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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.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
10 days
Program Begins
Lucca
Program Concludes
Lucca
Group Type
Micro Group
Meals
19 ( 8B, 6L, 5D )
Activity Level
Experience the best of Tuscan culinary traditions during intimate cooking classes at the International Academy of Italian Cuisine and visits to local markets where you gather ingredients for your lessons, then enjoy the results. Get a firsthand look at artisanal food production as you learn the centuries-old traditions of Lardo di Colonnata and sample wines with a sommelier.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Participate in four hands-on cooking lessons featuring seasonal ingredients.
  • Visit local markets with your chef-instructor to shop for the freshest produce, meat and fish.
  • Travel the region to visit producers of traditional Tuscan staples: olive oil, pasta, wine and cheese.
General Notes
This is a Micro Group program, with 12 or fewer participants. Please note, the schedule of the cooking classes may vary by date.
Profile Image
Gianluca Pardini
Gianluca was born in Italy and began his culinary career at a very young age. By the time he turned 21, he was working in the only Italian restaurant in Orléans, France. Gianluca worked as a gastronomic consultant in Japan before returning to Italy to open his own restaurant in Lucca. Since 1998 Pardini has dedicated himself to teaching the art of Italian cooking at his "International Academy of Italian Cuisine." In 2004, the Italian Cooking Federation awarded Gianluca "Master of Cooking and Executive Chef."
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Giulia Zanobini
Giulia Zanobini
Giulia Zanobini was born and lives in Florence, Italy. She loves to be in contact with people and has developed very good interpersonal skills through her work experience. Her curiosity for foreign cultures and languages has strongly influenced her educational and career choices. She studied tourism, art, language teaching (English, Italian). Giulia is a Group Guide and Group Leader. She has extensive experience in the tourism industry, which includes having worked as a secretary in 5-star hotels and as a group leader for Road Scholar.
Profile Image of Cristina Viti
Cristina Viti
Cristina Viti earned a degree in Modern Literature and Foreign Languages from the University of Pisa. She has been a group leader for Road Scholar programs since 2010. Previously, she served as an event organizer, a travel agent, a professional conference organizer, a press agent, an enograstronomic (wine and food) program manager, and a teacher of marketing. Cristina’s passions include art and history, reading and theater, traveling, meeting people, and cooking.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two and a half miles at a time and stand for at least an hour and a half; field trips will involve walking on uneven surfaces, some hills, and some stairs without railings. Streets are cobblestones but there are also paved sidewalks.
Micro Group (12 Max)
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (5 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.