Italy Cooking
Tours
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Discover
Italy gourmet cooking and wine tours!
Believing
that each cuisine tells the story of the land, its history and its people.
The cuisine
du solely in Provence and the hearty fare of Tuscany -
even the creativity of walking and cooking tours. As so often said, this
sun-drenched country is a feast for all the
senses...the sweet perfume of fresh tomatoes, an
explosion of flavor and color…the unique yet
delicate taste of newly pressed olive oil…fresh
seasonal ingredients handpicked at local markets...
Add some of the finest wines in the world and the
ineffable spirit and joy of the people for an
experience of pure pleasure, friendship, laughter,
and renewal. Below are a variety of wonderful villa
stays and cooking experiences to last you a
lifetime. Please view the list of unique gourmet
tours for your enjoyment. |
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CHOOSE THE AREA YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FOR A COOKING TOUR.
As featured on the Food
Network's "Recipe for Success" Friday, February 15, 2008.
"We have traveled all over the
world and I can truly say that our trip to Oasi Olimpia Relais
was the best trip ever." Beverly M. & Les R. This is what dreams
are made of: Spend a week at an elegant and incredibly charming
four-star relais hotel of only seven bedrooms, in a delightful
Amalfi coast town. Visit all the important sites of the area,
including Pompeii, Capri, and Positano while you learn the
culinary secrets of southern Italy.
4 or 6 nights — Available March through October
and all other months on request.
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As featured in the April 2001
issue of Bon Appetit magazine.
Stay in the town where modern pasta
was invented - you'll visit the ruins of Pompeii, experience the
real Amalfi Coast towns, taste their exquisite culinary
specialties, watch their liqueurs and cheeses being made, shop
at a local fishmonger's, and cook with acclaimed Chef Cioffi.
4 or 6 nights — Available February through
November.
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Your home is the delightful Hotel Tramonto D’Oro, located in the
seaside resort of Praiano, centrally positioned between Positano
and Amalfi. You will have a taste of Mediterranean regional
cuisine with passionate chefs with extraordinary culinary
talents.
3 or 6 nights — Available April, May, June, July,
Sept, Oct, Nov.
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Emilia Romagna
Come to Emilia Romagna, called the gastronomic capital of Italy,
where you will experience first-class cuisine while staying in a
4-star hotel in the center of Bologna. Your stay is rounded out
with trips to Modena and Parma—a true taste of this wonderful
region!
4 nights — Available on request year-round.
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Parma, home of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Parma prosciutto
ham, invites you to experience its riches while staying at a 4
star superior Hotel Palace Maria Luigia, and cooking at a
stunning 17th century villa.
3 nights — Available any Tuesday-Friday on
request.
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Le Marche
The Marche is a region of great natural beauty, close to the
sea, with a varied and stunning terrain. Stay in a luxury
apartment, learn the local cuisine, and discover an area unknown
to mass tourism. This is a trip for those of you who have a bit
of the "adventurer" spirit.
6 nts — Available on request year-round for a
minimum of 2 people.
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Liguria
Award-winning watercolor artist and gallery owner Nancy Smith
Couick will assist you in creating delightful plein air
watercolor images during this 10-night trip in two of Italy's
most beautiful regions. Paint the seaside town of Portofino and
the Cinque Terre in the first half of this tour, then journey to
the Piedmont region, which will provide delightful opportunities
for painting the wine country and the Alps in the distance!
Cooking classes and wine tours make this a trip for painters and
non-painters alike!
10 nights — Available May 17 - 27, 2008.
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A charming stay in a lovely, family-owned hotel in the center of
Chiavari on the Italian Riviera. Cook with a local chef, visit
Portofino, Rapallo, Santa Margherita and the enchanting linked
villages of the famed Cinque Terre.
4 nights — Available year round on request.
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Lombardia/Lakes Region
Spend five ultra-luxurious days on one of our most deluxe
Italian cooking holidays! Stay at one of the world's most
beautiful hotels, cooking, touring, relaxing and soaking up Lake
Como's legendary beauty.
4 nights — Dates on request for minimum of 5 .
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 Member of Relais & Chateaux
Take a short detour north of Milan
to the beautiful countryside of Franciacorta and Lake Iseo,
where you will cook, wine and dine in the ultimate of luxury at
the exquisite Relais & Chateaux L'Albereta Hotel.
3 nights — Available on request.
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Piedmont
Enjoy some of Italy's best cuisine while exploring the famous
wine regions of Piedmont. Your hosts will show you the dramatic
landscapes and warm hospitality that are trademarks of this
wonderful region.
5 nights — Available year round on request .
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Spend 3 nights at this beautiful and unique hotel on northern
Italy's most romantic lake. Enjoy the fine wine and cuisine of
the famous Piedmont region while learning cooking secrets from a
master chef.
3 nights — Available on request March through
December.
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Award-winning watercolor artist and gallery owner Nancy Smith
Couick will assist you in creating delightful plein air
watercolor images during this 10-night trip in two of Italy's
most beautiful regions. Paint the seaside town of Portofino and
the Cinque Terre in the first half of this tour, then journey to
the Piedmont region, which will provide delightful opportunities
for painting the wine country and the Alps in the distance!
Cooking classes and wine tours make this a trip for painters and
non-painters alike!
10 nights — Available May 17 - 27, 2008.
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Sicily
Enjoy six nights in the charming town of Modica, explore the
southern towns of Sicily such as Noto, Ragusa and Siracusa, and
learn the secrets of Sicilian cuisine from a local chef. This
relaxing week— filled with Southern Italian hospitality and
fabulous food— will make you never want to leave!
6 nights — Available April, June, September and
October.
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An authentic, week-long adventure on one of the world's most
famous islands: your Sicilian host will show you the true Sicily
during this unforgettable gourmet experience.
7 nights — Available March through December.
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Renée's work has been featured
in National Geographic Traveler, Italian Cooking &
Living, Travelers’ Tales books and was a guest on
Rick Steves' Travel Show on NPR,"
Traveling on your stomach: Everyday Italian Cuisine." She is
also the spokesperson for the international best-selling
cookbook, The Silver Spoon.
Italian culinary personality and
chef Renée Restivo takes you to the land of her family for a
Sicilian adventure to discover the true soul of Sicily. You will
learn from and meet local artists, chefs, winemakers and farmers
who will delight you with a view into Sicilian life—this is a
unique experience!
7 nights — Available on request year-round for a
minimum of 4 people.
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Tuscany
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 Featured on "CBS Sunday Morning
News with Charles Osgood," November 2004. DVD of program
available on request.
When traveling with American Airlines, look for A Classic Tuscan
Table with Chef Claudio on "CBS Eye on American."
Special Week: "Journey to Tuscany with Jeanette," October
19-25, 2008.
Stay at a fully renovated,
beautiful, historic villa hotel just south of Florence, in the
famed Chianti area. Five minutes away, your lessons will be at
the charming farm of Chef Piantini, one of Italy's noted Tuscan
chefs and teachers, and owner of Torre Guelfa Ristorante. Market
visit, wine and olive oil tasting and excursions to towns such
as San Gimignano, Siena and Greve complete this fabulous week!
4 or 6 nights —
Available March through October and all other months on request.
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 Featured in Fortune
Magazine, "Mind
Your Manners," November 2007.
If you are looking for a week of
luxury and attentive service, look no more! Your stay will be at
the elegant Villa Mangiacane, one of the most deluxe and
luxurious villa hotels in all of Tuscany. Cooking classes are
directed by the engaging Chef Massimo Bocus, with excursions to
fine wineries and charming local towns. This fantastic culinary
experience is exclusive to The International Kitchen!5 nights —
Available March through December on request for a minimum of
two.
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 Featured in The Italian
Magazine as "One of the finest Tuscan cookery courses in
the world," August 2007,
Pathfinders Travel Magazine July/August 2007,
United Airlines Hemispheres magazine, "World on a
Plate," July 2006 and Condé Nast Traveler April 2006.
The Tuscan Chef is Valter Roman,
a charming and talented chef with a great passion for his art;
with perfect English, he will lead you through dozens of Tuscan
recipes. His lovely wife Julia will take care of all your needs
for this week-long adventure at a beautiful private villa near
the enchanting town of Lucca.
6 nights — Available March, April, May, September,
October, and November.
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Enjoy a symphony of colors and perfumes all year round relaxing
in the comfort of a farmhouse located in the famed Chianti
Classico area of Tuscany. During this self-drive itinerary you
will be charmed by the local people, the atmosphere of ancient
villas and medieval castles, and the local wine and food.
3 nights — Available on request March - November.
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An intensive culinary experience for serious cooks! Cook with
Chef Claudio Piantini, one of Italy's noted Tuscan chefs and
teachers and owner of Torre Guelfa Ristorante, while staying
near the charming Tuscan town of Figline Valdarno
6 nights — Available
year-round on request.
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Member of Slow Food
Is "Under the Tuscan Sun" beckoning
you to Italy? Come join us and discover Cortona, Siena, San
Gimignano, Montepulciano and Pienza, the Tuscany that belongs to
the Tuscans. Vegetarian programs are also available at this
Chianti Senese winery.
6 nights — Available March June and September
through November .
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A dream vacation featuring the best of Tuscany: four nights in a
beautiful, small villa hotel in the Val d'Elsa Chianti Colle
Senese wine making area, plus two nights in four-star
accommodations in Florence. This gourmet trip features hands-on
cooking classes, market visits, a truffle hunt, wine, cheese and
local product tastings, medieval and Renaissance dinners and
more!
4 or 6 nights — Available April through July,
September through November.
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Spend three nights in a gorgeous medieval castle in the heart of
the Chianti wine growing region while learning traditional
Tuscan cuisine.
3 nights — Available year round on request.
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Convivium means "feast" or "festive gathering"—join us
for a celebration of Italian life and food in Montaione, a
small, authentic town in own of the most scenic parts of
Tuscany, an area quilted with rolling vineyards and rows of
cypress trees. Learn the secrets of Tuscan cooking from a young,
imaginative chef and restauranteur during this delightful trip.
6 nights — Available March through October and all
other months on request.
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A stunningly beautiful wine estate in the heart of the Chianti
countryside. Cook, taste, tour, relax and renew for a week in
this splendid setting, a very special experience.
6 nights — Available on request .
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Stay at a charming and elegantly restored farmhouse outside the
famous Tuscan town of Montepulciano. Your hosts Silvia and
Maurizio will introduce you to the best of Tuscan country life
during your unforgettable stay.
4 or 7 nights — Available year round on request.
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Join us for five nights at an elegant palazzo in the town called
the “little Athens.” Excursions to the Cinque Terre, Lucca and
more while learning traditional Tuscan cooking.
5 nights — Available March through July, September
and October.
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Spend four days in a cozy B&B getting to know the beautiful
Chianti countryside while learning some of the classic and
typical Tuscan dishes with a wonderful local chef.
Cooking and Walking option also available, call for details.
3 nights — Available on request.
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The Orcia valley is an area long safeguarded from development;
here you can experience the "real" Tuscany. Spend four nights at
a charming, family owned residence, enjoy cooking authentic
Tuscan dishes and tasting the famed regional wines.
4 nights — Available September through January and
March through June for a minimum of four.
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 The
perfect short program combining 4-star country accommodations
and authentic Tuscan cooking. Truffle Hunt in Tuscany available
November-March.
2 or 4 nights — Available on request.
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If fine wine and gourmet meals are your "thing," then this is
the trip for you! Spend a week with the best known wine "guru"
in Tuscany, tasting the famous Supertuscans and Chianti
Classicos along with some outstanding lesser known wines, meals
in Michelin star restaurants and even a cooking class with your
guide's Mamma in her home.
6 nights — Special departure: May 3-9, 2008
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 Chef Francesco Fineo featured
in Food & Wine magazine, September 2007.
Stay in the heart of Chianti at
the incomparable four-star Villa Bordoni. Enjoy classes with two
great chefs, visits to local Chianti wineries, and charming
Tuscan villages. Named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of
the "60 Best New Hotels in the World" in 2006.
6 nights — Available
any week year-round on request.
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 Have
the experience of staying at Claudio's country B&B among his
vineyards, pick fresh fruit and vegetables from his garden when
in season, and dine in his restaurant. A very real experience,
while learning great Tuscan cuisine from one of our most noted
chefs.
2 or 4 nights — Available on request.
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Explore Tuscan cuisine and make new friends along the way. Our
friends at Casa Ombuto wait to welcome you at their lovely
villa, the Torre del Tartufo, near Arezzo.
7 nights — Available April, May, July, August, and
October.
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What makes this self-driving southern Tuscan getaway extra
special? The lovely family-run B&B, the warm welcome by your
hosts, the amazing and authentic cuisine, and the fact that it
is perfectly located, only about 30 minutes from Arezzo, Cortona,
Pienza and Montepulciano.
5 nights — Available year round on request.
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The perfect escape in Southern Tuscany to learn about Italian
wine. Stay at a charming agriturismo on a wine- producing estate
and enjoy self-driving excursions to local wineries where you
will enjoy some of Italy's most well-known wines. Cooking
classes also available on request.
3 nights — Available March - June, September -
November.
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 This is the real Tuscany! Stay in a genuine century old Tuscan
farmhouse with the family who lives there. You will be
introduced to treasured family recipes, a feast for all your
senses and an experience you will remember for a lifetime!
6 nights — Available April through November.
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June 8-13, 2008, a special week
exclusively for The International Kitchen.
Villa San Michele, a member of
the prestigious Orient-Express Hotels, is an historic world
class property. With a facade designed by Michelangelo, this
exquisite hotel affords you the opportunity to luxuriate in
splendor, with the opportunity to join outstanding chefs in the
hotel's beautiful restaurant kitchen for hands on classes.
2, 3 or 5 nights—Available
April, May, June, July, September and October for a minimum of
four people.
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 Hideway Report 2000 Grand Award
Winner
Condè Nast Traveler 2001- "One of the best 25 Small
Hotels of the World"
Member of Relais & Chateaux since 2000
Hot List "Restaurant with a View" 2007
Cook with the chef of Il Verrocchio
restaurant at the magnificent Renaissance palazzo just outside
Florence, which is the "sister" hotel to Villa d'Este.
4 nights — Available March 15-November 17.
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If your idea of a great experience is a day long bike ride in
the exquisite Chianti hillside, a hands on class with a local,
and tasting the outstanding wines of the region, check out this
self drive itinerary!
3 nts — Available on request year-round for a
minimum of 2 people.
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Umbria
 See feature on Spoleto in
The New York Times Magazine, "Sophisticated Traveler," May
2, 2004.
Discover the food, wine, and
culture of this wonderful region, rivaling Tuscany for its
natural beauty and richness, known as the "green heart" of
Italy. Your base will be Spoleto, one of the most elegant
Umbrian towns, noted for its international music festival. Spend
a week at the Tomassoni's lovely, fully renovated, family-run
four star hotel in the center of town while cooking the
specialties of the region.
6 nights — Available on request.
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 Featured in Food & Wine Magazine, September 2007.
Spend three nights at an incredibly
charming and scenic inn with spectacular views of Assisi 7
kilometers away, while learning traditional Umbrian recipes with
your host. Includes a visit to gourmet food shops.
3 nights — Available on request
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Walk the wonderful and undiscovered regions of Umbria and
Southern Tuscany. Accommodations in an elegant four star relais
hotel, with cooking lessons encompassing both regions.
4 nights — Available on request April through
October.
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Join the Tacconi family and indulge yourself at this exquisite
luxury inn that has been painstakingly restored to reflect its
Umbrian heritage, while Chef Mary leads you through the
discovery of the authentic essence of the region's cuisine.
5 nts — Available September through June for a
minimum of 2 people.
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Veneto
Spend three nights in one of the world’s most famous cities:
Venice! Live like a Venetian while staying at a charming B&B
near St. Mark’s square and cooking with native Venetian Patrizia.
3 nts — Available on request year-round for a
minimum of 2 people.
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 Member of Relais & Chateaux
Spend three glorious nights at the
stunning Relais & Chateau property, Villa Abbazia, where you
will experience the ìrealî Veneto region, learn Italian culinary
secrets from a master chef, and enjoy a luxurious getaway.
3 nights — Available on request year-round.
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Spend four nights in a 15th-century villa in the heart of the
Veneto, a region knowns for its lush landscapes and fine wines.
Your hostess, the Contessa Maria Giustiniani, will teach you
recipes handed down through generations of local women.
4 nights — Available April, May, June, September
and October.
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 A charming villa in Verona will be the site of your in-depth
cooking course with noted chef and culinary personality Giuliano
Hazan, son of Marcella Hazan. An exceptional experience replete
with wine tasting and food artisan visits.
6 nights — Available May, June, September and
October.
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 Condé Nast Traveler: 2002 Gold
List and 2001 Readers Choice Awards
Spend five glorious nights at the
world class, world renowned, magnificent Hotel Gritti Palace,
while enjoying lessons with Head Chef Daniele Turco and visiting
guest chefs such as Patricia Wells, Judy Rogers, Roberta
Morrell, and Nancy Harmon Jenkins.
5 nights — Unavailable in 2007 and 2008.
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This is a truly exceptional adventure, and one of our most
unique Italian cooking holidays; explore the mysteries of Venice
aboard a beautiful restored sailboat, with accommodations in an
exquisite palazzo, while learning Venetian specialties.
5 nights — Available on request for a minimum of 6
people.
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