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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 £1019 pp
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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!

*Please note - this course requires a minimum of 2 people May - September (high season).

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.

Arrival

*Meet at the Arezzo train station at your scheduled time for free transfers.
*Upon arrival at the villa, enjoy a welcome aperitif snack buffet with Prosecco wine tasting, prepared for you.
*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.

Accommodation

Il Poggetto Moonlight Home stay is 2 km 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.

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
– Relaxng 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

Start cooking

*Following breakfast, take your second cookery lesson where you can engage yourself in the art of Tuscan and Italian cuisine.
*Enjoy the results for lunch.
*Free afternoon 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.
*Return to the villa for dinner masterfully prepared by the chef.

City tour of Arezzo

*Following breakfast, take a cultural tour in the historical city, Arezzo.
*Enjoy lunch at a local trattoria with drinks included.
*In the late afternoon you will prepare dinner in your third cooking lesson.
*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.
*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

  • Accommodation in an apartment based on staying in a twin/double apartment for 4 nights/5 days
  • You can check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check-out by 11am on day 5 Breakfast each day at the house
  • 4 cooking classes (preparation of 3/4 course meal with drinks) on days 1, 2, 3, 4
  • 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
  • A return transfer to and from Arezzo train station
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
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

Learn More

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.

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 December 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
- If dates appear ‘on request’, please email us hello@nitgb.com and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible

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 2:30 pm (11:30 am from 2024) 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.

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