About the location: Located just outside the charming town of Bevagna,
the beguiling region of Umbria beckons. Located between Rome and Florence, Umbria is an ancient
land of artists, traditions, wines,
acclaimed and unrivaled beauty. Genius Loci is a rustically elegant and deluxe inn,
a magnificently restored 1880 farmhouse with hand-hewn oak beams, terracotta floors and antique stones.
Sweeping views of the inn’s prestigious vineyards, olive groves, picturesque hill towns and fields of sunflowers,
unfold from every window. The inn boasts spacious rooms with firm beds, superior quality bed and bath linens,
good lighting, window screens, practical and superior quality stall showers, CD players, high speed WiFi
Internet access,
LCD TVs, Molton Brown luxury amenities and comfortable sitting areas in the luxurious deluxe rooms.
The use of carefully coordinated colors and fabrics, heirloom antiques and tasteful artistic
objects have created a harmonious and general sense of well-being during one’s visit.
The owners and your hosts, the bi-cultural and bi-lingual Tacconi family shares their knowledge of Umbrian culture and
love to pamper guests with personal attention. Chef Mary, an art historian, has been living in Italy
for 40 years. She acquired her culinary skills in Umbria directly from the Tacconi family’s full time,
professional cook, eventually becoming a fine cook herself with a great desire to share her culinary
wealth. Maurizio Tacconi, Mary's husband, is an enologist and a creative cook himself who sometimes joins
the classes. Their son Michael, is the inn’s onsite full time manager. Upon graduation from Connecticut College, he
completed an international hotel management program and has since worked in prestigious hotels around
the world, bringing his professional experience to Genius Loci.
About the lessons: Your hands-on cooking classes will explore the essence of Umbrian cooking with attention
to the traditional and creative use of pasta, rice, spelt, beans, hearty soups, vegetables, fruit,
braised/stewed/roasted meats and personally cured-cold cuts and cheeses. Visits to a seventh-generation
butcher shop, an outdoor food market and a gourmet food shop will enhance your experience of Umbrian cuisine.
Many of the local specialties will be prepared in the cooking lessons and sampled in the fine restaurants,
attesting to the wide variety and contrast of flavors in the food of authentic region.
Essence of Umbria
Bevagna, Umbria
Itinerary
Day One
- Transfer from the Foligno train station and arrive at Genius Loci Country Inn.
- Settle into your deluxe accommodations. Time to relax, tour the property, take a swim or enjoy a welcome aperitif.
- Tonight’s welcome dinner will be at local restaurant.
- Overnight.
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Day Two
- Buffet breakfast followed by a visit to a seventh generation gourmet butcher shop.
You will taste traditional Bevagnan cured cold cuts and cheeses.
- Return to the inn for your first hands-on cooking class with Chef Mary. Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the afternoon, you will see the most famous vineyards of the area and visit Montefalco
to visit the San Francesco cycle of Renaissance frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli.
- Free time to explore the village further or shop. Dinner to follow in Montefalco.
- Return to your accommodations and overnight.
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Day Three
- Breakfast followed by an excursion to the picturesque hill town of Spello where you will have a degustation in a gourmet food shop.
- After the tasting, visit the beautiful Renaissance frescoes by Pinturicchio.
- In the afternoon, continue on to Assisi for your guided tour of the town.
View the world-famous frescoes by Giotto and stroll through this “pearl” of a walled medieval town.
- Return to Genius Loci and enjoy an aperitif by the pool.
- Delight in another outstanding dinner of specialties in Bevagna.
- Overnight.
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Day Four
- Breakfast followed by an excursion to Deruta, the ceramic capital of Italy, for a workshop
tour and ample time for shopping.
- Today’s lunch at an outstanding restaurant near Deruta, famous for its award-winning desserts.
- Return to the inn for an afternoon cooking class with dinner to followed based on your culinary efforts.
- Overnight.
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Day Five
- After breakfast, visit a local outdoor market.
- Return to the inn for your third cooking class followed by lunch.
- Following lunch, visit a local leading wine producer for a tasting.
- Afternoon at leisure; perhaps relax by the pool or take a stroll.
- Farewell dinner at an outstanding restaurant located in Bevagna's Roman amphitheater.
- Return to the property and overnight.
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Day Six
- Breakfast followed by departure to the Foligno train station.
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US$3,225 based on double occupancy
US$350 single supplement
US$3,025 non-cooking companion
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2008 Tour Dates
March 24-29
April 14-19
April 28-May 3 (sold out)
May 19-24
May 26-31 (sold out)
June 9-14
June 16-21 (sold out)
September 15-20
October 6-11
Other dates available on request Easter through June and September through October.
Monday is the preferred start day, other start days availabe, please inquire.
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Included in the program:
- Five nights accommodation in a deluxe room
- Daily breakfast
- Three hands-on cooking classes with meal to follow
- Excursions as listed in itinerary
- Transportation for all excursions
- Four dinners at a local restaurant
- Lunch in Deruta
- Wine, water and coffee at included meals
- Roundtrip transfers to/from Foligno train station
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Cooking Vacations 
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