A Luxury Lifestyle at Villa Mangiacane
San Casciano, Tuscany

About the location: Enjoy your stay in Tuscany at the very special and exclusive Villa Mangiacane. Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Villa Mangiacane is more than a hotel – it is a luxury private home that welcomes a few select guests in 26 opulent and eclectic rooms and suites. The Villa is located 12 kilometers from the magnificent artistic city of Florence, in the legendary winemaking region of Chianti Classico. The estate includes over 500 acres of vineyards and olive groves, producing from their 6000 trees a truly superb extra virgin olive oil, and from their vines a full-bodied Chianti Classico from Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino grape varieties and a marvelous Merlot. Fine modern wines are produced in a setting that offers old-world hospitality to guests.

Villa Mangiacane is a magnificent 16th-century villa bearing the unmistakable hand of Renaissance master Michelangelo and later Vasari. Once the home of the Machiavelli family and centuries later the Mazzei family, it was bought by a South African entrepreneur in 2000 and since brought back to its former splendor. Within the villa you will find restored original Renaissance frescoes together with paintings and sculptures from the 15th century up to and including 20th-century contemporary.

About the cooking lessons: Your classes will be held with Chef Massimo Bocus, a young, engaging and passionate culinary professional using Italian cuisine with an international twist. He started off studying law, but soon realized it severely limited his creativity. He immediately began working in restaurants to follow his previous and unconditional passion for the culinary arts. During his training, he was taught one golden rule: to respect food. As a chef, his goal is to learn, know and use as many products as possible. In order to give a complete view on cuisine he likes to use international products and create a unique way to mesh them together. He believes that food is more than “a way to feed your body.”

When cooking with Massimo, you will understand his theories: “Food is the frame of a society, it can easily change one’s mood, it can seal a memorable moment and a taste can bring back a distant memory.” You will also learn specialty dishes that vary with the seasons and include: handcrafted caserecce (pasta with broccoli), toasted pine nuts and black truffle, red tuna and porcini mushrooms sautèe on Tuscan bread soup or Irish beef loin filled with foie grass served with a Tuscan vin santo reduction. The historic uniqueness and beauty of Villa Mangiacane, combined with attentive service, guarantees that your stay will be a truly memorable and unforgettable experience.