Compare Tuscany Gourmet Cooking Holiday by Caspin
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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Duration | 7 days |
Price From | $ 3,399 |
Price Per Day | $ 486 |
Highlights |
N/A
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Trip Style | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | |
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Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A |
Description |
The gourmet cooking holidays take place at Molino di Bordone, among the Tuscan and Umbrian hills, only minutes from the beautiful Etruscan walled town of Cortona. This is an ideal setting for a tasty week of culinary adventure, gourmet food & fine wines. Cookery demonstrations and lessons are by traditional and professional chefs. The culinary holiday Caspin offers you is an experience covering many aspects of family and refined cuisine. Seasonality and quality of ingredients are paramount and you use the freshest ingredients available from local producers, weekly markets and organic gardens. Skilled chefs provide you with the knowledge to recreate with confidence when you return home. A delightful selection of excursions compliments the program to medieval hill towns, ancient abbeys & Etruscan sites, Renaissance frescoes, classical concerts, vineyards & wineries, olive oils, pecorino cheese & wine tastings. On top of the quality tuition by exclusive chefs, visits to wineries and the experience of making world famous pecorino cheese. You will get to meet and travel with likeminded people, and of course you will receive our custom culinary book to take home, with all our favourite recipes. |
DAY 1 : Cortona
Meet at Terontola station, Cortona, easily reached from Rome or Florence. Relax and settle into your accommodation in Cortona which will become your home for the week. Join us for a welcome cocktail party while the chef prepares a Tuscan Feast as we introduce you to the week’s activities.
DAY 2 : Exploring Cortona
Visit Cortona’s 12th century Franciscan hermitage, a spiritual and tranquil place just outside the Etruscan city walls; then enter Cortona through one of the ancient city gates to explore its medieval streets, monuments and bustling piazzas. A guided tour of the Etruscan museum and some free time to indulge in a gelato follows, but don’t spoil your appetite before a tasty picnic lunch in the shady tree lined park. In the afternoon we return to our tuscan country kitchen for Cooking Lesson 1.
DAY 3 : Montepulciano, Vino Nobile Wine country
Visit the wine country of Montepulciano and taste Vino Nobile at a winery before entering the historic town’s 16th century gates to stroll along the main street lined with magnificent buildings and ancient wine cellars. Visit a small, family run cheese-making farm and taste different varieties served with pears honey & marmellata. Then continue to Pienza a renaissance jewel and UNESCO world heritage site famous for its pecorino cheese. In the afternoon follows Cookery Lesson 2.
DAY 4 : Montalcino, Brunello wine country
Travel to the walled hill-town of Montalcino, famous for Brunello, one of Italy’s finest wines. From the battlements of the Rocca castle look down upon magnificent views of the UNESCO world heritage Val D’Orcia and Monte Amiata. Cheese and wine tasting in the Enoteca of the castle which offers a wide selection of Brunello’s. Visit the cellars of a well-known winery and then the picturesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo, built by Charlemagne where the monks still celebrate mass in Gregorian chant. Return journey is a spectacular drive through the countryside of the Val d’Orcia. In the evening enjoy Cooking Lesson 3.
DAY 5 : Siena & Chianti wine country
Travel through the idyllic countryside of Chianti Classico and taste wine at Castello di Brolio whose family created the blend for this world famous wine. In the afternoon we are accompanied by a Sienese art historian on a walking tour of the heart of Siena. We visit one of the most richly decorated cathedrals in the world with masterpieces by Duccio, Pisano, Lorenzetti, Donatello, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo. In the campo square we learn about the world famous Palio horse race and the traditions of its people.
DAY 6 : Farmers market excursion
Tour to the local fresh produce market. Free time to relax. Optional afternoon tour to a local Thermal Springs Spa (entry not included). The day concludes with Cooking Lesson 4
DAY 7 : Departure
Drop off (9.00-10.00) at Terontola station for onward travel.