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cooking passions
Tuscan 8-Day Residential Cooking School in Chianti (Italia)

Another UNIQUE cooking passions "Small-Group" Food & Culture Experience

$AUD2295*pp (Double Occupancy ) ~ $AUD280 per day
$AUD2810* (Single Occupancy - Own Room) ~ $AUD350 per day

Saturday 02 OCTOBER 2010 to Saturday 09 OCTOBER 2010

2 PLACES REMAINING

 

We invite you to join us on another incredible 8-day residential cooking tour in Italy (staying at Panzalla Castle in San Polo), as we explore and enjoy the beauty of an Italian autumn (think "la vendemmia" - the annual grape harvest & fresh porcini mushroom season) in the Chianti Region of Tuscany, while learning to cook and enjoy some classic Italian cuisine set in an ancient Roman castle. To read about one of our previous trips, please click here.

If you've ever wanted to experience the beauty and ancient history of the beautiful hill towns of Tuscany, while staying in a villa which dates back to Ancient Rome, we're pleased to provide you with the following 8-day itinerary and pricing for this special October 2010 tour in Tuscany. Nico Moretti of "cooking passions cooking school" will be escorting small groups of only 12 people on this special Tuscan food experience.

 

cooking passions cooking tours are designed so you can do as little or as much as you like, while allowing you plenty of free time to explore and immerse yourselves in the sights, shopping and eating that YOU want to experience (we'll be happy to provide suggestions from our previous experiences). We've arranged all of the accommodations, car hire, cooking classes, and most meals, so that all you have to do is pack a bag, a sense of adventure and join us on one of our delicious & exciting culinary journeys.

 

Booking Deadline is 31 January 2010 (or until places remain available). Please don't hesitate in contacting us directly on 08 9228 0507 or email nico@urbanprovider.com.au to secure your places or should you like any further details of our trip to Italy.

The hosts at the Villa and the Cooking School are Sergio and Stefano, and our 4 cooking lessons over the 8 days are divided into:

• LESSON 1 - Antipasti and Pasta (Antipasti e Primi Piatti)
• LESSON 2 - Italian Meat Dishes (Secondi Piatti)
• LESSON 3 - Desserts (Dolci)
• LESSON 4 - Pizza-Making Class (Optional Class)

cooking passions Tuscan Villa Cooking Tour Itinerary*

Day One

Although we suggest that you arrive in Italy at least one day prior to the tour startdate, the following is based upon arrival that date. Upon arrival in Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Pisa or Florence) proceed to the lobby of the arrivals level and pick up your car rental*. All tour car rentals include full Comprehensive Insurance and unlimited kilometres.

Complete details, maps and travel instructions will be provided at our Pre-Trip Briefing before your departure.

If you have arrived in Rome you can proceed on the ring road around Rome to Highway A #1 North to Florence (Firenze). Approximately 4 hours to the villa. If you have arrived in Milan then before leaving the airport get directions on how to join A #1 South to Bologna and then on to Florence. There are many Service Centers along the highway and they offer good food and refreshment. Just remember that in this type of environment you have to pay the cashier before you order your food. Upon your arrival you will be shown to your rooms.

Welcome Drinks at 6:00PM with dinner at 8:00PM.

 

Day Two

 

Breakfast will be served at 9:30AM. Today the day is at your leisure, so have a little sleep in before exploring one of Tuscany's famous hilltowns such as San Gimignano (above) or Radda in Chianti for lunch (we can suggest some of the local towns which have also host a local Sunday Market), or get an early start and head to Florence, the capital of the Renaissance, and immerse yourself in the art, history and food of this fascinating and beautiful city.

Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa.

 

Day Three

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM

You will have had a chance to meet Sergio and Stefano who are our hosts for this wonderful week. They are also our teaching chefs. The Cooking lessons start at 9:30AM and today you will prepare starters and first course: Crostini, Polenta with Porcini Mushrooms), Gnocchi, Fresh Pasta. Lasagna & Ravioli.

Lunch is served at 1:00PM, with the balance of the day at leisure. Take advantage of your car rental this afternoon and travel to Greve in Chianti, or Castellina in Chianti, both wonderful small towns in Tuscany. Road maps will be in your information pack and neither town is too far from our home. Have dinner at your destination this evening or we can arrange to grab a pizza at a local pizzeria. 

 

Day Four

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM.

Today we suggest you spend your day exploring and immersing yourself in the home of the Renaissance - beautiful Florence. The centre of Florence is an easy 20 minute drive from the villa, and we can recommend a nice central parking area that will give you easy access to the Historic Centre of this amazing city. Alternatively, if you'd rather not drive in, you can drive to a nearby outer suburb of Florence and catch a local bus. Only 20 minutes and it departs every 15 minutes, and it is comfortable and inexpensive. Only a Euro each way.

When in Florence, we can arrange a "Florence Food Crawl" of central Florence for those that are interested, or we can arrange for tickets to the famous Uffizi or Accademia museums of Florence (at your own expense).

Return back to the villa at your leisure. Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa.

 

 Day Five

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM

Cooking lessons start at 9:30AM and today you learn to prepare a famous meat sauce known as Bolognese Sauce; Rolled Veal filled with spinach and omelette; Rolled and filled Rabbit Stuffed with Tomatoes,and possibly some tips on how Sergio prepares the Tuscan specialty of Bistecca alla Fiorentina (above), the biggest t-bones you have ever seen.

Lunch will be served at 1:00PM. The rest of the afternoon and evening is at your leisure to explore a nearby medievel hill town or just chill out at the Villa.

 

Day Six

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM. Today is another day at your leisure. Today we suggest a morning visit to some of Tuscany's other famous towns such as Pisa and Lucca (about 1 1/2 hours from the villa) or Sienna, known to be the heart & soul of Italy, about an hour from the Villa.

Return back to the villa at your leisure. Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa.

 

Day Seven

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM with the balance of the day at leisure for some last minute shopping, or just to relax around the villa.

Cooking lessons start at 4:00PM and today you learn about Italian Dessert preparation - Tiramisu and Prato biscuits and Pizza-Making.

Our farewell dinner will be served at 8:00PM.
   

Day Eight

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM and then checkout, saying goodbye to this wonderful part of the world that is so modern in certain ways, but retains all it's historic charm without compromise. An experience you will never forget, but you have the option to come back year after year.

 

ACCOMMODATION

Villa Fabbroni (Panzalla Castle), San Polo, Chianti

Panzalla Castle has remote origins dating back to ancient Rome. A Roman centurion, Pantius, received many hectares of land for his retirement and built his "aula" (house) on a hill. In Latin, Pantius' house was known as "the Pantius-Aula" (the house of Pantius). With the centuries, Pantius-Aula's name was altered to become "Panzalla", the current name of the castle.During the Middle Ages, the property came into the possession of the Buondelmonti family, and the house was transformed into one of the many family castles. The oldest remaining part of the building was constructed in this period and still stands today.

In the course of the centuries, the castle history has been intertwined with that of the "Florentine Republic", then with the "Tuscan Grand-Duchy" and finally, with the "Kingdom of Italy". Most recently, the castle was owned by the counts, Miari Pelli Fabbroni, who gave the house the name Villa Fabbroni. The Fabbroni family renovated the villa in nineteenth century style and made it their hunting cottage. When Florence was the capital of Italy, King Vittorio Emanuele II was a guest at the villa. The land surrounding the castle was rich with game and fruitful vineyards, which produced a wine very similar to "bordeaux".
 

Pricing

$AUD2295*pp (Double Occupancy ) ~ $AUD280 per day
$AUD2810* (Single Occupancy - Own Room) ~ $AUD350 per day

Booking Deadline is 31 JANUARY 2010. Please contact Nico at 08 9228 0507 or nico@urbanprovider.com.au

BOOKING FORM : Please email us at nico@urbanprovider.com.au to be forward a Booking Form, or contact us on 08 9228 0507.

*Inclusions (Accommodation; Cooking Classes; Meals; Car Hire; Tour Escort)

• 7 nights accommodation at Panzalla Castle* (Villa Fabbroni) in San Polo, Chianti
• 4 "Hands-On" Tuscan cooking classes with experienced local chefs & guest presenters
• Breakfast and one other meal daily
• 7 day car rental with unlimited miles and all insurances
• Services of a Group Escort
• Pre-Trip Briefing (Perth)

*Exclusions

• International & domestic airfares
• Travel Insurance
• International drivers licence
• Any additional tours or museum admissions

Upcoming Dates

• Saturday, 2 October 2010, 11am - 2 places remaining - book

Book your own date for this class >>

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