skills.

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation at the B&B in a private ensuite room
  • 4 x 3-4 hour hands-on Italian cookery lessons
  • Transfers to and from Pisa International Airport (on first and last course days only)
  • Each breakfast, lunch and dinner (Day 1 dinner only, Day 8 breakfast only)
  • Wine and soft drinks included at all meals
  • WiFi access
  • Day trips to Barga Castelnuovo, Pisa, and Lucca to visit historic sites with time to enjoy the shops, markets and cafes
  • Wine tasting and lunch at local Vineyard, along with a local cheese tasting
  • Free time to relax and explore the area
  • All transport during the excursions
  • You can check in any time after 12pm on day 1 and check-out by 11am on day 8

Accommodation

La Mezzaluna

This establishment offers self-catering apartments and hotel rooms in the historic Garfagnana area of Northern Tuscany. Located just 36 km north of Lucca and a mere 4 km from Barga, a charming medieval village renowned as one of the most beautiful "borghi d'Italia," La Mezzaluna is a family-run business featuring self-contained apartments and double en-suite rooms. Situated just 250 yards from the local railway station, La Mezzaluna serves as an ideal base for those wishing to visit nearby cities such as Barga, Lucca, Florence, Pisa, and the famous Versilia Coast.

Your local host

Rita Lucherini

Chef Rita was born and raised in Scotland but her grandparents and parents originated from the Tuscan town of Barga.  Rita has studied the ancient secrets and techniques of traditional Tuscan cooking all her life and keeps alive certain recipes that have lost popularity in the fast food era.

In 1986, Rita returned to Barga to set up her restaurant and B&B. In recent years, Rita’s restaurant has changed direction and now gives cooking lessons and holidays to the locals and visitors to the area. Rita’s aim is to teach her guests the foundations of good Italian cooking, as well as sharing the secrets of true Tuscan cuisine.

Cook together, share stories, swap ideas – all over a glass (or two!) of deliciou... Read All

Chef Rita was born and raised in Scotland but her grandparents and parents originated from the Tuscan town of Barga.  Rita has studied the ancient secrets and techniques of traditional Tuscan cooking all her life and keeps alive certain recipes that have lost popularity in the fast food era.

In 1986, Rita returned to Barga to set up her restaurant and B&B. In recent years, Rita’s restaurant has changed direction and now gives cooking lessons and holidays to the locals and visitors to the area. Rita’s aim is to teach her guests the foundations of good Italian cooking, as well as sharing the secrets of true Tuscan cuisine.

Cook together, share stories, swap ideas – all over a glass (or two!) of delicious local wine.

Rita Lucherini image

Location

Join in our Italian cookery and wine tasting holiday in this amazing, lush part of Northern Tuscany. Come learn all of the Italian cooking techniques and traditions that la bella “Garfagnana and Serchio Valley” has to offer.

The area is alive with concerts, folk festivals, outdoor food festivals (where you can savour local products), theatre, Barga Jazz and the Opera Barga, all that run throughout the year.

Nearest airport:
Pisa International (1 hour, 15 minutes away)

“Complimentary return transfers:
Return transfers from Pisa Airport to the cookery school are included in the price. The transfer may be in private car or shared minibus, depending on amount of people. The exact transfer time will be determined nearer the time by the host based on all guests’ arrival time. There is only one transfer on the arrival day and one on the departure day.

Please note, this complimentary service can only be offered on the first and last day of the holiday. For transfers on other days, there will be a charge of €50 each way.

 

What our travellers are saying...

Great Tuscan cooking holiday with Rita, easy to book and such fun to experience. Rita is the most easy going host and so very hospitable. Cooking level as stated from beginners through to experienced, everyone learnt something, also the history of Barga and surrounding villages. Great wine on tap too!

Maddie A

Excellent Tuscan cookery holiday with the family and their boyfriends near Barga. Mixed levels of cooking skills from 18-year old beginners about to head off to university, to experienced cooks, but we all learnt something. And all the recipes are things that we will do at home.

Tanya H

I have to recommend the Italian cooking course in Tuscany with Rita. This was a fabulous way to unwind and Rita's hospitality knew no bounds. Perfect for the single traveller as you will meet like minded people who love food, good company, and plentiful wine. The wine was locally made and didn’t give you a hangover which for me is no bad thing. In between cooking lessons we went on day trips to the local villages and the more impressive towns o

Robert M

Just returned from a Cooking and Wine tasting holiday in Tuscany. Due to Covid and cancelled flights changed the dates from last year. Not a problem for Not In The Guidebooks. Went as a solo traveller. Host Rita was waiting for me at Pisa airport and my reception was warm and friendly. Stayed at Rita’s home La Mezzaluna along with six other guests. It’s a bit rural, rustic and traditional but Rita in between cooking lessons took us out and

Sylvia Harris

I had a wonderful week with everyone. It was my first solo holiday and Rita put me right at ease and made it feel like a home from home. The week was really relaxed but we still managed to cram a lot in! We learnt so much in the cookery lessons and I think the fact that most of the people in my group started to cook the recipes in the same week as arriving back home sells the course itself. Rita took us to some wonderful places and hearing about

R Filby

Real home from home. Loved Rita. Made us feel like one of the family. Girls loved making pasta and pizza. A wonderful week x

J Seymour

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

- Italian cookery holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks but are probably more suited to those who wish to learn the foundations of Italian cuisine
- Minimum age 18 (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Your hosts are Italian but also fluent in English and French
- Cooking classes are taught in English

When can I start?

- All arrivals are on set dates between April and October
- It may be possible to arrange cookery holidays in the winter months, to check availability, email hello@nitgb.com with your preferred date
- Cooking holidays are for 7 nights/8 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you

Where will I be staying?

- You will stay in either the hotel rooms or small apartments each with a private bathroom
- The rooms are spacious and some have a magnificent view overlooking the Apuan Mountains
- All rooms have a traditional Italian sized double bed
- There is 1 double room with an ensuite bathroom & 4 single rooms with ensuite bathrooms
- Accommodation is included for 7 nights / 8 days
- Check in anytime after 12pm on day 1 and check out by 11am on day 8

Restricted mobility access

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help
- Accommodation is available on the ground floor with a walk-in shower
- There is a ramp to get into the restaurant
- There are many cobbled streets in Barga, so the Cathedral can be challenging; however there are plenty of other charming areas in Barga to explore

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