The Roman Countryside™

Join us for a Cooking Vacations in our Roman Countryside Food & Wine Tasting tour set in a Medieval winery with Signor Carlo and Chef Stella.  Tie on your aprons in Rome 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 home made extra virgin olive oil and wine.  The Roman countryside vineyards and wine tasting experience is an authentic food lover’s experience!!!

Tie on your apron and join us in the kitchen to learn about local Roman cuisine and our family traditions.  Set in the heart of the Ciociaria region, between castles and hills in Lazio, this charming Medieval town is known for Marzolino, artisan cheese made only in the month of March because that is when the cows graze on the spring green grass.  Enjoy the most precious porcini mushrooms, artisan salami, wood-burning brick oven baked bread and extra virgin olive oil.

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

The quaint village overlooks miles of majestic green hills and mountains – with the Roman boarder to its left and the hills of Monte Cassino to its right.  The village is home to a 10th century castle, an ancient church to the patron saint, San Antonino, a stone tower to protect against invaders and wild olive trees.  There are endless cobblestone streets – no cars allowed – and a never-ending sense of peace.

The village lies between the Aurunci Mountains, next to Abbeys of Montecassino, Casamari, and near the grottos of Pastena, making it a convenient location for trekking, hiking and visiting nearby Sperlonga and Gaeta.  Just one hour south of Rome and one hour north of Naples, makes this village a perfect destination to see the nearby areas.  This authentic Roman cooking and wine tour will immerse you into the local food and wine culture.  Enjoy history, art, culture and delicious food and wine in this unforgettable cooking adventure in Rome’s beautiful countryside with our family!!!

Regional Roman Countryside 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 traditional and a pasta workshop making 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 pastas- gnocchi and ravioli, vegetables, fish, meat, vegetarian alternatives and desserts!  Wine is included at each Rome cooking class.  Be a chef in a day Rome!

Recipes include:  Eggplant bites, stuffed eggplant, and zucchini with Mozzarella.  Fresh handmade pasta is endless – with classics such as mezze maniche tossed with eggplant, olives, cherry tomatoes, or gnocchi and porcini mushrooms.  Main courses such as:  veal involtini with carrot velouté, fish with tomato and basil or grilled and stuffed chicken with cheese and herbs.  Desserts are endless, but we’ll name a few:  almond biscotti, apple cake and tarts made with a selection of homemade preserves or semi-freddo, a creamy ice cream cake. Truffle  cooking class Rome are also available in season.  Signor Carlo offers Rome Wine Tasting too – take your glass and join us in wine classes Rome with our wine expert.  Everyone enjoys the foods made together in the best Rome cooking class with local wine included.  Traditional cooking classes Rome are authentic and delicious.

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 in to 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, wood beam ceilings add a country touch giving a feeling of times past.  Each bedroom has its own ensuite private bath.  Breakfast is served daily and includes breads, cakes, eggs and jams hand made 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 bygones past and wander through this beautiful hillside town.

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Tour To The Ancient Villages of Gaeta, Sperlonga, Veroli & Aprino

The village’s Medieval past can be seen in its ancient towers, castle, churches and archways.  Nearby villages include:  Arpino, the motherland of the great orator Cicero; the Medieval village of Veroli, famous for its street artists and artisans; and Boville with its precious Giotto mosaics.  Also in this are are beautiful monasteries including Monte Cassino.  This region called Lazio, is set in the National Park of Monte Aurunci, making day trips to the seaside towns of Gaeta and Sperlonga, and Collepardo, Arpino, Anangi very easy.

Itinerary: 6 Days, 5 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Rome Cooking Class 1

• Morning – arrive at the property.
• Enjoy a welcome Prosecco.  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, 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 joins enjoys the food made in the cooking class.  A toast of wine included.  Extra wine available at a surcharge.

Day 2: Visit to Veroli, Casamari, Isola del Liri and Arpino ~ Rome Cooking Class 2.

• Breakfast is served
• After breakfast and with your driver, depart for a tour to Veroli.  Visit the town and historic center.
• Transfer to Isola del Liri to visit the town and its waterfalls.
• Lunch at a trattoria in Isola del Liri, wine not included and available at a surcharge.
• After lunch, visit Arpino and then return to the property.
• Tie on your apron and get ready for your cooking class 2. Dinner follows and everyone enjoys the foods that were made in the cooking class together.

Day 3: Anagni, Piglio, Lago di Canterno, Fumone: Wine Tour

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, depart for Anagni where you’ll visit the town’s Cathedral, its crypt and the historic center.
• Transfer to Piglio for the Wine Tour. Enjoy a tasting of traditional local wines served with delicious local products.
• Continue on to Lago di Canterno and Fumone to visit the castle.
• Return to in the evening for your cooking class.
• Dinner is included at the property. Enjoy a special menu featuring traditional and local products- with local wine pairings, cheeses, salumi, and extra virgin olive oil.

Day 4: Montecassino, Archeological District of Casinum, Grotte Di Pastena; Rome Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast and with your driver, depart for Monte Cassino where you will visit the famous Abbey and archeological site.  After your morning tour, we stop for traditional lunch with wine and water included.
• Continue on to Pastena with its natural caves – first discovered in 1926 by Carlo Franchetti.  The caves are part of the consorzio Grotte Pastena e Collepardo.
• Return to the village.  Tie on your apron for cooking class 3.  Dinner follows and everyone dines on the foods prepared in the cooking class.  A toast of wine is included.  Additional wine is available at a surcharge.

Day 5: Gaeta, Sperlonga, Grotta di Tiberio and Museo Romano; Rome Cooking Class 4

• 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 Torre di Orlando, a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean – known for its seafood and delicious cuisine.
• Lunch is included in a trattoria in the Gaeta.
• Following lunch, the tour continues to the town of Sperlonga.  In Sperlonga, visit the the piazza, or Roman Museum and Tiberius’ Cave.
• Following your tour, return to the property for cooking class 4.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the foods that were prepared in the class.  A toast of wine included.  Extra wine available at a surcharge.

Day 6: Check Out & Arrivederci!

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

Note: This sample itinerary schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saints days; festivals. All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the week.