Rates:

Cost includes:

-Car/Van Transport;

-A pick-up and departure from the Chiusi train station plus transportation to and from all events during the course of the tour is provided.

-Inn Accommodations:
Guests will stay in a cushy country Inn comprised of 9 suites designed by Trisha Guild, a famous British interior designer and will be provided continental breakfast and discount to the local hot thermal spa located in the same town. Single supplement is offered at an additional cost of $58 a night. We will try to accommodate guests who would prefer a roommate.

SAMPLE

DAY 1: We meet and provide you your transfer from the Chiusi train station to your hotel. Chiusi is the major station between Rome and Florence and all trains stop from Rome, Florence and Milan. We will agree on a designated time of arrival.
After you have had time to acquaint yourselves with your hotel and it’s surroundings, we pick you up and take you to your welcome dinner prepared by your hostess and chef Sharon at Santa Margherita, the nearby farmhouse where we will be conducting the cooking classes. After dinner you will be escorted back to your hotel.

DAY 2: We visit a vineyard for a wine tasting. A light lunch will be provided with the tasting. Late afternoon we return to Santa Margherita to begin our first class preparing dinner. After dinner you will be escorted back to your hotel.

DAY 3: Making pizza in a wood oven is an art! This morning we assemble our ingredients and prepare the focaccia dough for a late lunch, the focaccia of your choice. After your meal you will be escorted back to your hotel. This is an early evening so you have some time to consider the spa or just relax in your suite.

DAY 4: This mornings activity is a tour of the prehistoric caves where Saint Francis was known to have prayed and where later, in the 14th Century was built a Franciscan Church. Continuing on we will hike into the nearby town where a private garden lunch will be provided. After lunch we will be return to Santa Margherita. to once again prepare our dinner. After dinner you will be escorted back to your hotel.

DAY 5: Today is an outing! We travel through the lunar landscape of the Val D’Orcia (Valley of the Orcia River) to a sheep farm where they produce pecorino cheese. The word for sheep in Italian is “pecora”, thus “pecorino” is the name of the cheese. After the tasting and lunch we will stop on our way home for an aperitivo in a classic renaissance hill town. This evening is a free night therefore we offer you suggestions where to dine or you can pick up some local products to have with a nice glass of wine and relax this evening in your hotel suite.

DAY 6: We pick you up late morning and return to S. Margherita to prepare lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the gardens of Iris Origo, an Anglo-American writer of the 1920’s-30’s who along with her husband, altered the landscape of the Val D’Orcia. On the way home we stop in the town of Cetona for an aperitivo together before accompanying you to your Inn for the evening.

DAY 7: We do our shopping at the local open market. We offer a light lunch at the farmhouse. Santa Margherita is situated in the countryside on a dirt road surrounded by vineyards and farms. There is a large lawn and a swimming pool. After lunch one can repose by the pool or take a country walk. We begin our last supper preparations in the late afternoon. After dinner you will be escorted back to your hotel.

DAY 8: Your accommodations rate is already paid for however you might have some extras to pay during check-out. We will be there to assist you. We offer you a last cappuccino together before accompanying you to the Chiusi train station.

*itinerary is subject to change due to forces outside of our control, but we would like to confirm that all efforts will be made to keep changes to a minimum and to maintain the standard of quality.

We would be happy to provide you with a reference from past participants of the four or eight day courses.

Sample Menus | Day Classes | Four Day Classes | Eight Day Classes

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