Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

Flavours and scents of Tuscany

Versilia, Pisa, Lucca and Cinque Terre
wine & gastronomy tastings

1. DAY
Pisa

Arrival in Pisa in late morning.
Light lunch and tour in downtown: Pisa is one of the most visited cities of Tuscany, through its Leaning Tower and its magnificent Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), world heritage of UNESCO, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful monumental complex in the world. You will find 4 masterpieces of medieval architecture from the 11th to the 14th century tower, the cathedral (il Duomo), the Baptistery and the Monumental Building Camposanto.
Departure for Viareggio area, accommodation in the magnificent country house with swimming pool and spa area, the welcome drink.

In the late afternoon visit to a sumptuous 17th century farm house producing organic olive oil of high quality for a olive oil degustation couurse. Here you can enjoy special aromatic oils, along with samples from the Chef and selected wines, discover the aromatic massage oils, the process of organic growing and visit the olive grove.

2. DAY
Versilia

Tour and free time in Viareggio, with its promenade along the sea, lined with buildings in the Art Nouveau style, the harbour, shops, hotels, bathing establishments and bars. On Thursday morning you will find a large market.

In the afternoon a visit to Pietrasanta, a charming small Roman town, historically and artistically the capital of Versilia. Here are living sculptors from all around the world who work with marble and bronze, in many workshops that you can visit. The city has a pleasant old town and its main square is often decorated with works of modern sculpture.

Dinner in a restaurant with local specialities.

3. DAY
Lucca and Montecarlo

The city of Lucca, a Tuscan jewel with 100 churches, is known through its walls and amphitheater. This is one of the few Italian cities that has preserved its ramparts of the 16th and 17th centuries, within which is a preserved historic center with a rectangular network of streets. The site of the amphitheatre is one of the most unique in the world: after the fall of the Roman, people have built houses on the walls of the amphitheatre, so the place is now elliptical. Visit other monuments: Napoleon place, Piazza San Martino cathedral and romantic place of S. Michele di Foro, theatre and Puccini place.

Visit of the wine town of Montecarlo, created in 1333 by Emperor Charles IV. The city lies on a small hill in the center of the wine area and offers fantastic views over the vineyards and the scenery in the valley. We will taste wines of a quality in a wine farms producing prestigious wines: red and white wine and olive oil, accompanied by Tuscan specialties like ham "prosciutto, salami, feta cheese, olives, bruschetta. Montecarlo wines are atypical because they contain a high proportion of French grape varieties, imported up in 18th century. The white wine of Montecarlo was long considered one of the best in Tuscany and it was called " Chablis of Montecarlo.

Visit of a wine factory in the hills of Lucca, producing excellent organic and biodynamic wines and olive oil "DOP". Tour into the vineyards, visit of the winery and the historic villa of counts Sardi from 17th century, inhabited by the owners, where we will taste the wines with refreshments.

Pizza party at the property: didactic course of preparing different kinds of local pizza and foccaccia.

4. DAY
Massaciuccoli and Chiatri Puccini

In the morning visit to the Roman terms in Massaciuccoli and tasting of specialties from Roman times. Visit of a small wine and olive oil farm in the hills and virgin forests, in the vicinity of Chiatri Puccini, which inspired Giacomo Puccini in the composition of his opera Tosca. Wine and oil tasting with the owner.
Afternoon free time in Viareggio (beach, shopping ..)

From 6 pm the 1st cookery course with Tuscan seasonal specialties menu, followed by a tasting dinner (2.5 hours). The courses are in small groups with experienced chefs, who will transmit the experience to prepare a typical Tuscan cuisine. We use fresh, seasonal products from Tuscany: extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables and herbs from the orchard, meat, poultry and fish directly from the farmers ot the fisherman. Each course includes appetizers, pasta, main course and of course desserts. The menu is complemented by tasting of selected wines from Tuscany.

5. DAY
Liguria: Cinque Terre

Liguria is a beautiful coastal area with picturesque fishing villages. The bustling town of Lerici is a small resort located in a small harbor, with a castle "Castello San Giorgio", located on a cliff overlooking the city. It allows an incredible view over the entire peninsula with picturesque Portovenere, islands in the Gulf and the city of La Spezia.

From Lerici we will leave by both for Cinque Terre to the first village Riomaggiore, with its colorful houses of typical Ligurian style and small picturesque streets. We will discover the most famous path of Cinque Terre "via del'Amore" (path of love) with a march at the foot of the cliff, where you can admire the magnificent scenery with sea view, listen to waves crashing on the rocks and breathe the salt air.

After 20 to 30 min. of walking we will reach the next village, Manarola, which is located on a cliff with houses grouped in a mosaic of colors. Village of Manarola is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Then we will stop in Monterosso, the biggest village with many lemon trees and the only extensive sand beach beach in the Cinque Terre. There will be the light lunch at the local wine farm, where wines are grown on terraces in difficult conditions of access, and we will sample excellent and precious wines Cinque Terre and Sciacchetrà. Finally, we will drop in Vernazza, one the truest "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera, without any car traffic.

Dinner with fish menu.

6. DAY
Camaiore and Casoli

Tour of the Roman town Camaiore lying in the foothills of the Apuan Alps. Visit of an old watermill, and a former blacksmith's still active, with a picturesque walk. Cheese tasting at a farm in the hills of Casoli, with country lunch.
After the lunch visit of a producer of handmade chocolate, discovery and tastings of different kinds of chocolate from different corners of the world.
Afternoon some hour of free time.
From 6 pm the 2nd cookery course with menu specialties, followed by a tasting dinner (2.5 hours).

7. DAY
Departure

Free time in the morning (beach, shopping ou relax at the swimming pool of the Country House).
Departure for Pisa airport at 2 pm.

The price of the stay includes

- 6 nights with breakfast
- Half board (dinner)
- 6 tastings of wines, olive oils and other specialties
- 2 Tuscan cooking courses and recipes
- Transportation in a vehicle for 6 persons
- Assistance, accompaniment.

The price does not include

the flight to Pisa. With Ryanair London-Pisa from 40 € roundtrip, Paris-Pisa with Easyjet 60 € roundtrip.

Tarif rates
per person based on double room

Low season 3.1.-21.3.et 1.11.-31.12.: from 930 Euro vat
Mid Season 21.3-13.6. and 12.9-31.10: from 960 Euro vat
High season 13.6.-12.9. : from 1020 Euro vat

For each additional day off in the Country house in Viareggio area, price per person:
Low season 45 Euro
Mid season 50 Euro
High season 60 Euro