Villa Florentine™

Tie on your aprons with our Michelin Star Chef in the heart of Tuscany’s Maremma.  Nestled between rolling green hills, vineyards, and olive groves, the 5 – Star property is elegant while keeping its Tuscan charm.

In the kitchen tie on your aprons with our Michelin Star Chef and learn how to transform farm-to-table ingredients into delicious Tuscan antipasti, fresh pasta and sauces, main courses and dessert.  Following each cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was made during the class with Chianti, Sangiovese or Brunello wines. Professional hands-on cooking classes with a Michelin Star Chef are key in an unforgettable culinary experience in the heart of Tuscany.

Tuscany Cooking Classes – Michelin Star

Your Michelin Star cooking classes will have you preparing classic recipes starting with antipasti. Learn how to make Tuscan classics with farm-to-table ingredients that you will be able to recreate at home.  Roll out pappardelle or tagliolini and prepare seasonal sauces from squash, pumpkin and mushrooms.

You’ll learn how to prepare secondi, main courses, such as pollo alla cacciatora, hunter’s chicken prepared with tomato and herbs. Vegetarian options are available.   Desserts in Tuscany are delicious and include, bongo, Tuscan pastry puffs filled with sweet cream, bomboloni, sweet dough rounds that are flash-fried and dusted with sugar or cantucci, twice-baked biscuits dipped Vin Santo, sweet dessert wine.

Tuscany

Step into dreamy Tuscany where emerald-colored cypress trees line small winding roads and grapevines stretch across infinite green fields filled with sunflowers.  Take in the views of stone farmhouses, medieval villages and winemakers frozen in time.

Explore Grosseto – where in the heart of the city lies the Dante Alighieri piazza – a special area dedicated to the Florentine writer. Wrapped in 2,900 meters of medieval walls, you’ll pass through tiny streets while taking in the ancient architecture including six bastions which are angled parts of the city’s fortress and gates dating back to the 14th century. Discover the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, refurbished in the 19th century in a neo-Romanesque-Gothic style. The square is also a pleasant place for a stroll or an aperitivo. You can immerse yourself in any one of the many artisan shops, wine bars or caffes.

During your stay, wine lovers will discover Montecucco and Morellino di Scansano wines in an exclusive wine tasting tour and visit to the vineyards and cantina.  Learn about biodynamic farming and bottling with your English-speaking host.  You can also relax on the property, and order a Glamorous Picnic Lunch or head to the course and golf.  There’s biking, yoga and a professional spa for everyone!!!

Siena

Discover Siena! This ancient town is best-known for its historical horse race, the Palio di Siena, held every year at the Piazza del Campo on July 2 and August 16. Ten horsemen ride bareback dressed in original, colorful costumes to celebrate and compete for the win. The tradition began in 1656 in honor of the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary and has been celebrated since every year.

Siena is also filled with churches, museums and food and wine shops.  Visit the Cathedral of Saint Catherine, a medieval church that was first constructed as a Roman Catholic Marian church and is now dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It was the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Siena in the 15th century.

Tuscany 5 – Star Luxury Villa

Discover the 5 – Star luxury villa set in the peaceful Tuscan countryside surrounded by cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves. A refined atmosphere and spacious sunlit rooms and suites combine for a relaxing setting. Each room combines a designer’s palette of earthy colors from gray and beige, ochre, crimson and white. Beds are modern and comfortable and include fine Italian linens. Amenities complete each room with ensuite private bathrooms, a Tuscan stone fireplace, LCD television, safe, WIFI, CD and DVD player.  This property is a 5 – Star gem.

The Tuscan estate spans 500 hectares blending the biodiversity of the Maremma landscape blending plains and slopes, vineyards and olive groves and beautiful Mediterranean greenery. When you are not exploring the estate, join a yoga class, indulge in a spa treatment or take a swim in the swimming pool.  There’s also horseback riding.  If you like fast cars, opt to drive a red Ferrari through the Tuscan hills.  Additional food lovers’ experiences include a Glamorous Tuscan Picnic Basket lunch with wine

Click for Property Photo Gallery

Tuscan Olive Oil Making

The property’s olive grove is an ancient treasure with hundred-year-old trees producing prized extra virgin olive oil using Leccino and Moraiolo olives. The trees are carefully taken care of and produce excellent olives that are harvested by hand from October to November using a cold pressed method.

Itinerary: 5 Days, 4 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Chef’s Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and check in at the villa.
• Enjoy your Cooking Vacations Welcome Bag with Prosecco and Chef’s apron.
• Later in the evening, enjoy a Michelin Star Chef’s four-course Welcome Dinner at property.  Wine not included.

Day 2: Cooking Class 1 & Tuscan Wine Tour

• Tuscan breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, tie on your aprons for a hands-on cooking class with our Michelin Star chef. The chef pays tribute to the beautiful land of Tuscany following classic recipes of the region.  Learn how to make handmade pasta such as ravioli, tagliolini with seasonal sauces using pumpkin, porcini mushrooms truffles, pappardelle with hare ragù or tortelli alla Maremmana.  Also learn how to prepare Tuscan desserts such as bomboloni, Tuscan puffs, tiramisù con Vin Santo, tiramisù with Tuscan blessed sweet wine, or castagnaccio, a chestnut and pine nut confection prepared in autumn.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with a toast of wine.
• In the afternoon, discover the secrets of Tuscan wine making during an in-depth wine tour with tastings at the property’s vineyard. Walk through the vineyard and cantina, learn about biodynamic farming, the grape varieties and bottling with a wine tasting to follow.

Day 3: Discover Siena & Food Lover’s Tour

• Tuscan breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver and depart for Siena. Drive through the countryside lined with cypress trees and Tuscan vineyards until you arrive in Siena. Meet our English-speaking guide in Siena and discover this ancient city that is home to the Palio. During your Food Lovers’ Tour, learn about artisan pasta, cheese, and wine, as you explore the ancient city.  Walk through the beautiful Piazza del Campo,  home to the famous horse race, the Palio, held each year in July and August. Following the tour, return to the property with your driver.
• Evening free. Enjoy dinner at the property.

Day 4: Tuscan Pasta Cooking Class 2

• Tuscan breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, tie on your aprons with our Michelin Star chef, and learn how to prepare a Tuscan menu using seasonal farm-to-table ingredients.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with a toast of wine
• Following your cooking class, relax by the swimming pool, walk the gardens, play golf or head to the spa.

Day 5: Check Out & Arrivederci

• Tuscan breakfast is served.
• Check out and arrivederci!
• Transfer from the property to the train station.