Just as there is a special art to preparing Italian dishes, there is also an art to serving and consuming this world-class cuisine. Unlike faster paced societies of the world, meal time in Italy is a time to kick back and relax. The average Italian meal is three hours long in which friends and extended family members consume 10 courses or more. When traveling through Italy on a cooking vacation, indulge yourself in the Italian lifestyle as you discover their passion for food and wine, learning both the art of preparation and the art of consumption. Take in regional techniques, ingredients, and family recipes that have been passed down over the centuries. Choose one of our Pre-Packaged Vacations to Italy below.
Culinary Excursion Through the Hills of Umbria
Many regard the cuisine of Umbria to be the best in Italy. A mixture of prized olive groves, pastureland with nut-fed black pigs, vineyards, lakes and medieval hamlets result in a region full of rich cooking traditions. Professional chef’s lead four hands-on cooking classes, from your private hill-top castle-like sanctuary that offers a complete resort style experience. Foodie tours showcase the best of the area.
Tastes of Perugia, Florence and Assisi Culinary Vacation
Come to Perugia, the petite capital city of Umbria and discover the true lifestyle and foods of the Italian countryside. From the moment you arrive, you’ll become a part of the family and experience the abundant hospitality in this 15th century Palazzo. Enjoy culinary classes, foodie tours filled with wine, chocolate and olive oil tastings as well as visits to Florence, Assisi, Deruta and Perugia.
A Taste of Puglia Culinary Adventure by the Sea
In a week experiencing the Southern Comfort of Pulgia, you will have a seen firsthand the historic villages of Salento with your personal guide, felt the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean, learned rich culinary secrets from a professionally trained chef in an abundance of cooking classes, and tasted the extraordinary wines, olive oils and cuisine. Your memories will follow you home as well as the great new techniques you’ve learned to impress your family and friends.
Culinary Adventures Into The Italian Countryside
Come enjoy a rustic unchartered territory that is rich in tradition and best known for its simple, savory and hearty Italian dishes. The “Cuoca Ciociara” makes mouthwatering specialties such as Zuppa di Pane, Sagne e Fagioli, Fettucine con sugo di coniglio, Gnocchi con spuntature di maiale, Salsiccia patate e peperoni con pane Casereccio e Ciambelle di vino only to name a few.
Old Abruzzi & The Adriatic Culinary Holiday
During this cooking holiday you will have the opportunity to learn the recipes of traditional Italian and Abruzzese cuisine, from homemade pasta and gnocchi to desserts and other culinary delights. You will visit local markets, a winery, cheese factory, bell foundry, olive mill, trabocchi an historic abbey and medieval villages.
A Taste of Abruzzo Culinary Vacation
You will spend your week exploring the historic villages of Abruzzo, witnessing the creation of organic products at the hands of local artisans, immerse yourself in the art of cooking with professional chefs, and taste the hypnotic flavors of Abruzzese cuisine. This tour is designed as a full-immersion culinary adventure that is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.
A Taste of Rome City of Fountains and Culinary Delights
Rome is magnificent and overwhelming with timeless magic and a great place to visit any time of year. Walking though vineyards and olive groves, tastings their abundance brings to life the great culinary traditions of the Roman kitchen. This week you will explore the full range of food, culture and cuisine. Through cooking classes in unique settings, all run by accomplished chefs, you will bring these traditions home.
A Truffle Hunt in Tuscany - Epicurean Quests in Chianti
This fabulous adventure in the Chianti region of Tuscany combines hands-on cooking with multiple wine tours and in-depth educational tastings. Hunt for truffles in ancient villages, tour the birthplace of Amerigo Vespusci, and feast on the flavors that have labeled Tuscany a world-class foodie’s paradise. In a word – Perfecto!
Amalfi Coast Cooking & Pastry Adventure with Michelin Star Restaurant Chef
How many times have you spent a week with a Michelin Star Chef? On this tour you'll be eating foods that have been hand-picked from an organic garden just minutes before, reveling an entirely new dimension of how real food tastes. Chef Giuseppe will lead you in using only local produce, meats and cheeses in all six cooking classes. He will heighten your taste buds and elevate your skill level. Daily foodie tours and sightseeing will capture your heart on the Amalfi Coast.
Blending Culture, Cuisine and Cooking in Sardinia
Surrounded by deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Sardinia is attractive to beach lovers while its incomparable cooking style makes Sardinia the perfect destination for culinary enthusiasts, who discover a cuisine that revolves around the freshest of ingredients simply prepared.
On the Menu: Bologna, Florence and Venice
Even in Italy, where food and wine is all about love and life, Bologna gets the highest of praise and is known as the “Culinary Capitol of Italy”. Combine Bologna, Venice and Florence without having to change hotels for a mixture that creates the best of culinary and cultural experiences. Cooking classes, historical and foodie tours with tastings galore, guided by a professional chef will ensure that you don’t miss any opportunity for a food-tastic experience.
