Cooking holiday in Italy
| country: | Italy |
| departures: | 2009: 21 Nov, 12 Dec |
| price: | From €1200 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes accommodation, cookery lessons, excursions, all meals, wine, hiking with local guide. Airport transfers can be arranged on request. Kids below 9 free, 9-16 half price - No single supplement |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 5 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Claudio and Assuntina welcome you to their home and their country on this cooking holiday in Italy. The location is a stunning restoration of a Sixteenth century stone farmhouse, which is set amidst its own set olive grove in the rolling hills of the Tolfa Mountains just outside the small town of Tolfa, north of Rome and only a short drive away from the port of Civitavecchia.
Where we are: Monti della Tolfa, a vast estate north of Rome, is very much “off the beaten track” with an atmosphere typical of many rural southern Italian hill towns. Monti della Tolfa, offers unusual landscapes in which a rich and unspoiled nature. Life here has remained unchanged, the land still plays an important part in everyday life. Tourism is not developed in this area. Indeed the "Monti della Tolfa" is one of the few remaining areas in Southern Europe where wolves, wild boars, foxes, wild horses and wild cows are found roaming. This area is rich in Etruscan sites too! In recent years there have been many important discoveries made. Visit the impressive necropolis where the spirit of the Etruscan civilization lives on
The cookery programmes on this cooking holiday in Italy offer the unique opportunity to experience Italy through its cuisine, in an authentic Italian home setting, where time at the table is sacred and food is celebrated. Your teachers during your stay are Giulia and Matilde who teach traditional Italian family recipes, demonstrating cooking techniques which have been passed down through the generations from mothers and grandmothers. Claudio, expert Sommelier will share with you his knowledge in wines, grappa & olive oil through tastings. Before lunch or dinner he will propose different types of wine from all over Italy. His aim is to make learning about wine fun!
Hiking among Etruscan wild orchids: If you're looking for a unique local Italian experience, we strongly suggest joining Stefano, on an invigorating and educational hike through the Tolfa countryside. Stefano is a knowledgeable guide who will lead you on a moderately strenuous hike, through the historical Etruscan gravesites, along ancient Roman roads and across tranquil rolling hills. You will really enjoy the authentic hilltop barbeque overlooking a beautiful valley below, during which Stefano shares with you many local phrases and stories in the local dialect. We'd highly recommend a sturdy set of hiking boots, strong protective outerwear. The 4-5 hour hike (although shorter, less strenuous walks are possible) is a perfect complement to your week of cooking.
Our cooking holidays: are one-day, long week-end or week-long and it's possible to create your own personalized program combining cooking classes with touring. If you don't want to cook every day, we will help you with any information to discover this unspoilt and unknown area. There are plenty of places for hiking, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, archaeology, horse riding, bird watching, walking, hiking. We can organise guides to Rome, Viterbo, Orvieto and Assisi as well activities upon request.
The classes are small, informal and taught in our own kitchen. The produce used is picked fresh from our garden and the organic extra virgin olive oil is our own. Vegetarian cooking courses and programs suitable for children can also be arranged . For those of you wanting to practice your Italian, the classes are taught in Italian and are translated into English! We may take you on walks in the surrounding countryside to pick and learn about wild mushrooms and salads herbs, according to the season. October to December sees the olive harvest, wild mushrooms and chestnuts. Rome is one hour's drive away, or 50 minutes from Fiumicino airport and transfers can be arranged to/from Rome airport or Civitavecchia train station or port.
Cookery classes for children: "Healthy Cooking Classes for Kids" for children accompanied by an adult. The program includes a day in Rome, a trip to discover the ancient Etruscans people at Tarquinia, hands-on cookery classes – including making pizza too! In the countryside we can organise riding lessons and wonderful walking or biking.
Please note: Other dates are available upon request and special price for groups.
Where we are: Monti della Tolfa, a vast estate north of Rome, is very much “off the beaten track” with an atmosphere typical of many rural southern Italian hill towns. Monti della Tolfa, offers unusual landscapes in which a rich and unspoiled nature. Life here has remained unchanged, the land still plays an important part in everyday life. Tourism is not developed in this area. Indeed the "Monti della Tolfa" is one of the few remaining areas in Southern Europe where wolves, wild boars, foxes, wild horses and wild cows are found roaming. This area is rich in Etruscan sites too! In recent years there have been many important discoveries made. Visit the impressive necropolis where the spirit of the Etruscan civilization lives on The cookery programmes on this cooking holiday in Italy offer the unique opportunity to experience Italy through its cuisine, in an authentic Italian home setting, where time at the table is sacred and food is celebrated. Your teachers during your stay are Giulia and Matilde who teach traditional Italian family recipes, demonstrating cooking techniques which have been passed down through the generations from mothers and grandmothers. Claudio, expert Sommelier will share with you his knowledge in wines, grappa & olive oil through tastings. Before lunch or dinner he will propose different types of wine from all over Italy. His aim is to make learning about wine fun!
Hiking among Etruscan wild orchids: If you're looking for a unique local Italian experience, we strongly suggest joining Stefano, on an invigorating and educational hike through the Tolfa countryside. Stefano is a knowledgeable guide who will lead you on a moderately strenuous hike, through the historical Etruscan gravesites, along ancient Roman roads and across tranquil rolling hills. You will really enjoy the authentic hilltop barbeque overlooking a beautiful valley below, during which Stefano shares with you many local phrases and stories in the local dialect. We'd highly recommend a sturdy set of hiking boots, strong protective outerwear. The 4-5 hour hike (although shorter, less strenuous walks are possible) is a perfect complement to your week of cooking.
Our cooking holidays: are one-day, long week-end or week-long and it's possible to create your own personalized program combining cooking classes with touring. If you don't want to cook every day, we will help you with any information to discover this unspoilt and unknown area. There are plenty of places for hiking, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, archaeology, horse riding, bird watching, walking, hiking. We can organise guides to Rome, Viterbo, Orvieto and Assisi as well activities upon request.
The classes are small, informal and taught in our own kitchen. The produce used is picked fresh from our garden and the organic extra virgin olive oil is our own. Vegetarian cooking courses and programs suitable for children can also be arranged . For those of you wanting to practice your Italian, the classes are taught in Italian and are translated into English! We may take you on walks in the surrounding countryside to pick and learn about wild mushrooms and salads herbs, according to the season. October to December sees the olive harvest, wild mushrooms and chestnuts. Rome is one hour's drive away, or 50 minutes from Fiumicino airport and transfers can be arranged to/from Rome airport or Civitavecchia train station or port. Cookery classes for children: "Healthy Cooking Classes for Kids" for children accompanied by an adult. The program includes a day in Rome, a trip to discover the ancient Etruscans people at Tarquinia, hands-on cookery classes – including making pizza too! In the countryside we can organise riding lessons and wonderful walking or biking.
Please note: Other dates are available upon request and special price for groups.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Welcome drinks and candlelit dinner. (we can arrange airport transfers upon request). |
| Day 2: | Morning cookery lesson, lunch, afternoon walk around Tolfa and to the “Castello della Rocca” perched high above the town. From this ruined 12th Century we have one of the best views over the area. Stop for "gelato", dinner. |
| Day 3: | Morning cookery hands on demonstration, lunch, free afternoon or walk to the near Bagnarello. Tutored wine tasting with our Sommelier Claudio, late dinner at the house. |
| Day 4: | Full day walking picnic lunch Late supper at homeLate supper at home. |
| Day 5: | Morning cookery demonstration, lunch at Fontana del Papa, afternoon Tarquinia and visit ancient Etruscan remains. Visit to olive oil producer to taste wonderful olive oil (only during harvest period). NB: during winter the excursion to Tarquinia will be in the morning. Dinner local restaurant. |
| Day 6: | Full day walking or full day in Rome on your own by train. (we provide to transfer you to Civitavecchia train station) Late supper at home. |
| Day 7: | Morning visit to our weekly local market, cooking class lunch. Afternoon pizza making! Farewell dinner. |
| Day 8: | Breakfast - departure. |
travellers' tales
The setting is magical, with the beautiful farmhouse set in the middle of the family’s land and olive groves. The cookery lessons were great - informal tuition with Anna, a local lady and amazing cook. You cannot beat making ravioli for lunch using local ingredients. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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In a friendly, relaxed family atmosphere, we welcome small numbers of guests into our home and into our kitchen for authentic cooking holidays in Italy. Our aim is to offer guests an unforgettable holiday experience while learning through informal, informative classes, the art of Italian cooking, at the same time preserving a heritage rich in flavors and in tradition.
Our olive oil is certified BIOLOGICO (organic) by Suolo & Salute (Association for the Organic Agriculture). We promote pure food that is local, seasonal and organically grown.  We operate in a way that increases the positive impacts and decreases the negative ones on the local community and the environment. We support the local community economically by bringing our groups to rural areas in Italy. We promote our country, off the beaten track, through cookery courses & activity holidays in order to preserve our heritage and traditions. We offer regional cooking, mainly vegetarian, using recipes and techniques passed down over the generations.We offer small classes and hands-on cookery & activity holidays, living with us, lodging in our just restored "casa in campagna." Local women teach our classes and enjoy sharing their culture and traditions. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |