Accommodation

You will be staying in Villa Miranda. Located in the scenic hills of the Chianti Classico region, among age-old vines and lush green olive trees, this beautiful property is just a few miles from major towns and villages in Tuscany.

In a fully renovated farmhouse dating back to the 1500s, you will find comfortable and spacious bedrooms that are sure to offer all the comforts of home.

The breakfast room, which features traditional exposed chestnut wood beams, looks on to the property’s garden, an idyllic relaxing hideaway with a barbecue and beautiful hill views. Nestled among the surrounding nature, the swimming pool offers privacy and fun.

Villa Miranda is a tasteful family setting and it is an ideal base for trips and excursions around the surrounding areas and to cities of art such as Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti, Panzano and more.

Program

Please note that the tour begins in the morning of May 1st, therefore, participants should arrive on April 30th. Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures will pick you up from your hotel to begin the tour.

Day 1: The experience begins! Arrival in Chianti, bread and pizza workshop

Benvenuti in Toscana! There will be a group pick up in Florence for transfer to the beautiful Chianti region, checking in at the beautiful villa, which has been reserved just for us. In the afternoon, you will participate in a delicious and fun bread-making culinary workshop with Beppe at the farmhouse, learning the art of making delicious bread, focaccia, and pizza.

Beppe “Il Panaio,” is a trusted baker and bread expert. Together, you will learn about different kinds of flours and the characteristics of the ancient grains. You will then enjoy a bread-making demonstration, where you will get to see how delicious bread, pizza, and focaccia are made.

A welcome culinary feast served at the farmhouse for dinner, if you still have room!

Day 2: Four-course cooking lesson with a Slow-Food chef + discover Montefioralle + organic family-run winery with sunset aperitivo

You will spend a delicious morning experiencing a hands-on cooking class with Stefania, a Slow Food Movement Tuscan chef based in the Chianti Classico area. Stefania’s cooking lessons are fun, educational and interesting. She uses only the freshest and best ingredients and she is a member of the Slow Food Movement.

The hands-on cooking lesson will guide you through the preparation of an entire meal from antipasto to dolce, and ends up on an elegantly decorated table, enjoying the lovely meal you have just created.

After lunch, you will enjoy a relaxing walk in charming Montefioralle, awarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, with time for relaxation and to enjoy the stunning views.

On the way back to the farmhouse, you will stop at a beautiful family-owned organic winery. Enjoy a guided tour through the vineyards and the cellar with tasting of products. Your hosts will be welcoming you into their vineyards, where you will see an organic and passionate approach to wine and farming.

In the evening, you will enjoy a visit to the stunning Badia a Passignano abbey, a Middle Age monastery still belonging to the monks. Enjoy a sunset aperitivo in a lovely wine bar with stunning views over the green rolling hills!

Day 3: Cashmere + “Under the Tuscan Sun” lunch experience + Siena

Your day begins with a visit to a unique Cashmere goat farm in Chianti, where you will learn everything you wanted to know about cashmere! Learn about the habits of cashmere goats, their names, how they are raised, how their lovely fiber is harvested, and how it is processed into a finished garment.

For those who love animals and incredibly soft and pure cashmere, this is going to be an amazing experience. You will have a guided tour of the farm, followed by a perfect lunch experience.

After lunch, you will head to the stunning town of Siena, where you’ll enjoy a real espresso in the stunning Piazza del Campo and taste the “Senesi,” a delicious traditional sweet of this town. You will also have the possibility of admiring the majestic beauty of the Duomo and to learn interesting stories about the famous Palio, a tradition from Siena that goes back to the Middle Ages.

A delicious dinner will be enjoyed at the farmhouse.

Day 4: Day trip to Firenze + pizza party at the farmhouse

In the morning, you will head towards Florence, where a licensed art historian will guide you through the most beautiful piazzes and other spots of Florence. You will also enjoy a visit to the Accademia where the stunning David is housed.

After a casual lunch in Florence, you will enjoy the early afternoon at your leisure in the city to shop for souvenirs or just people-watch, and enjoy Italy's "Il Dolce Far Niente," literally, the sweetness of doing nothing!

In the evening, you will experience a gastronomic pizza party back at the farmhouse and enjoy pizzas will all local ingredients such as:

Aperitivo with prosecco and Tuscan focaccia
Pizza margherita with tomato sauce, mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil
Pizza with fresh tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, raw ham
Pizza with ham, mushrooms, sausages, and onions
Lemon and vodka sorbet
Sweet pizza with fresh fruits and chocolate

Day 5: Artisanal pasta workshop, visit organic winery in Lamole, Terracotta from Impruneta + olive oil experience

Spaghetti, tagliatelle, penne e pappardelle! Oh my! Did you ever wonder how and where artisanal pasta is made? This is the right occasion to live an authentic experience, having the chance to visit an artisanal pasta workshop in Chianti. You will first visit the workshop, learning the difference between dry and fresh pasta, and in how artisanal pasta is different from the industrial one.

After, you will visit a family-owned wine producer in Lamole, just above Greve, who produces an excellent Chianti Classico. They have a lovely family-run restaurant with a stunning panoramic view and delicious food. After lunch, you will enjoy a perfect “siesta” at the villa, with time to rest and to enjoy the beautiful pool.

In the afternoon, you will head towards the lovely village of Impruneta, where you will visit a fascinating terracotta workshop, seeing how artisans shape beautiful jars and pots.

You will end your day with an evening visit to a unique olive farm run by Janet, Stefano, and Livia, a wonderful family who has always been committed to producing and sharing the culture of excellent extra virgin olive oil. Learn all about the olive oil production.

You will then move to the kitchen, experiencing an unforgettable dinner experience focused on the culture of olive oil and the importance of gathering and cooking together. Being at Janet and Stefano’s table is like entering another world, a truly memorable couple that is sure to leave an impression.

Day 6: Pecorino cheese producer in Pienza + Brunello di Montalcino

You will begin your day with a relaxing walk in the beautiful village of Pienza, a marvelous village protected by the UNESCO world heritage sites. You will then visit an awarded organic pecorino cheesemaker near Pienza, enjoying a guided tour of his fascinating farm and learning everything you wanted to know about 100% Tuscan Pecorino!

After lunch, you will visit a beautiful and family-owned Brunello di Montalcino winery, enjoying a guided tour of the cellar followed by a Brunello wine tasting under their panoramic pergola.

For dinner tonight, you head back to the villa for a delicious meal of the Tuscan specialty, bistecca alla Fiorentina!

Day 7: Truffle experience + discover San Gimignano and its treasures

Your journey will begin with a unique truffle hunting experience in the forest with trained dogs and with an experienced local truffle hunter, who will tell you interesting legends and curiosities about this precious gift of nature. The experience will start in the fields and will end up in the kitchen, understanding all the secrets and best culinary recipes with fresh truffles.

After lunch, you will enjoy a relaxing walk in the medieval village of San Gimignano. This magical location is famously known for its array of medieval towers that can be seen from miles away. You will enjoy a stroll through the traditional shops and streets, and you will also visit an interesting silversmith workshop there, where Matteo, a young and talented silversmith, will show you how he transforms shapeless silver in marvelous objects.

A farewell dinner will be enjoyed at Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures' favorite trattoria in Chianti, enjoying the BEST homemade pasta you've ever had!

Day 8: Check-out and return to Florence

After breakfast at the villa, you say good-byes and reflect on the beautiful week you just experienced. Group airport transportation will be provided.

Instructors

Francesca Montillo

Francesca was born and partly raised in a small town in Southern Italy and lived there for most of her younger years. Her parents and her birth country really helped her appreciate its food and culture. Today, she teaches cooking at several local adult education centers in the Boston area as well as private classes in clients homes or her own. She also leads, plans, and organizes culinary tours to Italy. On the tours you get to participate in regional cooking classes, walking culinary tours, wine tastings, and cultural excursions.

Location

This culinary holiday takes place in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy.

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Food

This is an all-inclusive week. All meals, private transportation, entrance fees, tours, excursions, cooking classes, winery visits, and local wine with every meal are included.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Alcoholic beverages

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

All meals, private transportation, entrance fees, tours, excursions, cooking classes, winery visits and local wine with every meal are included
Pizza, focaccia, and bread workshop
4-course cooking lesson in Greve with Slow-Food movement chef
Visit a family-run organic winery with tastings of local products
Sunset aperitivo in Badia a Passignano
Visit a cashmere goat farm
Visit Siena and tasting of local sweets
Daytrip to Florence for the day with a visit to Accademia
Pizza party back at the villa
Artisanal pasta workshop
Winery visit in Greve with tasting and lunch
Terracotta workshop visit in Impruneta
Cooking and olive oil lesson with Janet & Stefano
Visit Pienza for lesson on pecorini cheese-making
Visit Brunello di Montalcino winery
Bistecca dinner
Truffle-hunting experience with truffle-themed lunch following the hunt
Tour of San Gimignano with a visit to silversmith workshop
Farewell dinner in a local trattoria with freshly made pasta
Group transfer from Florence to the villa on day 1, group airport transfer from villa to airport on last day

What's not included

Airfare / flights
Personal purchases of any sort
Travel insurance: Travel insurance is HIGHLY recommended in order to protect your investment

How to get there

Recommended Airports

FLR

Florence Airport, Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci Airport)

38 km

Transfer included

Airport: Florence Airport, Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci Airport) Airport transfer included: Florence Airport, Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci Airport) No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 24% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.