Holiday itinerary
In the grounds of a wonderful Agriturismo are two beautiful farmhouses set 1.5km apart and just 40km from Pisa in the Tuscan hills offering the perfect location in which to pursue your passion for all things Italian.
This Tuscan cookery course offers a unique opportunity to discover Italian life where families work together on the estate to produce olive oil and wines using organic and traditional farming methods.
Under the direction of your knowledgeable guides, you will learn about the local olive oil and wine production process as well as learning to cook a delicious Italian meal taught by local Chefs.
Experience Tuscany and its deep-rooted artistic traditions with painting classes and all the equipment you need to turn your imagination into a Tuscan work of art.
This is a wonderful introduction to Tuscany’s rich culture of wine, olive oil, food and art set in the beautiful and relaxing surroundings, a must for any creative Tuscan food and wine enthusiast.
Suitability
- Both the cooking and painting classes are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks / artists
- Your hosts are Italian but there are English speaking guides or interpreters on hand at all times to guide you through the course
- Minimum age 18 for the wine element of the course but children aged 7 or over are welcome to join the olive oil, cooking and painting part of the course if accompanied by an adult
- Younger children are welcome and babysitting can be arranged locally at an additional charge whilst you are taking your course
- A minimum of 2 people must book together on this course for the course to run
- Please note that car hire is essential for this holiday
Italian Cookery and Painting Holiday Start Days
- This course runs year round
- Arrivals can be on any day of the week
- If this course appears ‘on request’ we can usually accommodate your requirements, to check availability, email us on or call us on 08445 020445 with your preferred dates and someone will get back to you very quickly
Italian Cooking, Olive Oil and Wine Course Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival Day
- Check-in to your accommodation anytime after 2pm
- In the evening you will enjoy a 3 course welcome dinner served in the farmhouse dining room or on the terrace
- Please note that your welcome dinner may not always be taken at the Farmhouse; it may take place in a local restaurant in the nearby town of Peccioli
- If your welcome dinner is taken in a nearby restaurant, please check taxi fares if you decide to travel by taxi
Day 2 –Free Time and Cooking Class
- Enjoy a leisurely Italian breakfast when you rise for the day
- Spend the day relaxing by the pool or exploring the local area before starting your cooking lesson at around 4pm (times can vary)
- Your cooking lesson will last around 3 hours and will focus on cooking a 4 course menu of typical local dishes
- After the cooking lesson, sit down and enjoy eating the meal you’ve just prepared accompanied by the estate produced wines
Days 3,4 and 5 - Painting Class
- Enjoy a leisurely Italian breakfast first thing
- Your painting lesson will last around 3 hours and will take place at the farm house or in the surrounding hills and villages
- All materials will be provided to ensure your creativity can be transferred into a souvenir painting of your unique Tuscan cookery and painting holiday
Day 6 – Olive Oil and Wine Tastings
- Again, relax over a leisurely Italian breakfast before joining your English speaking guide for a day touring the estate on foot to discover the olive oil and wine making processes
- You’ll be accompanied by the person in charge of the agricultural production on the estate and you’ll walk through the vineyards learning about the history of the farm, the characteristics of its produce and the methods of cultivation
- After your walk, enjoy tastings of the wine (Chianti and Igt) and extra virgin olive oil produced there, combined with local bruschetta
- The tour also includes the visit to an Etruscan grave belonging to the estate
Day 7 –Free Day
- After breakfast spend the day as you please, relax by the pool or around the farmhouse or get out and about and see some of Tuscany and all that Italy has to offer
Day 8 –Departure Day
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms by 11am ready for departure taking home with them new cooking and artistic skills and an insight into Italian life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn?
- Skills to recognise and enjoy the complexity of the Italian wines produced on the estate
- To understand the methods and history of the production process using traditional methods
- About the process of making olive oil from growing to production
- You’ll taste the oils and will aim to recognise the different qualities and grades
- The cooking course will concentrate on the typical cuisine of Tuscan: its pastas, risottos, meat and vegetable dishes
- At the start of your course, your Chef will discuss menus with you to ensure you cover any particular skills you want to learn during your cookery class
- Whether you are a beginner, a practising artist or someone wanting to return to your creative routes, you will learn the skills and confidence to boost your personal and artistic development
- You will be taught at a pace suited to you and will learn all aspects of the creative process with an emphasis on how to make art
Accommodation
- You'll stay in a well appointed twin or double room in one of the farmhouses which are set 1.5km apart in the grounds of the estate
- The house you are staying in will be advised on arrival
- Check in anytime after 2pm on your arrival day and check out by 11am on your departure day
- The beautiful farmhouses both offer every comfort of a hotel with the relaxed and easy going feel of a countryside retreat
- The houses have both been converted to a high standard maintaining the original Tuscan farmhouse architecture
- Guests staying in one of these two houses take their breakfasts and welcome dinner in the house dining room and each house has its own large swimming pool
- Prices are based on 2 sharing a twin or double room
- 2 bedroom apartments are available for families or groups at a small supplement
-There are two different farmhouses where you might stay; Giuseppe and Alessandro
- Giuseppe's farmhouse provides Wi-fi underneath the portico next to the office. They have a dog and a cat who are free in the courtyard
- Alessandro's farmhouse provide Wi-fi near the reception area
Meals
- Breakfast is included each day
- A welcome dinner is included on your arrival day
- You’ll also enjoy the dinner you’ve learned to cook on day 2
Sample Italian Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Risotto with artichokes
- Pasta with spinach and ricotta
- Tuscan meat stew
- Tuscan bean soup
- Tiramisu
- Stuffed onions with pecorino cheese
- Rosemary roasted vegetables
- Foccacia bread
- Wines from the estate are carefully chosen to accompany each dish
- Dietary requests can be catered for including vegetarians if advised at the time of booking
Other Courses In Tuscany
- If this Tuscany cookery holiday whets your appetite for all things Italian, other courses are also on offer, including cheese making, painting and more, please follow this link to more courses at this school or email for details
Slow down to the pace of life on an Agriturismo in Tuscany and discover the olive oil and wine making process and pursue your passion for painting and Italian food on this cookery holiday with a difference.