Italy: Authentic Southern Tuscany (trip)
Italy: Authentic Southern Tuscany
- Culinary & Wine Travel
“This trip was fantastic. The cooking classes and the tours of ancient cities, winery and olive mill were truly a… ”
7 Days, from $2,700* per person. June, August-November.
Accommodations: Boutique. Exertion level: 1 (7 is most strenuous)
Overview of Italy: Authentic Southern Tuscany
About the location: This is a magical land, home to the renowned wines of Montalcino and Montepulciano, the delectible pecorino cheeses of Pienza, the exquisite art towns of Siena and San Gimignano. The Sienese Chianti is a landscape of rolling hills of olive groves, brilliant vineyards, vibrant yellow sunflowers, sprinklings of ancient stone farmhouses, and fields of glistening golden wheat, perhaps punctuated by a dramatic lone black cypress. Almost anywhere you are, the horizon is graced by one or more of the area’s triangular landmarks: Montepulciano to the north, Pienza to the west, and the spa town of Chianciano to the south.Just outside town, tucked in a quiet valley with 360 degrees of pure Tuscan vistas, is the gracious estate Palazzo Bandino, which will be your home for a week. The centuries-old farm, which produces very high quality wine and olive oil, is lovingly run by the Valeriani family and is a testament to their love and devotion to their land. The estate includes four double rooms and several apartments, all of which include private ensuite bathroom, air-conditioning, telephone, mini-bar and safe, hair dryer, and comfortable Tuscan furnishings. The Valerianis have recently finished a new covered patio where you can enjoy breakfast, dinner, or a glass of Palazzo Bandino’s excellent wine while overlooking their vineyards and the rolling countryside of Tuscany. The patio also features a wood-burning oven where you can enjoy authentic Italian pizza and Tuscan dishes that require the distinctive flavor that a wood-burning oven provides.
About the lessons: Chef Luciano Benocci will lead the hands on lessons using local ingredients, most of which are grown in the garden or come from the property, creating genuine Tuscan dishes that will be easy to reproduce once you are home. What matters most is the philosophy that goes into each recipe: the culinary tradition is based on simple preparation, swift cooking and very few sauces: the most important element is the balanced blend of tastes and textures to create a delicious dish! As with all of our cooking vacations in Italy, the goal of this Tuscan culinary experience is to share with you the passion for the genuine ingredients, traditions and customs.
Operated by The International Kitchen.
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Locations visited/nearby
Authentic Southern Tuscany , Tuscany , Florence , Food , Wine , Cooking Vacation , Cooking Class , Culinary
2 testimonials about this trip
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Reviewer: Alma Joan K.
This trip was fantastic. The cooking classes and the tours of ancient cities, winery and olive mill were truly a memory that I will keep in my heart. However, Palazzo Bandino, Gabriele, Enrica, Barbara, Anna and Fabio were the most enjoyable and hospitable guides I have ever experienced. Good luck with all your future programs as people only need to hear about this experience to really enjoy the “Tuscan†life! Thank you from my heart!
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Reviewer: Valerie F.
located in
California
USA
First of all, the property itself was amazing. The home was situated in the most beautiful setting, with the grapes and olive trees close by. The inside of the palazzo was so warm and inviting. Our hosts were sincere, friendly, and helpful. Also, the staff was first class, eager to make our stay enjoyable. Our slightest wish was their command. I cannot say enough about the experience, except that I would return in a minute and repeat the entire experience all over again. Our chef, Luciano, was not only an excellent teacher, he loves the United States and was so friendly to the four of us taking the class. His directions were clear and his sense of humor was fantastic. Our efforts were fruitful--everything we made turned out very very well. I expected that my friend and I would have a motel-type room--boy were we surprised to get a full apartment with kitchen, living room, bedroom and bath. All the comforts of home. They even had a washing machine on the property at our disposal. Besides the wonderful foods we prepared and ate from our class, all other meals were the best ever. The Palazzo's regular chef, Katia, is a wonderful cook. We were so full, from meal to meal, that we almost exploded!!!!! Our day trips, in addition to our cooking class, were all to be remembered. We enjoyed each and every city and town, and especially enjoyed our visits to a local pottery shop, the olive oil making establishment and the special winery tour we took. All in all, our trip and time spent at Palazzo Bandino was the highlight of our trip to Italy. If you need any type of recommendation, please do not hesitate to let me know. I wish I could have shared the experience with my husband, family and friends. As I said before, I would go back there again (if I had the $$$$$ to do so.)
2 testimonials about the provider, The International Kitchen:
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Reviewer: Thomas & Christine L.
located in
NC
USA
I'd like to start by saying, this was the best vacation of our lives. The Relais Oasi Olimpia is a five star hotel with a four star rating. Every member of the staff was warm hearted and friendly, and totally dedicated to our needs and well being. The rooms were large and comfortable, especially compared to the so-called four star hotel we stayed at in Rome. Carmen Mazzola the general manager was extremely competent, resourceful, and accommodating. Whenever we made a request, or a scheduling change was necessary due to weather or some other reason, she handled all with speed and good nature, always exclaiming, "It's nothing!" when we thanked her. The cooking lessons with Marco the Chef were just what we had hoped them to be. Nothing too intense, (after all we were on vacation) but informative and easy to execute. I'm happy to say, Christine and I are quite competent now in producing a variety of delectable dishes we would be proud to serve anyone. Our boat tour to Positano was wonderful, our host Antonio piloted the boat to the picturesue little town, and later stopped at a cove where we swam in the Mediterranean and had an expertly prepared lunch. Our favorite tour was of the Mozzarella Factory, I won't say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Suffice to say, don't miss it. Being Italian-American, this vacation awakened feelings in me long hidden. Personality traits that I have are prevalent in Southern Italy. I felt like I was among my own kind at last. I want to go back.
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Reviewer: Katie P
located in
UK
I just wanted to let you know that Chris and I had a wonderful time at Chateau de Berne last week. Mayung took very good care of us as ourhostess, and Jean-Louis is great! And of course the location is absolutely beautiful, as you know. We were made to feel very welcome the whole time we were there. I'm a few months pregnant, and Mayung did a great job of juggling our schedule so that I got some rest when I needed it but we also managed to fit in a lot of activities (including a visit to the market, a winery tour and wine tasting and a visit to a local abbey as well as some shopping on our own).And the cooking lessons were very well done. Chris and I were the only students (and in truth, Chris was the only one really cooking with Jean-Louis -- my job was to take notes and pictures!), so it felt like a one-on-one tutorial. Jean-Louis is a patient teacher and he did a good job of explaining everything he was doing. As the week progressed, Chris took a more and more active role in the food preparation, and the hands-on approach was very educational too. Everyone at Chateau de Berne was warm and friendly, and they really did make us feel very welcome there. This program was Chris's birthday present (his 40th) and I'm very pleased with how well it worked out! Thank you!
Disclaimers
*Travel product and pricing information are the travel provider’s base estimates, published here as a convenience to TravelDragon users without verification by TravelDragon. Your actual price will vary depending upon length of trip, travel dates, number of traveling guests, transportation (e.g. airfare, rail passes, etc.), and optional service features such as room categories or individualized food requirements. This base price estimate may or may not include all necessary fees, taxes, government-imposed surcharges. Be sure to confirm availability, total price and trip details with the travel provider using the contact information provided here.
Max group size: 12
Itinerary
Day 1
* Arrive in Chiusi, a stop on all train routes between Rome and Florence, about one hour from each. Group transfer to Palazzo Bandino at 3 pm.
* Settle into your charming room with modern bathroom.
* In the later afternoon, you’ll meet your host Gabriele and your fellow adventurers to visit Palazzo Bandino’s own wine cellar, where you’ll learn a bit about local wines and see how they are bottled.
* Your introduction to authentic southern Tuscany begins with dinner at Palazzo Bandino.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 2
* Breakfast.
* Excursion to Pienza, the purest Renaissance town in the world. Entirely rebuilt between 1459 and 1462, it was the brainstorm of Pope Pius II and today is memorable not only for its architectural purity but also for its exquisite food shops. You’ll want to stock up on truffle-flavored cheese, wild herbs and other delicacies as you stroll through these pristine 15th-century streets.
* For lunch we will travel to a secret hill town, where we can have a light meal overlooking the entire Val D’Orcia.
* Transfer back to Palazzo Bandino, where Gabriele will tell you about the history of his family and their ancestral estate, Palazzo Bandino.
* Our first hands-on cooking lesson with chef Benocci concentrates on antipasti, such as bruschetta, crostini, fettunta and other types of canapes, as well as morsette, the delicious almond cookies that Tuscans dip into their vin santo dessert wine.
* Dinner based on what you’ve cooked, accompanied by tastings of Chianti, Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino and vin santo.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 3
* Breakfast.
* The rest of the morning is free, perhaps to indulge in a state-of-the-art spa treatment at Chianciano Terme. Try a relaxing facial, a stimulating salt glow, or choose from an array of massages (aromatherapy, Shiatsu, holistic, reflexology or Reiki). You will have a chance to learn about all the treatments and to make your reservations at dinner on Day One. If you prefer to skip the spa, you can visit the local Etruscan Museum, where you’ll learn about Europe’s most mysterious culture, forerunners to the early Romans.
* Lunch at the locals’ favorite restaurant in Montefollonico, a minuscule walled town that has barely changed since the fifteenth century.
* Transfer back to Palazzo Bandino for a hands-on cooking lesson featuring the classic southern Tuscan hand-rolled pasta called pici, followed by succulent whole fish baked in a paper crust.
* Dinner based on what you’ve prepared, accompanied by fine local wines.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 4
* Breakfast.
* Morning outing to Montalcino, the stately town within a castle that produces one of Italy’s most prestigious wines. You’ll visit a local winery whose Brunello 1997 was rated the world’s #22 wine in 2002 by Wine Spectator. Here you’ll taste a fascinating selection of wines and light foods that best accompany them.
* On the way home, we’ll stop at a haunting countryside abbey, allegedly built by Charlemagne. If we’re lucky we’ll hear the monks singing vespers as they have done for hundreds of years.
* Today our afternoon lesson focuses on secondi piatti, main dishes such as roasts, braised or grilled meats, alongside the thick handmade noodles called pappardelle, perhaps served with traditional sugo alla boscaiola.
* Dinner based on what you’ve prepared, accompanied by fine local wines.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 5
* Breakfast.
* Morning visit to the venerable hilltown of Montepulciano, home of the renowned noble wine. We’ll stroll through the charming streets of this town, which somehow manages to be quite monumental, despite its small size. We’ll also pay a visit to the weekly market, and then stop to see a masterpiece Renaissance church that sits alone on a hilltop just outside town.
* Next we’ll visit an olive mill (in late October through November you’ll actually see the process of an olive becoming pure cold-press first-run extra-virgin oil).
* Like the true Tuscans we have by now become, we’ll linger over lunch in front of the fireplace.
* Transfer back to Palazzo Bandino for an afternoon hands-on cooking lesson featuring fresh vegetable dishes such as artichokes and tomatoes stuffed with herbs and cheese, followed by a luscious Tuscan dessert.
* Dinner based on what you’ve prepared, accompanied by fine local wines.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 6
* Breakfast.
* Full-day excursion to Siena. On the way we’ll drive past San Gimignano to see its world-famous skyline, dubbed “The Manhattan of Tuscany.” You’ll be on your own in Siena, to wander among the medieval streets, visit the exquisite cathedral or the wonderful Town Hall, do some shopping or just relax at a cafe.
* Late-afternoon transfer back to your lodgings.
* Farewell dinner and presentation of your cooking program certificate at Palazzo Bandino.
* Overnight at Palazzo Bandino.
Day 7
* Breakfast
* Depart around 10:00 am and transfer to the Chiusi-Chianciano train station.
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