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Gourmet Culinary Vacations - for food and wine lovers

Italy

At Villa Castelletti, you will live in top-notch Tuscan styled apartments which are fully equipped with creature comforts - newly designed and renovated, bordering a prestigious wine area with distinct fertile “micro-climat” known as the “Carmignano” to the West and all the glory of Florence just a few miles to the East…. in Northern Tuscany.”!
Florence: The geographical location of Villa Castelletti and its Borgo is particularly happy, as very close to Florence, where million tourists arrive from all over the world, actacted by its artistic jewels; at the same time it is surrounded by the wonderful Tuscan countryside, famous for wine and olive-oil.

WHERE YOU WILL STAY: The Estate of Villa Castelletti is located outside the hills West of Florence, just North of the Arno river, along the Lucchese plain – literally between Florence and Lucca (The historic heart of Florence is about 9 miles away). The estate grounds are set within an ancient park that is surrounded by forest. The main villa is spectacular, large and beautiful.  It is sometimes used for congresses, conventions, special events and receptions and the entire space within the villa can hold up to 1500 people for special events.  The origins of the villa date to the beginning of the 4th century AD. The oldest nobile landlord was the Strozzi family. Through the centuries the villa passed hands from the Strozzi to the Lapi, then to the Uguccioni, then the Cavalcanti (of whom the poet Guido belonged; he was a companion of Dante), then the Cattani-cavalcanti family.  It was the Cavalcanti family who, in the 18th century, radically expanded the villa’s structure adding 2 outside walls, enlarging the central area, adding a second level and the characteristic top. In the following century, under the guidance of the Count Leopoldo Cattani Cavalcanti, the property became a model agricultural producing estate founding the Istituto Agrario Filantropico (Agricultural Philanthropic Institute). At the end of the 18th century, the Montagliari Counts (of German origin with the name “Mayer”) came to acquire the villa. Today the villa is managed by a historical society that promotes cultural initiatives and special events.

Here is the estate’s noble villa (“Villa Castelletti”) and the Borgo accommodations.               The estate’s restaurant "Tre Corone" offers a delightful and creative selection of The restaurant is run by Elvio and offers a large variety of regional wines.

WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: Accommodations for guests are in a borgo (hamlet) made up of a group of renovated farmhouses, which maintain the original style of an old Tuscan country-house. The renovated apartments are fully independent and equipped with all modern conveniences, as well as a sophisticated electronic system which controls the functioning and safety of air temperature, humidity, locks etc. to guarantee guests a comfortable and secure stay. Specifically, the mini-apartments are made up of a lounge/dining room, split-level bedroom, bathroom, and corner kitchen, and can occupy families of more than 2 persons. There is central heating and air-conditioning, satellite TV and pay TV all of which operate utilizing a “chip card” computerized system.

COOKING The course will be taught by the head chef at the restaurant on the Villa Castelletti Estate, where you will enjoy cooking, wining and dining in a traditional Tuscan ambience. One day during the week, we will spend the day preparing original recipes from the famous ‘Trattoria Garga’ restaurant. With over 20 years of experience, owner and chef Sharon, will take us through the simplicity of recreating traditional Tuscan culinary dishes. Sharon and Mim’s will also take us on a tour of the main Central Markets in Florence where you will learn about the fresh raw ingredients that comprise Tuscan Cuisine. For lunch, we will head back to the magnificent 16th century palazzo, right in the heart of Florence, where we will prepare our meal. You will sample an array of fine wines from the area where you will be based. This area is known as one of the oldest wine zones Carmignano and this DOCG (the highest quality denomination assigned by the Italian governement for authentic wine producing regions, literally “di origine controllata e garantita”  translated as: of controlled and guaranteed origin) blends Cabernet with the Sangiovese grape which produces some of Tuscany’s finest wines. You will also experience the smooth DOC red known as the Rosso delle Colline Lucchesi in Lucca and Tuscany’s only white wine found in the Chianti region, a favourite of the Grand Medici family, known as the Vernaccia of San Gimignano.

WINES

You will sample an array of fine wines from the area where you will be based. This area is known as one of the oldest wine zones Carmignano and this DOCG (the highest quality denomination assigned by the Italian governement for authentic wine producing regions, literally “di origine controllata e garantita” translated as: of controlled and guaranteed origin) blends Cabernet with the Sangiovese grape which produces some of Tuscany’s finest wines. You will also experience the smooth DOC red known as the Rosso delle Colline Lucchesi in Lucca and Tuscany’s only white wine found in the Chianti region, a favourite of the Grand Medici family, known as the Vernaccia of San Gimignano. The best of Carmignano wines will be experienced at one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries of Carmignano known as “Tenuta di Capezzana”. You will be taken on a tour of the winery situated on an estate of over 670 hectares of which consists of 90 hectares of vineyards and 140 hectares of olive groves. You will visit an historical cellar dating back to the 16th century and taste a selection of Capezzana wines. Known as one of the oldest wine cellars as it is the area where numerous vases and wine pitchers have been found, amoung Etruscan remains proving wines were already being grown in this area about 3000 years ago!.

EXCURSIONS & ITINERARY:  Not only will you be experiencing a fine Tuscan Estate, I will take you to discover the famous towns that you will come to experience from a more native perspective. You will be learning all there is to know about Tuscan cuisine from cooking on the beautiful Castelletti estate (your home for one week!) to cooking in a 16th century palazzo in the centre of Florence!!! Along with cooking fantastic meals I have incorporated a number of excursions for the week, incorporating the regions cuisine, culture, art and not forgetting to give you time to shop in some of the most exciting towns and cities. We will visit Leonardo di Vinci’s home town , stroll around the best preserved Roman City known as Lucca, become immersed in a cultural experience.

Karen & Alessandro work at Villa Castelletti and help me with many aspects of the program. You will feel welcomed and we will make you feel at home and make your stay unforgettable.

One Week Cooking Course Vacation

Sample Itinerary

• DAY 1- Pick-up in Florence and arrival to Villa Castelletti
  Fly to Italy. We will pick you up in Florence and then you will be accompanied by car or van to Villa Castelletti and then welcomed at the Borgo (Hamlet) - your vacation home next to the main Villa. After settling in, Linda will show you around the entire estate which will be your home for one week! You will have time to relax in your lovely apartment before enjoying a welcome drink with the staff at the Borgo. We will dine at the restaurant on the Villa Castelletti estate where  Roberto, your cooking teacher for the week, will prepare your first Tuscan meal at the restaurant (located on the estate) where you will be taking your hands on cooking classes throughout the week.
• DAY 2- A perfect morning in Lucca
  In the morning, after Breakfast either in your apartments or out in the breakfast room, you will take off to beautiful Lucca,  a town  west of  Villa Castelletti. We will take a pleasant tour around the heart of Lucca, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque of all the fortified (medieval wall) towns in Tuscany. After our informative tour, you will have free time to shop, take a walk around it’s 16th century intact walls, visit museums and churches or simply sit in one of the many cafe’s that line this Roman city. You will enjoy a light lunch in one of the many Trattoria’s in Lucca. Cooking course followed by dinner.
• DAY 3- Carmignano Wines to Pisan Cuisine
  This morning you will have breakfast at your own leisure, have time to take a stroll around the estate or simply relax in your comfortable apartments before your cooking class followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we will take a picturesque drive through the Carmignano wine region to the winery known as Tenuta di Capezzana. Here you will enjoy a wine tour of the estate and later try selected wines from Capezzana including the well known Tuscan desert wine called ‘Vino Santo.” Later in the afternoon, we will visit the most famous “leaning tower” town (Pisa) in Italy and there we will try a little Pisan cuisine….  .
• DAY 4- Medieval Towers in the heart of Chianti
  In the morning, you will  take a drive through the Chianti region situated between Florence and Siena where an ancient Roman road will take us to the medieval town known as San Gimignano;  you will discover why San Gimignano is the only remaining medieval town which has been called the “Manhattan of Tuscany” because of its ten (originally there were sixty five) towers! You will have a chance to shop while strolling along the magical windy streets packed with local artisans stores specializing in things such as ceramics , leather goods and wooden crafts. We will stop at a local winery in San Gimignano we will taste the only white wine in the Chianti region known as Vernaccia, taste local delicacies and if the weekly market is open you will be in for a gastronomic suprise!  Cooking course followed by dinner at Villa Castelletti.
   
• DAY 5 – A Florentine Treat with our friends Sharon and Mim’s
  On this special day, we will meet up with Sharon, who is a restaurant owner and Chef of the famous Trattoria Garga, and her delightful partner Mims at the main central market in Florence. Sharon and Mims will take us on a gastronomic tour teaching us about the main raw ingredients of Tuscan Cuisine in preparation for the evening cooking course.  After this eye-opening outdoor market tour, you will have free time to shop and discover the historical treasures of Florence. For example, you could go visit the Uffizi and the main cathedral (Il Duomo). Later in the aftenoon, we will meet back with Mims and Sharon at the 16th century palazzo (located in the heart of Florence not far from the Ponte Vecchio) opposite Trattoria Garga where you will enjoy a hands on cooking extravaganza (cooking course followed by meal)!
• DAY 6- Leonardo Da Vinci in the morning, Gala dinner in the evening !!!
  This morning we will head out (West of Villa Castelletti) to discover the quaint town of Vinci - home of the great genius Leornardo Da Vinci.! We will make our way through the area of Montalbano where we will stop at an olive oil farm and have a very informative olive oil tasting. The rest of the day will be spent on “our” noble estate at Villa Castelletti, where we will all be very busy preparing for our fabulous farewell gala dinner! When available, we will be having this gala dinner in the Main Villa.

• DAY 7- Farewell Villa Castelletti and friends
  After Breakfast and good-byes, you will be taken to the airport or the train station in Florence in time for your departure or  Florentine hotel check-in, if you will be spending additional time in Florence.

1/2 week Cooking course vacation

Sample Itinerary

• DAY 1- Pick-up in Florence and arrival to Villa Castelletti
  Fly to Italy. We will pick you up in Florence and then you will be accompanied by car or van to Villa Castelletti and then welcomed at the Borgo (Hamlet) - your vacation home next to the main Villa. After settling in, Linda will show you around the entire estate which will be your home for one week! You will have time to relax in your lovely apartment before enjoying a welcome drink with the staff at the Borgo. We will dine at the restaurant on the Villa Castelletti estate where  Roberto, your cooking teacher for the week, will prepare your first Tuscan meal at the restaurant (located on the estate) where you will be taking your hands on cooking classes throughout the week.
• DAY 2- A perfect morning in Lucca
  In the morning, after Breakfast either in your apartments or out in the breakfast room, you will take off to beautiful Lucca,  a town  west of  Villa Castelletti. We will take a pleasant tour around the heart of Lucca, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque of all the fortified (medieval wall) towns in Tuscany. After our informative tour, you will have free time to shop, take a walk around it’s 16th century intact walls, visit museums and churches or simply sit in one of the many cafe’s that line this Roman city. You will enjoy a light lunch in one of the many Trattoria’s in Lucca. Cooking course followed by dinner.
• DAY 3- Carmignano Wines to Pisan Cuisine
  This morning you will have breakfast at your own leisure, have time to take a stroll around the estate or simply relax in your comfortable apartments before your cooking class followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we will take a picturesque drive through the Carmignano wine region to the winery known as Tenuta di Capezzana. Here you will enjoy a wine tour of the estate and later try selected wines from Capezzana including the well known Tuscan desert wine called ‘Vino Santo.” Later in the afternoon, we will visit the most famous “leaning tower” town (Pisa) in Italy and there we will try a little Pisan cuisine….  .
• DAY 4- Medieval Towers in the heart of Chianti
  In the morning, you will  take a drive through the Chianti region situated between Florence and Siena where an ancient Roman road will take us to the medieval town known as San Gimignano;  you will discover why San Gimignano is the only remaining medieval town which has been called the “Manhattan of Tuscany” because of its ten (originally there were sixty five) towers! You will have a chance to shop while strolling along the magical windy streets packed with local artisans stores specializing in things such as ceramics , leather goods and wooden crafts. We will stop at a local winery in San Gimignano we will taste the only white wine in the Chianti region known as Vernaccia, taste local delicacies and if the weekly market is open you will be in for a gastronomic suprise!  Cooking course followed by dinner at Villa Castelletti.
   

  Prices and dates. Please also inquire about cooking course at Casa Innocenti and Villa Gaia.

From January through November courses will be offered at Villa Castelletti, Casa Innocenti and Villa Gaia during the following weeks.

2005 dates

*Dates are subject to change.

2005 PRICES - air is not included.

*Note: Add $400 for Single Occupancy (for full week) and $200 for half week.

* Note: Our half-week vacations run from Saturday to Tuesday or Sunday to Wednesday.

Please Note: There is some flexibility with regards to dates. Please inquire.
 

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