Casa Innocenti Cooking Course Vacations (One week)
*Note: the half-week itinerary is for the first half of the week including 2 hands-on cooking courses and 2 guided excursions.

Carlo Innocenti in the historic Tuscan kitchen.

The one-week trip includes:

• 6 nights in Arcidosso, near Siena, in a picturesque medieval home next to a 12th century castle. The house is beautifully furnished with antique furniture.
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary.
• Small groups: 4 to 6 people.
• 5 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana” – Tuscan country cooking.
• Visit to winery with wine tasting in Montalcino.
• 5 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Mount Amiata; Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano (the Etruscan towns); Montalcino (famous for its grape vineyards that produce the celebrated Brunello wine), Pienza; Siena; and Castiglione della Pescaia (a fishing village on the seacoast).
• All transportation (to and from Rome or Florence).

WHERE YOU WILL STAY: Arcidosso (Province of Grosseto) – Small Medieval village on the slopes of Monte Amiata, the highest mountain in southern Tuscany that once was worshipped by the Etruscans. Located one hour away from the coast, 45 minutes from Siena, one and half hours from Florence, and two and a half hours north of Rome.

WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: “Casa Innocenti”, a medieval house, the highest of the village, next to the village Castle (12th century AD). The house features 4 floors, 20 rooms, a wine cellar, and a garden.

COOKING COURSES: Carlo Innocenti, the owner of the house, teaches the cooking classes. Carlo is quite a celebrity in Arcidosso and the surrounding area for his entrepreneurial endeavors and creativity. He is an experienced cook. In the past, he managed and was the head chef of the 1st class cafe restaurant, 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 Basilea, Switzerland. The guests can learn genuine Southern Tuscan dishes. All classes are hands-on and include local wine. The courses are taught in a large rustic kitchen and dinner is served in the newly renovated dining room.

EXCURSIONS: 5 excursions to the nearby villages of Mount Amiata and Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano; Montalcino, Pienza; Siena; and the lovely seaside village of Castiglione della Pescaia. All trips include lunch in local restaurants that feature specialties of the region.

* We would like to emphasize that we are quite flexible with regard to the itinerary and the excursions. Carlo sometimes switches the days for different excursions and sometimes, based on local events and activities, new excursions (not mentioned above) can be added or even replace the normal schedule. The most important thing is to communicate your specific interests, which will be given priority if possible and in the best interest of the group.


Sample Itinerary

• Day 1 – Transfer from Rome or Florence and arrival to Arcidosso
  Fly to Italy. Upon arrival at the airport of Rome or Florence, you will be accompanied by car or van to the village of Arcidosso and then welcomed to your vacation home next to the castle. After settling in, your host and chef, Carlo will show you his beautiful home, yours too for a whole week! Then you can either relax in the garden or take a walk through the enchanting streets of Arcidosso. For dinner you will enjoy a Tuscan meal prepared by Carlo.
   

• Day 2 - Montalcino (wine country); Pienza
  In the morning, you’ll set off for Montalcino, a town famous for its Sangiovese grape vineyards that produce the celebrated Brunello wine. You will visit the magnificent 14th century Rocca (a fortress) and enjoy yourself wandering around the village and exploring picturesque little shops. Then, your guide will bring you to visit a quaint family owned winery just outside Montalcino. The owners will show you their cellar and explain to you the procedures of how to make wine. You can then have a tasting of the Rosso & Brunello. You will then continue to Pienza, where you will have lunch in a local restaurant and then visit its main square, Piazza Pio II, which is a model of Renaissance planning. This main piazza is so attractive that it was recently used to shoot scenes for the film The English Patient. Evening dinner with cooking course at home.
   

• Day 3 - The Etruscan villages: Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana
  You’ll start off the day by going to Pitigliano. This medieval town built on tufa stones features a fascinating ghetto with its own Synagogue and Jewish cemetery. Then, you’ll continue to Sorano, where you can visit the massive fortress (built by the Orsini family), the rest of the village and have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, you will go to Sovana, Pope Gregory VII’s birthplace, visit its country church and the old town square which is surrounded by cafes and little souvenir shops. Once home, you can prepare a healthy Tuscan dinner with Carlo (cooking lesson).
   

• Day 4 - Siena
  In the morning, after your breakfast, you’ll set off for Siena. You will visit the famous Piazza del Campo, the main square where the people from Siena (“i senesi”) organize, twice a year, a medieval horse race known as Il Palio. Facing the square there is the beautiful tour Torre del Mangia, where if you wish, you can climb up to the top to admire a marvelous view of the city. You can also visit the Duomo which is a gothic style cathedral. At the end of the morning, you will have lunch in a quaint restaurant in Piazza del Campo. Once home, and after having rested, you can prepare with Carlo a healthy Tuscan dinner (cooking lesson).
   

• Day 5 - Castiglione della Pescaia
  Today, you will enjoy a trip to the seacoast to the pretty seaside village of Castiglione della Pescaia. This old fishing village stands up high on a hill with its castle looking over the turquoise bay. You will enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, you will have your cooking class and dinner at Casa Innocenti.
   

• Day 6 - The small towns of Monte Amiata
  For your last day, you will have a cooking class starting in the morning: an extraordinary lesson & lunch awaits you! You will learn how to prepare home-made pasta, and the traditional meat sauce (ragu’ toscano) or for vegetarians a fresh and tasty tomato sauce. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to visit the small towns of Monte Amiata: Santa Fiora with its historic center and ancient Parish Church which contains fine terracotta bas-reliefs by Andrea della Robbia (15th century), and La Peschiera, the private gardens and swimming pool of the Sforza family (16th century). You will then go to Abbadia San Salvatore, where you will visit its famous abbey and the crypt built by the Longobards, and finally, on your way home, you’ll take a ride through the enchanting forest of Monte Amiata. In the evening, you will enjoy your farewell dinner at a local restaurant near Arcidosso.
   

• Day 7 - Departure
  You can choose to have a final breakfast at the house or at your favorite cafe in Arcidosso before heading back to Rome or Florence.

* On Tuesday or Wednesday you may visit the local market of Arcidosso or that of the nearby village of Castel del Piano.

* During the spring and fall, you may participate to local “Sagre” – food festivals which take place in medieval villages and towns of southern Tuscany.
 

 

© Copyright 2006-2012 Tuscan Way
Isabel Innocenti
Tuscan Way - La Via dei Sensi
2829 Bird Avenue, Suite 5, PMB 242
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 USA
Tel: 800-766-2390 or 305-598-8368

Fax: 800-767-9699 or 305-598-8369
Email: inquire@tuscanway.com

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