A street in the beautiful town of Cortona, Tuscany.

Main square of the medieval town of Cortona, Tuscany.

View of Tuscan olive groves seen on a cooking vacation in Italy

Your hosts for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Sunset over medieval Cortona in Tuscany.

A view of Assisi visited during a culinary tour of Italy

Plated dish during your culinary tour of Tuscany

View of the residence during your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Making fresh, homemade pasta during a hands-on cooking class in Italy with The International Kitchen.

View of Tuscan rooftops during a culinary tour of Italy

Enjoying a plate of cured meats on a foodie tour of Florence

Piazza del Campo in Siena

San Gimignano on your culinary vacation in Tuscany

Cantucci cookies made during your culinary tour of Tuscany

Dish of pasta made on a culinary tour of Italy

Wines in a cask during a cooking vacation in Tuscany

Prosciutto and cheese on a culinary vacation in the Chianti

Suite at Corte dei Papi, your home for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Bed at Corte dei Papi, your home for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Dining room at Corte dei Papi, your home for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Bedroom at Corte dei Papi, your home for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Suite at Corte dei Papi, your home for your cooking vacation in Tuscany

Hotel suite in Tuscany during a luxurious cooking vacation

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Overview

Luxury Tuscany Food & Wine Tours

The hillside village of Pergo, home for our Tuscan Splendor cooking vacations, is enchanting. While the village is situated just four miles from the Etruscan city walls of Cortona, it feels like a world away. Surrounded by rolling green hills – and even some mountains in the distance – this is a place where nature, history, art, and gastronomic traditions have fused to create a breathtaking and relaxing getaway for some of our best cooking vacations in Tuscany.

Learn the ways of traditional Tuscan food during hands-on Tuscany cooking classes, including local pasta varieties like pici pasta, plus delicious meat dishes, and desserts. Delight in the picturesque setting populated by olive groves and vineyards, and explore the “terroir” during authentic Tuscany wine tours and tastings.

Nestled in the scenic region is a family-owned estate that will be your home during your Tuscany cooking vacation, with its lovingly restored 18th-century historic dwelling. The owner, David, and his family respected the structure’s past in its renovation, as they used antique materials in the restoration and conserved original elements, including vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and terracotta floors. Many of the rooms for your Tuscany culinary tour feature a magnificent view of not only the garden but also the rolling hills of the region. David and his mother will welcome you like family and show you the Tuscany of your dreams.

Since the hotel is only a short ride away from other charming towns such as Arezzo, Pienza, Perugia, Deruta, and Assisi, as well as from Montepulciano, you will have ample chance to explore the amazing gastronomy of Tuscany through Tuscany wine tours and and tastings, as well as cultural tours and gastronomic excursions to taste the local products.

Come to southern Tuscany on your Italy food tour and experience the best cooking vacations in Tuscany!

Latest Review

I gave this trip 5 stars

★★★★★

elizabeth

Trip taken June 2022

Tuscan Splendor Cooking Tour in Tuscany, Italy was the highlight of our vacation!! The International Kitchen did a fabulous job creating our itinerary, and Richard was great to work with and kept in touch with us throughout our trip. Our stay at La Corte Dei Papi, outside Cortona was relaxing and beautiful. David, the owner of this family estate, made sure our stay was everything we could hope for. A special shout out to Chef Ryan, our cooking class instructor, who taught us how to cook a four-course Tuscan meal. Our time in his home and kitchen was fun, instructional, and DELICIOUS! Thank you to everyone that made this time special for us! Ciao!

Tuscan Splendor Cooking Vacation Details

Our best cooking vacations in Tuscany include plenty of amazing Italian food and wine, including regional Tuscan pastas like pici pasta and tagliatelle, ribolita soup, Florence-style beef, and desserts. Your amazing 6-night Tuscan culinary vacation will also feature:

deluxe accommodations at a boutique, family-owned hotel
hands-on cooking classes
visits of Cortona and Pienza
a Tuscany wine tasting tour in Montepulciano and visit of a cheese producer
excursion to Assisi
meals as indicated
and more!

Luxury Tuscany Resort Vacations Itinerary

Tuscany Cooking Vacation 6-Night Itinerary
Tuscany Cooking Vacation 4-Night Itinerary

Please note that the order of activities each day can be flipped – with an excursion in the morning and the class in the afternoon for dinner. Our cooking vacations in Tuscany can be customized to include additional nights and excursions. Contact us to start planning!

Day One

Transfer from Terontola Train Station.
Arrive at Hotel Corte Dei Papi, home for your amazing Tuscany wine tour and cooking vacation.
Rest until the evening and then enjoy a welcome aperitif, followed by a welcome a la carte dinner — which includes three courses — accompanied by a good house wine.
Overnight.

Day Two

Breakfast.
Morning: First hands-on Tuscan cooking class, where you will learn to create a traditional Tuscan four-course meal, which might include such dishes as: ravioli, pappardelle, gnocchi, and pizza. Depending on the specific week, the Tuscan cooking classes are held either at the property with one of the hotel’s chefs or at a nearby property with another wonderful chef instructor (transfers included).
Lunch to follow based on your efforts, local wine included.
Afternoon: a guided tour of Cortona with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Etruscan Museum, which includes a rich collection of objects found during excavations in the area. Then, a visit to the Le Celle Monastery, just outside Cortona, where Saint Francis spent part of his monastic life.
Time on your own to explore the town and dinner on your own. (Return transfer back to the hotel must be paid locally).
Overnight.

Day Three

Breakfast.
In the second cooking class of your cooking in Tuscany tour, learn how to prepare traditional dishes, which may include bruschetta, pici hand-made Tuscan pasta with a red sauce, bread soup, Florentine beef entree, and mascarpone.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts, local wine included.
Afternoon on your own. Perhaps visit Trasimeno lake, or shop at the nearby Valdichiana Outlet, where most famous Italian fashion brands can be found, or schedule additional Tuscany wine tours and tastings. (Transfers can be arranged locally).
Dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Four

After breakfast, depart for a full-day excursion including cultural visits and Tuscany wine tours.
In the morning, experience a wine tasting in the ancient cellars located underneath the town of Montepulciano.
Light lunch in the winery.
In the afternoon, head to Pienza for free time to explore on your own.
Next, stop in Val d’Orcia to see a cheese factory, followed by a delicious cheese tasting. At certain times of the year, it may be possible to experience a cheese making demonstration.
Return to the hotel for an a la carte dinner accompanied by good house wine.
Overnight.

Day Five

Breakfast.
Begin your third and final hands-on cooking class of your cooking in Tuscany tour, which will be based on a seasonal menu.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts with local wine included.
Afternoon on your own. Perhaps relax by the pool, or visit Arezzo or Cortona on your own. (Transportation can be arranged locally).
Dinner on your own.
Overnight.

Day Six

Breakfast followed by a full-day excursion to Assisi. You will have a chance to explore this beautiful city on your own, including St. Frances’ Cathedral, a World Heritage Site decorated in frescos by Cimabue and Giotto, as well as other attractions, including St. Mary the Greater Church, the earliest religious building in Assisi. (Lunch on your own in Assisi). (If you would like to schedule a guided tour with a licensed guide, this can be added for an additional cost.)
In the evening, return to the hotel restaurant for a farewell a la carte dinner, including three courses, accompanied by good house wine.
Overnight.

Day Seven

Breakfast.
Your culinary vacation in Tuscany has ended, but the memories will last a lifetime! Check out and transfer to Terontola train station.

Optional additions:

Your Tuscany cooking vacation can easily be customized, whether you want additional nights or tours. Some options that we can include are:

full-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano
full-day excursion to Bagno Vignoni and San Quirico d’Orcia
half-day excursion to Arezzo or Perugia,
half-day tour to Montalcino for Brunello wine tasting or other activities like truffle hunting or a bike tour

Please contact us for details and pricing for these optional excursions.

Please note that the order of activities each day can be flipped – with an excursion in the morning and the class in the afternoon for dinner. Our cooking vacations in Tuscany can be customized to include additional nights and excursions. Contact us to start planning!