Umbria, Italy - 3 nights
Options: (Longer Stays, Additional Activities)
Available April to October

Spend your holiday amidst the lush green Umbrian countryside and enjoy the beautiful, tranquil atmosphere of a luxury country house estate. Originally a 12C monastery, this ancient building has been lovingly restored and features oak and chestnut beams, terracotta floors, a pietra serena fireplace and elegant furnishings.

A perfect setting to relax and let your mind work in harmony with nature.

Learn how to cook delicious Italian cuisine with one cooking lesson, a visit to a thriving local market, a medieval town and a truffle farm.

Enjoy incredible food, breathtaking scenery and luxurious accommodations.

COOKING COURSE

Meet the cooks at and learn hands on how to make fresh pasta, sauces, antipasto, salads, meats and of course, desserts!  Impress friends and family back home with a true Italian feast!

MARKET VISIT

Accompanied by one of the cooks and an interpreter, you will visit a thriving local market town and choose fresh produce for the cooking class whilst taking in the sights, smells and sounds of the Umbrian way of life! Later, lunch in a wonderful trattoria in the town and then return for the cooking lesson.

THERMAL SPA

Situated on the hillside a short distance away, this luxury thermal spa has lovely views over the countryside and valleys beyond. There are four thermal pools all heated to different temperatures and a Turkish steam room where you can relax and dream. 

ITINERARY

Day One – Saturday

Afternoon arrival and welcome drinks

7.00  Aperitivo and Stuzzichini (Italian Canapés) before dinner (Served either on the Loggia, in the living room, or the dining room)

8.00  Informal evening meal. Menu includes local produce such as ciaccia con prosciutto (local unleavened bread), salame, pecorino (sheep’s cheese) and tozzetti (almond biscuits) with Vin Santo (fortified matured sherry wine). Meet our cook, and sample traditional Umbrian cooking in the company of  your hosts    

Day Two – Sunday

Buffet Breakfast

10.30  Departure to local market to choose produce and purchase local products, (driver and interpreter will accompany you)

12.30 – 2.00  Lunch at a trattoria in Umbertide or Cittá di Castello

4:00  Afternoon hands–on Cookery Class (3 hours approx):

LEARNING THE ART OF PASTA MAKING WITH “LA CUOCA”, YOUR CHOICE OFTAGLIATELLE, RAVIOLI, CAPPELLETTI OR LASAGNA....  PASTA FILLINGS AND SAUCES FOR PASTA, MARINADED PAN-COOKED MEAT AND VEGETABLES, AND DESSERT OF YOUR CHOICE  

7.30  Aperitivo and Dinner including wines, coffee and liqueurs

Day Three – Monday

Buffet Breakfast

9.15 Departure for Truffle Hunting near Cittá di Castello

11.00 Visit the processing plant at the truffle Fattoria, including tasting of different truffles and LEARN HOW TO PREPARE UMBRIAN ANTIPASTI AND TRADITIONAL DISHES BASED ON TRUFFLES, explanation of the use of truffles in Italian cooking.Visit the small private truffle museum at the Fattoria.

1.00 – 2.30  Lunch based on turffles at the Truffle Fattoria, including wine, water, coffee and liqueur

Retun home -  Free afternoon. Light dinner at home or a local trattoria, your choice.  

Day Four – Tuesday

Buffet Breakfast

Departure from room at 12Noon (you are welcome to stay the day on the premises if you wish)

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES - PLEASE INQUIRE

If you would like to extend your stay we also offer the following seasonal half day activities with interpreter.

*Vin Santo: Discover the ancient tradtion of making traditional, fortified matured sherry type wine, at a farmhouse which has been restored, maintaining the original ancient fireplace, stairs, stone sink, etc. and visit their private museum.Sample vin santo and home-made torcolo, traditional cake.  

*Pecorino cheese & ricotta Walking trip (15 minutes) to a local farm, to see how the cheeses are made. Sample ricotta and honey.     

*Pizza making: Visit a local farm  and learn how to make pizza in a brick oven, including dinner, with wine, water and coffee.     

GROUP SIZE

A minimum of 4 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.

 BOOKING INFORMATION