Cooking Class

Departure with the guide from the hotel to the centre of Montecatini Terme to purchase the ingredients for the cooking class at the old market place. After the visit of the local market, guided tour of the centre of the town, with the special visit of the Town Hall and Tettuccio, the most beautiful spa establishment of the city.

Return to the Hotel for Cooking class. It takes place in the oldest part of the Villa underneath the medieval arch and beside the old fire-place. The beautiful fresh vegetable decorations are used to embellish the room. Our hotel Chef is there to give various culinary suggestions and practical demonstrations with the ingredients purchased at the market.
As the first course gnocchis are prepared with active participation of the guests accompanied by fresh vegetables(bought at the market) sauce. Everything followed by typical Tuscan main course like tagliata with rucola and pecorino and a delicious dessert like "Crema Fiorentina".
At the end of the course, the participants eat the prepared menu, accompanied by the local wines.
To end the day superbly, the typical Tuscan medieval bread with fruit (apricots, wine grapes, figs…) is prepared and baked to be served for dinner together with the best varieties of Tuscan cheeses, local chest-nuts and acacia honey, and home-made jams. All accompanied by DOCG Chianti wine. The cooking class, includes: equipment, food, apron and chef’s hat, certificate of participation, final tasting and guided tour of Montecatini Terme.

Dinners on Theme

Medieval dinner

taste the real Tuscan medieval specialities served by the waiters in costume, and by candle lights.

Medici renaissance dinner

Diner based on specialities of the Florentine cuisine in the renaissance time following various receipts of Catherina de’ Medici the real reformer of the European cuisine at the time: discover the favourite Leonardo’s and Michelangelo’s meals.

Grand gala of fish specialities

10 course dinner with the finest receipts taken from the Mediterranean tradition.

Typical Etruscan dinner.

The real forefathers of the Tuscan cuisine were the Etruscans, who had the fame of being the real gourmets and connoisseurs. According to some roman historians, their being too much “in love” with food and wine, was one of the most important reasons of their decadence. We prepare for our guests, either in one of our beautiful rooms, or outside in our 4 hectares park, by the swimming-pool, at our terrace or under the cedar tree, a typical Etruscan dinner. A variety of wild boar, hare and dear specialities together with some ceci beans first courses are served.

Tasting Sessions

Introduction to the Tuscan wine tradition

Historic introduction together with discovered pleasure of tasting the finest Tuscan wines. The wines are selected and introduced by our sommelier. The tasting is accompanied with fine pecorino cheese, nuts and Tuscan bread.

Guided Extra Virgin Tuscan Olive Oil tasting session

It is impossible not to focus on the quality of the Tuscan extra virgin olive oil which is an integral part of our culture. Tasting includes “bruschetta” with different varieties of certificated Tuscan extra virgin olive oil together with the professional introduction to the olive-growing and oil production.

Discover the secrets of our “Tuscan Chocolate Valley” the food of the Gods”: Chocolate

A special “Chocolate Tour” is organised to the most prestigious Chocolate craftsmen in the region such as the Champion of the World “ Mannori” of Prato, the craftsman that creates wonders “Catinari” of Agliana and the Maestro “Slitti” of Monsummano Terme accompanied by guided tasting of various sorts of chocolate products and the finest Italian cappuccino and espresso.

Wine Tasting

Montecarlo (nearby Lucca)

Following the wine road directed to Lucca Montecarlo is reached. Montecarlo (Carl’s hill) took its name from Carl the IV; it lies in the middle of the Tuscan hillside landscape and is a beautiful medieval borough famous today for the production of extra mild olive oil and DOC white and red wines. The visit to the one of the most famous 18th century wine cellar is organised together with the guided tour with the explanation of the traditional wine making process followed by the wine tasting accompanied by typical Tuscan cold cuts and cheese varieties.

Chianti Wine Road (near to Siena)

Chianti, the „garden of Europe”, famous all around the world for its enchasing beauty. The green hills where olive trees and wine grapes grow give us the superb quality products : Chianti wine and extra virgin olive oil. Besides the beauty of the nature, the small medieval villages, „pietra serena“ churches in the middle of cypresses and pine trees will leave the visitors breathless. The visit to the winery is organised in one of the most famous Chianti’s” fattorias” in Castellina in Chianti in the heart of Chianti Classico Land. The production and the traditional Tuscan way of wining is explained together with the guided visit and tasting of various sorts of Chianti DOCG wines.

Montalcino

The medieval borough at the top of 600 m high hill in the south Tuscany dominates the Ombrone Orcia and Asso valleys. The beautiful panorama of the surroundings, is sometimes extended to the Tyrrhenian coast. The medieval Romanesque gothic architecture characterize the borough above all famous fort he wine production. The growing of the traditional wine- grape variety Sangiovese, becomes something special and extraordinary because of the quality of the land, the weather and its location. The highest quality wine is Brunello di Montalcino, one of the best and more expensive wines of Italy. In 1966 Montalcino was one of the first areas that obtain the DOC quality mark and in 1980 the first to gain the DOCG (the highest quality mark in Italy used only for 30 different wines in Italy). In the medieval castle of “Banfi”, the family and the wine makers will illustrate us the peculiarities of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wine.

Traditional Classic Villa Concert

Since a long time we organize classic concert inside our beautiful villa or outside in our park underneath our four hundred years old cedar tree. The masterpieces from the most important Italian operas are played (Verdi, Puccini, Vivaldi, Rossini, Leoncavallo) on the piano, violin, cello, harp and flute. The opera arias can be also sang by the marvellous voice of our lyrical soprano.