- One-Day Tours:
- Mondays at the Market € 125 per person
- A Kitchen in Chianti:
- Wednesdays € 175 per person
- Week-Long Programs:
- Certaldo
€ 2,220 per person
- Divine Days:
- The Diva Comes to You Ask about pricing
- Secrets of My Sicilian Kitchen Tour:
- November 6-12, 2010
- from my earlier web site
- "Florence for Foodies"
- "Recipes: Tastes of Florence"
- "Dining Guide to the Chianti"
- "Friends: Artisans and Their Recipes"
- "Newsletters: Insights into Tuscan Life"
Just like her Divina Cucina logo (an angel holding a wooden spoon), Judy Witts Francini brings the spirit of a joyful guardian to her culinary tours of Florence. She is an absolute pleasure to be with, taking you on her backstage tour of the local food scene she's been a part of for three decades. With Judy by your side, you're no longer a tourist—you're embraced by her family and friends, welcomed into the heart and soul of delicious Florentine traditions. --Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places In Italy Every Woman Should Go
Week-Long Programs: Certaldo
Join Judy, the Diva of Divina Cucina, in a week-long program in the heart of Chianti offered April through November. Three hands-on cooking classes held at The Villa La Poggiolaia and visits to wineries, butchers, cheese makers, and other local artists and artisans makes this week a full immersion in the Tuscan way of life.
Sample Program: Each week may vary as I try to include local festivals and markets.
Saturday: Check into villa. Enjoy a complimentary welcome basket.
Sunday: Crossing over the Valley into Chianti Classico area, we visit Panzano and its tiny weekly market. Panzano is home to the famous butcher Dario Cecchini. We will pick up supplies for our dinner at the shop and visit other artisans in the village. Lunch at Dario Cecchini's Solociccia. Dinner at villa.
Monday: Tour and tastings at Florence's Central Market, one of Italy's largest food markets. After lunch, a guided tour of Florence. Dinner at a local family trattoria. more…
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Hands-on cooking class at villa preparing full 4-course Tuscan meals. Rolling out pasta, making bread, and basic sauces are all part of the program. Following the cooking class, we will head out to a local artisan or village. If you like you can just stay and read a book or relax by the pool. For the Wednesday class, we will shop the weekly market in the morning. A long street market with everything from tablecloths and clothing to pots, pans and food. We will begin at the market and then head to the grocery store to create the menu for today's class. Depending on the season, these classes may be lunch or dinner. I like to not plan the week too much in order to take the best advantage of the weather and any special events.
Friday: We will head out to tour some of my favorite small hill towns. A full day in Chianti visiting wineries, local farms, Radda in Chianti, Greve, and Castellina. Lunch and dinner included
Saturday departure.
Certaldo is on the train line from Florence to Siena and is a one hour ride. We are near San Gimignano, Colle di Val d'Elsa, and Siena. Round trip transportion is provided to the villa.
All meals are included.
I promise you a beautiful week that you will always remember. This program is also available year-round for private groups of 6 or more.
All programs are per person € 2,220, not including housing. Housing cost varies during seasons and for the size of apartments. It is also possible to stay at a small hotel with pool near the village of Certaldo. At Villa Poggiolaia and the Villa, one and two bedroom apartments are often available. Includes hands-on cooking classes, and all meals and wines.
Airfare is not included. A € 380 deposit due at booking; balance with 90 days of program start. Credit cards accepted through PayPal.
The program is also available on a day-to-day basis, allowing people to adjust the trip to their pace. If you would like to add days to visit museums before or after the culinary week, we can help with arrangements for hotels, drivers and guides in Florence, Venice, Rome and other destinations.