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We have strived to bring you the most unique and hard-to-find tours available in this category. We hope that you enjoy browsing this section, and if you have any questions, please contact us.
Here are our current listings for Italy
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Tour Name: Italy -
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Enjoy this very special visit to Italy as we travel through the picturesque countryside which was fought over by the US 5th and British 8th Armies as they battled the vaunted German Army under General Albert Kesselring in the “Forgotten Campaign” of World War II. You will tour key battlefields of the Italian Campaign, including Anzio and Monte Cassino. Along the way, we will cross and recross the Po, Rapido, Volturno, Arno Rivers, and the legendary “lines” of Italy - Gustav, Hitler, Albert, Arno, Gothic, Kesselring and Winter gaining a deeper appreciation and respect for the tremendous challenges posed by the terrain and the German defenses. Experience the best of Italy, from the Amalfi Coast to the legendary beauty of the “ Eternal City” -- Rome, and the esthetically perfect Tuscan countryside and its capital, Florence. |
Tour Price US$: Pricing Available on Request (Double)
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Tour Name: Bella Toscana
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Just outside Arezzo you will find Villa I Bossi, an authentic Tuscan villa built in the medieval ages. Surrounded by age-old pine trees and an Italianate garden, this exquisite estate harks to another time. It is filled with treasures that have been collected for hundreds of years…paintings, tapestries, and fine antique furniture. The villa's owners are direct descendants of the family who constructed I Bossi in 1028. The Albergotti's invite you to relive a piece of history, even if for only a few days, as you learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine.
Hands-on cooking lessons will be taught by the Marchesa Albergotti in the cozy villa kitchen. You'll learn to prepare all the essential components of a Tuscan meal: appetizers and bread, soups, home-made pasta, meats and vegetables, olive oil and its uses, and desserts. Excursions to nearby vineyards, hill towns, Florence, Siena and Cortona are also included, along with a short lesson in flower composition and entertaining.
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Tour Name: Apulian Cooking Adventure
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Apulia is a region little known to Americans but one well worth discovering for the gourmet traveler. Looking at a map of Italy, Apulia occupies the heel and spur of the Italian boot. Its sunny location provides the ideal conditions for the cultivation of superlative fruits, vegetables and viticulture. Apulian cuisine is healthy, based on homemade pastas and cheeses, fresh vegetables, seafood and local olive oil. Here you will discover dishes not found elsewhere such as favi e cicoria (fava been puree), orecchiette (ear shaped pasta), and polipetti Baresi (baby octopus served with oil and lemon or spicy tomato sauce). The dishes are complimented by well-made Apulian wines such as Martina Franca and Castel del Monte.
You are invited to explore Apulia on a six night culinary journey, learning to prepare its authentic dishes and enjoying all that the region has to offer. Your accommodations for the week are at Il Frantoio, a magical 16th century masseria (manor house) set on 150 acres with its own chapel, underground olive press and white-walled citrus garden. Each of the eight bedrooms is furnished with antiques and feature en suite bathrooms. |
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Tour Name: Amalfi Coast Spa and Cooking Retreat
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Perched on a cliff overlooking the Amalfi Coast you will find the Furore Inn, the perfect destination for travelers in search of an idyllic Italian retreat.
This five star spa hotel offers indulgent beauty and spa treatments, hands-on cooking lessons, and incredible views of the sea. Located between Amalfi and Positano, the Furore Inn is in an ideal location to explore the famed Amalfi Coast. Here you can learn to prepare healthy Neopolitan cuisine in the morning, tour the Amalfi coast in the afternoon, and relax at the spa before dinner.
Cooking lessons are taught by Executive Chef Gerardo Savo who will focus on creative Mediterranean cuisine. Chef Savo learned his craft both in culinary schools and with master chefs. He enjoys both the technical and creative aspects of taking indigenous ingredients and turning them into gastronomic art. Chef Savo is the author of numerous Italian cookbooks. |
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Tour Name: Biking and Cooking in Chianti
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The gentle rolling hills of Tuscany invite you on a cooking journey with an active twist-a biking and cooking tour of Chianti. Explore hill towns, quiet country roads, and private wineries by bike during the day, and then relax with a glass of wine and an apron to learn the secrets of cooking authentic Tuscan cuisine at night.
We've created a tour that will keep you active during the day so you don't feel guilty when you sit down to taste such local delicacies as hearty ribollita, arista di maiale, or fagioli all uccelletto. Each day you will pedal through picturesque hill towns, stopping at private wineries to taste and learn about Italy's most famous wine. The bike rides are easy to moderate but can be modified according to fitness and skill level. At the end of the day, you will enjoy private, hands-on cooking lessons at Ultimo Mulino, an enchanting family run inn which was once a medieval olive mill. The rooms are warm and inviting, with wrought iron furniture, air conditioning, satellite television, and private bathrooms. A swimming pool built into the terrace offers a cool respite after a day of cycling. |
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Tour Name: Bologna, Inside Out!
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: This culinary getaway is a food lover's dream come true! Experience a weekend in Bologna, renowned throughout the world as Italy’s gastronomic paradise: the land of tagliatelle and tortellini and the birthplace of Bolognaise sauce. You will learn about the cuisine first hand with visits to local producers of salamis, prosciutto, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and parmesan to see where and how these famous Italian food products are made.
You’ll also enjoy a market visit and a cooking lesson in which you’ll prepare an entire meal based on handmade pasta. Finally, you’ll be a guest, not a tourist, at the greatest restaurants alongside locally-born food and wine specialists.
This is a genuine, Italian experience filled with good friends gathered around tables and the simple joys of life |
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Tour Name: Chianti Cooking
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: In the heart of Tuscany you will find the wine region of Chianti. Rolling hills, cypress lined lanes, medieval hill towns…these are the quintessential views that come to mind when thinking of Tuscany. Here, you will find a rustic yet refined cuisine--grilled meats, hearty bean dishes, luscious bruschetta, homemade pecorino and fava beans.
Venture to the heart of Tuscany and enjoy a short culinary getaway to learn the local flavors and dishes of the area. Your accommodations for the stay are in Fagiolari, a stone farmhouse originally constructed in 1400. Its owner, Giulietta, has lovingly restored the buildings, adding her own decorative touches. Bedrooms feature original beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls and terracotta floors. All have private bathrooms.
Giulietta is your teacher for the cooking lessons. She honed her skills as a private chef and caterer in Chianti. The hands-on courses feature local dishes and end with a festive dinner accompanied by wine produced on the farm. Pottery lessons are also available. |
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Tour Name: Cooking Academy at Monte Solare
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: In Umbria, only a short distance from Perugia and Lake Trasimeno, rises Monte Solare, associated from ancient times with the cult of Apollo, the sun god. Here, among olive groves, vineyards and woods, stands the old, noble Villa of Monte Solare. Today many of the villa's original characteristics remain: large fireplaces, walls decorated with murals, ancient terracotta floors and period furnishings.
Enjoy a week in the Umbrian countryside at Villa Monte Solare, learning all about the region's culture and cuisine. Your instructor for the week is Antonio Bondi, an exciting young chef who has trained in some of Italy's best restaurants. He has also been featured in Gourmet magazine articles on Umbria. He'll lead hands-on cooking lessons in the mornings, focusing on various stages of an Italian meal. Groups are very small-from two to six people, assuring plenty of individualized attention. In the afternoons you'll explore charming hill towns and nearby Lake Trasimeno. |
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Tour Name: Cooking in an Undiscovered Hill Town
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Just an hour north of Rome lays the spectacular, unspoiled region of Sabina…a land of gentle hills scattered with Roman villas, medieval castles, churches and abbeys. This is a region untouched by mass tourism. Here, you will find undiscovered hill towns like Casperia…a perfectly intact medieval village where real Italians live and work.
Join us for a week or four days of culinary magic, discovering the regional cuisine of Sabina. Your accommodations are in a beautifully restored 15th century palazzetto in the historical center of town. The rooms feature en suite bathrooms and stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Your hosts are Roberto and Maureen Scheda, who will share their home and their love of Italian food and culture. You'll learn the secrets of centuries-old recipes in hands-on cooking lessons taught by a variety of local chefs. The package also features excursions to nearby hill towns where you will meet a fascinating number of food artisans and enjoy wine, olive oil and cheese tastings. |
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Tour Name: Cortona Cooking Holiday
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Cortona is said to be one of Tuscany's prettiest villages. Sitting on a hill, with olive groves and vineyards all around, the town commands stunning views of Lake Trasimeno and the gentle hills of Southern Tuscany. Just outside of the village is La Corte dei Papi, a charming Italian manor home dating back to the 8th century. Once a family estate, the home is now a country relais, completely restored with elegant guestrooms, a swimming pool and restaurant in what used to be the old stone wine cellar. It is in the kitchen of the restaurant where Chef Fabio Ferrera leads hands-on cooking lessons in Tuscan and Italian cuisine. Fabio is a young and creative chef who received his training in a number of top Italian restaurants including Il Pelicano in Porto Ercole and Il Convivio in Rome.
Complementing the cooking lessons are visits to nearby towns in Umbria and Tuscany such as Assisi, Montepulciano and of course, Cortona. |
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Tour Name: Flavors and Kitchens of Liguria
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Liguria is famous for one of the best climates in the world, as well as its exquisite cuisine. Seafood, vegetables, olive oil, garlic and herbs provide the basis for famous dishes such as pesto, foccacia, and minestrone alla genovese. Most travelers have heard or been to the famous coastline, with cities such as Portofino and Genoa. But few have ventured into the hills above the sea, where small villages perched on hills are surrounded by olive groves and tropical plants.
We invited you to come and taste the flavors and meet the people of undiscovered Liguria. You'll take hands-on cooking lessons, visit olive oil mills, and visit unspoiled villages with incredible views. Best of all, you will meet people who love good food and are interested in sharing how to prepare old recipes handed down from generation to generation. |
Tour Price US$: Pricing Available on Request (Double)
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Tour Name: Gritti Palace Cooking School
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Among the infinite wonders of Venice, there is a truly special cooking school. It is located in the Hotel Gritti Palace, one of the most elegant and luxurious hotels in Venice. Here, Chef Celestino Giacomello continues a 10-year tradition, teaching students a variety of culinary topics. The three day courses are centered on the different themes, tastes, and perfumes that are Venice. From Mediterranean cuisine to secret dinners and aphrodisiac luncheons, Chef Ciacomello offers real and creative learning for all skill levels. The sessions take place in a specially equipped and reserved room and are limited to 18 students. Afterwards everyone has the opportunity to taste the creations together at lunchtime. Wines chosen for the dishes served are introduced by a sommelier. Accommodations for the three nights are at the Gritti Palace, one of Venice's finest five-star hotels. |
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Tour Name: Heart of Piedmont
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The Langhe is an area of southern Piedmont known for its superb wine, mushrooms, cheese, hazelnuts, and above all, truffles. Here, gentle hills are lined with rows of vineyards and crested by small, medieval villages. Noble wines like Barolo and Barbaresco provide delicious accompaniment to a cuisine that combines the simplicity of farmhouse cooking with noble dishes. Virtually untouched by mainstream tourism, the area reminds one of Tuscany without the crowds.
For four generations the Zarri family has offered guests warm Piedmontese hospitality, incredible cuisine, and wines that cannot be found anywhere else. Their unassuming inn is mostly known by Italians, who go there for its award winning wine cellar (one of the best in Italy) and multi-course meals that feature the best that the region has to offer.
We invite you to taste real Piedmont, staying in a family owned hotel and learning to cook traditional dishes with a creative twist. Your host for the four day tour is Owner Carlo Zarri, who has been named Ambassador of the Italian Wines. Cooking lessons are held in the restaurant kitchen, are hands-on, and taught in English. With free time in the afternoons, there is plenty of time to set off on your own to visit towns such as Barbaresco, Barolo and Alba. |
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Tour Name: I Sapori di Toscana
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The towers of San Gimignano have stood sentinel over the Tuscan countryside for hundreds of years. They once offered protection for residents of this medieval hill town; today they draw travelers who come to visit one of Tuscany's most unique villages.
San Gimignano's towers can be seen from the gardens of the Villa San Paolo, a country villa completely restored and turned in to a four star hotel. With just 18 air-conditioned rooms, you will feel like you are staying in your own country villa. Tennis courts and a swimming pool set in cultivated gardens offer diversion after a day of sightseeing or cooking.
Hands-on cooking lessons are taught by Francesco Beconcini in his restaurant kitchen. Francesco comes from a long line of Tuscan cooks, beginning with his grandmother who opened a trattoria at the turn of the century. He continues the tradition with his restaurant, Il Pino in the heart of San Gimignano, where typical Tuscan dishes are served with flair.
In addition to cooking lessons, you'll enjoy guided excursions and wine tastings. |
Tour Price US$: Pricing Available on Request (Double)
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Tour Name: Italian Cooking at Villa d'Este
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Chef Luciano Parolari has been supervising the kitchens of Villa d'Este for over 20 years. His recipes have been the inspiration for two glorious cookbooks. He is noted for artistic and creative presentation of regional dishes such as risotto Milanese-style with saffron, fettuccine with fondue, tortelli with pumpkin and artichokes, and cotoletta Milanese-style. We invite you to join Chef Luciano for a five night cooking getaway on the shores of Lake Como.
Accommodations for this luxurious trip are at Villa d'Este, one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. Once the residence of European aristocracy, the villa was turned into a grand hotel in the 19th century. Today it is dedicated to providing the most discriminating traveler an unforgettable experience. You'll enjoy the services of this world-class hotel, while learning to prepare regional dishes with one of Italy's top chefs. Excursions to lakeside villages and to Milan complete the holiday. |
Tour Price US$: Pricing Available on Request (Double)
Single Supplement US$: Pricing Available on Request |
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Tour Name: Italy on Your Own
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: From the hill towns of Tuscany to the medieval villages of Umbria, Italy is a country full of undiscovered wonders. For some, travel is what happens along the way…the accidental discovery of a family winery, the little bar where they make gelato by hand, or the trattoria where families gather on a Sunday afternoon for homemade pasta.
Epiculinary invites you to discover two of Italy's famous regions on your own. We'll arrange the cooking lessons and the accommodations; you provide the adventuresome spirit. Just imagine the memories and recipes you'll come home with. |
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Tour Name: Journey to Sicily
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Journey to Sicily with Epiculinary, discovering the flavors and traditions of this beautiful island. Here you will taste the cuisine of a land that has been influenced by many cultures. The Arabs left their mark with sophisticated pastries and desserts. The Normans brought their love of bacala. From Spain came fancy and ornate dishes. |
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Tour Name: La Bottega del 30
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: La Bottega del 30 has the honor of being the only restaurant in Chianti to receive a Michelin star. Situated in a small medieval town northeast of Siena, the restaurant offers traditional Tuscan cuisine in an authentic setting. Its chef, Helene Stoquelet, and her husband, Franco Camelia, also operate a Tuscan cooking school where you can learn the ancient culinary techniques of the women of Chianti. Lessons are taught in the school's modern kitchen with individual cooking stations. There's also a traditional Tuscan kitchen with a wood-burning oven. Classes are limited to 8 students and are hands-on, with lessons focusing on the successive stages of a meal.
Your accommodations for this cooking week are in renovated farmhouse apartments in Villa a Sesta. Each has its own entrance and features a fully equipped kitchen, living room, and one to three bedrooms. Views are of the surrounding vineyards. There is a pool for guest use.
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Tour Name: La Cucina Amalfitana
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: High on a cliff top, 1000 feet above the sea, is the gracious home of Mamma Agata. With breathtaking terraces and a spacious garden full of lemon trees, flowers, and vegetables, it's the perfect location for private cooking lessons, Amalfitana style. Mamma Agata has been the chef for many Hollywood stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Richard Burton, Liz Taylor and Fred Astaire. She has a special gift for cooking and loves to share it with her students.
You are invited to spend a week with Mamma Agata, learning how to prepare delicious Mediterranean dishes that you can easily recreate at home. In your free time, explore Ravello, with its romantic gardens, quiet alleyways, and incredible views. Accommodations are at the three-star Hotel Parsifal. It was originally a convent, built by Augustinian monks in the 13th century. Today it is a lovely hotel, with 19 rooms with private baths, a central cloister and private gardens.
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Tour Name: La Cucina del Sole
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The sun-drenched region of Apulia comprises the heel and spur of Italy's boot. It is a land of fine beaches, unspoiled scenery, interesting historic sites and a cuisine that is kissed by the sun. The food here is based on fresh vegetables and seafood, homemade pastas and cheese, and the local olive oil. In Apulia you will find dishes unavailable anywhere else in Italy, such as favi e fogghi (a combination of cooked chicory and pureed fava beans flavored with olive oil), troccoli (homemade noodles cut with a ridged rolling pin), or marsciuli (bitter greens).
Join us for a week of sightseeing and cooking in Southern Italy, tasting the intensity of its cuisine and experiencing the friendliness of its people. Accommodations for the week are in the luxury Masseria, Torre Coccaro. Cooking lessons are taught by local women of the area, who are passionate about sharing the recipes of their grandmothers, passed down for generations.
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Tour Name: Learn to Cook with Umbria's Best
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: In the heart of Gubbio in central Umbria you will find the Relais Ducale and its famous five-diamond restaurant La Taverna del Lupo. The hotel was once the medieval and Renaissance guest quarters of Duke Montefeltro's palace; today the property continues to welcome discerning travelers who love cuisine, art, and history. The restaurant is a 30 year culinary landmark where master chefs serve classic Umbrian cuisine.
We invite you to on a culinary holiday in the heart of Umbria; a three-night discovery of both the region and its cuisine. Your teachers will be master chefs from either La Taverna or its equally famous catering division. They will lead you in hands-on cooking lessons focusing on the successive stages of an Italian meal. Accommodations will be in the Relais Ducale, situated on the Piazza Grande in Gubbio. The hotel has been extensively renovated and features rooms with antiques and all the modern amenities.
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Tour Name: Maria Luigia Cooking School
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Emilia Romagna is one of Italy's great gastronomic regions. Many of the classic Italian dishes originate here, from parmigiano reggiano to prosciutto di Parma to balsamic vinegar. Much of what is considered to be fine Italian cooking comes from this region because the chefs who worked in the noble courts of Bologna, Parma and Ferrara.
We invite you to learn and taste the classic Italian cuisine of Emilia Romagna on a three night culinary getaway to Parma. You will learn to cook classic regional dishes in hands-on cooking lessons, visit a Parmesan cheese factory and learn all about the delightful city of Parma.
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Tour Name: Neopolitan Food and Wine Experience
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Soak up the sun and warm culture of the Amalfi Coast as you discover the secrets of great Italian cooking! On this seven day culinary experience you will learn all about Neopolitan cuisine, known for pizza but which also includes more sophisticated dishes such as Il Baccala' in Casseruola con Patate and l'insalata caponata.
Your teacher for the week is Chef Biagio of the Mami Camilla cooking school. Chef Biagio's first cooking experiences were in his mother's kitchens where he learned to prepare ancient family recipes passed down for generations. He furthered his passion by leaving home at the age of 17 to attend prestigious cooking schools. Over his 30 year of culinary experience Chef Biagio saw the success of opening three different restaurants. Now he delights in sharing his knowledge with students from around the world.
To augment your lessons in the kitchen, you will go on excursions to local cheese and wine makers. You will also enjoy guided tours of legendary sites such as Pompeii and Capri. Accommodations are either in a tranquil bed and breakfast at the cooking school or in a four star hotel in Sorrento.
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Tour Name: Olive Harvest in Tuscany
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: From the contadini picking olives in the rolling fields, to the frantoio where great round stones crush the fruit, Tuscany is a whirlwind of activity during the olive harvest. It is during the late fall when you can see this process first hand--from tree, to basket, to mill, to bottle and finally to table. We invite you to take part in the harvest on a five-night gastronomic tour. You'll visit ancient and modern olive mills, learning how the oil is processed. You'll enjoy hands-on cooking lessons, using fresh olive oil to make traditional Tuscan recipes. And of course, you'll taste a variety of artisan-made oils, finding out what makes each one unique.
Accommodations are at the Villa San Paolo, a newly renovated, four-star hotel outside San Gimignano. With just 18 air-conditioned rooms, you'll feel like you are staying in your own country villa. Tennis courts and a swimming pool set in cultivated gardens offer diversion after a day of sightseeing or cooking.
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Tour Name: Secrets of Venice
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Many people have visited Venice, but few have the opportunity to explore her culinary secrets. From baccala montecato (stockfish with garlic, parsley and olive oil) and moleche (tiny, sautéed soft shell crabs) to pasta e fagioli and risi e bisi (rice and peas), Venice has much to offer the gastronomic traveler. The key ingredients to Venetian cuisine are local: seafood from the lagoon, cornmeal and risotto from the plains, and fresh produce grown on the mainland. You will find an astonishing display at the Rialto market, which is one of the greatest markets in the world. You will then use those ingredients for your private, hands-on cooking lesson in a Venetian villa, where you will prepare a complete meal featuring local specialties. In the evenings, visit local bacari and trattorie, tasting local dishes and wine.
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Tour Name: Tuscan Holiday
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Imagine a stone farmhouse set on a hill overlooking acres of vineyards and olive trees. An olive mill is in the distance. A cellar beckons you to discover its treasures. There are paths to walk, charming hill towns to discover. Florence is only minutes away. This is the dream. This is what you could experience on Epiculinary's Tuscan Holiday.
The destination is Tenuta San Vito, an amazing wine estate set in the Chianti hills. San Vito is a working farm, producing wine, olive oil, and vegetarian products. It is also a place where you can stay and cook for a week, learning how to prepare authentic regional cuisine. Your instructor is Lila, the chef of the estate's owners. Over the past decade, Lila has honed her culinary skills preparing traditional Tuscan dishes taught to her by the Drighi family.
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Tour Name: Tutti a Tavola
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Four tables…four kitchens…and four friends. That's the essence of Tutti a Tavola, a unique cooking experience set in the heart of Chianti country. For three nights you will be the guest of Mimma, Simonetta, Marisa, and Lele, who invite you to join them in their homes for conversation, cooking, and fun.
Hands-on cooking lessons are taught in their private farmhouse kitchens, where you'll learn authentic Tuscan dishes, along with family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. After the lessons, everyone gathers at the table for an evening of laughter, good food and delicious wine.
Accommodations for the stay are in the homes of the ladies; all have been carefully restored while maintaining their original character. Bedrooms feature private bathrooms and period furnishings.
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Tour Name: Umbrian Cooking Workshop
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Umbria is often called the Green Heart of Italy. It is a region that has escaped the influx of heavy tourism, offering travelers a very authentic experience of Italy. For cooks and gourmets, Umbria is full of gastronomic pleasures. The black truffles of Norcia and Spoleto are legendary. The pecorino cheese, olive oil andcured meats are renowned. The wines, while not as famous as those from Chianti, offer the connoisseur undiscovered delights.
Have a taste of Umbria in this three night cooking workshop. You'll learn how to prepare an authentic regional meal, discover the secrets of olive oil, shop in traditional Italian market squares and enjoy some of Umbria's finest wines. Accommodations are at the Palazzo Dragoni, a beautiful four-star family-run hotel in the historic center of Spoleto.
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Tour Name: The Umbrian Table
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The ancient town of Spoleto lies in the center of Umbria, the region known as Italy's green heart. Just an hour and a half away from Rome, you'll feel you are a world away when you walk the twisting and undulating medieval streets of this "little piece of heaven fallen to earth."
Spoleto is the setting for an unforgettable journey of culinary and cultural discovery. The ingredients: genuine traditional cuisine, noble wines, splendid art and architecture, and accommodations in a magnificent historic residence hotel.
Join us for a week in Umbria, learning the art of cucina sana e genuine (healthy and genuine food) from acclaimed chefs and country cooks. You'll taste some of Italy's finest wines and learn how to pare them with food. And there will be food for the soul-- visits to the great art centers of Assisi, Perugia, and other famed hill towns will make this a truly memorable experience.
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Tour Name: Vegetarian Cooking in Umbria
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Country House Montali is the perfect antidote for those travelers looking for an Umbrian retreat where they can learn to cook gourmet vegetarian cuisine. Here, owners Alberto and Malu Masacchio lead hands-on cooking lessons featuring vegetarian Italian dishes. Their love of vegetarian cuisine goes back 20 years, when they opened their first vegetarian restaurant. Today they share their passion with students, teaching them how to prepare Mediterranean dishes with subtle hints of nouvelle and haute cuisine. In fact, the cooking school has been featured on BBC.
With gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside and acres of olive groves, there couldn't be a more idyllic spot to relax and enjoy the Italian countryside. Montali is off the beaten track between Perugia and Lake Trasimeno…quiet and private, yet close enough to be able to explore nearby towns such as Orvieto, Todi, Spello and Assisi. Its ten guest rooms are comfortably decorated and feature modern comforts. All have separate entrances with patios or verandahs where you can enjoy cool evening breezes and magnificent sunsets. |
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Tour Name: Venice by Sailboat
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: It is one of the most beautiful and magical places in the world. Venice… a city of water and light; of dreams and romance. She is the most elusive of all places. Whether you've been once or not at all, La Serenissma beckons the traveler to explore her mystery.
How best to know Venice than to know her Lagoon. It is an immense, tranquil mirror of water dotted with islands…some known…some not. We invite you on a very unique culinary journey sailing the Venetian lagoon on an antique sailboat.
The Eolo is the last boat still in navigation belonging to the category called "bragosso;" these boats were formerly used for fishing in both the lagoon and the sea as long ago as the Republic of Venice. The Eolo was built in 1946 and has been restored with painstaking detail.
The Eolo will be your vessel as you sail the Venetian lagoon for four days, stopping at markets, exploring islands, and learning to prepare Venetian cuisine. At night, you will be guests in some of the most famous and esteemed restaurants in the world. Your accommodations will be in charming villas and hotels. A truly unique experience.
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Tour Name: Vero Veneto
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Vero Veneto…the real Veneto. That's what you'll discover on this four-day culinary journey in Italy. For the Veneto is much more than Venice. It is a region rich in culinary and wine tradition. From the Adriatic comes seafood of every kind. From the interior, a rich variety of produce and meats. Polenta is the preferred starch, but risotto is also popular. Tiramisu was invented here. As for wines, the region is one of the foremost regions in Italy.
Your getaway takes place at the Villa Abbazia, a 17th century villa set at the foot of the Venetian pre-alps. You will truly feel like a guest in this elegant country abode, furnished with antiques and collectibles. Here you will take hands-on cooking lessons featuring refined Veneto cuisine. From exquisite radicchio risotto, to white asparagus tagliatelle you will learn to prepare traditional cuisine featuring organic produce and local products.
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Tour Name: Villa La Massa
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Just outside Florence on the banks of the Arno River is the Villa la Massa, winner of numerous prestigious awards. Built in the 16th century, this elegant five-star hotel was once a nobleman's villa. Now it is an oasis of luxury and comfort in the heart of Tuscany.
Just once a year Villa la Massa offers a cooking program, featuring the talents of chef Andrea Quagliarella. Chef Andrea's passion for cooking began when he was 11 and was honed during his tenure at sister hotel Villa d'Este. After five years as executive chef at Villa la Massa he has earned a worldwide reputation for fine Tuscan cuisine. He will lead cooking lessons featuring some of the specialties at Il Verrocchio.
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Tour Name: Villa San Michele
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Nestled amid the green hills above Florence is a magnificent 15th century monastery which has been transformed into one of Europe's most charming and picturesque hotels. The Villa San Michele, whose façade was designed by Michelangelo, has played host to such celebrities as Brigit Bardot, Julia Roberts, and Princess Margaret. They and other travelers have found romantic refuge in its peaceful gardens and luxurious rooms. Now the five-star hotel is home to a refined school of cookery, where enthusiasts of all skill levels can discover Italian cuisine with world-renowned chefs.
From April to October, cooks will have an opportunity to learn the secrets of Italian cuisine and its various ingredients through a series of specialized lessons held by famous chefs as well as by culinary experts from Italy and abroad. All the courses are “hands-on” lessons: the students will work directly in the kitchens alongside the experts. Tuscan cuisine will be the central topic of many courses. Others will focus on specific dishes: pasta, wines and cheeses, desserts; while still others cover more general subjects such as dietetic cuisine and the art of entertaining.
Participants will stay at the Villa San Michele, minutes from Florence yet a world away. The hotel has 45 rooms located in the old monastery building and nestled amid the beautiful gardens, enjoying spectacular views, each with its own unique style and antique furnishings. A pool overlooking Florence and the River Arno awaits you at the end of a long day sightseeing or cooking. The villa provides a shuttle to and from Florence for all of its guests. |
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Tour Name: Wellness and Cooking in Umbria
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: Join us for a week of cooking and healthful spa treatments while learning more about Italy's "green heart." Your retreat for the week is Convento di Agghielli just outside Spoleto. Sitting on a hill with panoramic views of the countryside this ancient stone monastery has been restored to perfection. Everything about the place is dedicated to health-from the natural materials used in restoration to the organic foods served to its guests. Here, you can learn to cook authentic Italian cuisine, take part in a wide array of holistic health therapies, hike in the countryside or ride down country paths on a mountain bike. You'll also visit nearby hill towns, stopping at wineries and olive oil mills along the way. It's the perfect cure for those who want a relaxing Italian holiday focused on health, well-being and cuisine. |
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Tour Name: Wine and Food Lovers' Italy
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: It can be argued that Piedmont is the real gourmet heart of Italy. This is the land of the tartufo bianco; of Barolo and Barbaresco; of Agnolotti al plin and risotto con funghi. It is also a region largely untouched by mass tourism-a place where you can drive for hours down winding roads through vineyards and never encounter a tourist bus.
Join us for an eno-gastronomic discovery of the area known as the Langhe and Monferrato. You'll discover open-air markets (in the fall you can shop for truffles), taste world-class wines and learn to cook Piemontese cuisine in lessons taught by the area's top chefs. Accommodations for are at Al Cambio, a four-star albergo set in vineyards near a small, picturesque village. |
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Tour Name: Astronomy, History and Italy.
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: The world’s oldest constellation globe, Galileo’s telescope, and cathedrals that doubled as solar observatories all tell us Italy has energized the development of astronomy for more than two thousand years. This rich celestial heritage is showcased in an itinerary of monuments and museums in Rome, Marino, Nemi, Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, Cumae, Caprarola, Florence, Pisa, and Bologne. The sky’s impact on culture, from ancient Mithraic belief to Dante’s Divine Comedy, is featured along with the astronomy’s history under Italian skies.
Highlights of the tour’s evocative and compelling attractions include the Forum—the center of the Roman Empire, the monumental remains of the giant sundial Augustus Caesar built in Campus Martius, the astronomically symbolic Mithraic sanctuaries in Rome, Marino, and Santa Maria Capua Vetere, the miraculously preserved towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum—both devasted by volcanic eruption, the Temple of Diana at Nemi, the elegant temples dedicated to Olympian gods at Paestum, the oracular seat of the Sibyl of Cumae, Galileo’s telescope and all of the other wonders of Florence, museum collections enriched with celestially-tempered artifacts from antiquity to the Renaissance, and inscribed floor meridians that brought high-precision astronomy into the church. |
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Tour Name: SENSATIONAL SICILY:
Art and Archaeology
Country: Italy
Departures:Multiple Departures - Please Enquire |
Tour Overview: We proudly present a journey to the Classical World of Sicily. Here, monumental evidence of waves of conquering armies covers the landscape. Successive groups including the Greeks, Romans, Spaniards, Arabs, British, and finally the advancing U.S. forces in World War II used the strategic island as a launching place for aspirations of empire.
Join Far Horizons on an incredible 15-day journey to Sicily. As we circle this lovely isle, we will view marvels from the past and the beauties of the present. We will spend three days in Syracuse and visit the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum and the 4th-century catacombs. We will explore Agrigento, one of the most impressive classical sites in Italy. We will see the perfect temple at Segesta, the magnificent Norman Cathedral at Cefalù, and Taormina’s magnificent Roman amphitheater. And we will visit Palermo and the lovely medieval town of Erice. |
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