Intensive Cooking and Culture in Tuscany

Highlights

  • 4 nights of accommodation in a rural Italian setting, allowing you to soak up the countryside and Tuscan culture
  • Cooking lessons with an amazing Italian chef
  • Sample some of the regions finest wines
From £910 pp*
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4 Nights

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What you'll do

Overview

This fantastic 4 night Tuscan cookery and culture holiday near Arezzo 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 4 night / 5 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.

The rural, relaxed atmosphere will have you learning timeless recipes and creating your own beautiful pastas and specialties as well as sampling organic extra virgin olive oil produced on the farm and tasting wonderful local wines including Chianti and Vino Santo dessert wine all local to the region.

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.

Your host and Chef Fabrizio will be on hand to ensure every element of your Italian cooking 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.

This experience runs from 2nd March to 31st October.

*From price is based on 2 people sharing a room.

Arrival

Meet at the Arezzo train station in time for the transfer or at the villa.

Upon arrival at the villa, enjoy a welcome aperitif snack buffet with Prosecco wine tasting, prepared for you, with an introduction from chef Fabrizio; a chance to get to know each other and talk about the itinerary.

Enjoy your first cooking lesson with executive chef Fabrizio who will introduce the basic techniques of Italian cuisine and enjoy what you have prepared.

 

Cooking Lesson

Following breakfast, take your second cookery lesson where you can engage yourself in the art of Tuscan and Italian cuisine and then enjoy the results for lunch.

This afternoon is free to relax by the garden and spa with a good glass of wine or walk in the magnificent scenery around the villa, through vineyards, olive groves and woodland.

This evening enjoy dinner masterfully prepared by the chef at the villa.

City tour of Arezzo

Following breakfast, take a cultural tour in the historical city, Arezzo.

Enjoy lunch at a local trattoria with drinks included.

Late afternoon you will prepare dinner in your third cooking lesson and dinner will be served in the villa restaurant court.

Tour the Vineyards

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy your final cooking lesson and lunch together.

In the afternoon you’ll have a wine tour in a prestigious winery, famous for its Chianti superior and chardonnay white wine.

This evening return to the villa for a farewell dinner prepared for you by the chef.

Departure Day

After breakfast and some time to relax you’ll be taken back to the Arezzo central train station for your departure.

What's included

Included

  • Return transfers to and from Arezzo train station
  • Accommodation in a room in the villa based on staying in a twin/double apartment
  • Breakfast each day at the house
  • A cooking lesson each day (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

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.

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.

You can take a train from Rome Termini station to Arezzo.

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.

Please view more info about airport transfers in the FAQs at the bottom of the page

What our travellers are saying...

Fantastic experience cooking and learning more about the history, food culture and community around Arezzo and Tuscany. What I loved about this experience in particular is that this course runs if you are an individual or if you are a group of 4 people. Fantastic when you are a solo traveller!

V Scarcella

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

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 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

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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