The legendary hills of Sabina lie just north of Rome and were home to Rome's early rivals. In the charm of this setting above the valley of the Tiber is the small village of Selci where one finds the cheering hospitality of the Villa Vallerosa, Montepiano, or Il Paese Delle Meraviglie. All are wonderful destinations for a great culinary adventure.
Your instructors for the week are the local landowners of Lazio who will gladly share with you recipes, skills and culinary traditions that have been passed through the generations. Learn to make the local specialty, falloni, discover the secrets of brick oven cooking, and visit a traditional cheese maker where ricotta and pecorino are produced as they were in ancient times.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Afternoon: Arrival and transfer to your accommodation. Enjoy wine and bruschetta and relax. A tour of the Villa's farm and a short introduction to the course and regional history and traditions follows.
Evening: Welcome dinner at the Villa.
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Day 2:
Morning: Travel to the medieval village of Casperia, with a stop at a local country fair or flea market. Enjoy a cooking lesson, an introduction to Roman cuisine with a touch of Sabino, taught by Elisabetta Gabbuti Perrini at her home--one of the oldest palazzi in Casperia.
Lunch follows the lesson.
Afternoon: Guided tour of Casperia followed by a trip to Cantalupo to visit with the Baroness at the beautiful Palazzo Cammuccini.
Evening: Return to the villa for minestrone and cheese.
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Day 3:
Morning: First, make fresh ricotta and pecorino at the local cheese maker's.
Then journey to the Abbey of Vescovio, a charming 13th-century church, and the Forum Novum, the largest food market to supply ancient Rome.
Lunch at the ruins of the medieval Castle of Rocchettine.
Afternoon: Donna Ornella Russo gives an introduction to Calabrese cuisine at her property, Il Casale di Max, which overlooks the sunset on the Soratte mountain and Tiber valley.
Evening: Dine with the owners of Il Casale di Max.
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Day 4:
Morning: Travel to Poggio Nativo for an introductory lesson on Lombard cuisine by Maria Vittoria Toniolo in her beautiful dining room amid glorious olive groves.
Lunch follows the lesson.
Afternoon: Stroll and shop at the famous, 7th-century Abbey of Farfa.
Return to the Villa for a lesson featuring Piedmontese cuisine by your host, Luciana Pancera.
Evening: Dine with Luciana after the lesson.
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Day 5:
Morning: Lesson in Sicilian cooking at Corlando tre. Sitting atop a hill under huge pine trees, this farmhouse was restored by its owner, a famous Sicilian diplomat. His daughter, Cristina Vagnozzi, teaches the lesson.
Afternoon: Visit to Cottanello to see the hidden Roman Villa of the consul Lucius Cotta, Julius Caesar's brother-in-law.
Evening: A short lesson on brick oven pizza and dinner at Vacone, an 11th-century castle.
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Day 6:
Morning: Paolo Marpillero teaches a course in table presentation and decoration at ther home, a beautifully restored stone farmhouse, at Casaprota.
Lunch on Venetian food.
Afternoon: Return to the Villa to relax and enjoy free time.
Evening: Journey to the village of Montasola for an aperitif and short lesson on liqueurs with Maria Letizia Gabbuti at her grandmother's home.
Farewell dinner at the Osteria di Montasola Vino. Canzoni with the owner, Giancarlo, and delicious food prepared by his wife, Pina.
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Day 7:
Morning: Departure.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
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Cooking School
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