Culinary & Wine Tours> Italy> Savoring Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany

Italy: Savoring Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany
Bologna and Tuscany, Italy - 6 nights
Imagine a fabulous week in two great culinary regions ~ Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany ~ the culinary heart and soul of Italy! You’ll cook with us in our palazzo in Bologna, the Gastronomic Capital of Italy. On the Tuscan wine estate, you’ll cook in the osteria restaurant making traditional Tuscan dishes handed down through the generations. Two regions, two kitchens, two delicious cuisines. We begin our captivating week in Bologna, tour through Tuscany and conclude in Florence ~ C’e perfetto!

(Bologna: Course begins Sunday afternoon in Bologna. Tuesday morning, we travel to the beautiful wine estate in Tuscany. Friday we drive through wine country to Florence, where in the center of the city deluxe hotel accommodations await near the Uffizi Gallery. Departure is from Florence anytime Saturday morning. For your convenience, all transfers are provided by private coach.)

Day One (Sunday)

Check into your hotel in Bologna’s Historic Center. Late afternoon Insider’s Walking Tour visiting the medieval towers, Santo Stefano and many beautiful palazzi. Al fresco dinner at the best restaurant serving traditional signature dishes prepared for us

Day Two (Monday)

We’ll shop in our colorful market with Mary Beth for fresh produce and visit the best stores for Italian cookware and tabletop accessories. Ready to cook great La Cucina Italiana? Onto our palazzo for cooking in our professional kitchen with Italian chefs...

Exclusive pasta class with our professional sfoglina, Italian pasta chef. You’ll make delicate fresh pasta today for our luncheon followed by our Tasting of Aged Balsamic Vinegars. Alongside the chefs, you’ll cook scrumptious dishes for our full-menu of l'antipasti, pasta, ragu bolognese, seasonal main dish with fresh vegetables and dessert, paired with exceptional wines. Evening free for the jazz clubs.

Day Three (Tuesday)

Watch huge cauldrons of boiling milk transformed into golden wheels of Parmigiano- Reggiano then indulge in an on-site tasting. Traveling through Tuscany reminds you of a movie set. In the Chianti countryside is an excellent trattoria known to the locals, often we’re the only non-Italians there - perfect! Watch the chef grill our lunch while sipping Chianti.

Imagine overlooking a Tuscan valley while making dinner? That’s exactly what you’ll do on the wine estate with the Tuscan chefs - make a delicious dinner together. Each dish is expertly paired with the estate’s wines. Later, stroll under the stars.

Day Four (Wednesday)

Walk through the Vineyards and Olive Groves: Learn about the vines and olive trees, their cultivation and harvest. Special Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello tasting arranged for us.

Tuscan varietal extra-virgin olive oil tasting, too, followed by a country luncheon. Hands-on cooking class with the chefs preparing our food-and-wine paired dinner

Day Five (Thursday)

Siena remains a medieval city filled with amazing architecture and host of the famous Palio horse race. UNESCO selected Siena’s Historic Center as one of
Italy’s precious treasures. There is a very special borgo, dating back to the XIV-century which overlooks the Val di Chiana, with a truly outstanding restaurant for our Grand Finale Dinner

Day Six (Friday)

In tiny Greve in Chianti, a principal town in this wine region, we visit one of the oldest and most respected butcher shops in Italy. Taste wines and sample their famous homemade prosciutto, salame and cured specialty meats for our private lunch. Check into the beautiful deluxe hotel, in Florence’s Historic Center near the Uffizi Gallery. Explore this fascinating symbol of the Renaissance!

Day Seven (Saturday)

Browse the San Lorenzo indoor and outdoor markets, visit museums or stroll along the Arno. Grazie Mille ~ Buon Viaggio!

BOOKING INFORMATION
2008 FEES PER PERSON	DEPOSIT
Standard accommodations are two people per room. If you are traveling alone, we will try to find a roommate of the same gender to share a double room with you. If unable to do this, or if you choose to room alone, you will be charged a private room supplement fee. Double Room/US$3595 (first class hotel accommodations in Bologna, Tuscan wine estate, Deluxe hotel in Florence) Double Room/US$3995 (deluxe hotel accommodations in Bologna, Tuscan wine estate, Deluxe hotel in Florence) Travel Days of Tuesday - Friday, participants stay on the Tuscan wine estate and in the deluxe hotel in Florence in the city center Private Room Supplement/US$385 (first class hotel accommodations in Bologna) Private Room Supplement/US$445 (deluxe hotel accommodations in Bologna)	After availability is confirmed, a US$350 per person non-refundable deposit and the completed and submitted registration form is required to register in the course. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a confirmation, if space is available. Final payment is due in full no later than 60 days before the cooking course begins.
2008 DATES	INCLUDED
September 21-27	*Six (6) nights' hotel accommodations (double occupancy or single occupancy with supplement) *All cooking classes *Most meals *Transportation for private excursions to the Italian countryside and cities described in the itinerary. Airfare, personal expenses, and other ground transportation are not included.

For further inquiries or to register, click here.



CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
The Cooking School reserves the right to cancel any course for any reason. Refund of all payments received from you shall release the Cooking School and Active Gourmet Holidays from any liability to you. The Cooking School or its representatives are not responsible for any other expenses incurred by you in preparing to attend the program, including non-refundable tickets, reservations, hotel and airfare.

You may cancel your reservation by sending written notice to the Cooking School. Monies you sent to the Cooking School will be returned less a cancellation fee and Active Gourmet Holidays' booking fee, determined as of the date the Cooking School receives your written notice. The entire course balance is due 60 days or more before the course begins.

If you cancel, the cancellation fees are as follows:
-$500 cancellation fee: 59-46 days before the course begins
-100% of monies sent is non-refundable, unless you send a replacement, in which case the transfer fee is $250. 45 days or less before the course begins.

If you need to cancel your current registration, transfer to another course only within the same year, may be possible.

CLIENT REMARKS
References furnished upon request