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Cooking and Culture Break

Highlights

  • Learn to cook with delicious, local Italian produce
  • Tour unspoilt medieval villages with a local
  • Sample some of the best wines in the region
from £1455 pp*
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5 Nights

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What you'll do

Overview

This fantastic 5 night Tuscan cookery and culture holiday is based in a beautiful villa near Arezzo and is all about delicious locally produced food, great local wines and cultural tours to unspoilt medieval hamlets, pretty Tuscan towns & much more; fully indulge your passion for all things food and wine!

The charming region of Tuscany, renowned for its delicious food and fine wines, will be the setting of this 5 night/6 day Tuscan cooking and culture holiday, tucked away on a wonderful Italian farm, nestled by the surrounding hills and valleys just 2km from the historic city of Arezzo.

Covering a wide variety of skills, you will be perfecting Tuscan specialities including fresh pastas, accompanying seasonal sauces, traditional cookies with local almonds and chestnut honey, panna cotta and more. Wine tasting and prosecco tastings complete the culinary week which is sure to delight your senses.

Combine all this delicious food and wine with excursions to visit local historic towns such as Arezzo and Cortona, visiting wineries for tastings and of course, local food markets and you’ll be fully immersed in all things Italian.

This Italian cookery and culture holiday is a true culinary extravaganza guaranteed to fuel your appetite and passion for amazing local specialties, flowing Italian wine and prosecco, and great company, all while you to step back in time and explore the medieval towns, cathedrals, and buildings.

During this memorable cooking and culture holiday, your host and Chef Fabrizio will be on hand to ensure every element of your holiday delights you to ensure you return feeling relaxed and full with mouth watering Italian cooking, and a great collection of new recipes and techniques to replicate for friends and family. You’ll acquire great knowledge of the surrounding area and it’s history, as you are guided by locals who have a deep knowledge of this Roman and Etruscan city on an Italian cooking holiday with a difference.

This experience runs from 1st March to 31st October.

*From price is based on two people sharing a room.

Arrival

You will be met at Arezzo train station and you’ll be transferred to the villa for your stay.

Arrive at the farmhouse for an aperitif with your host, Chef Fabrizio and enjoy your first lesson tasting prosecco with a welcome snack buffet

Enjoy a welcome dinner prepared by Chef Fabrizio

 

Cooking lesson & wine tour

After a delicious breakfast at the house, you’ll head into the kitchen for your first Tuscan cookery lesson, enjoy the results of your cookery lesson and have lunch together as a group.

In the afternoon, there is a wine tour in a prestigious winery which is famous for its Chianti superior, rose and white wine.

In the evening, return to the house for a delicious pizza or calzone dinner prepared by your Chef.

 

City tour of Arezzo & free time

After breakfast today, it’s off for a cultural tour around the most picturesque places in Arezzo.

Enjoy lunch at a local trattoria with drinks included.

The afternoon is free to spend as you wish; relax by the pool with a glass of wine, go for a stroll in the surrounding countryside or simply relax in the garden with a book.

Dinner will be served in the villa restaurant court.

Cooking Lessons

Today after breakfast, relax and enjoy a free morning around by the pool or exploring the hiking or biking trails.

Lunch is served at the house and in the afternoon, don your apron for another cookery lesson followed by dinner where you’ll eat the fruits of your labour together.

City tour of Cortona

After breakfast, we will head towards the Tiber valley, birthplace of Michelangelo, to visit two medieval villages, Anghiari and Citerna.

There, admire the beautiful historical monuments and frescoes (Leonardo da Vinci – Andrea Della Robbia – Donatello), and enjoy lunch at the local trattoria (1 drink included).

In the afternoon you’ll have your final cooking lesson and lunch together.

Departure

Today is your last morning and after breakfast, check-out and you’ll be transferred back to Arezzo station for your journey home.

What's included

Included

  • Return transfers to and from Arezzo train station
  • Accommodation in an ensuite double/twin room in the villa
  • Breakfast each day at the house
  • 3 cooking classes (preparation of 3/4 course meal with drinks)
  • All lunches and dinners throughout your stay (please note that some meals are taken in local restaurants where soft drinks are included but wine is extra)
  • Tuscan wines during meals taken at the house
  • Prosecco tasting on your arrival evening
  • 2 half-day cultural excursions including transportation
  • A private wine tasting tour with dinner in a local restaurant

Accommodation

Il Poggetto Moonlight

The villa is 2km from the centre of the historic city of Arezzo, surrounded by a prestigious winery and the woods of the Lignano National Park.  Its hillside location provides wonderful views and the tranquil setting is perfect for relaxing.

There are 3 double or twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms, each has a large balcony or patio.

The villa is equipped with a restaurant and a large professional kitchen, where cooking lessons will be held. There is a garden with a small spa pool.

The Villa features:
– Beautiful hillside setting only 2 km from the centre of Arezzo
– Just 5 km from Arezzo train station
- 3 double rooms with ensuite and air conditioning
- Professional kitchen and workspace to hands-on learn
– Wonderful gardens to relax in with tables and chairs for dining
– Relaxing area with sun loungers and sofa + whirlpool spa
– BBQ ,communal garden and private panoramic terrace
– English and Italian speaking hosts with a wealth of knowledge about the area
– Delicious local food and wine
– Secure private parking

Your local host

Fabrizio

Chef Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Under the influence of his mother and grandmother, Fabrizio fell in love with cooking and the food from his region.

His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before moving to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a chef. After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco.

Despit... Read All

Chef Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Under the influence of his mother and grandmother, Fabrizio fell in love with cooking and the food from his region.

His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before moving to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a chef. After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco.

Despite his travels and experience, he credits his mother and grandmother as the ‘gurus of traditional cooking’. This is where he learnt his Tuscan cooking skills and passion for quality, organic, seasonal food.

Fabrizio image

Location

Getting there

Nearest airports:
Florence (80km, 1 hour)
Perugia (110km, 90 minutes)
Pisa (150km, 2 hours)
Rome (250 km, 2 hours 30 minutes)

By train:
The nearest train station is Arezzo which is 5km away from the villa.

A return transfer service to and from Arezzo train station is included in the price, and pick ups are anytime after 12pm. Please be sure to provide your arrival and departure details at least 7 days before you arrive.

If you are arriving into Rome, there is a frequent train service between Rome Fiumicino airport and Rome Termini train station. The journey is around 30 minutes.
From Termini there are regular direct trains to Arezzo – the journey takes around 2h 30 mins.

Please view more info about getting to Arezzo in the FAQs at the bottom of the page

What our travellers are saying...

A really enjoyable break! A real 'lasagne' of culture and cooking. Comfortable accomodation and so wonderful to have Arezzo nearby to explore. Fabrizio's lessons were, to use his own word, 'TOP'! Patient instruction and lots of skills and recipes to take home. The trip to Cortona and the wine tasting were an added bonus.

A Sexsmith

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

Cookery and culture holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks

Minimum age 18 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)

Your hosts are Italian, however so all cooking classes are taught in English

I'm travelling solo - can I join?

These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and singles are welcome to join an existing group

When can I start?

Holidays can start on any day from March to October depending on availability

The cookery school is closed in January and February

Cooking holidays are for 5 nights/6 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

About chef Fabrizio and your hosts

Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and under the influence of his mother and grandmother, grew to love food and cooking

After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before deciding to move to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a Chef

After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco

Despite his travel and experience, he credits his mother and grandmother as the ‘gurus of traditional cooking’ where he learnt his Tuscan cooking skills and passion for quality, organic, seasonal food

His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

Can I get picked up or dropped off at the airport?

The pick up at Rome Fiumicino airport is planned at 11:30am on day 1. If you want you can be picked up at a Hotel in Rome, but we need to charge €60 extra. Private pickup and drop off for group tours.

Of course, we are always happy to support you to organize a private pick up/drop off only for you to let you join our small group tours listed in our calendar. Please keep in mind that a private transfer (before or after the planned one) from Vasto to Rome airport or city center costs around €330.

What time can I check in and out?

Check in is any time after 1pm
Check-out is by 10.30am

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