About the location: La Lodola is a charming family run countryside bed and breakfast in
Southern Tuscany and more specifically in the Valdichiana. What is unbeatable about staying at La
Lodola (in addition to the food!) is that it is a thirty minute drive to Arezzo and Cortona
in one direction and Pienza and Montepulciano in the other.
Mario Porcu and Beatrice Caratello own an antique and interior design business in Pienza and when
their children moved out of the house several years ago they decided to convert a portion of the
their large farmhouse dating back to the 1750’s into a quaint bed and breakfast. They remodeled the
available space into five distinct bedrooms filled with tasteful antiques and en-suite bathrooms and
have recently added LAN internet access in the rooms and air conditioning. In the communal living
room one can enjoy sitting by the fire place or reading a book on the comfortable sofas. If you must
stay in tune with the outside world there is a television here, otherwise they are only put in the
rooms on request. In the summer a homemade continental breakfast is served on a large marble
table outside in the courtyard and during cooler months breakfast is served on small tables in a cozy
room which opens to the living room. There is a large garden (where many fresh vegetables and
herbs are picked and used for the cooking classes) and a large inviting swimming pool overlooks
the valley, with tables and lounge chairs for outdoor relaxing.
About the lessons: We were very pleased to find out that Mario and Beatrice's son, Chef Carlo Porcu,
has recently returned “a casa” and with his entrepreneurial sense opened up the intimate Osteria and
Wine bar on the ground floor. This small establishment seats just twenty-five people and is the
best way to enjoy local cuisine, mingling with the locals over a wonderful bottle of Chianti.
Carlo has a growing wine collection
(about 300 labels so far, mainly Tuscan) and the dinner menu changes daily, depending on what
Carlo is in the mood to make or what he finds fresh at the local market. Carlo spent time working
abroad in a restaurant in New York and then as private Chef on a sailing yacht. However Tuscany
beckoned him back and he now enjoys sharing his passion for high quality meats and cheeses and
the freshest of products with guests who want to learn more about Italian cuisine. Although it is
becoming always more difficult, he feels cooking is something that should be done without being
rushed and for his classes he proposes dishes that have roots in Tuscan and Sardinian traditions (his
family hails from both regions) but can be made anywhere and in a simple fashion.
La Lodola Cooking Getaway is perfect for those who do not have a lot of time available but would
still like a mini-escape to the Tuscan countryside to learn more about Tucan wine and cuisine in an
unpretentious family-style environment. It has been designed keeping in mind the freedom that a car
gives and is a perfect addition to a longer Italian sojourn. "Lodola" means the lark bird in English, and
like this bird our getaway is sweetly inviting you to come to Tuscany!
La Famiglia at La Lodola
Foiano della Chiana (Arezzo), Tuscany
Itinerary
Day One
Itinerary may be slightly altered due to opening and closing days and times of establishments.
- Arrive at La Lodola on own in the afternoon.
- Check in and settle into your reserved
rooms.
- Time to enjoy the manicured grounds or take a dip in the swimming pool.
- Meet Chef Carlo
and enjoy dinner tonight at his Osteria La Lodola, local wine included.
- Overnight.
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Day Two
- Enjoy a continental breakfast with coffee or tea, homemade cakes and marmalades,
breads, yoghurt and pastries.
- Travel on own to a nearby pecorino cheese maker for a special cheese
tasting with local wine.
- Afterwards you may wish to explore the area around Pienza. Corsignano
was the original name of this town which was renamed Pienza after Enea Silvio Piccolomini
became Pope Pius II. He radically remodeled the town in the second half of the 15th century
creating the “ideal” city, following precepts of the urban and aesthetic ideals of the Renaissance.
-
Visit the Porcu and Caratello family antique store and delight in the sensory pleasures of the many
stores which sell local products.
- In the late afternoon meet Chef Carlo in the kitchen for your first
hands-on cooking class. Your four course meal will include an antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno
and dolce.
- Dinner to follow based on your efforts, local wine included.
- Overnight.
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Day Three
- Breakfast at La Lodola.
- Travel on own to a local winery which makes Vino Nobile di
Montepulicano enjoying a visit to the estate with tasting.
- Afterwards you may wish to explore
Montepulciano, a quaint medieval town with spectacular views of the Val d’Orcia countryside.
-
Lunch on own.
- Afternoon and evening free for individual activities.
- On your way back to the
Lodola you may wish to make a stop in Lucignano, a picturesque medieval village with its
concentric military walls still in place.
- Overnight at La Lodola.
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Day Four
- Breakfast at La Lodola.
- After breakfast depart to explore the Montalcino area on
own. Time at disposal to discover the town and its Medieval fortress.
- Reservations for you have
been made in late morning for a visit of a winery which makes the famed Brunello. Enjoy a guided
visit followed by a tasting of three of their wines.
- Lunch, afternoon and dinner on own.
- Overnight at
the La Lodola.
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Day Five
- Breakfast at La Lodola.
- Day at leisure for individual activities. You may want to
explore Arezzo and/or Cortona today. Both of these cities have been “put on the map” by recent
films – Arezzo with the Oscar award winning Life is Beautiful and Cortona by popular book and
film Under a Tuscan Sun. Both cities are of ancient origins, with Cortona dating back to the
Etruscan civilization whose heyday was 600 BC! Arezzo, instead, is famous for being the
hometown to the great Tuscan artist Vasari and for having the fresco masterpiece by Piero della
Francesco, which will take your breath away. Enjoy the quaint alleyways and charming boutiques.
- In the late afternoon meet Carlo for a true tuscan experience, a special salami tasting paired with
Tuscan wines.
- Farewell dinner to follow.
- Overnight at La Lodola.
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Day Six
(Other day itineraries could include Asciano and the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore or the spa
towns of Rapolano Terme and Bagno Vignoni. Your hosts would be happy to make other suggestions!)
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US$1100 per person in double room
US$1200 per person in a double-room suite
Single supplement: please inquire
Extra nights available on B&B basis, please inquire.
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2008 Tour Dates
Available on request for a minimum of two people (but program cannot start on Tuesday).
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Included in the program:
- Five nights accommodation at B&B La Lodola on double room basis
- Daily breakfast
- Two dinners at La Lodola with local wine included
- One hands-on four course cooking classes, with wine included
- One cheese tasting with a local cheese maker
- One Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine tasting at Avignonesi or similar
- One Brunello wine tasting with local products
- One salami and wine tasting with Chef Carlo
- Taxes and VAT
Please note there are about 20 steps from the ground floor to the second floor, and there is no elevator.
There are 4 double rooms (one of which on the ground floor) and one double-room suite.
Please Note:This is a self driving itinerary and you will need your own car. We would be happy to assist you with a low cost rental.
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Cooking Vacations 
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