Join us in Rome’s countryside with your Signor Carlo and Chef Stella for authentic hands-on cooking classes and scenic tours. The ancient village is home to my great grandfather, Costanzo, who 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 – and using our family recipes. The Roman Countryside Vineyards and Wine Tasting tour brings you into the hills of Rome for an authentic experience. Rome cooking classes are authentic and the perfect way to discover the Roman cuisine and culture.
This Roman Countryside tour allows you to choose from either the all inclusive with a private driver, guide, and lunches and dinners included or a self guided tour, with our itinerary, guidance and your own car with Roman food courses.
Join Signor Carlo and our chef in the kitchen, tie on your aprons for a fun-filled and educational cooking experience. Learn about the Roman food and wine, and our family traditions. You’ll learn how to prepare traditional four course menus, along with a Roman pasta cooking class where you will mix, roll out and prepare different local pasta and seasonal sauces.
Set in the heart of the Ciociaria region, 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. The artisan cheese is made by hand and then place in a jar with extra virgin olive oil. In this region, enjoy porcini mushrooms, artisan salami, brick oven made bread and delicious products made in the region in the best Rome cooking class in the countryside!
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. Enjoy history, art, culture and delicious food and wine in this unforgettable cooking adventure in Rome’s beautiful countryside with our family!!!
Regional Cooking
Signor Carlo and Chef Stella welcome you to the Roman Country Kitchen where you will prepare four hands-on cooking classes during your stay using seasonal local products from the local garden and purveyors – our family even owns the butcher shop. In each cooking class, you will use farm-to table seasonal products, and learn techniques in cooking. 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 pastas- gnocchi and ravioli, garden vegetables, fish, meat and desserts! Everyone enjoys the food prepared in the cooking class following each class with a toast of local wine included.
Roman cuisine includes eggplant bites – small puffs of chopped eggplant mixed with bread, cheese and egg that have been flash-fired; stuffed eggplant, and zucchini stuffed with fresh Mozzarella. Fresh pasta includes classics such as mezze maniche garnished with eggplant, olives, cherry tomatoes, gnocchi with a hearty beef sauce and porcini mushrooms. Main courses such as: veal involtini with carrot velouté – stuffed veal, local fresh fish with tomato and basil along with grilled and chicken stuffed with cheese and garden herbs. Desserts include almond biscotti, apple cake and tarts made with a selection of homemade preserves or semi-freddo, a creamy ice cream cake and torzetti, wine biscotti – a tradition!!! Everyone enjoys the foods made together in the cooking class with local wine included.
Rome Countryside Accommodations
Set on a cobblestone footpath, the property dates back to the 11th century and has been fully 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 Ancient Villages Of Gaeta, Sperlonga, Veroli & Arpino
Choose from V.I.P. All Inclusive or Self Guided Tour
Discover the village’s Medieval past, visit its ancient towers, castle, churches and archways with Signor Carlo. Discover the 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 of Lazio is set in the National Park of Monte Aurunci, making visits to the seaside towns of Gaeta and Sperlonga, and Collepardo, Arpino, Anangi very easy.
Itinerary: 4 Days, 3 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.
• A 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 and food notes on the local Rome food and wine.
• 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 with a toast of wine included.
Day 2: Anagni, Piglio, Lago di Canterno, Fumone: Wine Tour & Cooking Class 2
• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, meet your driver and visit Anagni and the town’s Cathedral, crypt and the historic center.
• Following, continue to Piglio for the Wine Tour. Enjoy a tasting of traditional local wines served with artisan products.
• Continue on to Lago di Canterno and Fumone to visit the castle.
• Following your tour, 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 with a toast of wine included.
Day 3: Gaeta, Sperlonga, Grotta di Tiberio and Museo Romano; Cooking Class 3
• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, meet your driver and depart for Gaeta. Visit the town’s historic center set on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Gaeta is known for its seafood and delicious local Roman cuisine.
• Lunch is included in a trattoria in the Gaeta. Wine and beverages are not included.
• Following lunch, the tour continues to the town of Sperlonga. In Sperlonga, visit the the piazza, Roman Museum and Tiberius’ Cave.
• Following your tour, return to the property for cooking class 3. Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the foods that were prepared in the class with a toast of wine included.
Day 4: 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.
All Inclusive Program Includes:
- 4 days, 3 nights accommodations in a charming double room with private en-suite bath.
- Welcome lunch upon arrival, wine not included.
- Introduction To artisan local products with a wine tasting included as a part of your cooking class dinner.
- Walking Tour of Pico with your host. Discover the medieval village, the Farnese Castle, the Churches, Brief History of Second World War in Pico and the Battle of Monte Cassino, the arrival of the American troops and the Liberation, food and local food traditions.
- 2 lunches in traditional trattorias, included. Wine and beverages are not included.
- 3 Cooking Classes with lunch or dinner following including the food prepared in class with a toast of wine included.
- Excursion to Anagni, Piglio, Lago di Canterno and Fumone with English speaking guide; wine tasting and sample of local products included
- Excursion to Gaeta, Sperlonga, Grotta di Tiberio and Roman Museum with English speaking guide, lunch included. Wine and beverages not included.
- Reserved entrance to sites and monuments, entrance tickets not included and payable at the entrance. Each guest must purchase their own tickets at the time of entry.
- Round trip transfers from Isoletta or Sperlonga train station to property.
- Cooking Vacations’ Welcome bag with Chef’s apron, Prosecco toast and recipe booklet.
- A copy of Lauren’s cookbook, “It’s A Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and The Amalfi Coast.”
Program Prices
$2,695 per person based on two guests, including driver and tour guide for all excursions.
For Single Guests: If you are traveling on your own, please call us for the best group price. We are happy to welcome you into an already scheduled group.
OR
Self Guided Program Includes:
- 4 days, 3 nights accommodations in a charming double room with private en-suite bath, based on double occupancy.
- Welcome lunch upon arrival. Wine and beverages are not included.
- Introduction to local artisan products: typical products and wine tasting included as a part of your cooking class dinner.
- Walking Tour of Pico with our English-speaking host in the medieval village, the Farnese Castle, the Churches, Brief History of Second World War in Pico and the Battle of Monte Cassino, the arrival of the American troops and the Liberation, food and Gastronomic Traditions.
- 3 Cooking Classes with lunch or dinner following dining on the food prepared in class with a toast of wine included.
- Self Guided Tour to Anagni, Piglio, Lago di Canterno and Fumone.
- Self Guided Tour to Gaeta, Sperlonga, Grotta di Tiberio and Roman Museum.
- Reserved entrance to sites and monuments, entrance tickets not included and payable at the entrance.
- Cooking Vacations’ Welcome Bag with Chef’s apron, Prosecco toast and recipe booklet.
- A copy of Lauren’s cookbook, “It’s A Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and The Amalfi Coast.”
$1,795 per person based on two guests.
For Single Guests: If you are traveling on your own, please call us for the best group price. We are happy to welcome you into an already scheduled group.
This self-guided program requires your own rental car. Driver, guide and lunches are not included in self guided program.
Transfer from Rome center or Rome Fuimicino Airport to the property are available, upon request.
2025 Dates: This program is available all year round. You can check in and start your cooking program any day of the week. Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates. Airfare not included.
