8 Day Italian Cooking Vacations in Puglia, Italy
For Singles & Friends
The Cooking Vacations is held in the beautiful Casino Pisanelli. The venue was built in the 18th century and is surrounded by acres of olive groves. It has recently been featured in Homes & Gardens magazine, in an article entitled Italian Renaissance.
With a long and beautiful coastline you are never far from the sea in Puglia so it’s not surprising that fish is a local staple and a focus of our Cooking Vacation in Puglia. Other ingredients close to the local chef’s heart include mouth watering ricotta cheese, chickpeas, capers, green peppers, aubergines, mozzarella and basil. There are fantastic market gardens in this region so the vegetables are locally grown, very fresh and often organic. The itinerary includes a visit to the Otranto Market, so that you can experience one of these wonderful markets for yourself!
Undiscovered and off the beaten track, Puglia forms the "heel" of Italy, bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the south. An ideal location for a gourmet holiday, it has the longest coast of any Italian region, eight hundred kilometres of coastline stretching down the Adriatic and around the heel into the high arch of the lonian Sea and the Gulf of Taranto. This heel reaches out towards the Eastern Mediterranean, and at times the landscape has the look and feel of Greece rather than the gentler Italy of Rome and the North.
Described as one of the most beautiful houses by the sea (Elle Décor 2005) and featured in the September 2007 issue of Homes & Gardens Magazine, the property dates back to the 18th Century when it was used by the local aristocrat, Count Pisanelli as a hunting lodge. It has recently been lovingly restored using the skills of local craftsmen and artisans to produce a stunning blend of modern and traditional Italian style. As well as the swimming pool, cleverly integrated into the formal gardens, there are also courtyards with lemon and orange trees - the perfect setting for meals al fresco! Surrounding the lodge are acres of olive groves which provide delicious extra virgin olive oil throughout the week.
Cooking Vacation Itinerary:
Saturday
Our Flavours transfer will meet you at Brindisi Airport and take you to the villa for welcome drinks and time to relax before dinner prepared by our local chef.
Sunday
After breakfast, you will have your first cookery lesson with our lovely local chef Antonio, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit Santa Maria di Leuca (at the very tip of the Salentine Peninsula where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet). Enjoy an aperitivo before dinner at the villa.
Monday
After breakfast your second hands-on cookery lesson followed by lunch. The afternoon is free to enjoy relaxing by the swimming pool or taking a bicycle ride to a nearby village. Dinner is at the villa.
Tuesday
After breakfast, the group will leave for a trip to Lecce – the ‘Florence of the South’. Lunch will be at a local trattoria. After lunch, we will visit Otranto situated by the sea, and visit the famous cathedral. Dinner will be at the villa. Please note the itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and allowing for the Italian ways!
Wednesday
This morning, another cooking lesson with Antonio and then lunch. In the afternoon, the group will enjoy a private wine tasting at a local winery. Dinner is at the villa.
Thursday
After breakfast, a cooking lesson is followed by lunch. Later in the afternoon, the group will visit Gallipoli and take the chance to wander around the old town. Dinner at an excellent local fish restaurant.
Friday
Enjoy your final cookery lesson this morning and then lunch. The afternoon is free to sunbathe or relax by the pool. A farewell dinner will be prepared for you by the chef.
Saturday
After breakfast, your transfer will collect you and return you to the airport.
Cooking Vacation Price: $2,890 - 8 Days
| Date | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
| May 6 to May 13, 2023 | Puglia | 8 Days, 7 Nights- $2,650 per person |
| June 17 to June 24, 2023 | Puglia | 8 Days, 7 Nights- $2,650 per person |
| June 24 to July 1, 2023 | Puglia | 8 Days, 7 Nights- $2,650 per person |
| July 1 to July 8, 2023 | Puglia | 8 Days, 7 Nights- $2,650 per person |
| October 15 to October 22, 2023 | Puglia | 8 Days, 7 Nights- $2,650 per person |
Vacation Includes
5 cookery lessons with our lovely local chef, Antonio.
Private, en-suite accommodation in our Puglian villa.
Day trips to local towns such as Lecce, known as the 'Florence of the South'.
All meals and wine, including 2 meals at a local restaurant
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Deposit
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A non-refundable $750 deposit is required at time of booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure.
