5 Reasons Why March is a Magical Time in Italy
February 26, 2025
7 Days (6 Nights)
1-6
Mt. Fumaiolo
Cooking, Touring
Various Dates
Arezzo or Cesena railway stations
Indulge in a vacation that blends the culinary arts, history, art, and exploration in the three gastronomic havens of central Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Umbria. Your journey includes accommodation, cooking classes, tickets, restaurant visits, food and wine tastings, market and winery tours, transportation, and a dedicated guide throughout your experience. Visit ancient villages from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, soaking in history and gathering fresh ingredients for your culinary creations.
Stay at the Italy Culinary Vacations ancient mountain retreat nestled atop Mt. Fumaiolo, a 4,500’ high mountain on the border between these regions. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of quaint ancient villages and meet local food and wine producers.
Each afternoon, dive into the heart of Italian cuisine, crafting authentic Emilia-Romagna and Tuscan recipes inspired by Pellegrino Artusi’s 1891 Cookbook. Handmade pastas, roasts, sauces, seafood, and more will enhance your culinary repertoire. Feel free to relax with a glass of fine wine while Chef Stefano prepares dinner.
Discover regional treasures like Pecorino di Fossa di Sogliano, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, and more. You’ll curate daily menus by handpicking ingredients alongside Chef Stefano at family-run butcheries and markets.
Journey through the ages with visits to local wineries for Romagna and Super Tuscan wine tastings. Explore art by Medieval and Renaissance masters, and embark on a captivating tour at the Museum of Herbs of Aboca.
Tuscany, Umbria, Romagna, and the Castles of Montefeltro are yours to explore, including charming towns and historic landmarks.
This vacation package is available from January to December.
Design your getaway! You can combine this package with one or more of the destinations listed.
Experience the history of Italy’s capital for 4 days in the Eternal City of Rome, where the artistry of painter Caravaggio takes center stage. Explore Musei Capitolini and Villa Borghese, unveiling the masterworks that define his legacy.
Immerse yourself in the rich food history of Italy with a journey through the famed “Food Valley.”
Immerse yourself in Florentine splendor for 4 days, where art and culture come to life. Let Florence unfold its artistic charm, creating memories that linger long after your journey ends.
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7 Day All-Inclusive Cooking & Historic Retreat
Chef Stefano is here to guide you every step of the way to design a culinary vacation that exceeds your expectations. Send us an email, and you can expect a prompt and helpful response.
Italy Culinary Vacations specializes in creating all inclusive packages that go the extra mile for unforgettable experiences.
My partner and I had the great opportunity to stay with Chef Stefano for a week at his private mountain retreat, and we had an incredible time! The house is a beautiful, rustic home with a professional-level kitchen and an open fire for some really incredible cooking experiences.
Stefano is a phenomenal chef and tour guide guide, with a wealth of knowledge about food, history and culture. We learned so much about cooking while experiencing the local delicacies of Tuscany! Handmade, traditional pastas were taught from scratch and he taught the historical and social reason they’ve been made that way. Everything from scratch, no machines of any sort! It was authentic and easy to learn and repeat due to the great explanation on the reasons and the social contest in which they were created. Most meats are entirely cooked on authentic pans from the 18th century on a fireplace and a stone oven 350 years old! Truly incredible.
In general we learned the history of cooking in central Italy (Tuscany, Umbria and Romagna) from the Romans to the unification of the country in 1848. Now we understand why traditional Italian cuisine is so different and so cultured. The most important thing, everyone can learn all this and become an expert!
In the end it’s not just cooking classes but a complete introduction to the taste of these regions and how it was developed. Worth it every minute!
In addition to the cooking retreat, we experienced wonderful days of hiking and day trips. The area surrounding Stefano’s retreat is gorgeous and offers some of the best hiking and nature you can find. We visited local restaurants and vendors that Stefano uses, and we also got to experience the local town.
We also got to practice our Italian with Stefano. We asked him to help us improve our Italian and he was great— we learn a lot better than from our US courses and books.
Stefano’s hospitality, attention to detail, and personal touch were noticeable across the entire trip. This was a truly mindful and unforgettable experience. I can’t recommend this enough, and I look forward to returning soon!
Grazie Stefano!