The Chef's Villa - Perugia, Assisi, Trevi & Montefalco™

Join Chef Elena and Massimo, her husband, at their historical family palazzo in the heart of Trevi. You’ll be sipping the famous Montefalco wine and immersing yourself in the culture of Italy’s green heart while cooking delicious Umbrian cuisine.  During your stay, discover Trevi in a Food Lovers’ Walk with Chef Elena that delves into the artisan way of local ingredients and the food culture and history of this region.  You’ll discover Montefalco, Perugia, Deruta and Assisi along with Umbria food and wine!

Our chef welcome you into the kitchen, where you will participate in hands-on cooking classes with warm Umbrian hospitality.  Traditional cooking classes of Umbria, guided tours and extraordinary wine tastings are the perfect ingredients for this delicious culinary tour.

Trevi, Perugia and Assisi conjure up images of Saint Francesco, Perugia chocolate and emerald green olive oil.  Umbria is a land brimming with verdant landscapes, peaceful Medieval villages and ancient art.  Perugia, Umbria’s capital, is known for its hazelnut-dipped chocolate Baci wrapped in silver paper with a poetic note inside. There’s also the international jazz festival, Deruta ceramics and tesuti Montefalco, handmade linens – all part of a tradition you’ll experience during your week in Umbria!!!

Between your cooking classes in Umbria and visits to famous landmarks in Perugia, Assisi and Deruta you’ll see the Museo della Civilita’ dell’Olive, the extra virgin olive oil museum, where you’ll deepen your appreciation for olive oil.  In season, add on a truffle hunt or a visit to Todi!  Check into this beautiful property and relax because we have a fun-filled and delicious week planned for you!!!

Umbrian Cooking Classes

Chef Elena and Massimo your hosts welcome you to the historical palazzo and kitchen in Trevi for your Cooking Vacations hands-on cooking classes featuring traditional Umbrian fare.  Their philosophy respects tradition of the territory and cooking in the rhythm of the seasons.  You will mix and roll out such specialities such as stringozzi or strangozzi – a thick pasta type served with wild asparagus; handmade tagliatelle; chestnut soup; creamy risotto with asparagus.  Both meat and fish reign in this part of the world where products from the green hills and local lakes are staples – from fresh farm-to-table fruits and vegetables to naturally-raised meat and game.  Think roasted rabbit, boar, venison, goose or duck served with braised fennel, grilled pumpkin and stuffed eggplant. Fresh water shrimp, trout and perch are also prepared in our hands-on classes for those who like fish.  Black and white truffles are shaved on risotto and fresh pasta.  Creamy butter, farm fresh eggs, sugar and flour transform into delicious desserts like biscotti, panna cotta, cakes, fruit tarts, and semifreddo, a creamy half-frozen gelato. Following each cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with a toast of local wine.

Trevi & The Olive Oil Museum

Trevi is a charming Medieval borgo located on the top of a hill in Umbria, with incredible views over Assisi and Spoleto. Rich in art and history, Trevi was constructed in concentric circles, and resembles a spiral-shaped shell that preserves intact its ancient heart. Trevi is also surrounded by two sets of ancient walls: the interior wall is the mura romane, the Roman walls, which have protected this fortified town in its strategic position on the hill since the first century BC. Little remains of the Roman walls today; however, the outer walls, the mura medievali, dating from 1264 AD, still enclose the historic center of Trevi.  It is also known for extra virgin olive oil and the Museo della Civilita’ dell’Olivo, a museum dedicated to local olives and olive oil.  The museum celebrates the rich heritage in olive oil making in Trevi and Umbria, and traces the history of this art form.  Not far from Trevi stands a 1700 year-old olive tree named after Saint Emiliano, the patron saint of the town, that is one of the oldest olive trees in Italy. You won’t have trouble finding it, as it is the only olive tree with one of the largest trunks you’ll see.

Umbria Accommodations

Set in the heart of Trevi, the historical stone palazzo dates back to 1480, and is one of the most exclusive properties with a charming history.  Privately owned and with our hostesses on site, you are welcomed like family in the deluxe three star property.  Check in, relax and sip a wine under stone vaulted arches; there’s also an outdoor caffe and breakfast room.  Each room is elegantly decorated in Umbrian decor with Italian linens, comfortable beds and artisan furniture.  Wooden beam ceilings and frescoes dazzle, permeating an old world charm.  Each room offers views over the ancient city or the valley.  Each bedroom has a private ensuite bathroom and beautiful Italian ceramics.  Complete with all the amenities one can ask for, including Italian breakfast served daily with artisan bread, toast, yogurt, granola, pastry and cakes, coffee, tea and fruit juices included.

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Itinerary~ 5 Days, 4 Nights

Day 1: Arrival, Food Lovers’ Walking Tour in Trevi & Chef’s Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and check in.
• Welcome and meet your hosts and property owners.  Enjoy your Prosecco and Cooking Vacations’ welcome bag.
• Join our English-speaking guide for a Food Lovers’s Walking Tour of Trevi.  Discover this charming town set in the heart of Umbria with wine bars, trattorias and artisan shops.
• Chef’s Tasting Welcome with an Umbrian Tagliare – with artisan cheese, salumi, frittata di tartufo, bruschetta and a toast of wine include.

Day 2: Umbra Valle, Montefalco & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, join your driver and English-speaking guide, for visit to Umbra Valle with your driver and English-speaking guide.
• Discover Valle Umbra for a tour to the region of Montefalco and its wine makers and olive oil artisans.  Montefalco is a delightful Medieval town and is often referred to as ‘the little balcony of Italy’ thanks to the magnificent views it offers over the surrounding countryside. Montefalco is laced with narrow streets of the historic center and Medieval churches.  Marvel over the fact that this town is famous for its eight saints!  You will visit select wine makers and artisan wine producers in Valle Umbra.  There are many options for tastings levels – each guest decides on the wines they would like to taste (lunch and wine tastings are not included and paid directly to the winery on site.  There are so many options we leave it to each guest). Museum tickets, if any guest opts to visit, are not included.
• Following the tour, return to the property for cooking class 1.
• Tie on your aprons for your hands-on cooking class 1 preparing a full course Umbrian menu including an antipasto, fresh pasta, main course and dessert.  Dinner follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the class with a toast of local wine.

Day 3:  Excursion to Perugia & Deruta & Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, join your driver and English-speaking guide for a full day tour to Perguia.
• Discover Perugia, a dazzling city in the heart of Umbria and home to the famous Italian chocolate and capital of Umbria – with our English-speaking guide. Set on  high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area you will discover its museums, artisan food shops and history all in one.   Perugia is famous for painter Pietro Vannucci, who  decorated the local Sala del Cambio with frescos.   From sipping a cappuccino to walking the city, Perugia has something for everyone.  The tour also includes a visit to Deruta, the beautiful Umbrian town known for its handmade ceramic.
• Following the tour, return to the property for cooking class 2.
• Tie on your aprons for your hands-on cooking class 2 preparing a full course Umbrian menu including an antipasto, fresh pasta, main course and dessert.  Dinner follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the class with a toast of local wine.

Day 4:  Excursion to Assisi & Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, join your driver and English-speaking guide for a full day tour to Assisi.
• Discover Assisi – famous for San Francesco, the patron saint of animals and the patron saint of Italy.  Visit the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, a World Heritage Site, with its ancient fresco work by Cimabue and Giotto, including the series of 28 frescoes ascribed to the young Giotto along the lower part of the nave, now freshly restored after the tragic earthquake damage of 1997.  Stroll its cobblestone streets, enjoy a cappuccino or gelato while you explore this beautiful town of Saint Francis.
• Following the tour, return to the property for cooking class 3.
• Tie on your aprons for your hands-on cooking class 2 preparing a full course Umbrian menu including an antipasto, fresh pasta, main course and dessert.  Dinner follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the class with a toast of local wine.

Day 5:  Breakfast & Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and departure!