The villa la Scuderia and the pool at il Falconiere estate.

Making pici pasta with Chef Silvia at the cooking school.

A view of the countryside.

Enjoying time at the spa.

Suite bedroom at the relais.

Elegant room service at the estate.

A view the relais property and its environs.

Taking a stroll on the grounds of the estate.

The pool and gardens.

The Michelin-star restaurant.

The restaurant terrace.

A view of part of the estate.

Nighttime in the orangerie.

Main square of the medieval town of Cortona, Tuscany.

A view of part of the relais.

Cooking pasta together during a Tuscany cooking vacation

Wine tasting at the winery.

Chef Silvia's kitchen during your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Deluxe double room at il Falconiere estate.

The lovely town of Montepulciano in Tuscany.

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Overview

Cooking at Il Falconiere in Sunny Tuscany

Sold out! Please inquire to be on wait list.

The beautiful Relais il Falconiere estate is located just three kilometers from the historical city of Cortona. The property boasts a small, luxury hotel spread over several small villas, a spa, a winery, and a fabulous Tuscan restaurant run by Silvia Baracchi. Within an easy distance of Montepulciano, Pienza, Assisi and more, Il Falconiere puts you in the heart of Italy!

For many generations il Falconiere was the Baracchi family home before it was converted into a luxury hotel. The Baracchi family still manages the property and will personally take care of you during this fantastic cooking vacation, giving the hotel a warm and inviting atmosphere. Our special week with Pittsburgh cooking instructor Dorothy Tague will take place in a private 8-room villa on the heart of the estate, just a stone’s throw from the spa and restaurant.

Your exclusive culinary week will feature amazing cooking classes, a visit of the family winery, and fabulous excursions to nearby towns.

Come join us under the Tuscan sun for this once-in-a-lifetime culinary tour of Italy!

Trip Details

Your special cooking week in Tuscan will include:

deluxe accommodations at a private villa, part of a Relais & Chateaux hotel
cooking classes with Silvia Regi Baracchi, the chef of a Michelin-Star restaurant, and her staff
meals as indicated, including wine
visits of Cortona, Montalcino, and Montepulciano
farm visit with cheese-making
and more!

Itinerary

7 Night Itinerary

Day One

Welcome cocktail around 8:00 pm with Silvia Baracchi, your host.
The aperitif will be followed by a delicious dinner in the hotel’s fabulous Michelin-star restaurant.

Day Two

After breakfast, your first cooking lesson of your Tuscany cooking vacation, perhaps based on Frances Mayes’s famous stay in Tuscany immortalized in the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun. Your menu might include: eggplant roll with prosciutto and mozzarella, pici pasta with tomatoes and herbs, beef loin with shallots and balsamic, and poached pear with cheese and sabayon.
Lunch to follow accompanied by great Tuscan wines.
Afternoon at leisure. You can relax in the Thesan Spa (which has a Sauna, Turkish bath, Hydro massage pool, and Chromo Emotional shower) and perhaps schedule a wine therapy relaxation massage .
In the evening, take a guided walk around Baracchi’s vineyards and winery on a Tuscany wine tour and learn about the process of wine making, from the vineyard to the bottle.
A wine tasting will follow with dinner at the Michelin-star restaurant.

Day Three

Breakfast.
In the morning your Tuscany food tour will continue with a guided sightseeing tour of Cortona, setting of the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun.
Lunch at a typical trattoria in town.
Return to Il Falconiere for the next cooking lesson.
Dinner to follow based on your efforts, wine included.

Day Four

After breakfast your Tuscany culinary vacation continues when you depart for a visit to a local farm, where you will see sheep, chickens, rabbits, geese, and other animals. You will also get the milk for your cheese-making class, and will enjoy lunch to follow.
This afternoon enjoy a visit of Montepulciano. You will love the stunning landscape of the Val d’Orcia, and will have the opportunity to taste Rosso di Montepulciano and Brunello wines. Dinner while you are out or back at the relais.
Return to the estate.

Day Five

Breakfast, then enjoy a free day to relax at the estate or to journey out for individual explorations. We can make reservations at the spa, you might just relax at the villa, or you may want to explore other parts of Tuscany. The train station is a short taxi ride away and from there you can visit a number of Tuscan towns.

Day Six

Breakfast and enjoy a leisurely morning. Perhaps take a walk around the estate, or enjoy more time in Cortona.
This afternoon, transfer to the nearby Locanda del Molino in Cortona for another cooking class.
Dinner to follow.

Day Seven

Breakfast. Then your Tuscany culinary vacation continues with a visit of amazing little Tuscan towns of the Val d’Orcia and a special truffle hunting experience (or, in case of bad weather, another activity will be proposed).
Lunch out during the excursion based on local food specialties.
Back at the Relais, enjoy the last cooking lesson, menu based on Etruscan cuisine. Your menu might include traditional wild herb pie with parmesan fondue, “gnudi” pasta with ricotta cheese, local lamb in a crust of Tuscan bread, sautéed greens, and berry cake with mascarpone cheese mousse.
Dinner to follow.

Day Eight

Breakfast.
Group departure transfer. We hope you have enjoyed your Tuscan culinary vacation and we await your return!

Cooking under the Tuscan Sun Trip Details

7 Night Details

Included in the 7-night Tuscan Cooking Vacation

Accommodations

7 nights accommodation in the Villa la Scuderia on the Falconiere estate

Food & Beverages

Daily breakfast
5 lunches, with wine
6 dinners, with wine

Classes & Instructors

Four of your cooking classes will feature traditional Italian and Tuscan recipes with Chef-Owner Silvia Baracchi, or one of her chefs. The fifth class will be a special cheese-making experience!

Excursions

Guided visit of Cortona
Visit to local farm with cheese making
Visit to Montepulciano with wine tasting
Seasonal discovery of the Val d’Orcia with a truffle hunt

Transfer Details

Group transfers included from/to the Florence airport

Miscellaneous

Spa services are not included but can be reserved. The spa’s relaxation area is open to guests by appointment. Treatments are also available (prices subject to change without notice):

Antioxidant bath €100
Tuscan vineyards wine-based peel, bath, and massage €280
Olive oil face and body treatment €280
Facials from €140 for 60 minute treatments
Body treatments from €145 for 50 minute treatments
Massages €90 for 30 minutes/€145 for 50 minutes
Manicures from €40
Pedicures from €60

Not Included

City tax, paid locally
Airfare
Trip insurance
Gratuities
Meals except as indicated

Where is this trip located?

Trip Rating

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Country:

Italy

Region:

Tuscany

Best Sellers

Good for Solos

Michelin Star Experiences

Tour Dates:

Available any dates your choose for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.

7 Nights

Starting at

$5,175

Accommodation Information

The Falconiere estate is comprised of number buildings, including the beautiful villa la Scuderia, which was originally the estate’s stables before being restored into a luxurious private villa. The villa faces the pool and boasts 8 bedrooms on two floors – 2 deluxe, 2 suites, and 4 junior suites – as well as a sumptuous living room.

The relais is part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux chain, and all rooms offer both elegance and comfort with antique furnishings, wonderful fabrics, and views of the olive groves and vineyards.

The villa la Scuderia and the pool at il Falconiere estate.

Deluxe double room at il Falconiere estate.

A view of part of the relais.