Food, Wine & Truffles In Le Marche™

Join talented Chef Lucia as she guides you through hands-on cooking classes in Le Marche featuring traditional recipes of the region in her Urbania country kitchen.  She combines classical cooking techniques with home-style secrets – preparing farm-to-table ingredient with dedication and care.  She uses only top quality ingredients, the hallmark of the traditional Le Marche recipes, in her cooking and pasta classes.

Cooking Classes in Le March are simply delicious.  Think wild funghi, game, nuts, field herbs and wonderful truffles, the area’s greatest culinary treasure. The recipes that you will prepare incorporate in seasonal products and produce from the land – like truffles.  When in season, experience a truffle cooking class.  The truffle hunters hunt and cook the precious tubers with Chef Lucia.  

Each region in Le Marche has its own distinctive style of cooking based on tradition and local produce.  First courses include:  tagliatelle with sugo, meat sauce. Urbino is famous for its passatelli, delicious strands of pasta made from breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and eggs, cooked in broth. Grilled meats and rabbit are prepared with fennel along with vegetarian bean and lentil recipes.

During your stay, we’ll visit a local vineyard where you’ll sample some of the area’s award-winning wines, and an extra virgin olive oil producer for tastings and discussion.

Le Marche Cooking Classes

Chef Lucia leads you in hands-on cooking classes with pasta cooking classes, and truffle cooking classes too.  She guides you through the culinary delights and traditional recipes in fun-filled classes.  Set in the countryside of Urbania, you will cook while learning about farm-to-table produce from the garden, foraging for herbs, and truffle hunting in our Le Marche Italy food experience.

In her Le Marche cooking classes, foods are prepared using only the freshest, seasonal, local ingredients, keeping with the traditions of the countryside.  She uses her own products, grown in her garden on the property, and products made on site too.  She grows and makes her own wine,  raises sheep and other farm animals – so milk, fresh cheese and wine are organic and delicious.  Pasta making classes include mixing the dough and rolling in into gnocchi, ravioli, and sheets for lasagne. After each cooking class everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the cooking class with a toast of local wine.

Le Marche

Le Marche is a region that is culturally rich and gourmand haven.  Artisan cheese, wine, and truffles are the key ingredients.  The region is divided into four provinces by four river valleys  undiscovered by the touristy crowds, ensuring that the land and villages remain quiet and untouched. Its strategic location make it a perfect spot for reaching all the most important destinations of central Italy including Ravenna, Siena, Firenze, Assisi, Urbino, Gubbio, and Perugia.

The Le Marche region lies on the eastern side of central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the majestic Apennine Mountains, and has interesting attractions and landmarks that will take your breath away.  Admire the masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, hike across uncharted mountains, or hunt for the best catch of the day in its Mediterranean fishing port.  Artisan shops sell  hand-made paper in Fabriano and musical instruments in Castelfidardo along with extra virgin olive oil.  For sea and sun seekers, there are endless seaside resorts that pepper the long stretch of Adriatic coast, making it a relaxing destination for summer vacationers.

Urbino

Explore Urbino, a Renaissance jewel town, and one of the most important towns in Italy. Its historical town center is protected by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.  During the second half of the 15th century, its windy hill was the setting for the most illustrious courts in Europe. Duke Federico da Montefeltro, one of the most important soldiers of the early Renaissance and commander of the papal forces, gathered around him the greatest painters, poets and scholars of the period and housed them in one of Italy’s most beautiful Renaissance palaces. The palace still stands as an eloquent memorial to this quintessential Renaissance man. Urbino preserves the house where the famous painter Raphael was born, which is now a delightful museum. A simple fresco of the Madonna and Child, displayed in one of the rooms, may have been one of his earliest works. The Duke’s Studiolo is the most unusual room in the palace. This tiny study is decorated entirely in exquisite trompe l’oeil inlaid woodwork panels, some based on designs by Botticelli.

The Galleria Nazionale delle Marche has a remarkable collection of paintings, including one of the world’s greatest and most enigmatic images, Piero della Francesca’s Flagellation of Christ. Here you will also find Piero’s Madonna di Senigallia, Raphael’s La Muta (the silent one), and a famous vision of the Ideal City by an unknown artist’s hand (possibly Piero della Francesco’s), which is often used by designers to illustrate books on the Renaissance.

Via Barocci is the location of the Oratorio di S. Giovanni Battista, a small church decorated entirely in floor-to-ceiling frescoes by the Marchegiani painters, Jacopo and Lorenzo Salimbeni. While few outside Le Marche have heard of the brothers, many enjoy the brilliance of their earthly vision of the life of St. John the Baptist and a terrifying Crucifixion.

Arezzo

To the southeast of Florence lies the city of Arezzo, gazing down from a steep hillside at the Arno valley below. Arezzo was one of the most important Etruscan cities, but was soon after conquered by the Roman Empire. Today, Arezzo is perhaps most well known for its Antique Fair, held the very first Sunday of the month in the center of town, (and the Saturday before). Founded in 1968 by antiquarian and collector Ivan Bruschi, it was the first monthly antique fair of its type. And today tradition carries on, as sellers gather, presenting their antique wares from statues to paintings, vintage posters, and more, with the best buyers starting to arrive by sunrise.

The event is held in the main piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Vasari Loggias. The ancient Medieval hamlet is filled with stalls, antiquarians, collectors, sellers, curious visitors and tourists.  Each fair brings in 500 exhibitors from all over Italy. The local market of Arezzo is one of the most popular in Italy.   Arezzo was also featured in Roberto Benigni’s award-winning film ‘La Vita è Bella’, ‘Life Is Beautiful.’

Assisi

Assisi is situated in the heart of Umbria, between the cities of Perugia and Spoleto, and is a must see on any traveler’s list.  Assisi conjures up images of Saint Francis, artisan linens and delicious Umbrian cuisine.  Beautiful landmarks to visit are the Basilica of San Francesco di Assisi, a World Heritage Site.  Saint is the patron saint of animals and ecology, and was a Roman Catholic saint advocate peace.  Walk along its pedestrian walks and discover this quaint and quiet town.  Locals display handmade linens – tablecloths, naples and more, leather goods, and gold medals of Saint Francis.

If you love art, the Pinacoteca art museum is a must see with elaborate frescoes and masterpieces from the 14th to the 17th centuries.  There are works fo art by Giotto, Puccio Capanna, and Andrea d’Assisi.

The city offers a rich calendar of artistic and cultural events, from art and antique exhibits to convention, concerts, and shows. These include the Festa Musica Pro and Musica Antica, which hold master classes in music. The most famous folkloristic event, Calendimaggio which lasts for three days and is held on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday of May.

Le March Accommodations

During your stay check in to the lovely hotel with charm and tradition located in the town’s center.  Clean and bright rooms with comfortable beds and beautiful linens make your stay as relaxing as possible.  Each bedroom has its own private ensuite bath and spacious area so you can check in relax and make yourself feel at home.  Italian breakfast is served daily and includes artisan breads, pastries, jams, cakes, biscotti and fruit along with caffè, tea or creamy cappuccino.

Itinerary: 7 days, 6 nights ~ Sunday to Saturday

Sunday: Welcome, Arrival, Check-In & Welcome Dinner

• Arrival at Pesaro train station and transfer to Urbania.
• Check in at the hotel, relax, and enjoy a Prosecco.  . 7:30 p.m. visit to Urbania.
• A Chef’s welcome dinner including a full course tasting with a toast of local wine included.

Monday: Cooking Class 1 & Vineyard Visit

• Breakfast is served
• After breakfast, tie on your apron for cooking class 1.  Prepare a full course lunch including local ingredients.  Lunch follows and includes the food that was prepared in the cooking class with local wine included.
• After lunch, departure to a local vineyard with your driver.  Visit the cantina, tour and wine tasting included.  After your excursion, return to the property.
• Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided to any of the delicious restaurant options.

Tuesday: Excursion To Arezzo

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, depart for an excursion to Arezzo in Tuscany with driver. hometown to both the painter Piero della Francesca, who produced the wonderful frescoes inside in the Church of San Francesco, and the poet Petrarch.  Arezzo is home to one of the oldest universities founded in 1252; has a Roman amphitheater, and the Medici Fortress.  It’s home to the famous antique fair and medieval jousting competitions, both held in the Piazza Grande.
• Take time out for lunch on your own.  Suggestions provided.
• After the tour, return to the property.
• A tradition dinner is included with local wine included too.

Wednesday: Cooking Class 2 & Free Time To Visit Urbania

• Breakfast is served
• Prepare a full course lunch including local ingredients.  Lunch follows and includes the food that was prepared in the cooking class with local wine included.
• Afternoon is free to visit Urbania, its Palazzo Ducale, Chiese dei Monti, and Parco Ducale.
• Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided to any of the delicious restaurant options.

Thursday: Excursion To Umbria, Assisi & Olive Oil Tasting Tour

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, depart for Umbria with your driver.  Visit to one of the area’s olive oil producers where a visit to the frantoio.  Tour and tastings included.
• Stop off at the gorgeous UNESCO town of Assisi with its unique Basilica, churches and monasteries, explore its narrow streets and alleyways or find the signposted lane that leads left from Porta Cappuccini onto the oak-covered slopes of Mt. Subasio, where nestled among the trees is the peacefully isolated hermitage built on the site where St. Francis often withdrew to meditate and pray with his followers.
• Time for lunch on your own.  Suggestions provided.
• Afternoon, return to Urbania.
• Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided to any of the delicious restaurant options.

Friday: Cooking Class 3 & Visit To Urbino

• Breakfast is served
• Prepare a full course lunch including local ingredients.  Lunch follows and includes the food that was prepared in the cooking class with local wine included.
• After lunch, depart for the UNESCO town of Urbino where you’ll be able to soak up its unique Renaissance atmosphere and visit the imposing Palazzo Ducale and the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in the world. There is also a beautiful Duomo, and the church of San Giovanni Battista which boasts frescoes by Lorenzo Salimbeni da Sanseverino.
• Late afternoon, return to Urbania.
• Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided to any of the delicious restaurant options.

Saturday: Check Out & Arrivederci!

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and transfer to Pesaro station.