Italy
Cooking in Tuscany
Program No. 19672RJ
Tuscany: The word conjures images of golden vineyards, nodding sunflowers and artfully prepared meals. Come learn the art of Tuscan cooking on this culinary adventure of a lifetime.
Participant Reviews
Based on 73 Reviews
SHOWING
Very much appreciated having a Micro Group, (12 or fewer) for this lovely stay in the heart of Lucca. The chef led classes were excellent and the food we prepared together was delicious. Our guides and navigator were warm and very professional and the day excursions beyond Lucca for wine and olive oil tasting and to Carrera, Colonnata and Pietrasanta were exceptional.
— Review left July 18, 2025
Cooking in Tuscany was a wonderful experience!!
— Review left June 14, 2025
"Cooking in Tuscany" is a fantastic program. The guides and instructors are the best! Enjoyed the program immensely!A well thought out program. Would love to do it again!!
— Review left June 14, 2025
Attending a culinary school in Italy was a bucket list event for me and I couldn’t have been happier with Road Scholar, let’s do it again!
— Review left June 4, 2025
If anyone is hesitating about trying out Road Scholar trust myself and all others who’ve traveled with Road Scholar. Great itinerary and very educational plus the added benefit of meeting other people
— Review left June 1, 2025
This was a wonderful immersive experience into a special region of Italy. Cooking, food-related side trips, local history and sites, are all included in this trip.
— Review left May 27, 2025
Cooking in Tuscany, centered in LUCCA is an absolute perfect blend of an initiation in Italian cooking and a wonderful exposure to the rich Italian heritage from Roman times through the Renaissance. The Lucca based cooking program and the excursions to Pisa, Pietrosanta, Montecarlo fortress and Carrara are all lovely, instructive and relaxing. Of course the enjoyment comes with wine and prosciutto. Paul
— Review left May 23, 2025
Our Tuscany Cooking tour was intimate, illuminating, engaging, educational and most definitely delicious! Now dreaming of our next, more in-depth visit there.
— Review left May 3, 2025
A lot of fun!
— Review left May 2, 2025
We give this tour 10 stars!!! It was the BEST tour we have had through Road Scholar. Cristina Viti and Elena Benvenuti, our guides, were exceptional! Cristina led the tour. She was kind, understanding, punctual, well organized and exceptionally caring. She took care of our every need and looked after us to ensure we had the best experience possible. She provided several special opportunities including churches and art exhibits not normally open to the public.
One of the highlights of the trip was attendance at the International Academy of Italian Cuisine in Lucca under the instruction of Master Chef Gianluca Pardini. We were allowed to prepare and enjoy our own authentic Italian meals. It was fun and educational at the same time.
Another highlight was our visit to Pietrasanta. The art exhibits were spectacular! The city was adorned with wonderful statuary and other art. In addition, Cristina’s knowledge of city events, shops, and restaurants added to our enjoyment. Cristina arranged for us to visit an Art School and Gallery normally closed to the public.
On our visit to the wineries, the people that we met were friendly, knowledgeable and treated us like royalty. We enjoyed a special wine tasting that Cristina had arranged where we were served multiple wines with complimentary food.
Elena was our Lucca and Montecarlo city guide and specialist. Elena is extremely knowledgeable, energetic, and FUN to be around. She kept us on our toes and provided valuable insight into the history and development of these key cities. In all, this part of the trip was wonderful and well worth repeating.
In summary, the tour led by Cristina Viti was excellent. Elena Benvenuti as the city guide provided an extensive and fascinating insight into the cities we visited on this tour. And the cooking classes by Master Chef Gianluca Pardini were fun and educational. All this added up to a memorable experience that we are proud to share with our family and friends.
— Review left April 30, 2025
Cooking in Italy! What better way to get to know a culture and learn new things.
— Review left March 26, 2025
Cooking in Tuscany was a wonderful experience. While the main focus was on cooking, I really enjoyed traveling to wineries, small villages, and the marble quarry. There was just enough free time available to explore on our own. There is so much to learn about Tuscany and this program was just perfect!
— Review left February 28, 2025
I had never been on a Road Scholar trip or any others for that matter. I’m so glad my friend invited me along. This was the best experience I have ever had. It was so interesting and fun. I met some great people that I feel we’ll be friends for a long time. I would definitely do this again with Road Scholar. They took care of everything And were so helpful when I called with any questions. I highly recommend this company for educational travel.
— Review left February 6, 2025
I loved this experience! I learned so much from our guides and even from my traveling companions. The hotel was lovely and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Lucca is an amazing place to visit. The cooking experience was beyond expectations. This was a great trip!
— Review left December 11, 2024
I went to "Cooking in Tuscany" and it was an amazing experience, full of fabulous food, historical learning and helping create and experience Italian cooking with a wonderful chef! Field trips to take you outside the Lucca walls gave me an appreciation for the beauty and productivity of Tuscany! What a joy!
— Review left November 28, 2024
This experience was a complete JOY. The cooking portion was well thought out and very participatory, the rest of the culinary and historical exposure was very insightful and allowed me to experience people and places I would never had the opportunity to be involved with on my own.
— Review left November 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this program! The cooking classes were not only fun but also a fantastic way to connect with my fellow travelers in our small group of 12. Lucca, with its fascinating history and charming atmosphere, provided the perfect backdrop for our adventure. I especially appreciated the well-planned field trips and the chance to delve into the principles of the Slow Food Movement and Biodynamic Farming. Cristina, our group leader, and Elena, our tour guide, were both incredibly knowledgeable and personable, which greatly enhanced the overall experience.
— Review left November 21, 2024
This was a wonderful trip! Cristina and Elena were very knowledgeable about the history of Lucca and the other cities that we visited. They made a meaningful connection with all of us and I was sad to say goodbye. The cooking was fun and I learned quite a few things to help with my cooking back home. Chef Gianluca was a patient instructor who also made meaningful connections with each participant. The field trips were amazing! Were were taken to places (like the marble mine in Carrara) which would have been very difficult to get to on our own. The private visits to taste wine and olive oil were lovely, with beautiful settings. Cristina also helped some of us organize a side trip to Pisa during our free time. This was my first Road Scholar trip and I will definitely look to Road Scholar for future trips.
— Review left November 20, 2024
Cooking in Tuscany is an amazing program offered by Road Scholar. It fulfilled a lifelong dream!
— Review left November 8, 2024
They were the best two tour guides ever! They were fabulous, welcoming, informative, punctual, attentive to illness/discomfort/problems with the group. One went to the store late at night to get what was needed for one of the women who contracted covid. Really excellent!
— Review left November 2, 2024
Cooking in Tuscany was the trip of a lifetime! I learned so much about cooking, art, history and more. I met some truly wonderful people.
— Review left November 2, 2024
If you want to learn about the food and food movement in Tuscany-this class is for you!! The cooking class combined with a farmers market and meeting with olive oil and wine makers is something you will not learn from any guide. The team guides in this program are top notch and I would recommend them hands down.
— Review left October 31, 2024
The Cooking in Tuscany trip was terrific! Our host, Christina was amazing. She kept everyone happy and engaged. Chef Gianluca was incredible. He and his kitchen staff were patient, efficient, and knew how to have fun in the kitchen. I learned so much from him - tips and tricks that I can use at home in my own kitchen. The food we prepared under his guidance was amazing! I look forward to hosting a dinner party and serving some of those same recipes. Elena, our guide, has an incredible depth of knowledge of the area, history, and art and architecture. She is a treasure trove of information! I enjoyed all of the day trips - a private villa with an olive grove, a small family cheese-making shop, a winery, and a Carrera marble mine. Best of all was the trip to Pietrasanta. I wish we could've spent more time there exploring the area. Since we were only a few kilometers away from the coast, I wish we could've gone to the seaside. Otherwise, the trip was everything I hoped for and more! Thank you!!!
— Review left October 26, 2024
This was the most incredible travel experience in Italy. It centered around cooking classes in Luca. Each of our cooking sessions was filled with laughter, learning and delicious foods. Our chef was delightful and very knowledgeable teaching us traditional recipes using fresh, local ingredients.The highlight was sharing our creations with a lovely group, sharing stories and toasting new friends.This trip was well balanced with other historic visits around Luca. It was a trip I will cherish forever.
— Review left September 20, 2024
Learning to cook authentic Italian dishes with a charming professional chef with the best of local ingredients was our primary goal, but the day trips to nearby organic wineries, marble quarries, small cheese makers were icing on the cake! I am ready to go again!
— Review left September 20, 2024
If you're looking for a slow, leisurely vacation, this is not the program for you. But if you're interested in Italian food and are able to be on your feet for a chunk of the day then I highly recommend cooking in Lucca! The town itself is very walkable, and you'll be doing a lot of that. You will also NEVER be hungry. The exclusions are fascinating, and you'll appreciate a bit of time sitting on the bus enroute to and from. Keep the Pace is exactly what it means, but it's not too extreme and both our hiking pole users were able to keep up without too much difficulty. You'll be glad to gave this program a whirl.
— Review left September 20, 2024
I have been on planned excursions with other tour companies in different locations, but I have never had as wonderful an experience as I had with this trip. Each place that we visited and each experience we had brought the culture and cuisine of Tuscany to life- everything we did made sense if you wanted to really learn about how the people of Tuscany celebrate the richness of the climate, the soil, the animals , the olives and the grapes. From the beginning, our tour leader Alessandra mapped out how our experience was designed to help us understand Tuscany and to embrace the culture and eventually immerse ourselves in it. She was attentive, proactive, humorous and caring. "Free time" and "dinner on your own" is often a conflict when you are in an unfamiliar environment. Alessandra was always ready with suggestions and guidance. She even helped arrange our "dinners on your own" so that we all dined as a group, which was just perfect for us. We were blessed with a very convivial, smart, and open minded party of ten and Alessandra built on that by helping us plan our days to get the most out of them. She was also very sensitive to our varied physical abilities and made sure we knew exactly what we would be dealing with at each experience. Then when one of our group developed Covid, Alessandra was clear about our options while helping our friend rework her trip.
The cooking part of it was amazing! Chef was patient and knowledgeable and I know I learned a lot from him which actually surprised me! Who knew that frying potatoes was best when you leave them all alone! Alessandra's two associates who guided us in Lucca and in Pietrosanto were wonderful! Both were knowledgeable, informative and possessed a sharp sense of humor. What a wonderful way to present a culture- through facts, history and humor!
I don't know if Road Scholar has a rating system, but if you do use the 1 to 10 it's easy. Alessandra and her associates a 20 (that's not a typo). The itinerary a 12! A+!!
— Review left September 19, 2024
This cooking lesson oriented program was all we had hoped for and more. The Master Chef (Gianluca Pardini) focused on recipes that we would prepare again and again for family and friends at home. Balanced with memorable side trips for history, scenery, the arts and samples of regional cuisine; this made for a wonderful experience!
— Review left September 15, 2024
Totally surpassed my expectations. Group leaders were very knowledgeable and provided a comfortable environment. The culinary aspect, which is what first drew me to the program, provided an easy and relatable "in-kitchen" experience for the entire group regardless of ability. I really enjoyed seeing the various wineries, the tastings, and the food and wine were exceptional! I'm ready for my next Road Scholar adventure!
— Review left May 30, 2024
Cooking in Tuscany, lead by Cristina, was the equivalent of a college level course on Tuscany, condensed into 10 days. This experience was far superior to what I had expected it would be. I feel I gained a close relationship with the region and its food origins. Simply excellent!
— Review left May 27, 2024
This program was great! Better than expected mostly because our host Cristina and Elena were fabulous! Everyone was friendly and the Chef was amazing! What a perfect experience...Thanks Road Scholar!!!!
— Review left May 21, 2024
This was an extremely enjoyable, well-constructed trip that exposes you to the wonderful cuisine of Tuscany and the various wine districts within the region. I really appreciated the many extras in this program that are not available to the general public, such as a Roman style "convivium" featuring period-correct foods, and private access to villas, palaces, and other locations. Our guide, Cristina, was extremely organized and a wealth of information. I loved our time at the cooking school with Chef Gianluca, as well as the related field trips that helped tie everything together. We prepared numerous recipes together as a group, and were provided with the recipes to make again at home. Be prepared with sturdy shoes for all the walking you will do over rough cobblestone streets-- heels are not practical here.
— Review left May 15, 2024
The Cooking in Tuscany program lived up to all my hopes and expectations and more! It was an incredibly fun and interesting trip!
— Review left May 13, 2024
Cooking in Tuscany is a wonderful culinary experience! Tuscany is a beautiful place to explore art, history, music and great food. A must see and do!
— Review left May 6, 2024
Cooking in Tuscany was a superior program with not only time for cooking, but also for learning about the history and culture of beautiful Tuscany.
— Review left April 24, 2024
This trip combines cooking classes, history, great field trips from Lucca and of Lucca itself. I particularly liked the trip to Pietrasanta and how art is a keynote of that visit.
Our leader, Cristina, and local guide, Elena are so connected to this part of Tuscany and have an incredible depth of relationships that I have not experienced on my other Road Scholar trips.
Our small group got along famously and the cooking courses were both instructive and fun.
I have loved all of my Road Scholar trips but this was our best by far.
— Review left April 20, 2024
Outstanding experience. Setting, group Leader, local guide, chef made this an unforgettable adventure!
— Review left April 12, 2024
I had the time of my life on this tour. The guides Belinda, and Elena were very knowledgeable and personable! The tours were very informative. Our group members were lovely and we gelled well together. I was a solo traveler and never felt alone or lonely. The cooking school experience and Chef Pardini were just awesome. Road Scholar really planned this tour well and made sure all needs were addressed. Thank you RS for making my life's dream so easy to enjoy!
— Review left March 29, 2024
A delightful experience with lots of things to see and do. Even if you're not a huge fan of cooking, our chef made it a very fun time. Belinda was superb, making sure all we all had a wonderful time.
— Review left March 22, 2024
I am generally not a person who enjoys group tours, but this one hit every mark. From start to finish, a delightful way to experience Tuscany!
— Review left January 26, 2024
This is definitely a 5-star program. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although she is the cook/baker, and I am not, it was always fun and interesting for both of us. The leaders, Cristina and Elena, work together as a perfect team, full of information and enthusiasm. Our chef, Gianluca Pardini, is an absolute joy. He has the skills, charm, and personality to teach anyone, and become friends at the same time. The itinerary is very well-conceived, with a mix of history, culture, food, and humor. The city of Lucca is the perfect European town to spend time in, and the countryside is full of beauty and surprises. The hotel has a great location, comfortable rooms, and the family which runs it aims to please. You will not regret signing up for this program.
— Review left January 21, 2024
What an extraordinary experience, our first Road Scholar adventure! From the accommodations to the group leader Belinda to the cooking classes, we were treated so well; people were gracious, knowledgeable, and fun to be with! Belinda was simply amazing!! She took such great care of us and saw to our every need. She is so pleasant to interact with and her love for Lucca comes through with every adventure we took with her. She is to be applauded! Our chef made cooking a special event every single time. The staff at Hotel Alexander topped it all off; friendly, accommodating, and easy to speak with in English. My husband and I enjoyed every excursion, every class, every moment of the trip. THANK YOU for creating an unforgettable experience. We will book again!
— Review left December 28, 2023
We've been on many trips to Italy over the years. This exploration of culture, food/wine in Tuscany was the best and most immersive experience we've ever had. The group leader, guides, chef, hotel staff are such incredible people who care, personalize and make you feel part of their extended families for this very special week in Lucca. Add this to your bucket list for sure!
— Review left December 12, 2023
Cooking in Tuscany was my first experience with Road Scholar and will not be my last. Everything from start to finish was well thought through and professioanl. I Loved Lucca and all of the experiences we had in this program. The entire staff that helped us and guided us throughout the week was beyond my expections. Based on this first experience, I would highly recommned Road Scholar to any one who loves to travel and learn.
— Review left December 7, 2023
Cooking in Tuscany was a wonderful experience. If you are a “chef” or not, like me, you will enjoy the classes presented by Chef John Luca. They were fun and educational. Lucca is a beautiful city and you will enjoy wandering the narrow streets, the wonderful architecture and its long history. The presenters are very knowledgeable, kind and funny. Enjoy!
— Review left November 23, 2023
Cooking In Tuscany was a wonderful experience. The cooking classes were hands on and everyone helped prepare the meals. The chief was always there to demonstrate techniques and get everyone involved. The field trips were interesting and varied every thing from olive oil, wine and cheese tastings to cheese making and marble mines.
— Review left October 22, 2023
This is a great program if you'd like to cook, eat, and experience traveling in Italy with a small group, a fabulous tour guide, and an amazing chef. Lucca is not as crowed as other more well known cities in Tuscany and is beautiful.
— Review left September 28, 2023
This course was incredible both in the location and the absolutely amazing experience in the cooking school in Lucca! We saw amazing countryside and experienced so many different activities from wine and olive oil tasting to how cheese is made and on and on. If you love to travel to beautiful places and learn so much in such a fun and informative fashion - DO come on the Cooking in Tuscany course!!
— Review left September 28, 2023
This was the perfect introduction into Italian cooking! The location was picturesque and I loved the day trips to nearby farms, wineries and cheese producers. If you like cooking, art and history and want to see Italy on a more personal basis then this trip might be just what you're looking for!
— Review left September 25, 2023
Cooking in Tuscany was a trip of a lifetime! The guides, Christina and Gianluca were so knowledgable and caring. They shared their love of their community, its history and culture in a meaningful and memorable way. I came away with more than recipes for the kitchen, I came away with a new found love of this place!
— Review left September 21, 2023
One of the great things about this program is that it is based in the wonderful walled city of Lucca, a great place to stay and explore. The cooking classes are fun, but there is also plenty of time for exploring Lucca and the surrounding area.
— Review left June 19, 2023
This was an amazing experience that no cook, food lover, or wine enthusiast should miss. If you love Italian cuisine, art, and culture this ai a must-have experience, I want to do it again and again!
— Review left May 31, 2023
Such a wonderful program!!! I loved this trip and cooking with other fun loving group members. The tours were great md the meals were so good!!!
— Review left May 27, 2023
I loved it! This was great fun and a very enjoyable learning and participating experience. I am not much of a cook, but I enjoyed participating in the preparation as well as eating what we made. The leaders were great, and I enjoyed getting to know the other participants. I loved exploring Luca and several wonderful nearby places.
— Review left May 16, 2023
Great program! All of the group leaders were knowledgeable, friendly, and communicated effectively. They made it fun. With some of my physical limitations, Christina was able to guide me to adjust to my capabilities. The number of cooking lessons was just right and was well balanced with the touring portion of the program. The hotel and the staff were excellent—friendly and helpful. I had a great time!
— Review left May 12, 2023
This was a great program to experience the beauty of Tuscany. It provided a wide variety of activities in addition to our 4 cooking classes. Our leader, Cristina, did a great job of coordinating all of our day excursions and eating experiences. Tuscany is a beautiful and relaxing place to explore. Our Chef was very personable and made our hands on cooking experience a lot of fun, besides being educational. Our accommodations were very comfortable and located right inside the old town of Lucca. Plenty of places within Lucca to explore and the wall around the city provides a safe and beautiful place to stroll. I particularly liked the Puccini concert we attended one evening.
— Review left May 11, 2023
Really enjoyed this small program to learn Italian cooking. The engaging chef included everyone in aspects of the meal prep. The cooking classes are balanced by regional exploration and exposure to the Slow Food movement, historical tours, and wine tasting. Good balance of classes, tours and free time. I will treasure what I learned and the friendships I made.
— Review left April 26, 2023
This was my first RS trip and my first trip to Italy. It was a memorable trip in the best way!
Since it was a cooking tour, we spent several evenings/afternoon at a cooking school in Lucca. We prepared meals together guided by two wonderful chefs. Our tour guide, Belinda Marcucci was fantastic! So enthusiastic and knowledgeable!
We enjoyed several tours around different locations in Tuscany including wine and olive oil tastings.
A trip I will never forget!
— Review left April 6, 2023
A wonderful tour of Tuscany with a knowledgeable and friendly guide, Cristina Viti, which covers the region's art, food, wine, landscape and customs. Cristina has selected excursions in Tuscany that add another layer of interest to the theme of food and wine and give the tourist a very complete experience in the regiion. Highly recommended. Elaine Alexander, Scottsdale, AZ
— Review left April 3, 2023
This was my second RS trip and as per usual it was fabulous. RS does a wonderful job of taking care of everything so that the traveler enjoys the experiences of the region. If you enjoy eating you will love this trip.
Not only did we eat what we learned to cook from 2 fabulous chefs at the Italian School of Cooking in Lucca; but the food everywhere was fantastic.
Our group leader Belinda M. was also a treasure. As a local Lucchesian she was very knowledgeable of everything Lucca with informative and educational tours and refined recommendations for shopping, restaurants, other points of interest that were not on the original tours. Never a dull moment if you are so inclined.
— Review left November 27, 2022
Cooking in Tuscany was amazing, we learned so many things. A trip I will never forget
— Review left November 15, 2022
Christine was fantastic! This trip was beautiful and interesting and lots of fun! The cooking classes were wonderful and the city of Lucca is gorgeous, filled with history, beauty and charm. Everyone we met knew and loved Christine giving us a unique opportunity to have special tastings and treats that otherwise would not have been available. The wineries were set in historic villages within castles that we were able to explore. Add to the history and charm was the fashion and style in the downtown areas. If you love to walk there's a mile long raised wall around the whole city that you can walk on each morning. The views from the wall are breathtaking and this was a perfect way to start a day of eating great foods and tasting fabulous Italian wines.
— Review left November 6, 2022
This program is delightful, informative and very "hands-on," It is well organized, led by informed and friendly guides, includes a terrific cooking experience and gives a broad overview of Tuscany and its treasures!
— Review left November 3, 2022
What a wonderful program! I enjoyed the setting, the tour leaders' expertise and good humor, and of course the good food. I feel confident that I can re-create some of the dishes at home. I enjoyed experiencing a less crowded area of Italy.
— Review left November 2, 2022
This was a wonder program. Words cannot explain how much I learned. I am already looking for a new program to attend because I did not have to worry about any details. Everything was already arranged including the fun!
— Review left October 1, 2022
Cooking in Tuscany is a gem of an experience combining hands on cooking classes with valuable field trips on the sourcing of the very ingredients we used. Learning about the Slow Food movement was an added bonus. This Road Scholar trip was a powerful combination of history and culture that blended well with the cooking. Our guides and instructors were very knowledgeable and compassionate. I was well fed with food and knowledge!!
— Review left May 19, 2022
My 'Cooking in Tuscany' trip exceeded all my expectations. The city of Lucca is an incredible jewel in Tuscany and the trip was a remarkable combination of rich history, incredible scenery, along with the opportunity to cook and eat amazing food.
— Review left May 15, 2022
I thought the program was fabulous! Christina was so smart, enthusiastic, energetic, caring and knowledgeable. All the tours were great and so were the cooking classes. I would highly recommend this trip! Karen
— Review left November 2, 2021
Fun cooking classes with the very personable Chef Gianluca who was welcoming of all abilities, plus great local excursions with our awesome guides Cristina and Elena. A wonderful week in Lucca. Great to be traveling again and feeling very safe in Italy.
— Review left October 24, 2021
If you like Italian food, this is the program for you!
— Review left October 6, 2021
Totally enjoyable experience with an excellent mix of history, interesting “slow food” oriented excursions and enjoyable cooking lessons. Excellent tour leader and perfect group size.
— Review left May 25, 2019
This was the best vacation/trip my wife and I have ever been on. We learned new things about Italian food and cooking, explored interesting regions with expert guides and found new friends we would seek out to travel with again!
Kevin J. Sherry
— Review left April 5, 2019
This program was an excellent opportunity to learn about the "slow food" movement. Kristina Viti was a charming program leader who brought her love of Tuscany to life. Her knowledge of the area was outstanding. I was very impressed with everything I did and learned on this adventure.
— Review left April 4, 2019