MEET YOUR HOSTS

La Locanda del Prete is a small Inn, owned and operated by Carlo Innocenti and located in Arcidosso, in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy. This is an authentic Italian country inn, a place where locals as well as visitors, gather to eat, share a glass of wine or grappa (a digestive aperitif) and chat. Often times, the mayor of Arcidosso joins us for a plate of Panzanella (bread salad) and Pollo con Peperoni (chicken with peppers). Carlo, the master chef and cooking instructor, has been teaching Tuscan cooking for decades as far away as Switzerland, as well as having operated several “ristoranti” throughout Tuscany.

Carlo Innocenti - and his partner Pascale are the epitome of Italian hospitality; warm, kind, generous and outgoing. They make the perfect hosts for this genuine country tour. They will truly make you feel a member of our extended “famiglia internazionale” !

WHERE YOU WILL STAY:

Arcidosso (Province of Grosseto) - On the outskirts of a 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:

“La Locanda del Prete” has a magnificent view of the village of Arcidosso and its striking medieval Castle. Traditional Tuscan furnishings make this small Inn quaint, cozy and quintessentially Tuscan. There are five bedrooms available at La Locanda del Prete, each with its own private bathroom. The first floor of La Locanda del Prete is where the trattoria restaurant is located. The bedrooms are located on the second floor.

COOKING COURSES:

Carlo Innocenti, the owner of La Locanda del Prete and its master chef, will instruct you during the cooking class. Carlo is quite a celebrity in Arcidosso and the surrounding area for his entrepreneurial endeavors and creativity. In the past, he managed and was the head chef of the first class, world renowned cafe and restaurant in Punta Ala’s Harry’s Bar, 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 Switzerland. The guests can learn genuine Southern Tuscan dishes. All classes, taught in a large, rustic, authentic Tuscan kitchen, are hands-on and include local wine.

EXCURSIONS & ITINERARY:

There are two guided excursions to the nearby villages of Mount Amiata, Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano. You will be immersed into the local culture as if you were a member of the family. The villages of Monte Amiata are as yet unexploited by tourism and many villagers earn a living by farming and producing beautiful, hand-made artisan craft work, such as glass-blowing and ceramics. In Montalcino you will participate in a wine tasting, in Pienza you can sample some of the world's finest “Pecorino” (sheep) cheese and in Montepulciano you can indulge in the acclaimed Tuscan red wine known as “Il Vino Nobile di Montepulciano”.

VACATION OPTIONS:

• 1/2 Week (3 Nights / 4 Days) Vacation