The Roman Countryside™

Tie on your apron and sail to the Island of Ponza!  Join us for a Cooking Vacations with a boat tour to the Island of Ponza in our Mountains and Sea & the Island of Ponza – set in a Medieval winery – with Signor Carlo and Chef Stella.  Get ready for hands-on cooking classes, cultural tours, and wine tastings in this village that was home to my great-grandfather, Costanzo.  My grandfather left Italy and sailed to New York for a new life.  My family continues cooking and welcoming guests in this beautiful village filled with artisan products, farm-to-table produce, and homemade extra virgin olive oil and wine.  This Mountains, Sea & the Island of Ponza experience features traditional cooking classes in Rome with the region’s best wine.

Discover South of Rome delicious local cuisine and our family traditions.  Set in the heart of the Ciociaria region – between castles and hills – this charming Medieval town is known for Marzolina, a special cheese made only in March because that is when the cows graze on the spring green grass.  Enjoy the most precious porcini mushrooms, artisan salami, brick oven baked bread, and delicious artisan products made on the property.

As featured in December 2012 – Click here to read more!

The quaint village overlooks miles of majestic green hills and mountains – with the Roman border to its left and the hills of Monte Cassino to its right.  The village is home to a 10th-century castle, an ancient church dedicated to the patron saint, San Antonino, and a stone tower to protect against invaders and wild olive trees.  Cobblestone streets – no cars allowed – meander through the peaceful village blanketing.

The village lies between the Aurunci Mountains, and Casamari, and is close to the grottos of Pastena, making it a convenient location for trekking, and hiking.  From the village,  you can easily visit Sperlonga and Gaeta.  The property is just one hour south of Rome and one hour north of Naples – close to the Abbeys of Montecassin- making it the perfect destination to visit the small Roman towns.  This authentic cooking and wine tour will immerse you in the food and wine culture.

Regional Cooking

Signor Carlo and Chef Stella welcome you to the kitchen in Cooking Classes Rome where you will prepare four hands-on cooking classes during your stay using seasonal local products from the local garden and purveyors – my family even owns a butcher shop.  In each cooking class, you will use seasonal and local products, while learning tricks of the kitchen and techniques.  Learn how to prepare antipasto, pasta or risotto, main courses, and desserts.  Signor Carlo and Chef Stella lead you through the preparation, slicing, dicing, baking, and cooking – turning local ingredients into delicious lunches and dinners.  Learn how to make hearty soups, fresh pasta- gnocchi and ravioli, vegetables, fish, meat, vegetarian alternatives, and desserts!  Wine is included in each Roman cooking class.

Recipes include eggplant bites, stuffed eggplant, and zucchini with Mozzarella.  Fresh handmade pasta is endless – there’s even a pasta-making class featuring Roman classics such as mezze maniche tossed with eggplant, olives, cherry tomatoes, or gnocchi and porcini mushrooms.  Main courses such as involtini di vitello, stuffed rolled veal with carrot velouté, fish with tomato and basil, stuffed grilled chicken with cheese and herbs.  When in season, hunt for truffles with Signor Carlo followed by making handmade pasta with the shaved truffles and a toast of wine.  Signor Carlo offers a Rome Wine Tasting too – take your glass and join us in Wine Classes Rome with our wine expert host.  Desserts are endless – you will prepare almond biscotti, apple cake, crostate, and open-face tarts made with homemade jams and gelato.  Everyone enjoys the foods made together in the Roman cooking class with local wine included.

Enjoy history, art, culture, and delicious food and wine in this unforgettable cooking adventure in Rome’s beautiful countryside with our family.

Rome Countryside Accommodations

Set on a cobblestone footpath, the property dates back to the 11th century and has been refurbished respecting the original architecture with all of the modern comforts to make your stay perfect.  Step into this cozy palazzo that is elegantly decorated with country antiques and art. Each room has been decorated blending comfortable beds with beautiful bedding and decorated with a collection of art from Signor Carlo.  Old Word treasures such as original tile floors, and wood beam ceilings add a country touch giving a feeling of times past.  Each bedroom has its ensuite private bath.  Breakfast is served daily and includes bread, cakes, eggs, and homemade jams with Italian cappuccino, espresso, coffee, tea, juices, fresh fruit, and yogurt.  Following breakfast, step onto the piazza where worn cobblestones of bygone past lead you to wander through this beautiful hillside town.

Click for Property Photo Gallery

Sperlonga and Gaeta

The coastal towns of Sperlonga and Gaeta are just ten miles apart from each other, and are part of the Ulysses Riviera, a breathtaking landscape comprised of clear blue waters, sandy beaches, cliffs, caves, and Ancient Roman archeological sites.  Its seaside location offers a variety of delicious Roman classics – zuppa di cozze, a mussels soup which is a speciality of Gaeta; fritti misti di mare, a mix of flash-fried fresh seafood; and seppie con carciofi, cuttlefish and artichokes. In addition to its seafood, a culinary gem of the region is mozzarella di bufala. Enjoy the local cuisine as you walk along Sperlonga’s whitewashed lanes lined with restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Relax and take in the atmosphere at the Piazza della Repubblica in the town square, or visit the nearby Villa Tiberio, the one-time residence of Roman Emperor Tiberius, close to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Sperlonga. Travel to Gaeta and discover Monte Orlando, a rocky headland that towers over the surrounding area and contains numerous monuments such as the Mausoleum of Lucius Plancus Munazio and the Sanctuary of Montagna Spaccata.  In addition to its gorgeous beaches and the bright, bold colors of its architecture, the town features the Cathedral Basilica of Gaeta, its main church home to the 13th-century bell tower.

Veroli, Casamari Abbey, and Arpino

Discover Veroli, a small town filled with artisans and famous for its extra virgin olive oil, is located right in the heart of Ciociaria. The village’s historic church Basilica Concattedrale di Santa Maria Salmone with its exquisite interior is a must. Veroli hosts a festival every March for the crespella, a traditional pancake.  Another tradition is ciambella all’anice, a golden brown anise-flavored bread in the shape of a crown. Visit Casamari Abbey which dates back to the 11^th century and is the most important example of Gothic Cistercian architecture in Italy. A monastic presence of over 200 monks still reside there to this day. Further east is the town of Arpino, the home of ancient Roman consul Marcus Tullius Cicero. Nestled high in the hills, Arpino’s beauty lies as much in its lively atmosphere and genuine spirit as it does in its colorful buildings at the Piazza Municipio and its main church the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo. Arpino’s main attraction is the Civitavecchia di Arpino, an acropolis, which offers the best view of the town. Arpino has its fair share of culinary traditions, but you will sample the delicious truffles that are found in the rolling hills that surround the area.

Ponza

Take in the beauty and mystery of the Pontine Islands on a scenic cruise around the isle of Ponza. Surrounded by a clear blue sea, Ponza’s comune is unmissable with its warmly-colored buildings and bevy of ships in port. The village shares its precious land with a sundry of stunning beaches and coves, including the stunning Grotti di Pilato, a system of man-made tunnels and pools constructed by the Romans. Enjoy sunning, swimming, and snorkeling around Ponza, as well as lunch aboard the ship. Ponza’s local cuisine holds a treasure trove of seafood cuisine like Calamari ripieni, stuffed squid, alici marinate, marinated anchovies, tonno sotto olio, tuna in extra virgin olive oil, pastas like spaghetti con le vongole, spaghetti with fresh clams, and linguine all’aragosta, linguine served with fresh lobster linguine. Ponza locals love their desserts.  You will enjoy zeppole, flash-fried dough puffs filled with yellow cooked cream, Casatiello, artisan sweet bread stuffed with cooked yellow cream, and struffoli, flash-fried puffs drizzled with honey. The cruise will also take you to Palamora, an uninhabited island that famed oceanographer Jacques Costeau called it “the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea.”   There are natural grottos and cliffs in the colors of the enchanting Mediterranean on the island of Ponza.

Rome Countryside Accommodations

Set on a cobblestone footpath, the ancient palazzo dates back to the 11th century and has been refurbished respecting the original architecture with all of the modern comforts to make your stay perfect.  Step into this cozy palazzo entrance elegantly decorated with country antiques and art and step back in time. Each private bedroom has been decorated blending comfortable beds with beautiful bedding and decorated with a collection of art from Signor Carlo.  Old Word treasures such as original tile floors, and wood beam ceilings add a country touch giving a feeling of times past.  Each bedroom has its ensuite private bath.  Breakfast is served daily and includes homemade bread and cakes, farm-fresh eggs, and jams handmade in the kitchen along with coffee, tea, juices, fresh fruit, and yogurt.  Conveniently located close to the piazza, after breakfast, you can step out onto the worn cobblestones of a bygone past and wander through this beautiful hillside town.

Click for Property Photo Gallery

Itinerary: 6 Days, 5 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Cooking Class 1

• Morning – arrive at the property.
• Enjoy a welcome cocktail.  Meet Signor Carlo as he introduces you to the village and your cooking program.
• Lunch at the property with an introduction to local products. Additional wines and beverages at a surcharge.
• Walking Tour of the village: including a visit through the Medieval village, to the Farnese Castle, and the churches, along with a brief history of the village during World War II.  Also, food notes on the local cuisine.
• Later afternoon:  Tie on your apron for cooking class 1.  You will prepare a full-course traditional menu.  Dinner follows and everyone enjoys the food made in the cooking class with a toast of local white or red wine.

Day 2: Gaeta, Sperlonga, Grotta di Tiberio and Museo Romano; Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast and with your driver, depart for Gaeta to visit the town’s historic center. Gaeta is a beautiful seaside town set on the Ulysses Riviera, a land of myths and heroes like Ulysses and Aeneas – known for its seafood and delicious buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.
• Lunch is included in a trattoria in the Gaeta.
• Following lunch, the tour continues to the town of Sperlonga. In Sperlonga, visit the piazza, Tiberius’ villa, or the Ancient Roman museum.
• Following your tour, return to the property for cooking class 2.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with a toast of local white or red wine.

Day 3: Visit to Veroli, Casamari, and Arpino ~ Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast is served
• After breakfast and with your driver, depart for a tour to Veroli. Visit the town and historic center with its many churches and artisans.
• Lunch at a trattoria in Veroli, wine not included and available at a surcharge.
• After lunch, transfer to Casamari Abbey to visit the centuries-old monastery.
• The tour continues to Arpino, the city of famed orator Cicero and home of the incredible archaeological site of Civitavecchia and its Acropolis.
• Return to the property, tie on your apron, and get ready for your cooking class 3. Dinner follows and everyone enjoys the foods that were made in the cooking class together with a toast of local white or red wine.

Day 4: Ponza and Palmarola Boat Excursion (Except in August)

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast and with your driver, leave for the coastal city Terracina, where you will depart by fast jet ship (only 75 minutes) to Ponza in the Pontine Islands. The 5-hour boat excursion will offer a panoramic view of Ponza and nearby Palmarola, swim stops in beautiful locales, sunning, snorkeling, and lunch served onboard. Ponza boat tour ticket included.
• The boat includes armchair seats, air conditioning, bar service, stabilized navigation for more comfort, and a ladder for stops along the sail where everyone can swim in the sea.
• Return to the village in the late afternoon.  Enjoy local dinner at our favorite trattoria in the village.

Day 5: Anagni, Piglio, Alatri Wine Tour ~ Cooking Class 4

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, depart for Anagni, residence of the Borgia, Colonna, and Cosini families. You’ll visit the town’s Cathedral, its crypt, and the historic center.
• Transfer to Piglio for the Cesanese del Piglio D.O.C.G. Wine Tour. Enjoy a tasting of traditional local wines served with artisan products.
• Continue to Alatri to visit the town’s Acropolis surrounded by megalithic walls and its historic churches.
• Return to the property.  In the early evening, tie on your aprons for your cooking class.  Everyone prepares a full-course dinner of local fare.  Dinner follows and everyone enjoys the foods that were made in the cooking class together
• with a toast of local white or red wine.

Day 6: Check Out & Arrivederci!

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out.
• Arrivederci e a presto!a