7 Days Puglian Culinary Vacations in Italy

The Masseria sits on top of a hill overlooking a valley that used to be a lake and is now filled with local flora and fauna. In the front there is an enclosed large yard with colorful plants and flowers within high drystone walls giving a welcoming feeling of intimacy and protection. On the side garden there is a rural chapel with 17th-century frescos, deemed to be Saint Antonio hermitage. Behind the main structure is a wide green lawn and a lovely swimming pool reserved for room guests only.

The tower has been recognized for its historic architectural significance and is protected by the Italian Artistic and Cultural Society. In the stone courtyard, along the drystone wall that encloses the site is the pigeon-house, a charming medieval cylindrical drystone structure which was used for housing the homing pigeons. Constructed and renovated entirely with local stone, the property has retained its medieval charm and is a rare find in Puglia. The tower sits on top of a hill with a 360 degrees breathtaking view of Mediterranean vegetation protected by the World Wildlife Fund.

There are ten rooms in the main farmhouse building, located on either the second or third floor, reached by stairs. The rooms are comprised of a variety of layouts, sleeping either two, three, or four guests. Each room is named after a sign of the zodiac. All rooms are very comfortable, providing tranquility and repose in a refined and welcoming environment. The farmhouse also has two junior suites which are 1-bedroom lofts with a kitchen, as well as two 2-bedroom apartments in the 14th century tower called La Torre del Brigante.

Farmhouse accommodation Puglia (main building)

The second floor has three spacious, light-filled rooms, with balcony. These were the family bedrooms when the house was the private residence of the current owner and they still have the floors and antiques dating back to the 19th century. Amenities: wi-fi, heating, tv, telephone, mini-fridge, ceiling fan, security box, hair dryer.

The other seven rooms are located in the charming renovated attic on the third floor, with windows overlooking the surrounding countryside or landscaped grounds, and decorated in the Provencal style. Amenities: Wi-Fi, heating/air conditioning, TV, telephone, mini-fridge, ceiling fan, security box, hair dryer. Included for guests staying in the main building is a fresh breakfast buffet provided on the first (ground) floor.

Junior suite

There are also two loft style apartments attached to the main building in what was previously the stable. Each apartment has a living area, equipped kitchenette, double bedroom, full bathroom and loft, as well as individual outdoor patio areas with table and chairs. Guests of these suites have access to all of the common areas on the property including the swimming pool.

The tower apartments

Two hundred meters from the main building is the La Torre del Brigante (The Bandits Tower), a historic 14th century tower that has been renovated with rigorous respect to the original architecture and after an intense renovation done stone by stone, two independent 2-bedroom apartments have been created. Comprised of three rooms each, these air-conditioned apartments have a master bedroom, a bedroom with 2 single beds, living/dining area with equipped kitchenette and full bathroom.

The ground floor apartment has an outdoor shaded patio area with table and chairs. The upstairs apartment, accessed by and outdoor area. An external stone staircase, has a rooftop terrace with a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside with the walls of the castle of Conversano in the distance. Guests of La Torre have access to all of the common areas on the property including the swimming pool. Please note that, for both junior suite and tower apartments guests the breakfast buffet is not included. Cleaning and linen change is provided weekly. Should additional cleaning be requested it is 25 EUR per day. The kitchen area is the responsibility of the guests.

Overview

At the Italian Cooking Class, together, you will make a wide range of Mediterranean appetizers and typical Apulian including stuffed meatballs, rolls, tomatoes under oil, bruschetta, pancakes with sauces and plenty of others. In this Italian cookery course, you will prepare different types of fresh pasta like cavatelli, orecchiette in the authentic way with typical sauces. You will acquire a knowledge of how to make pizza and focaccia barese with different stone ground flour.

During your cooking holiday in Italy, you will become competent in many other dishes made with vegetables and Mediterranean spices. All participants of the Italian cooking classes will receive a cookbook including recipes of all the dishes made during your stay, an exclusive apron and a certificate on completion of the Italian cooking course. There are many festival during the year (wine, cherry, beer, fish, baccala fish, etc.) most from May to November.

Day 1, Saturday - Arrival

• Arrival
• Check in and get accommodated

Day 2, Sunday - Starters, fresh pasta like orecchiette, and tagliatelle

• Visit the farmhouse
• Walk through the fields of almonds, cherries and olives
• Visit the historical center of Conversano

Day 3, Monday - Pizza and focaccia barese

• Taste the famous biological ice cream
• Visit the historical village of Polignano a Mare

Day 4, Tuesday - Panzerotti and frittelle

• Visit the wine museum at Alberobello
• Visit the center and the famous trulli of Alberobello

Day 5, Wednesday - Fresh marmalade, cakes, and biscuits

• Visit the fish market
• Visit the historical center of Mola di Bari

Day 6, Thursday - Second dishes like filled melanzane, vegetables cake

• Visit to an olive mill and artisan dairy (from October to January)
• Visit the caves of Castellana Grotte

Day 7, Friday - Departure

• Check out
• Departure

Visit a typical farmhouse (Masseria)

Walk or go with bicycle through the fields of almonds, cherries and olives. The farmhouse is surrounded by nature, you can go also by your own to explore around the farmhouse the beautiful landscapes.

Visit artisan dairy

Fresh scamorza, mozzarella, stracciatella, cottage cheese, primosale, yogurt, cream and much more!

Visit to an olive old mill

In addition to its own olive grove, olives are processed exclusively in the territory of Conversano, favoring quality over quantity. Il Frantoio oil markets in addition to its local products such as pickles, bagels (products under its own extra virgin), jams, vegetables, dried fruit and pasta. Visitors to the mill, during the time of pressing, can watch the production and taste the oil newborn accompanied by the products of the Dispensation of Aunt Mary. You will discover the production process as olives storage-grinding-removal of leaves-washing-mixing-extraction of oily-separation of oil-storage and bottle-filling.

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  Lucrezia

  Lucrezia is a very dynamic woman who follows her passion for food and culinary arts. In her kitchen she only uses seasonal, authentic ingredients, and the highest quality products the market has to offer.

This retreat will take place in a picturesque town near Apulia region in Italy, a region in southern Italy, known for its sunny weather, whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland, and hundreds of miles of Mediterranean coastline. The surroundings are home to unique stone huts with conical roofs.

Nearby places

• Conversano village, 3 kilometers

Meals are prepared using primarily Montepaolo produce, olive oil, fruit, vegetables and spices as per the Mediterranean diet and seasonal availability. Only local, traditional Puglia recipes are used, customized by the owners own creativity. For breakfast you can enjoy homemade jam, cookies, pies, and fresh fruit from the grounds and harvested the same morning, traditional Italian coffee, cappuccino, tea, yogurt, juice, toast, cereal and croissants. All participants of Italian cooking classes will receive a cookbook including recipes of all the dishes made during their stay, an exclusive apron and a certificate on completion of the Italian cooking course.

It is nice to take walks or bike rides on the surrounding countryside paths and roads, with a view of fruit trees, especially almond trees, olive trees and cherry trees.

Two hundred meters from the main structure is the Bandits Tower, a 14th-century stone tower rising out of the typical Mediterranean vegetation.

• 5 Italian cooking classes
• 6 nights accommodation
• Apron
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Certificate
• Cookbook with all the recipes made during the stay
• Culinary tour
• Excursions to historical towns/villages
• Optional daily morning Hatha yoga lessons before breakfast from Sunday to Friday
• Roundtrip airport transfers