Featured on "CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Osgood," November 2004. DVD of program available on request.

About the location: Tuscany...a landscape of wooded hills, olive groves, vineyards, and hill towns. Vistas that have barely changed since Renaissance artists first beheld them. On this culinary tour of Tuscany you will see and experience the treasures of this rich region, learning its cuisine and culture at a historic palazzo.

Your week in Tuscany takes place in the medieval town of Figline Valdarno, set in the triangle formed by the great cities of Florence, Arezzo and Siena. Your home will be the Villa Casagrande, a palazzo built in the 13th century by a very influential Florentine. Over the years the villa has been a gathering place for artists and philosophers. It has offered hospitality to great leaders such as Pope Leo X, King Charles VII of Bourbon, King Charles V of Spain, and more recently Prince Umberto of Savoy and his wife, Princess Maria Jose.

Today the Villa Casagrande remains a precious jewel...full of art treasures, paintings, frescoes and sculptures. It has been carefully restored by the Luccioli family, blending history and modern day comforts. Many of the rooms contain original antiques and look out on to the Renaissance garden. All are equipped with telephone, color TV, air conditioning, and private bath/shower. In addition, there is a covered pool, sauna, and fitness room for your enjoyment during this culinary adventure in Tuscany.

If you prefer the charm of a farmhouse property, you may chose to stay at Chef Claudio’s picturesque cottages. This charming relais is located just 5 minutes outside of town, amidst the Chef’s vineyards and olive groves. Each of the five air-conditioned bedroom cottages is delightfully decorated and equipped with modern conveniences such as hairdryers and telephones. A beautiful pool completes the setting. A notch above your customary B&B! (Please click here to see images of Claudio's Cottages.) Regardless of which accommodation you choose, we will transfer you to and from all classes and activities.

• Six nights in a double room at either* the Hotel Villa Casagrande or Claudio's B&B Cottages. Regardless of which accommodation you choose, we will provide transportation for you for all classes and activities.

• Daily buffet breakfast

• All dinners, including wine, water and coffee

• Four hands-on cooking classes followed by meal with wine, water and coffee

• Market visit in Figline Valdarno

• Half day excursion to Arezzo, including 2-hour guided tour with licensed guide

• Half-day excursion to Chianti with wine and local product tasting

• Transportation to Siena and San Gimignano on Day Six

• All transportation throughout the program with English speaking driver-guide

• All taxes and service (gratuities not included)

• Arrival transfer from Florence airport (12:00 noon)** or train station (3:30 PM). (If you arrange a hotel stay in Florence through The International Kitchen for before or after your culinary week, we will do our best to pick you up from/drop you off at your hotel. We can only provide this service if your hotel is booked through The International Kitchen.) If you cannot make one of these transfers, we can arrange a private transfer for you for €120.

• Return transfer to Florence airport or train station at 11:00 AM on day of departure. If you need an earlier transfer, we can arrange a private transfer for you for €120.

* both accommodations with ensuite private bathrooms and air-conditioning
**If you take the morning arrival transfer please be advised that check-in is not until the afternoon and lunch the day of arrival is not included. If you are arriving on an early flight, we recommend you meet the later transfer: you can take a taxi or bus to the Florence train station, check your bags, explore Florence for a few hours, have lunch and meet the train station transfer at 3:30 pm. You must advise us of which transfer you will meet at least two weeks prior to your departure.