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 Tuscany, Italy - 6 nights
Available May and September - Sunday to Saturday
Experience an unforgettable week of culinary instruction, gourmet food, fabulous company and beautiful accommodations and surroundings at the Villa Lucia and Rhode School of Cuisine. Join in cooking lessons with your chef or just relax around the grounds and enjoy the beautiful view. In the kitchen there will be lots of opportunity to learn new techniques or build upon your own cooking experience.
 Just the name “Tuscany” fills the imagination with the wonders that are found here. Tuscany is everything and more than one could ever expect. The wandering hillside is scattered with century old buildings, vineyards and olive groves. This is the origin of the wines that kiss our lips and the food that is as unspoilt as the scenery. You will learn about the origins of Tuscan food and some classic “Italian” dishes.
 Villa Lucia consists of three separate properties set in extensive gardens within a private walled Tuscan Estate of over four acres. The main villa has nine bedrooms, including two three-room premier suites. Casa Joshua and Casa Cameron each have six bedrooms. All three units have their own luxury kitchens, reception rooms and private terraces. All rooms have ensuite bath or shower.
Villa Lucia is situated in the village of Vorno, a 10 minute drive from Lucca, a 30 minute drive from Pisa and approximately 50 minutes from Florence.  Your day will begin with a breakfast of fruit, pastries, cereal, juice and coffee and depending on your mood you can either dine inside or outside in our beautiful garden. Each day will be a balanced mix of hands on Italian cooking classes, cultural excursions and time to relax and enjoy the beautiful property and surrounding countryside. Each cooking class is followed by lunch or dinner.
The leisurely and relaxed meals are served to you either “al fresco” in the courtyard or by candlelight in the villa’s elegant dining room. The meals are paired with a proper wine, including some of Tuscany’s most noteworthy. Your dinners will be complemented with Chianti Classicos, Brunellos and other succulent wines from the region of Tuscany. Your introduction to wine tasting in Tuscany will include some of the revolutionary Super Tuscans, such as Sassicaia, Tignanello, Castello dei Rampolia and Ornellaia. During the wine tasting you will hear the story of the Gallo Nero, which defines the Chianti region. You will learn of the different varieties that create this region, including Sangiovese which has survived the Super Tuscan revolution of the late 1970s when a small group of Tuscan wine makers began to experiment with the new French grape varieties and new methods. The wine makers replaced their massive old casks with new barriques of French oak, while planting trendy international varieties alongside Sangiovese, the ancestral source of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. ‘Super Tuscans’ have reached heights of prestige, as affirmed by triumphant recent tastings in New York and London. – The New York Times. The Italian cooking classes are set up in an intimate, hands-on manner, so that complete novices can sit along side professional chefs, yet both be educated and amused. Our chef will patiently teach you the skills and techniques required to prepare beautiful Italian cuisine in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. You will feel comfortable and fully capable of producing some of Italy's most famous dishes.  You will be helped in unraveling the mystery of selecting the finest, freshest ingredients available. You will learn to differentiate between various olive oils and balsamic vinegars and use them appropriately. With this knowledge of ingredients, you will make full Italian meals: antipasti, soups, assorted primi piatti of pasta, risotto, pizza, secondi piatti of meat, poultry, and fish, various vegetable contorni, and many delicious dolci including Tiramisu and biscotti. You will recreate the flavours and aromas of traditional Tuscan cuisine with pizzas, breads and roasted meats cooked in our wood-burning oven. New “traditional” techniques adapt these recipes for the modern home kitchen and barbecues.
Our staff all speak English and will make sure you are entertained or completely relaxed depending on your mood. They have a genuine interest in making this a special experience for you. They understand that this is first and foremost a holiday. The theme is Italian cuisine, and it’s offered in abundance, but never at the expense of enjoyment. At the end of the week you'll receive your very own Rhode School of Cuisine Certificate, certifying your participation and completion of one of our Italian cooking classes. SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY ONE - Sunday  Fly into Pisa or Florence airport and arrive at Villa Lucia by midday.
Enjoy welcome cocktails and canapés and meet the staff, fellow students and your chef for the week. Your host will take you for a walk around the stunning garden and the charming historic village of Vorno. You will discuss the program for the week and any special interests you may have. Free time to relax before your buffet dinner and an introduction to your Chef for the week. Buffet early dinner around 6:30/7:00pm. DAY TWO - Monday  Breakfast followed by a morning hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of lunch.
Lunch served on the terrace. In the later afternoon, free time to relax around the villa. (Our masseur will be available at this time for an extra cost). Hands-on cooking demonstration and preparation of your dinner. DAY THREE - Tuesday  Breakfast followed by a guided tour of lovely Lucca. The city became a colony of ancient Rome in 180BC and bordered the Etruscan country. The survival of the Anfiteatro from these Roman times is due to Nottolini, the architect who built the aqueduct between Lucca and Pisa and who also is responsible for the current aspect of Villa Michaela. The name of the church San Michele in Foro indicates that it stands beside a Roman forum. In the 12th-13th centuries, Lucca was the center of a thriving silk and wool trade and rivaled Florence in power and wealth. The proof of this abundance is the many churches and the wall of protection around the old city. Free to explore or shop at your leisure.
 Lunch at a local Restaurant (restaurant visits are an additional cost).
Free time to relax at the villa. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of your dinner. DAY FOUR - Wednesday Breakfast followed by departure to the Pistoia market. We will visit to the bustling market town of Pistoia to help the chef choose fresh produce for dinner. You will have plenty of time to explore the many piazzas and stop for a panini in the local cafés. 
Lunch in Monte Catini Alto. Return to the villa and free time followed by a hands-on pizza making session & informal dinner. . DAY FIVE - Thursday 
Breakfast available followed by a hands on cooking lesson and preparation of lunch. Wine tasting at local vineyard. Free time to relax around the villa. Dinner at Local Restaurant Bimbotto DAY SIX - Friday 
Breakfast available followed by a trip to Cinque Terre. The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is noted for its beauty. It is a very popular destination. Lunch at one of the beautiful 5 Terre towns Afterwards enjoy some free time to take a stroll through the olive groves, play tennis, swim, go shopping or to simply relax. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner followed by a Prosecco and Bellini Graduation Ceremony in the large demonstration kitchen and a formal farewell dinner. DAY SEVEN - Saturday Depart for the airport before noon. Thank you for sharing a special week with us. Alla prossima volta! **Individual details, menus etc may of course vary from time to time. GROUP SIZE A minimum of 6 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. HOW TO ARRIVE Lucca train station: 15 minutes driving or 4 miles
Pisa Airport: 35 minutes driving or 20 miles
Florence Airport: 45 minutes driving or 45 miles *These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour. BOOKING INFORMATION
Culinary Student: Premier Suite/US$5250
Deluxe/US$4150
Standard/US$3890
Single Room Supplement/US$575 Gourmet Guest: Premier Suite/US$4550
Deluxe/US$3525
Standard/US$3250
Single Room Supplement/US$575 After availability is confirmed, a non-refundable deposit of 30% per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Deposit is payable at the time of booking and booking will not be accepted without a deposit being made. Final payment is due in full ten weeks prior to your arrival date. If the balance remains unpaid, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and retain any deposit paid. May 6-12
May 13-19
September 9-15
September 16-22 *Six (6) nights' accommodation
*Six (6) hands-on cooking lessons
*All food and wine consumed at the school
*Transportation for scheduled excursions
*Airport transfers from Pisa or Florence
*Each student will receive a customized apron, a cookbook filled with the recipes of the week, and a certificate of culinary achievement Airfare, entrance fees to various museums and sites, lunches, selected restaurant visits and personal expenses are not included.
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
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Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS
"Dear Jo-Ann - We had a wonderful time in Vorno. It was very hard to leave everyone! They made us feel so special. It is a vacation we will never forget. We travel several times a year, but this vacation was by far the best ever! It was unique because we made wonderful friends and really felt like part of a family rather than tourists!!"
“Jo-Ann - Lorraine had the most amazing time!!!! We can't thank you enough!! She was absolutely buzzing when I spoke to her. She said that the people we're all amazing, her room was fit for a queen, the grounds were beautiful and the cooking classes were always fun and entertaining. Please pass our gratitude on to the school. We will be happy to provide references and perhaps a repeat trip?!? Thanks again!!
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MAP* This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 
*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location. Click here to return to top of page.
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Rhode School of Cuisine - Villa Lucia
