Discover Italy's secret unspoiled region of Le Marche where you will find the beautiful Adriatic sea, olive groves and vineyards, the finest pecorino cheeses and local specialties and charming people who appreciate the beauty and tranquility of their homeland.
Le Marche has been labeled the next Tuscany and is so unknown to tourists that it truly is Secret Le Marche. Every inhabitant owns a piece of land that is tended to raise chickens, grow vegetables, olives for their own olive oil and grapes for their wine.
Your chef for the week is an English-born resident of Italy, who has been passionate about Italian food and culture since her first visit to Italy. Turning to her passion of cooking she now offers culinary getaways featuring hands-on cooking classes with excursions to renowned points of interest in the area.
Your cooking classes will take place in a grand 17th century ‘casa padronale’ lovingly restored by the owners. The grounds include a kitchen garden, vineyard, formal garden, fruit trees and hillside meadow for sun bathing and walks. It is situated in a sleepy farming hamlet with stunning views of the mountains, forests, fields and hills.
Guests will stay in a local ‘Agriturismo’, old farmhouses which have been lovingly restored by their owners, and turned into quiet, rustic accommodation for people wishing to find peace in the countryside, and a taste of traditional Italy. They offer homemade produce for sale, as well as a restaurant where the majority of the ingredients that make up their traditional regional dishes are grown on the farm. Family run, they rarely boast more than three or four bedrooms. All are situated amongst rolling hills and woodland.
For spouses or partners not too keen on learning to cook the delicious meals they will eat, there is a wealth of activities available, and indeed, cooking is not compulsory for anyone, though relaxation is! Your time can be divided between swimming in the lake, walking in the hills, horse riding, or absolutely nothing at all. Bring a book and soak up the mountain quiet. The beauty of Le Marche has created a haven for artists who come from as far a field as New Zealand, America and Britain to stay and be inspired by the tranquil, stunning views. Painting can be arranged as an extra or alternative activity, as can horse riding, mountain walking and quad biking.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY ONE - Saturday
Afternoon arrival. We will collect you from Ancona airport, Fabbriano or Camerino railway stations and transport you to your accommodation.
7.30 pm. Welcome to the school with local aperitivi and prosecco. Dinner is prepared for you and served al fresco in the stone courtyard and finished off with herb flavoured digestivi or grappa.
DAY TWO - Sunday
Awaken refreshed after your travels enjoying the the peaceful surroundings of your home for the week. Each morning breakfast consists of fresh seasonal fruit, yogurt, bread still warm from the village bakery, jams and preserves and cappuccino give you the perfect start to the day.
Arrive at the cooking school with an introduction to the course, schedule, a welcome pack to include recipes of everything you will taste and cook, course notes and your apron. Tour of the orto or vegetable garden and vineyard followed by your first cooking class.
Enjoy a lunch of your creations with an aternoon at leisure - take a nap, a stroll, a swim or just relax in your new surroundings.
This evening you will learn from our norcineria (prosciutto and salumi) and truffle expert, Luca Castraberte followed by a cooking class. Enjoy apertivi and a fabulous dinner prepared by you.
DAY THREE - Monday
Breakfast followed by a pasta making class. Learn how to make the perfect sauces to accompany the perfect dough that you will learn how to properly roll out.
Lunch will be prepared by you and afterwards enjoy an afternoon of leisure.
In the evening you will have an olive oil tasting with a brief overview of Italian cheeses. Participate in a short cooking class followed by apertivi and dinner prepared by you.
DAY FOUR - TuesdaY
Breakfast followed by a morning visit to the coast and Civitanova Marche fish market to buy seasonal fresh seafood for dinner. We visit a seaside restaurant kitchen and watch how to make pentolaccia, a traditional fish and shellfish stew, then sample it for lunch overlooking the waves. After lunch you are free to sunbathe and swim in the sunshine.
This evening's cooking class focuses on cooking fish and all the lessons that go along with it.
Enjoy aperitivi and a delicious fish dinner prepared by you.
DAY FIVE - Wednesday
Start your day with another abundant breakfast and relax a bit before your pizza cooking class. You will learn to make pizza dough with different toppings.
Afterwards, you will travel to a local farm where each person cooks their pizza in a traditional wood oven. Quite an authentic experience!
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in your own and then later on, participate in a wine tasting and talk on wine production, learn about the characteristics of Le Marche wines with a general overview of Italian wines versus the rest of the world. There will be a short cooking class if you wish to participate followed by aperitiv and dinner.
DAY SIX - Thursday
Breakfast followed by a day of visits to two vineyards. First, Belisario: a large cooperativo where you will see commercial wine production on a large scale. They make good wines which you can taste in their enoteca. Then on to Bisci, small producers who make excellent, prize winning wines.
Enjoy a delicious lunch from the orto with your afternoon at leisure.
Another evening cooking class, this time focusing on how to bottle fruit and vegetables, make jams, preserves, pickles and relish. Tools you can certainly use upon your return home.
Dinner this evening is prepared by you.
DAY SEVEN - Friday
Enjoy another delicous breakfast and then off to Montecavallo to see traditional prosciuto and salume production. Afterwards you will have a short picnic class in the hills with a wonderful picnic lunch.
Your afternoon is spent at leisure to give you time to relax, reflect, or explore the area.
In the early evening, an introduction to liqueur making along with a hands-on cooking class.
Aperitivi and a lovely farewell dinner made by you. Buon viaggio with hopes that you return to Le Marche.
DAY EIGHT - saturday
After a wonderful breakfast and conversation about your week, departure for Ancona Airport.
GROUP SIZE
A minimum of 5 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 8 participants.
HOW TO ARRIVE
Closest Airports/Train Stations:
Ancona Airport
Ancona/Camerino Train Station
BOOKING INFORMATION
DOUBLE ROOM/US$2400
*No Single Supplement
*Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation
After availability is confirmed, a deposit of US$750 per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date.
Available upon request May to September only for groups of 5 persons or more.
*Seven (7) nights' accommodation
*Nine (9) cooking classes (both "mini" and regular length)
*Recipe book and apron
*All meals
*All excursions
*Transfer to/from Ancona airport or Ancona/Camerino train station
Airfare and personal expenses are not included.
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS
Furnished upon request.
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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.
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Secret Le Marche
Le Marche, Italy - 7 nights