Join us on:
We know car choice is important for the enjoyment of your holiday, our supplier – Maggiore Car Rental – will guarantee the following:
- highly competitive prices
- no major tour operator is working with them, therefore we are quite sure that queuing will be kept to a minimum, even in high season
- all cars have air conditioning
- a full and comprehensive back-up system
We do not book flights, we leave it to you to choose the best departure point and flight times to suit your party. We have compiled a list of airlines flying to those regions in which we offer accommodation.
Flights are from the UK, if you are travelling from elsewhere, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we will recommend an airline flying from your departure point. If you are unsure which airport in Italy is closest to your accommodation, please call us on 01223 460100 or email
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Italian Cooking Essential Italy
Tuscan cookery course at Villa Rubbiano Montaione
Essential Italy is very pleased to offer specialised Tuscan cookery courses at Villa Rubbiano.
During your 7 night stay you will get the chance to try-your-hand at cooking some local specialities and tasting some of the best wine and olive oil in the world. The week combines lessons with visits to local markets and the world famous sights of Florence.
Mouth-watering bruschetta, various antipaste, fantastic home made
pasta shapes, grilled local meats, tempting puddings and much more
are just some of the examples of what you will be preparing. The
teachers are local cooks Mino and you could not be in better hands.
There are fluent English speakers on hand to explain the finer
points of the specialist dishes. The week gives you the chance
to practice your Italian or perhaps learn some key words for your
next visit to Italy (or when you are back home in the kitchen and
would like to impress your guests!).
The prices are per person for two people, sharing a double room
for one week, and are perfect for would-be chefs and partners – there
is plenty going on should you prefer to avoid the kitchen.
Itinerary
Arrival
Transfer from Pisa airport. Welcome dinner at Villa Rubbiano in the on-site restaurant ‘Casa di Rita’.
Day 1
Breakfast. Wine and olive oil tastings in the wine cellar of Villa Rubbiano, taste some of the best Tuscan wines with crudités and canapés on fresh Tuscan bread with a selection of local salamis, hams and cheeses. Dinner in nearby restaurant L’Appalto - www.lappalto.com
Day 2
Breakfast. A trip to Florence to visit the colourful and characteristic markets and sights of this wonderful city. Dinner at “Cavolo Nero” www.cavolonero.it in Florence or æDa Lapo’ in Prato for typical Tuscan specialities.
Day 3
Breakfast. A trip to Versilia to admire the breathtaking Tuscan coastline and visit to Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi with its famous “Doc” market and dinner in the evening at ‘La Darsena’ www.trattorialadarsena.it in the port of Viareggio for delicious locally caught seafood.
Day 4
Breakfast. Morning free to enjoy the charms of Rubbiano, and in the afternoon “Scuola di cucina”, cookery lessons with Loredana and Irma who will show you some of the secrets of Tuscan cuisine, and dinner to follow in ‘Casa di Rita’.
Day 5
Breakfast. Day trip to Montaione, San Miniato and San Vivaldo, ‘the Jerusalem of the west’ as it is known with its splendid cupole and chapels to visit. Dinner in the evening within the arches of the convent.
Day 6
Breakfast. Morning free to explore further the many aspects of Villa Rubbiano, and in the afternoon another chance to discover more secrets with Loredana and Irma of Tuscan cooking and recipes ; with dinner to follow in ‘Casa di Rita’.
Day 7
Breakfast. Transfer to Pisa airport.
This is a fantastic offer and we feel great value for money, whether you decide to enter the kitchen or not! Courses are currently running in March, April and May subject to numbers (minimum 6, maximum 12). All transfers included.
This fabulous offer is great value for money, whether you decide to enter the kitchen or not! Courses are currently running in March, April and May subject to numbers (minimum 6, maximum 12):
All transfers included.
Price per person (2 persons sharing double room): £1425.00
Price per single room: £1710.00
Contact us for futher details and bookings ›
‘Hands-on’ cookery course at Truddhi Trito
For the budding Italian chefs amongst you, Truddhi is very pleased to offer specialised cookery courses in their lovely trulli.
During your 7 night stay you will get the chance to try-your-hand at cooking some tasty local fare over 5 pratical lessons (approximately 4 hours each).
Mouth-watering bruschetta, various antipaste, fantastic home made pasta shapes, grilled local meats, tempting puddings and much more are just some of the examples of what you will be preparing. Mino is your teacher for the week and you could not be in better hands – renound in Puglia for his creative cooking, he runs a restaurant during the summer and teaches in the Bari hotel school during the winter months. His english is fluent (so no excuses for burning the sauce!). Mino adds that the week gives you the chance to practice your italian or perhaps learn some key words for your next visit to Italy (or when you are back home in the kitchen and would like to impress your guests!).
The prices are per person for two people, sharing a double trullo for one week, and are perfect for would-be chefs and partners – there is plenty going on should you prefer to avoid the kitchen.
The week includes:
- 7 nights full-board accommodation in a trullo – Double occupancy in a one bedroom or studio Trullo, initial clean and final clean, towels changed twice a week
- 1 Sunday lunch
- 4 dinners
- Local house wine accompanies all meals
- 2 dinners at a local restaurant/pizzeria
- 5 lessons of approx. 4 hours each
- 5 light lunches
- Visit to 2 wineries, a cheese producer and an olive press and a pasta producer with respective tastings
- Visit to Alberobello, Castel del Monte and Trani Cathedral
- Apron and recipe folder in both Italian and English
- Transfers to and from the airport plus transport for all organised trips
This is a fantastic offer and we feel great value for money, whether you decide to enter the kitchen or not! Courses are currently running on the following weeks subject to numbers (minimum 6, maximum 12):
25 April–02 May, 02 May–9 May, 9 May–16 May, 16 May–23 May, 19 Sept–26 Sept, 26 Sept–03 Oct, 03 Oct–10 Oct 10 Oct–17 Oct
Price per person (2 persons sharing double room): £1425.00
Price per single room: £1610.00
Contact us for futher details and bookings ›
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