Overview
An All-Inclusive Dream Week of Stunning Beauty ,Luxury, Cooking, Wineries, Truffle Hunting, Incredible Food... and Chocolate!
This vacation will consist of a very small and intimate group of about 16 or fewer people. It is an 8 day, 7 night all-inclusive experience in Umbria and Tuscany that is all about having incredibly unique cultural experiences that you will never forget. You will live the Italian life as we cook authentic local recipes together, interact with and befriend the locals, get to know small-village artisans, and so much more. This trip will make you pinch yourself over and over in amazement that you are actually living it. Most of all, it is a week of fun, family and laughter as we share what makes Central Italy so special in a very personal way.
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Norcia : Our Home for the WeekAsk any Italian from Milan to Sicily, or from Rome to Tuscany. The moment you mention the name "Norcia", they will get dreamy eyed. But chances are, you have never heard of it. The Italians dream of Norcia for several reasons: For one, Norcia is one of Italy's most prized culinary hotspots. This tiny little town of just about 3,500 people is has been famous for centuries for food. It is the home of Italy's prized "Prestigious Black Truffles". It is the source of the best prosciutto in the world, the best salami in the world, and so much more. People come from all over Italy to purchase these things here because it is so prized. In fact, thorughout Italy, butcher shops specializing in high-quality pork products are called "Norcinerie", which comes from the name of the town. It is simply the best of the best. Additionally, Norcia is in the heart of the Sibillini National Park, considered one of the most beautiful natural treasures of Italy. The raw beauty of this area with rolling hills colliding with large mountains, and ancient castle-topped hill towns sprouting up here and there is like something from a story book. It is a photographers dream come true. When our guests are here, they can hardly believe that a place like this is real. The town of Norcia itself is charming and pristine. This was the birthplace of St. Benedict, and the location of the St. Benedict Monastery. Everything is kept beautifully with loving pride. You will find the streets lined with adorable sidewalk cafes, gelato shops, wonderful shopping, and butcher shops are something of a time gone by. The Cooking ClassesWe'll have four half-day completely hands-on cooking classes this week, Our cooking classes are not demonstrations. They are 100% hands-on. We structure them so that you can be as involved as you wish in every stage of every course we prepare. The classes are held in the ancient "Casa Bianconi" kitchen, in the heart of town. It is ours for the week, and it will quickly become your home away from home. This week will feature local cuisine of a wonderfully refined nature. We'll make pasta from scratch, Herb Roasted Pork, Tuscan Roasted Chicken, Homemade Ravioli, and much more. In addition, we will have a private and exclusive CHOCOLATE class taught by the master chocolatier at the Perugina Chocolate factory! For those that would rather eat than cook, they will find our location to be fantastic, with much to do. The classes happen right in town, just a few steps from the accommodations and all of the shopping an cafes. There are wonderful trails just outside the village walls, a full sports center, swimming pool, spa, and much more. They can do whatever they like, then make it back in time to eat the meal the rest of us made. The Excursions & ExperiencesWhen we are not cooking, we are heading out on some truly incredible excursions and experiencing things most other travelers can only dream of. We'll go on a Truffle hunt with a national champion truffle hunting dog, we will visit two amazing organic wineries, a Traditional Cold Press Olive Mill, local farmers, a Ricotta Cheese Producer, and much more. We'll even spend an evening experiencing the Gregorian Chant with the monks at the St. Benedict Monastery. Our day trips will take us to Cortona, the setting for the movie and book "Under the Tuscan Sun", Assisi, Spoleto, Perugia, and the breathtaking "Castelluccio Plain". To sum it up, this week's excursions are all set in some of the most beautiful settings in Italy that will evoke the Italian dream at every moment. The Food & WineWe are all about food & wine, and if there is one comment we hear more than any other from our guests throughout the week, it is "I can't eat another bite". You will never be hungry, and you will never want for more wine, period. All of the restaurant meals are in small, local restaurants that are considered the best of the best for their area. These are the places the locals rave about, not the touristy places. Furthermore, we don't do "tourist food". We insist on the highest quality at all times, and always pull out all of the stops. The wine is always flowing at lunch and dinner. We always focus on local wines from the area we are in, and it is always amazing! Additionally, the meals at our cooking classes are not little 'learn to make pasta' classes like many others. Instead, the classes are done to the max. The PeopleIt's all about friends and family! Our groups are small and intimate. We attract people that are looking for an authentic experience, so our guests always become friends right away. Furthermore, we are about friends and family! We are not guides, we are hosts. We are part of the group... we see you as our guests, not our clients. Along the way, you will meet all sorts of new people in the towns we visit. You will know the local grocer by name, you will find the local barista waving to you as you pass them on the street. A sense of belonging develops very quickly as you become part of the fabric of this amazing little town. To Sum it Up...When the week is over, you will have experienced the real Italy that few tourists have ever experienced. You will have made new friends, and you will have learned why Italian culture is so amazing... because you will have lived it. You will have cooked, drank, laughed and had the time of your life. This is a vacation unlike anything you have ever experienced.
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Cities we'll visit...
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What we'll be cooking...
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Factories, Wineries, Mills, Artisans & Experiences...
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Map
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Press the "Play" button below to start a 7 minute guided tour of the itinerary, showing day by day where we go, along with photos at each stop. At any time, you can press the little "hand" icon in the map to stop the tour, zoom in and out of the map, and go through the itinerary on your own.
Accommodations
Our home for the week is the stunning "Palazzo Seneca". This ancient 16th century palazzo was just recently restored by the Bianconi family of Norcia. Their vision was to restore it to its original beauty, sparing no expense to detail, and converting it to a charming boutique hotel. To say they did an amazing job is an understatement. It is absolutely beautiful down to every detail. But it isn't the beauty of the property that really attracted us. It was the Bianconi family and how they run it that impressed us most of all. Since our vacations are all about a family experience and integrating our guests into the local lifestyle, we cannot simply choose a hotel that is beautiful. After all, hotels are generally impersonal, and they detract from the true local experience. But this one was different. Very different. How We Found This Amazing PlaceWe first dicovered it by accident. We were in Norcia on a day excurions during one of our Soriano based vacations. We were unhappy with the restaurant we had chosen for the day, so while our group was browsing the village, we set out to find other options for the future. Michael (One of CDV's founders) walked into a restaurant, and was gretted by Enzo Bianconi. He fell in love with the restaurant, and they got to talking. After a few minutes, Enzo showed Michael Palazzo Seneca, and he was astounded. Along the way, he met the whole family, and they quickly became friends. It was evident that this family was just like us. The authentic experience was very important to them, and everything they did revolved around authenticity and family. Michael returned for a week, and was hosted by the Bianconi family. With every passing day, they showed Michael around, and it was obvious that while this was a hotel, it was right up our alley like no other place we had seen in Italy. Every member of the staff was part of a big family. We saw them in town, bought drinks for one another, and felt that sense of belonging. Because of this wonderful feeling, and the stunning beauty of the area, the Bianconi family started talking to Michael about cooking vacations based in Norcia. They did cooking classes with others, but never to the degree that Culture Discovery does (Big 4 and 5 course family meals, etc.). We all agreed that they would do everything our way with us, and we chose to put a week on our calendar to try it out. Our Alumni Week in NorciaWe announced an "Alumni Only" week based in Norcia for 2011. Seventeen of our past guests that had previously joined us on our Soriano weeks jumped at the opportunity. In fact, we sold it out in three hours. All of our guests agreed. This was something truly special. They had the time of their lives, and like their initial experience with us, they felt an amazing sense of family and belonging here in Norcia. They found themselves becoming friends with the Bianconi family and their staff. Everyone knew everyone by name. They were having drinks together at night, getting to know the locals. They all agreed that this place was magnificent 10 out of 10 in every way. It was a hotel, but it was not a hotel. To sum it up, at the end of the week we asked what they thought, and the cheers were deafening. We asked if we should begin to do this regularly, and all gave two very enthusiastic thumbs up. LocationThe location could not be better. It is right in the heart of Norcia. Step outside, and you are right in the middle of everything -- Shopping, cafes. bars, gelato shops, etc. Taking an evening stroll in this area is simply the stuff of dreams. AmenitiesThe Palazzo has all amenities one would epect from a luxury property: Free WIFI Internet, Laundry Service, Daily Cleaning, Sattellite Television with English Channles, Spa, and an off-site pool. In addition, there is a 24 hour free snack and drink buffet for our guests. Visit the Palazzo Seneca WebsiteClick here to visit their website.
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Trip Extension
Extend Your Trip
Many of our guests make their week with us part of a larger trip to Italy or Europe in general. Often, they will simply spend a few days before or after in places such as Rome, Florence, Venice, or the Amalfi Coast, and need some help planning.
We are always happy to help, and will gladly do as little or as much as you like. If you simply need to find a good place to stay for a night, or if you would like for us to completely plan everything from airline tickets, to extended stays, hotels, rail tickets, tours in other cities, etc. just let us know and we will be happy to oblige.
Our experience in this area is unmatched, and we would love to put everything together to help make your trip as smooth and carefree as can be.
Info About Our Norcia Vacations
Tuscany and Umbria Cooking Vacations
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