Cooking courses in tuscany, italy

Villa Gaia Culinary & Wine Vacation (One week)

The trip includes:

6 nights accommodations at the country estate of Villa Gaia, near the small village of Seggiano, province of Grosseto.
All meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Small groups: 4 to 10 people.
5 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana” – Tuscan country cooking, Tuscan seafood & homemade pasta making.
2 wine tastings at wineries in Montalcino & Montepulciano
5 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Monte Amiata; Montalcino and Montepulciano (home of the Brunello & Nobile wines); the early Renaissance town of Pienza; the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo and the seaside village of Castiglioni della Pescaia.
All transportation (to and from Florence).

WHERE YOU WILL STAY: In the countryside of the Seggiano township (Province of Grosseto just a few kilometers from the border with the Province of Siena) – A charming storybook landscape of a lesser-known area that is considered by many Italians to be one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany. It’s about 50 minutes away from the seaside, less than 1 hour South of Siena, about two hours from Florence, and two and a half hours north of Rome. Villa Gaia is a wonderfully charming country estate that is owned by a wealthy German who lives in Switzerland. The estate is tended to and managed by Antonio and his Swedish wife Christine.

WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: Villa Gaia is comprised of a main house and a separate building. The separate building is called La Foresteria, which has four double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. These bedrooms enjoy the use of a large common living room with fireplace, kitchen, laundry, storeroom, telephone and a large summer porch. Villa Gaia has a beautiful swimming pool with lovely panoramic views of the countryside.

The apartment Amiata has its own separate entrance and is located on the first floor of the main villa. Amiata has a large living room, kitchen, two double bedrooms with one large bathroom and a beautiful outdoor porch.

COOKING COURSES & WINE TASTINGS: The cooking courses are taught by several guest chefs each bringing his or her own specialty to our kitchen and table. My father Carlo will teach 2 cooking courses during the week. He specializes in a vast array of traditional Tuscan “Cucina Povera” (country cooking of the peasants). Next, my brother, Romeo Innocenti will share his passion for several specific seafood dishes for which his reputation is growing as is the entire region of La Maremma where he is from. We will also have a guest chef who will show us how to prepare hand-made pasta and, when available, Antonio who will fire up the villa Gaia’s wood-burning oven to show us how to make authentic Italian pizza. Isabel Innocenti, will be accompanying our professional guide for tours of smaller private and larger well-known wine cellars of this famous wine country. Guests will learn genuine Tuscan dishes and secrets from these talented people. The courses are informal and taught in a large rustic kitchen.

EXCURSIONS: We will take you to discover the famous Southern Tuscan wine towns of Montalcino (Brunello wine & great shopping for ceramics) & Montepulciano (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) as well as some of the charming villages of Monte Amiata: Santa Fiora, Abbadia San Salvatore & Arcidosso (Carlo & Isabel Innocenti’s hometown!). We will also visit a town known for its hot springs called Bagni di San Filippo and another town famous for being the ideal model of Renaissance architectural planning: Pienza. We will be following parts of the “Strada del Vino” (the celebrated ‘Road of Wine’ that is recognized by the Region of Tuscany Authority & Governing Body). Specifically, we will be visiting and tasting wines in the wine cellars of these different towns as much as possible.

* We would like to emphasize that we are quite flexible with regard to the itinerary and the excursions. Isabel, your hostess, will sometimes switch 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 – Meet in Florence – Arrival at the Villa Gaia
Our meeting place will be in Florence. After having arrived at the Villa Gaia Estate (about 2 hours drive from Florence) you will settle in your rooms. Then you can relax, feel at ease in your villa and prepare for your first cooking lesson in Tuscan cuisine followed by dinner.
Day 2 – Montalcino & Wine tasting
Today you will visit the renowned Senese (Siena area) town of Montalcino. You will be visiting La Rocca, the 14th century fortress and Montalcino’s main piazza where you can stop and have a cappuccino in the piazza’s authentic liberty style café as well as shop for pottery in a local store. Then we will take you to visit a winery where you can have a light lunch and a tasting of the best wines of the Val d’Orcia including Brunello. Evening cooking course at the villa followed by dinner.
Day 3 – Bagni di San Filippo & Pienza
Tuscany abounds with natural hot springs. During this tour you will visit the hot springs of Bagni di San Filippo. 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. Once home at the villa, you can prepare a healthy Tuscan dinner (cooking lesson).
Day 4 - Montepulciano & Wine Tasting
Visit the magnificent town of Montepulciano with architectural masterpieces by Rosselini, and then enjoy its wines including Nobile di Montepulciano at a wine estate nearby.
Dinner at Villa Gaia with cooking lesson.
Day 5 – The villages of Monte Amiata
Today you will go to Santa Fiora, a village on the slopes of Monte Amiata. There you’ll visit the historic center and an 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). Then you will continue to the other side of the mountain and stop in Abbadia San Salvatore where you will visit its famous abbey and crypt. For lunch you will stop in Arcidosso and pay a visit to Carlo. Cooking course and dinner at Villa Gaia.
Day 6 – Castiglione della Pescaia
For the last day in southern Tuscany, 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’ll enjoy dinner at one of the best-known restaurants in the area of Monte Amiata, which specializes in mushrooms and truffles.
Day 7 - Departure
Transfer to Florence.

Casa Innocenti - Piazza Cavallotti, 12 - 58031 Arcidosso, (Grosseto) - ITALY

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

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