Join Our

Italian Cooking Tour Group!

September 21 – October 3, 2004   

The Rhode School of Cuisine is delighted to present the home of the renowned Italian cooking school, Villa Lucia. Situated in the charming village of Vorno and nestled in the lush Tuscan countryside with panoramic views of Monte Zano to the south and the towers of Lucca and the Alpe Alpuane to the north, the superb Tuscan villa estate comprises three separate villas – Casa Joshua, Casa Cameron and Villa Lucia itself - set within seven acres of private walled gardens.

The main structure of Villa Lucia dates back to the year 500, while later additions and beautiful frescoes reflect the artistic period of the 18th century. Recently featured in a book of elegant Lucchesi villas and formal Italianate gardens, the walled garden of the Villa Lucia estate will delight you with its extensive grapevine pergola, ancient grottos and fountains, swimming pools and tennis court.

All three villas have their own luxury kitchens, reception rooms and private terraces. Each villa is individually decorated to the highest standards. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and king-size top quality beds. The tasteful renovation includes wonderful antique furniture and the curtains and bedspreads are of specially selected designer fabrics.

The Italian cooking school operates from the limonaia which has been converted to create a magnificent open-plan demonstration kitchen and dining-room, and also houses an ancient wine press and wine-tasting room. On sunny days, you will taste the fruits of your labours ‘al fresco’ under the shade of an old cherry tree.

Villa Lucia will serve as your “home base” for exploring one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. The wooded foothills and meadows are carpeted with wild flowers in the spring and filled with magnificent color and fungi in the autumn. Pisa and Florence are less than an hour away.

Your Italian cooking vacation includes interesting cultural excursions. Explore Lucca’s maze of pedestrian streets within its walls, stopping in unique shops selling food, trinkets and clothing, interspersed among the churches and other medieval buildings with their striped marble Romanesque façades. Visit Florence, where the displays of cheeses, salamis, vegetables, and fruit are works of art in of themselves. You will discover Vinci with a visit to the Home of Leonardo and a private tour of the Taccini Brothers’ studio, well-recognized ceramic artists, as featured in Bon Appetit

In Northern Italy you will find the glorious region of Tuscany, filled with ancient cities rich in art and architecture, all nestled amongst vineyards and olive groves, cypress and lemon trees.

Vorno is a charming traditional village, comprised of rustic old stone farmhouses and majestic villas set in the lush countryside at the foot of Monte Pisano in Northern Tuscany. The wonderful walled city of Lucca lies just six kilometers north, midway between Florence and Pisa.

Tuscany’s best kept secret, Lucca, was founded in 180 B.C. and is still surrounded by the old city walls which were built to keep out invaders from nearby villages. Don’t miss the incredible Piazza dell’anfiteatro, Piazza Napoleone, Torre Guinigi or the amazing shopping.

Florence and Pisa are just “at your doorstep”. Florence is famous for its wealth of art, including perhaps the most famous of all statues, Michelangelo’s “David” and Pisa for its Leaning tower. Sienna, San Gimignano, and Voltera are all within easy distance. Whether you prefer to visit Cathedrals and Museums, wineries and pasta factories or simply have a picnic in the olive groves Tuscany offers so much to do that one visit is never enough.

Tuscany is deservedly famous for its sites, culture and centuries of art and history. But this area above all in Italy is famous for its food. The simplicity of “casalingua” cooking is the basis for all Tuscan cuisine. “To cook like your mother is good, but to cook like your grandmother is better,” is an old Tuscan proverb. And, of course, in Tuscany the food is accompanied by wonderful olive oil and some of the world’s best wines. From Chianti Classico to the stunning Super Tuscans this area produces a range of wine second to none.

The Italian cooking classes are set up in an intimate, hands-on manner, so that complete novices can sit along side professional chefs, yet both be educated and amused. Chef Giancarlo Talerico will patiently teach you the skills and techniques required to prepare beautiful Italian cuisine in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Giancarlo's warm personality will make you feel comfortable and fully capable of producing some of Italy's most famous dishes.

He will help you unravel the mystery of selecting the finest, freshest ingredients available. You will learn to differentiate between various olive oils and balsamic vinegars and use them appropriately. With this knowledge of ingredients, you will make full Italian meals: antipasti, soups, assorted primi piatti of pasta, risotto, pizza, secondi piatti of meat, poultry, and fish, various vegetable contorni, and many delicious dolci including Tiramisu and biscotti. You will recreate the flavours and aromas of traditional Tuscan cuisine with pizzas, breads and roasted meats cooked in our wood-burning oven. New “traditional” techniques adapt these recipes for the modern home kitchen and barbecues.

As well as some of the more complicated dishes there are several simple and delicious recipes all complied in the recipe manual each student receives at the beginning of the week. The manual also contains a wealth of information such as a glossary of Italian cooking terms, conversion tables and a list of the recipes you will prepare, cook and eat during your week.

The staff all speak English and will make sure you are entertained or completely relaxed depending on your mood. They have a genuine interest in making this a special experience for you. They understand that this is first and foremost a holiday. The theme is Italian cuisine, and it’s offered in abundance, but never at the expense of enjoyment.

At the end of the week you'll receive your very own Rhode School of Cuisine Certificate, certifying your participation and completion of one of our cooking courses.

More information will be available in the months to come. Space is very limited, so to reserve your space today.  The trip can only be reserved on a first come basis.  

Please contact Nic Turner at World Ventures Travel for more information on this escorted cooking trip to Tuscany, 865-588-7426.