Tuscan Castles & Vineyards™

Join Chef Nadia in Tuscany for hands-on Tuscan classes with farm-to-table products and produce from the property. Discover the secrets of this exquisite Tuscan cuisine while touring sunflower fields and and rolling vineyards of Tuscany. Enjoy landscapes laden with vineyards and olive groves, extra virgin olive oil and Tuscan wine in the heart of Tuscany. Farm-fresh products from the property’s gardens and the family’s extra virgin olive oil along with a wine cantina will have you enjoying excellent food and wine while learning how to cook.

Cooking Classes in Tuscany

Chef Nadia provides hands-on regional cooking classes with passion, knowledge and expertise.  A native of Maremma, she shares her family recipes including antipasti, fresh pasta and sauce, main courses and desserts while sharing conversation on cooking techniques and food stories.  Her culinary skills wow and her knowledge and technique for making natural leavened bread starters and turning them into sourdough, focaccia, puff pastry, croissants, pandoro and panettone are her Crown Jewels in the kitchen

Tie on your aprons and get ready to prepare Tuscan recipes made with farm-to-table ingredients – from antipasto, bruschette garnished cherry tomato, herbs and olive oil to authentic cooking classes with farro.  Learn how to prepare Tuscan pasta pici, pappardelle pasta served in a porcini or wild boar ragù or ricotta and spinach tortelli.  Traditional main courses include the bistecca alla Fiorentina and the celebrated Tuscan meat Chianina, cinghiale, wild boar. The scottiglia, a traditional meat dish, includes: rabbit, chicken, pork and lamb.  Desserts are always delicious with castagnaccio, a traditional cake made with chestnut flour, cantucci, almond biscuits dipped in Vin Santo or pitta chiusa, a fruit filled pastry crust rolled into the shape  of Tuscan flowers.  During your stay, experience the art of Tuscan pizza making garnished with farm-to-table vegetables and herbs from the garden.

Tuscany Accommodations

Immersed in this fairytale countryside filled with history, property blends in modern comforts under its four stars.  Immersed in a surrounding green landscape, the property is a juxtaposition of luxury blended with an elegant farmhouse atmosphere.  Check in to your private room with private ensuite bathroom.  The beautiful palazzo is home to nine rooms each decorated with Tuscan decor, stone walls and modern baths.  Beds are comfortable and dressed with Italian linens.  Breakfast is served daily featuring artisan cakes, breads, biscotti, farm-fresh eggs, fruit, cheese, coffee, tea and juices.

Set in Maremma, the property is nestled in the heart of nature set between gentle slopes of vineyards and silver-green olive groves owing their shading to the metallic contents of the rich soil.

In the land of where the Etruscans once ruled, groves of chestnut, pine and ilex woods, lie in meadows and wheat fields.  During your stay, opt to visit small, ancient towns, like Rocchetta di Fazio, Sovana and Pitigliano, and discover medieval castles built high on the hills once defending the land from Saracen attacks.

Siena

Siena, Tuscany’s precious medieval town steeped in history and tradition.  In the center of this majestic town is the Piazza del Campo, the central piazza, known as one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe. The Campo is famous for its annual historic horse race, the Palio, which takes place in the central piazza, Siena is also home to the Duomo, a cathedral which is a striking example of Italian Romanesque architecture and originally intended to be the grandest Cathedral in existence. There is also the Palazzo Pubblico, which houses Ambrogio Lorenzetti frescos.  This is another masterpiece not to be missed.  Walk through Siena and its narrow, winding streets and discover artisan leather-makers, wine bars, and trattorias, many highlighted in the Michelin guide of Siena for their traditional cuisine. Artisans make and showcase fine leather, cashmere, chocolates and pastry in their small shops keeping with tradition.

For the wine lover, there is the Medicean Fortress, home to the Italian Enoteca, an institution dedicated to Italian wine, home to the most famous wines of Italy DOC, DOCG and IGT of over 1500 wines.  Visit for a sip and swirl of great Super Tuscans and local artisan wine producers.

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Itinerary: 7 days, 6 nights

Day 1: Arrival & Check in

• Arrival, check-in and welcome.
• Check in and relax.
• Introduction and overview of your cooking program.
• Enjoy your Cooking Vacations’ Welcome Bag with Prosecco toast.
• Welcome Aperitivo featuring the Chef’s Tuscan specialities with wine included.

Day 2: Tuscan Cooking Class 1 & Foraging Garden Walk with Host & Ayurvedic Relax Massage

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet Chef Massimo for your hands-on Tuscan Cooking Class 1. The first day focuses on Tuscan main dish recipes such as: handmade pasta of tagliatelle, tagliolini, gnocchi, tortelli with seasonal stuffing, brigoli and pappardelle. The cooking classes explore the technique and cuisine of the region.
• Lunch follows with the foods prepared in class. Beverages included.
• The afternoon discover the Tuscan Gardens on the property with your guide and host.  Walk the foot paths throughout the property, bring your camera or your sketch pad and let your creativity begin.
• Following your Tuscan Foraging and Garden Walk, Ayurvedic Relax Massage.  An Ayurvedic treatment is based on Ayurveda, the ancient holistic way of well-being.  It calms the mind and body while restoring natural balance and helps you sleep better.
• Enjoy your professional Relax Massage by a licensed professional.
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 3: Tuscan Cooking Class 2 & Olive Oil Tasting

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet Chef Massimo for your hands-on Cooking Class 2. This Tuscany cooking class focuses on local foods: soups, dressed with excellent extra-virgin olive oil from the Maremma region. Prepare seasonal soups such as mushroom, Mediterranean vegetable, chickpea, bean, all of which are scented with the area’s famous Acqua Cotta. Also included are ‘Tuscan sauces’. Learn the technique for preparing these delicious sauces used for topping pasta, with wild boar, beans, vegetables and faro. You will also prepare various kinds of bruschetta, slices of toasted Tuscan bread with garlic and tomatoes, goose liver and onion.
• Lunch follows with the foods prepared in class. Beverages included.
• In the afternoon, discover extra virgin first-cold-pressed olive oil with our local olive producer who will guide you through an Olive Oil Tasting, explaining the differences between the various different types of olives – muraiolo, Frantoiano, pendolino – and the resulting oils. Learn how to distinguish the various scents of these prodigious extra virgin olive oils.  The olive oil tasting includes:  bruschetta, Tuscan salami, and the noble Morellino wine, included.
• Following your olive oil experience, wind down and check in for your personal relaxation Spa Experience with licensed professional.  The experience will relax the mind and body and leave you feeling rejuvinate
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 4: Tuscan Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet Chef Massimo for your hands-on Tuscan Cooking Class 3 focusing on Tuscan dolci. Prepare traditional desserts, such as panna cotta with frutti di bosco, tozzetti to eat together with a glass of vin santo and other desserts, whose secrets you will learn under your master chef.
• Lunch follows featuring the desserts made in class. Beverages included. Enjoy and sip while overlooking the Tuscan countryside!
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 5:  Tuscan Cooking Class 4, and Wine Tour with Tasting

• Breakfast is served.
• Tie on your aprons for your hands-on Cooking Class 4 focusing on a traditional Maremma menu with a modern twist. Maremma cuisine is quite particular, and cooking.   Learn how to prepare the food and recipes of this beautiful region.
• Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class. Beverages included.
• In the afternoon: Salute! Raise your glass as we head to the well-known cantina of the famous wine maker for a tour and tasting. Our excursion to this private Cantina is an experience for the eyes and palate.
• Informal discussion and tastings included.

Friday: Discover Siena in Tuscan Food Lover’s Tour with Tastings and Guide!

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet your driver for a full day tour to Siena.  In Siena, meet our English-speaking guide for a walking tour by the Paleo, the Church of Saint Catherine and artisan shops showcasing  paneforte, cheese, wine and biscotti with stories, food notes and tastings along the way, included.
• Following the tour, return to the property.
• Farewell Tuscan Dinner included at the property.

Friday: Departure & Arrivederci!

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and say goodbye. Ciao e Arrivederci!

*Note: This schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saint days or festivals. All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the program.