Perugia & The Chef's Villa™

What better place to learn about Italian chocolate than in Perugia, home of the much-loved, decadent Perugina Chocolate! Spend the week in a luxurious Villa apartment amid elegance, comfort and tradition, and accompanied by warm, friendly, family hospitality in the green heart of Italy. Here you will take part in hands-on cooking lessons and learn how to cook up the most delicious traditional Umbrian dishes and rich chocolate-focused desserts. Your Perugia chocolate-lover’s program will leave you bathed in, perfumed with and happily full of chocolate from head to toe, but there will also be local wine tastings, olive oils and regional delights to balance the sweet and the savory, the chocolate and the vanilla, and the grove with the vine.

Cooking Classes

Giuseppe and Elga are your hosts and Elga leads you in Umbrian cooking classes with ancient recipes from her family’s cookbook.

Her classes are a unique and enjoyable experience filled with traditional recipes and informal discussion. Classes are conducted in English, with the opportunity to learn Italian names and words for the dishes and ingredients, too.

Menus always focus on the freshest seasonal ingredients as well as Umbrian specialties such as truffles, pecorino cheese, and torta al testo. Traditional pasta dishes, specialty desserts, chocolate cakes and the finest local wines are also featured. Each morning begins with a market visit at 9am, returning to the kitchen at about 10AM for your hands-on cooking class. After class, relax and enjoy the wonderful lunch or dinner you have prepared accompanied by local wines, water and coffee.

Umbria & Perugia

Situated in the center of the Italian peninsula, the region of Umbria is traditionally considered the green heart of Italy. As a guest, you will certainly be enchanted by the dazzling views of centuries-old villages perched atop radiant green, rolling Umbrian hillsides. Umbria is internationally known for the quality of its wines and olive oil, both of which have been produced and exported for centuries. Visit wineries and oil mills and experience the roots of the ancient land of Umbria.

The Etruscan and medieval Perugia is a city of art, culture and nature. Important events take place throughout the year, such as the Umbria Jazz Festival (about 10 days in July), and Eurochocolate (about 10 days in October). Built on the crest of a hill, your gateway to the city of Perugia is the magnificent Etruscan Arch still perfectly intact. Mysterious passageways of the old underground quarter run under the fortress at La Rocca Paolina, commissioned by Pope Paul III and built by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger in 1549.

Other attractions include the Etruscan monuments, the museums, the fresh Umbrian air, the myriad of restaurants where you can savor the traditional dishes of Umbrian and Italian cuisine, and the friendliness of the locals, who have a long tradition of welcoming visitors from other countries as Perugia is home to the University for Foreigners for Italian Language Studies, the oldest and most prestigious institute of its kind in Italy.

Accommodations

The 15th-century historic farmhouse, built on Colle Giorgio, a hill just outside Perugia, was converted into a family villa in the 1970s. From 2001-2002, the building was refurbished and remodeled into three luxury apartments, perfect for visitors wishing to spend their holiday in Umbria.

Located in open countryside, but a mere stone’s throw from the historic center of the city, what makes the Villa unique is undoubtedly the friendly family management. The combination of tradition and culture helps fulfill the owners’ three priorities: elegance, comfort and the closeness to your host family. This balance is beautifully achieved in apartments furnished with antiques and decorated with frescoes depicting the paintings of the most celebrated Umbrian painters of all time. BiLocal apartments are completely furnished with full private bathroom with 2-person Jacuzzi tub, fully equipped kitchen, satellite TV, Wireless Internet connection, fireplace, small library, terrace and personal safe (sleeps 2-3 people). TriLocal apartments include two bedrooms, sofa bed in living room, full private bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, fully equipped kitchen, satellite TV, Wireless Internet connection, fireplace, small library, terrace and personal safe (sleeps 4-6 people).

The Villa also has a new salt-water swimming pool with hot showers, a ping-pong table, laundry service, Internet point and parking.

The owners live in an adjacent wing of the Villa, to guarantee you a warm, friendly Italian welcome. Your hosts are on site to attend to all your needs, provide suggestions for sightseeing and cultural tours from the most interesting Umbrian towns to even Rome and Florence, a mere 1 ½ hour drive from Perugia, as well as restaurant recommendations, personal shoppers, and more.

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Itinerary ~ 8 Days, 7 Nights

Classes are held throughout the year. Check in and start your cooking program on any day of the week.

Day One: Arrival & Welcome

• Arrival transfer from Perugia Airport or Train Station.
• Check in and meet your hosts at the Villa.
• Market Excursion with Giuseppe to learn the traditional foods of Perugia and stock up your private apartment for the week.
• Enjoy your Welcome Dinner in at the Villa and meet your hosts. Beverages included.

Day Two: Discover Perugia, Perugina & Tempting Chocolate Massage

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning,  visit the Perugina Chocolate Factory. During the tour, taste the famous Italian chocolate, in particular the silver-foil wrapped Bacio, with intriguing frasi d’amore tucked inside.
• The pleasure of chocolate continues with a luxurious massage featuring chocolate, cocoa, cocoa butter and essential oils. This delicious Chocolate Massage will open up your senses and leave you happily relaxed and refreshed.
• Continue the day with a tour of the medieval center of Perugia, from the underground ancient city of Rocca Paolina to the Umbria National Gallery and why not, a Tea Time at Perugia’s oldest pasticceria, pastry shop, famous for its chocolate and sugar sculptures.
• Dinner on your own, suggestions available upon request.

Day Three: Wine Tasting & Olive Oil In Torgiano

• Breakfast is served.
• Depart in the morning for the day in Torgiano to visit the prestigious Lungarotti family vineyard and winery, wine museum and olive oil museum.
• The town of Torgiano, just south of Perugia, is known for its DOC, origin protected, wines and is also among one of the most beautiful country villages in Italy, with its medieval castle dominating the small village.
• Entrance is included to the Lungarotti Wine Museum, where you can walk through the history of wines in Italy, winemaking and storing techniques, and sample some local varieties as well.
• Wine Tasting included in Lungarotti osteria, lunch on your own.
• Return to the Villa in the afternoon.
• Dinner on your own, suggestions available upon request.

Day Four: Market Tour & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning, meet your chef for your Morning Market Tour to select the season’s freshest fruits and veggies, wood-oven baked breads, local cheeses and more: perhaps you didn’t expect that landlocked Umbria offers seafood, but in fact today you find a plethora of fresh-water fish at the fish market to bring back to the kitchen.
• Later in the morning, return to the kitchen for your first hands-on Cooking Class 1. Work with your chef to create your full course lunch, from appetizers to chocolate-rich desserts.
• Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class. Local wines, water and caffè included. Menu varies by season.
• Afternoon free and dinner on your own. Whip up a light dinner in your kitchen or head out for a bite, suggestions provided upon request.

Day Five: Morning Spesa, Market Shoping & Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning, meet your chef for your morning spesa, market shopping, to select the ingredients for your second cooking class. Today there are pungent Umbrian truffles at the market, or artichokes that leave your mouth watering. Pick up the day’s best ingredients and head back to the kitchen.
• Later in the morning, return to the kitchen for your hands-on Cooking Class 2. Work with your Chef to create your full course lunch, from appetizers to the last sprinkle of cocoa on your dessert.
• Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class. Local wines, water and caffè included. Menu varies by season.
• Afternoon free and dinner on your own. If you aren’t still happily satisfied from lunch, head out for a bite; suggestions provided upon request.

Day Six: Morning Market & Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning, meet your chef for your morning market tour to select the ingredients for your third cooking class. Learn about the different grades and qualities of chocolate, from light milk to the darkest, bitter dark chocolate and pick up the ingredients for your chocolate and Italian desserts class.
• Later in the morning, return to the kitchen for your hands-on Cooking Class 3. Work with your Chef to create decadent chocolate creations such as truffles, or Surprise eggs and Italian cakes such as the Ciaramicola or Zuccotto.
• A full course lunch follows, featuring the desserts prepared in class. Local wines, water and caffè included. Menu varies by season.
• Afternoon free and dinner on your own, suggestions provided upon request.

Day Seven: Personal Shopper ~ Cashmere, Ceramics, Chocolate

• Breakfast is served.
• Spend the day with your personal shopper, who will help you find the best local artisan products based on your personal interests. Whether it’s Deruta ceramics handmade in the area, artisan crafted Italian cashmere, Umbrian handmade fabrics, artwork or hidden chocolate shops, Giuseppe will organize an artisan-shopping day for you.
• Take time out for lunch on your own.
• It is also possible to visit local outlets in the area featuring designer Italian names, Italian cashmere, wool, leather and other quality Italian wares.
• Return to the Villa in the afternoon.
• Evening dinner is served at the Villa with your hosts.

Day Eight: Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and say goodbye to Giuseppe, Elga and the family.
• Departure transfer to Perugia Train Station or Airport.Arrivederci Perugia!