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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon: After checking-in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Accommodations will be in the pedestrian-only historical center of Lucca. Pick-ups and drop-offs will be at the bus stop, a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Streets are mostly cobblestones. The cooking school is in Vicopelago, about 2.5 miles (10 minutes by bus) from Lucca. Transportation will primarily be provided by motorcoach, unless specified otherwise. These are the names of typical food courses: l'antipasto — literally "before the meal" — a hot or cold appetizer; il primo piatto, the first course, often soup or pasta; il secondo piatto, the second course or main dish; il contorno piatto, a side dish such as vegetables or salad; and il dolce, dessert. Breakfasts will be hearty buffets; most lunches and some other meals will be two courses featuring local dishes. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Before dinner, we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail together.
Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal of regional specialties with wine, coffee and water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow road scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead.
Activity note: Walking about 1 mile on cobblestone streets.
Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet’s choices include an egg dish, a variety of sliced cold cuts and cheeses, breakfast breads, jams, hot and cold cereals, and fresh fruit with coffee, tea and water.
Morning: We’ll begin our adventure with an expert-led walking field trip through Lucca, taking in the atmosphere and seeing architectural legacies predating the Roman Empire all the way to the Renaissance at the Domus Romana, an archaeological site in the center of Lucca. We’ll delve into the lengthy history of this area through informative museum exhibits and excavation sites.
Lunch: At the Domus Romana, we’ll experience a Roman-style convivium, or communal “banquet.” Wine, water and liqueur included.
Afternoon: Our first cooking lesson will be at the International Academy of Italian Cuisine, with a professional chef. This comprehensive hands-on course is designed to teach us how to make four-course lunches by covering cooking techniques applicable to pasta, pastries, and everything in between.
Dinner: At the cooking school, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson along with other dishes prepared by the chef, plus wine and water.
Evening: Upon returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Drive to Garfagnana is about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking approximately 1.5 miles throughout the day on uneven terrain.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After transferring via motorcoach to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, we’ll go on a field trip led by our Group Leader to the Caseificio Bertagni, a small family-run “caseificio,” or creamery, producing both sheep’s and cow’s cheeses from Tuscan milk exclusively.
Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal featuring specialties of Garfagnana made from local seasonal ingredients. Coffee, tea, water included.
Afternoon: Returning to Lucca, we will enjoy some free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 1 mile on cobblestone streets.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We’ll embark on an expert-led walking field trip of Lucca with emphasis on the progression from the Renaissance to the Modern Age.
Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a plated meal featuring regional cuisine with a glass of wine, water, and coffee included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: We’ll then transfer to the Cooking School for our hands-on cooking lesson.
Dinner: At the Cooking School, we will eat the meal we have prepared.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We will begin by visiting a local market on foot with our Group Leader for an authentic experience of how people from Lucca go food shopping in preparation for cooking. We’ll then transfer to the Cooking School for our hands-on cooking lesson.
Lunch: Cooking school meal.
Afternoon: Returning to the hotel, we will enjoy some free time.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 1.5 miles on cobblestone streets and uneven terrain.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: In the late morning, we will have a short transfer via motorcoach,to Fabbrica di San Martino, a farm producing biodynamic wine and oil where we will hear a lecture focused on farm production given by the owner. We’ll then visit the nearby Villa Sardi, a historical noble residence from the 17th century, and follow up our exploration with wine, cheese, and olive oil tasting at the winery.
Lunch: On your own.
Afternoon: We’ll then transfer to the International Academy of Italian Cuisine for our hands–on cooking lesson.
Dinner: At the cooking school meal.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 2 miles on cobblestone streets and uneven terrain. Total driving today is about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We’ll first transfer to Pietrasanta for a walking field trip of this medieval town, led by our Group Leader. A place famous for its connection with marble, artists and sculptors from all over the world have been drawn to live and work here. It has been described as “the small Athens” for its sculpting studios, artistic foundries, and ancient and modern monuments. Its historic center is world-renowned and considered a precious jewel of the Middle Ages. Then, we will carry on to Colonnata in Carrara, where we will visit a factory producing lardo, a type of pork salumi seasoned with herbs and cured for about 8 months in handmade baskets made from local marble. For generations, lardo was a traditional dietary staple of marble quarry workers.
Lunch: At a local lardo producer, we’ll have a light lunch based on the lard of Colonnata along with other local specialties and water.
Afternoon: On the way back to the hotel, we will stop for a visit of a private marble quarry led by our Group Leader and expert staff.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 1.5 miles on cobblestone streets, uneven terrain and some hilly sections. Driving under an hour today.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After transferring via motorcoach to Montecarlo, we’ll go on a field trip led by a local expert to Borgo Antico. Afterwards, we’ll transfer to the local winery.
Lunch: At the winery, we’ll have a light lunch based on the local specialties.
Afternoon: Returning to Lucca, we will enjoy some free time.
Dinner: At the local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with your fellow Road Scholars.
Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See the travel information section regarding transfers.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet depending on departure time. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Class of 2013
if food and wine are your interest, than this tour will introduce you to "slow food" and organic wine and how to make pasta, fresh deserts and the best of the historic Tuscany area
Class of 2013
This trip was historically informative, and fun along with the culinary experience which is the highlight . Our leader Cristina was over-the-top helpful, informative and always willing to accommodate our concerns/questions. Cristina is the real asset to this program. Clearly she is passionate at preserving her love for Lucca and her country. Our other Lucca historical guide for two days Elena is very knowledgeable about the city and it preservation. She is not your typical tourist guide, but passionate about preservation of history in Lucca. There is free time to shop the old city of Lucca and people watch, drink wine or coffee or cappuccino. The various tours of wine estates, a creamery, a marble estate and the city of Pietrasanta's many mediums of art was fascinating . The restaurants included in this program were fine dining exquisitely presented. Ellen W.
Class of 2019
Because of Cristina Viti my experience in Tuscany was unforgettable, memorable, most enjoyable and FABULOUS! She is hospitable, friendly, welcoming, and extremely knowledgeable about Lucca and the surrounding area. Without a doubt, she went over and above to give us a fabulous experience. This was my first Road Scholar trip and I have never enjoyed a trip more than this one. I hope all your other destinations have someone like Cristina on your staff. The hands-on cooking experience at the International Academy of Italian Cuisine was truly hands-on from appetizers to desserts. I learned new techniques and recipes and had so much fun cooking with Gian Luc and my fellow travelers. Gian Luc was welcoming and made my experience so much fun. Each day was planned in detail by Cristina from tours to dinners and everything in between. There was not one experience in which I was bored or wished it was not on the itinerary. I felt immersed in the culture with each area that we visited. I do wish we would have spent more time in Pietrasanta to explore the art galleries and its history.
Class of 2019
This tour greatly exceeded my expectations with the combination of history, cooking, and sightseeing. Being my first trip to Italy, I was thrilled to have such an comprehensive tour.
Class of 2019
If you love to cook, and learn new cooking techniques, plus ways to use foods more creatively, this is the place for you. You'll discover new foods, fresh ideas, and work with an internationally famous chef. It's like having Chef Pardini right in your kitchen, at your finger tips! You'll see a well-stocked kitchen, learn new recipes, and taste delicious food, plus, you'll bring home the recipes to try in your own kitchen!
Class of 2019
What a wonderful trip! It combined an ideal blend of activities and free time. We loved learning about the area from the locals and not being amidst the throngs of tourists. Can't wait to try the recipes at home!
Class of 2019
The cooking part of Cooking in Tuscany is truly outstanding! However there are so many other outstanding aspects to this program as well!!
Class of 2019
If you love learning and want to be steeped in the history, culture and food of Tuscany this program is a must!
Class of 2019
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.
Class of 2018
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
Class of 2015
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.
Class of 2018
Cooking in Tuscany is a wonderful program that encompasses much more than cooking. Christina takes you on a personal tour of an area of Tuscany that she knows intimately and clearly loves. Her enthusiasm and knowledge make the program as she shares the history and culture of her country. She takes you to places you would not find on your own and introduces you to local people who share their passion for wine,olive oil, art and more. I highly recommend spending a week with her and as well as GianCarlo,Elena and their other friends!
Class of 2018
Overall 4+ stars. Well worth it, a memorable experience. I highly recommend this program. 5 stars for well balanced itinerary with excellent tour guides. Christina and Elena know their stuff and add unique insight to each of the tour stops. There was a wide variety of tour stops with something for everyone. I enjoyed them all, some more than others though. Airport pickup and delivery was seamless. 4+ Stars for the cooking school. We had four wonderful meals all with interesting menus and some unique dishes. Local ingredients were outstanding - too bad I will not be able to duplicate that at home. I would have liked more hands-on opportunities to practice techniques but that is a personal preference. The demonstrations were instructive. Gianluca is a terrific, if not inspiring, instructor. I definitely will try 3-4 recipes at home. I already upped my gnocchi game. 3 stars for the accommodation. The hotel staff was more than attentive and accommodating. The hotel was clean and comfortable. Breakfast was more than adequate. However my single room though overall comfortable was somewhat spartan. It had an open shower area adjacent to the commode - it was fully functional and I had no problems in getting a good, hot shower. Street noise in the early morning was somewhat of a problem, garbage collection was quite noisy. The location of the hotel was in easy walking distance to most of the points of interest in the walled city.
Class of 2018
Great trip. The hotel and staff were lovely. I really liked the small size of the group. Learned a lot about the area.
Class of 2018
Cooking in Tuscany is an excellent program which I enjoyed very much. It is the perfect combination of cooking (4 lessons) and other excursions in and around Lucca. The group leader Christina was fantastic, and her personal connections made for intimate and rewarding experiences that I will remember forever. Gianluca has a real passion for Tuscan cooking that he enjoys sharing with all. If every Road Scholar program is as good as this one, then I will be attending many more!
Class of 2018
Outstanding blend of culture, history, food and wine in one of Italy’s most beautiful locations, perfectly paced.
Class of 2018
The opportunity to visit local artisans was exceptional, and the town of Lucca was the perfect place to use as a base for a meaningful Tuscan adventure!
Class of 2018
Cooking in Tuscany was the best trip I have ever been on. The cooking with Gianluca was great, as is expected. But the tours of Lucca with Elena, the dinners, the field trips with Christina to wineries, the marble quarry, art galleries and more, were indescribably wonderful. I cannot recommend this highly enough - it was incredible!! Sally, September 2018
Class of 2018
This was a fabulous trip and so much more than we were expecting! All the tours were excellent. Loved the town of Lucca and have talked about returning. Hard to recommend this trip highly enough.
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