Cooking seafood in our cookery courses in Italy
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Your week in our cooking school in Tuscany, Italy

Your week at Villa Lucia cookery courses in Italy
Guide to your week at our cooking school in Tuscany, Italy

Just the name “Tuscany” fills the imagination with the wonders that are found there. Tuscany is everything and more than one could ever expect. The wandering hillside scattered with century old buildings, vineyards, and olive groves. This is the origin of the wines that kiss our lips and the food that that is as unspoilt as the scenery.

It really warms us to share this time with you in Tuscany. These are memories that you will carry with you always. The cuisine found in Tuscany is different from other parts of Italy because it has not been tampered with by modern ways. You will learn about this and some other classic “Italian” dishes during our cookery courses presented in our superb cooking school in Tuscany, Northern Italy.

We present a representative guide to your week here. Individual details, menus etc may of course vary from time to time but click here to see our planned menus for your week.

Sunday
Fly into Pisa or Florence airport and arrive at Villa Lucia by midday.
2:00 - 3:00pm Welcome Cocktails and canapés.
3:00 - 3:30pm Meet Paz at the beautiful frescoed grand entrance at 3:15 for a walk of around the charming historic village of Vorno.
3:30 - 4:30pm Paz will present to you our philosophy of a flexible and relaxed vacation. You will discuss the program for the week and any special interests you may have.
4:30 – 6:30pm Free time to relax before your buffet dinner.
6:30 - 6:45pm Introduction to your Chef for the week.
6:45pm Buffet early dinner


Monday

8:00 - 9:30am Breakfast available
9:30am - 12:30pm Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of lunch
1:00pm-2.00pm Lunch served on the terrace
3.00pm Free time to relax around the villa.
4.30pm – 5.15pm Free time to visit the Pisa market
6:00pm Hands-on cooking demonstration and preparation of dinner
8:30-9:00pm Free-time before dinner
9:00pm Dinner


Tuesday


8:00 - 9:00am Breakfast available
9:10am Meet outside to depart for a guided tour of Lucca
9:30am- 11:30 You will have a guided tour through the city of Lucca by Cristiana. Lucca is known as a city of no galleries, but many churches with 100 in existence at the end of the Middle Ages. The city became a colony of ancient Rome in 180BC and bordered the Etruscan country. The survival of the Anfiteatro from these Roman times is due to Nottolini, the architect who built the aqueduct between Lucca and Pisa and who also is responsible for the current aspect of Villa Michaela. The name of the church San Michele in Foro indicates that it stands beside a Roman forum. In the 12th-13th centuries, Lucca was the center of a thriving silk and wool trade and rivaled Florence in power and wealth. The proof of this abundance is the many churches and the wall of protection around the old city.
11:00am-1:30pm Free to explore or shop at your leisure
1:30pm Lunch at the ‘Buca di Sant’Antonio’ in central Lucca
3:30pm

Depart from Piazzale Verdi to return to the Villa or option to stay until 5pm
5:30pm Arrive back at the villa in time to prepare for class.
6:00 - 8:30pm Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner
9:00pm Dinner


Wednesday

7:00 - 8:00am Breakfast available
8:15am Meet in salon to depart for Pistoia market.
9:00am - 11:30pm Visit to the bustling market town of Pistoia to help the chef choose fresh produce for dinner. You will have plenty of time to explore the many piazzas and stop for a panini in the local cafés.
12.45pm - 1:45pm Lunch in Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo Da Vinci
2:00pm - 3:00pm Optional visit to the museum of Leonardo Da Vinci.
3:30pm Visit to the famous Tacchini brothers where you will see them produce fine pieces of ceramic art.
4:30pm - 6:30pm Return to the villa and free time
6:30pm-8: 30pm Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner
9:00pm Dinner


Thursday

8:30am - 9:30am Breakfast available
9:45am Trip to Tenuta di Valgiano for wine-tasting and a delightful lunch. The villa is situated 250m above sea level on a hillside 10km north-east of Lucca. You will also have the opportunity to taste olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
The Tenuta’s 16 hectares of vineyards stand on a terrace of pebbles and clayey, alberese rocks. The Sangiovese grapes are grown along the edge of the alberese soil which allow it to maintain its aromatic properties. The Merlot grape is cultivated in the clayey soil where it can mainatin its fineness and elegance. Only the Syrah grape can achieve structure and perfume amongst the sandstone pebbles. Traditional methods are used in the cellars and technological interference is kept to a minimum.
4:30pm Arrive back at the Villa.
6.30 – 8.30pm Cooking Lesson


Friday

8:00am – 9:30am Breakfast available
10:30am-1:00pm Cooking lesson and preparation of buffet lunch
1:30pm-2:30pm Lunch
2:30pm-5:30pm Free time to take a stroll through the olive groves, play tennis, swim, go shopping or to simply relax as you wish.
6:00 – 8:00pm Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner
8:15pm Champagne Graduation Ceremony in the large demonstration kitchen
8:30pm Formal dinner

Saturday
Depart for the airport before noon. Thank you for sharing a special week with us.

Alla prossima volta!

Rhode School of Cuisine
Your cooking school in Tuscany, Italy