Authenticity Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s Our Family Story.

Authenticity Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s Our Family Story.

Italy Culinary Vacations was founded on something that can’t be manufactured, licensed, or copied: family, heritage, and lived experience.

In an industry where “authentic” has become a popular marketing word, we believe it’s important to explain what that actually means and why it matters so much to us and to our guests.

We’ve seen a growing number of travel companies describe themselves as Italian, family-run, or Italian chef-led when, in reality, they are none of those things. Some outsource their experiences. Others rely on guides who rotate seasonally. Many follow the same well-worn itineraries found in guidebooks and group tours.

That’s not who we are. And it never will be.

A Third-Generation Italian Chef at the Heart of It All

Italy Culinary Vacations was founded by Chef Stefano Corvucci, a third-generation Italian chef whose life and career have been shaped by real kitchens, real restaurants, and real family traditions.

Chef Stefano learned to cook the way many Italians do: at home, surrounded by family, sharing stories at the table. His culinary roots come from:

• A father who passed down far more than recipes. Along with a deep respect for traditional Italian cooking, he shared a love of history, culture, and Italian antiques and art. He purchased the former convent on Mt. Fumaiolo where we host our guests today, as well as the neighboring local church, and was known throughout the community for hosting unforgettable meals for friends and neighbors. His carefully curated collection of antiques now fills the home and is enjoyed by our guests during their stay.
  
  
• A grandmother from Emilia-Romagna, rooted in generosity and resilience. A deeply caring woman, she and her five sisters ran a family farm and helped feed their community during the Second World War. While she never owned a restaurant, her daily cooking, trading, and sharing of food created a powerful tradition of nourishment, connection, and hospitality that continues to shape how we welcome guests today.
  
  
• A grandmother from Calabria, bringing southern soul to every meal. She infused the table with bold flavors, ingenuity, and the warmth of southern Italian cooking. Known for traveling north with her family’s own olive oil and specialty foods to share with relatives, she left behind a culinary legacy defined by pride, generosity, and unforgettable flavors—one that lives on in the recipes we cook and teach today.

These beloved family members bring authentic stories that have been passed down to each generation. And their recipes are not pulled from cookbooks or recreated for tourists. They are dishes and techniques that have been handed down, cooked, refined, and savored for generations.

Family-Owned. Family-Operated. Personally Invested.

Before founding Italy Culinary Vacations, Chef Stefano owned and operated restaurants and later established a hands-on cooking school, welcoming students from around the world into a professional Italian kitchen. Teaching, hospitality, and sharing culture are not add-ons to his résumé. They are his life’s work.

Today, Italy Culinary Vacations is proudly family owned and operated.

That means every detail matters, because our name and our reputation are directly tied to every experience we offer. We don’t disappear once a trip is booked. We don’t hand guests off to third parties. We don’t follow scripts or mass-market itineraries.

We plan, host, guide, cook, and welcome our guests ourselves.

As a family business, we treat our clients the same way we treat people around our own table. With care, honesty, and genuine connection. Many of our guests come back to explore other parts of Italy with us. Many stay in touch long after their trip ends. And some have become lifelong friends.

Trust matters when you’re traveling halfway around the world, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Curated Experiences, Not Cookie-Cutter Tours

We are not a traditional travel agency. And we are not here to replicate the standard Italian vacation.

Our experiences are intentionally curated to go deeper. That means:

• Cooking in a private home, not a demonstration kitchen
• Visiting towns, markets, and regions most travelers never see
• Exploring 3,000 years of history while discussing the arts and their cultural significance, because in Italy the past shapes the present and, ultimately, the future
• Eating where locals eat, shopping where locals shop, and understanding why traditions exist and how they differ from region to region
• Moving at a human pace, not a tour-bus schedule so you can truly experience the authenticity of la dolce vita

Because we are Italian, and because we live here, we are able to share Italy as it truly is. Not the polished version designed for mass tourism, but the layered, regional, deeply personal Italy that locals know and love.