• Home
• About
  • In the Media
  • Testimonials
• Cooking Classes
  • Calendar/Schedule
  • Recipes
• Cooking Tours
  • "Discover Vietnam" Luxury Cuisine & Culture Tour
  • "Discover Tasmania" Luxury Food & Wine Tour
  • Nico's "Secrets of Bali" Gourmet Luxury Retreat
  • "Discover Tuscany" Villa Cooking - October 2013
  • "Discover Basque Spain" - October 2013
  • Margaret River Weekend Passions
• Photo Gallery
• Cookbooks
• Gift Vouchers
• Contact
  • Newsletters

cooking passions "Discover Tuscany" Villa Cooking Tour

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

- BOOKED OUT -

 

8 Days / 7 Nights Date : Monday 14 Oct 2013 to Monday 21 Oct 2013 $AUD2685pp (Double/Twin Share*) *Single Supplement (Own Room) - $AUD650 * Non-Participant in Cooking Classes (Included Meals Only) - LESS $AUD225pp (*ALL INCLUSIVE of Luxury Villa Accommodation; Two Meals daily, including wine; Four "Hands-On" Italian Cooking Classes, All Land Transportation, All Private Guided Tours and Private Group Escort)

We invite you to join us on another incredible 8-day residential cooking tour in Italy (staying at Villa Fabbroni 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. 

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 2013 tour in Tuscany. Nico Moretti of "cooking passions cooking school" will be escorting a small group 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, land transfers, cooking classes, private guides 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 28 February 2013 (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 and we will forward you a BOOKING FORM,  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 - Pizza-Making Class 
• LESSON 4 - Desserts (Dolci)

  Itinerary

 
Day One - ARRIVAL DAY AT THE VILLA

 

Although we suggest that you arrive in Italy at least one day prior to the tour start date, the following is based upon arrival that date.

4pm - TRANSFER FROM FLORENCE

We will arrange to collect you from a meeting point at the Florence Train Station for your transfer to Villa Fabbroni. Complete details, maps and travel instructions will be provided at our Pre-Trip Briefing before your departure.

7pm - Aperitivo Time - Welcome Drinks on Villa Fabbroni's terrace as the sunsets.

8pm - Group Dinner

 

Day Two - FREE DAY - SAN GIMIGNANO VISIT

 

 

Breakfast will be served at 9:30AM.

WITH DRIVER OPTION - 9am to 6pm - SAN GIMIGNANO VISIT - Following breakfast we will be escorted to the famous UNESCO protected Tuscan hilltown of San Gimignano.

11:00am - Arrive at San Gimignano where we will have a 2 hour Private Guided Walking Tour of this historic town. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Find a pleasant restaurant for some lunch or wander the many shops or cafes of the medievel town centre.

8:30pm - Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa.

 

Day Three - COOKING CLASS AND FREE EVENING

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM

9:30am to 12:30pm - COOKING CLASS - 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.

1pm - LUNCH with the balance of the day at leisure.

pm - Evening at your leisure. Pop down into the village of San Polo for a light meal, or prepare your own little antipasto and wine in the self-contained apartments of your accommodation at Villa Fabbroni. 

 

Day Four - FLORENCE VISIT (Food, Wine & Market Tour of Florence)

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM.

10am to 6pm - FLORENCE VISIT - Following breakfast we will be escorted to the home of the Renaissance - beautiful Florence. To get us acquainted with this beautiful city we have arranged for a 2-hour "Florence Food, Wine & Market Crawl"  which will see us exploring the historical centre of Florence and its local food shops for samples of truffles, chocolate, cheese, wines and paninis. After a morning of eating & drinking, we will then be able to walk it off with a Private Guided Tour of the famous Uffizi Gallery including an exclusive viewing of the Uffizi's Private "Vasari Corridor". On our return to the villa, we will call in to the wonderful Piazzale Michelangelo, for a great photo opportunity of the views over Florence.  

8:30pm - Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa.

 

 Day Five - COOKING CLASS & EVENING PIZZA-MAKING CLASS

 

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM

9:30am to 12:30pm - COOKING CLASS - 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; Stuffed Porcini Mushrooms & Stuffed 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. 

1pm - LUNCH with the balance of the afternoon at your leisure. Chill out by the pool, or go for a little walk in the surrounding hills of the villa.

6pm - (OPTIONAL) PIZZA-MAKING CLASS

pm -

Evening at your leisure.

Day Six - SIENA VISIT

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM.

9am to 6pm - SIENA VISIT - Following breakfast we will be escorted to the historic city of Siena, known to be the "heart & soul" of Italy, with it's famous oval piazza, the Piazza del Campo. Siena is one of Italy's best preserved medieval towns.

11am - Arrive at Siena where we will have a 2 hour Private Guided Walking Tour of the town. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Thursday is market day in Siena, so catch up with the locals with a browse around the markets, before exploring the beautiful historic streets and lanes of Siena, as well as it's marble clad Basilica. Lunch at one of the many cafes surrounding the famous square.

8:30pm - Tonight we have arranged a Group Dinner at the villa. 

Day Seven - LUCCA VISIT & COOKING CLASS

Breakfast is served at 8:00AM.

9am to 3pm - LUCCA VISIT - Following breakfast we will be escorted to the charming walled-city of Lucca. Lucca is a beautiful little town protected by 16th century walls and features some of Italy's finest medieval and Renaissance architecture, superb dining, antique markets and is one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets. We have arranged for a special 2 hour "Gentle Cycle Food & Wine Tour" of Lucca (if you prefer not to cycle, we can offer some alternative suggestions of things to visit). Alternatively, if you'd prefer to just take it easy on your last day, don't hesitate in chilling out around the villa and the pool.

4pm - Cooking lesson starts at 4:00PM and today you learn about Italian Dessert preparation - Tiramisu and Prato biscuits.

8:30pm - Our Farewell Group Dinner.
   

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

$AUD2685*pp (Double/Twin Share)
*Single Supplement (Own Room) - $AUD650

 * Non-Participant Cooking Classes (All Included Meals Only) - LESS $AUD225pp

*Inclusions (Accommodation; Cooking Classes; Meals; Local Transfers; Food & Culture Tour Guides;Tour Escort)

• 7 nights accommodation at Panzalla Castle* (Villa Fabbroni) in San Polo, Chianti
• 4 "Hands-On" Tuscan cooking classes with experienced local chefs
• Two meals daily (Breakfast and one other meal daily, based on itinerary)
• Private Guided Tour of San Gimignano
• Exclusive Access and Private Guided Tour of the UFFIZI & VASARI CORRIDOR
• Private Guided Tour of Siena
• Private Guided "Food, Wine & Market Tour" of Florence
• Private Guided "Gentle-Cycle Food & Wine Tour" of Lucca
• Escorted Driver for local visits of the region
• Services of a Group Escort
• Pre-Trip Briefing (Perth)

*Exclusions

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

 

 

 

   BOOKINGS & BOOKING DEADLINE

To secure your places, please contact Nico Moretti at nico@urbanprovider.com.au or 08 9228 0507, and we will forward you a cooking passions Booking Form. 

Booking Deadline : 28 February 2013 (or until places remain available)

Booking Deposit : A $AUD500 non-refundable BOOKING DEPOSIT is required to hold a booking for the tour, at the time of your reservation.

Final Payment : Payment in full is required at least 90 days prior to departure (Payment Due : 14 July 2013)

 

We look forward to hosting you on this very special Tuscany Villa Cooking experience. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate in contacting us.

Grazie,

Nico Moretti

« back to the home page

Copyright 2004–2013 Urban Provider. All Rights Reserved.
Sitemap - Contact Us