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 sautče 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.
A Luxury Lifestyle at Villa Mangiacane
San Casciano, Tuscany
Itinerary
Day One
- Transfer to Villa Mangiacane in the afternoon.
- Check in and enjoy a welcome drink with fresh fruit in your room upon arrival.
- Dinner tonight is in the villa’s restaurant, local wine included.
- Overnight.
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Day Two
- Buffet Breakfast.
- In the morning meet in the villa’s kitchen for your first hands-on cooking class with
Chef Massimo with lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the late afternoon enjoy an accompanied
visit to Villa Mangiacane’s wine cellars for a wine and olive oil tasting.
- Dinner to follow at the villa,
local wine included and overnight.
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Day Three
- Buffet breakfast.
- At 9:30 a.m., enjoy a full-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano. Your driver will accompany you to these world-famous towns, where you will be free to explore on your own. Siena's historical center has been declared by UNESCO,
a world heritage site and
San Gimignano is a small, walled medieval hill town in Tuscany, famous for its architecture and white wine, vernaccia.
- Lunch on your own with suggestions from your driver.
- At 5:00 p.m. meet your driver and return to Villa Mangiacane.
- Dinner tonight at the villa, local wine included.
- Overnight.
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Day Four
- After breakfast, enjoy your second hands-on cooking class with Chef Massimo this morning.
- Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the late afternoon, around 4:30 p.m. depart for an excursion into
another part of the Chianti Classico area. Visit other important wine-making towns
of Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti with their quaint alleys.
- Along the way, stop at a winery for a visit and tasting.
- Dinner tonight will be in a nearby village of just a few houses at
Osteria di Fonterutoli, local wine included.
- Return to Villa Mangiacane and overnight.
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Day Five
- Breakfast.
- The morning and early afternoon is free for individual activities: enjoy one of the villa’s
pools, relax in the indoor wellness area, or use the Naduschka Spa.
- You may also want to
explore the nearby town of San Casciano or venture to the Prada and Gucci outlets (please inquire).
- Today's lunch on your own.
- In the late afternoon meet in the kitchen for your last hands-on cooking class.
- A reluctant farewell dinner to follow based on
your efforts, local wine included.
- Overnight.
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Day Six
- Breakfast followed by check-out.
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Included in the program:
Round trip transfers to/from Florence train station/airport- Five nights accommodation at Villa Mangiacane on B&B basis
Prosecco and fresh fruit in room upon arrival
- Welcome dinner (local wine included)
- Two dinners at Villa Mangiacane (estate wine included)
- Guided visit of Villa Mangiacane winery with olive oil and wine tasting
- Two morning hands-on cooking classes with lunch to follow (local wine included)
- One afternoon cooking class with farewell dinner to follow (local wine included)
- One afternoon/evening excursion to the Chianti area with visits to Castellina-in-Chianti and Radda-in-Chianti
including a wine tasting in a local winery
- One dinner at Osteria di Fonterutoli (or similar), local wine included
- Round-trip transportation to Siena and San Gimignano
- Certificate and apron
- Tuscan cookbook and a bottle of Villa Mangiacane Chianti wine
- Free daily access to the Naduska Spa and use of outdoor pool facilities
- Taxes
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Wellness at Villa Mangiacane:
The villa houses its very own spa; the spirit, love and passion for art echos through
this elegant retreat. The Naduschka Spa is a unique environment, utilizing
an exclusive range of holistic beauty products from the reputable Officina de’ Tornabuoni.
These natural therapeutic products are locally produced using mostly plants and herbs from the
Tuscan countryside. The spa's holistic approach to beauty and wellbeing offers the perfect
sanctuary for total relaxation and
rejuvenation, soothing both your body and mind. The wellness area also offers:
an indoor heated swimming pool, steam room, sauna, relaxation area, small gym, and
recreational facilities (include cycling, jogging and vineyard hiking).
Room descriptions:
All rooms have been restored and decorated with designer Ralph Krall's signature opulent and eclectic style.
 Classic room:
Classic rooms are located in the vineyard
villa and are individually decorated and themed with ultra-
luxurious marble bathrooms. Rooms offer private gardens
and views of the herb and rose garden piazza.
The classic rooms also offer: plasma TV, Internet facilities and minibar.
 Deluxe room:
Deluxe rooms offer individually decorated and themed bedrooms with queen-size beds and ultra-luxurious marble bathrooms.
The deluxe rooms also offer: garden views, plasma TV, Internet facilities, minibar, private garden
and outdoor plunge pool on request.
 Terrace suite:
Terrace suites are located on the top floor of the main
villa, leading onto a terrace overlooking Florence and the Tuscan countryside.
These opulent suites offer individually decorated mezzanine style bedrooms
with king size beds and marble bathrooms. The suites offer a
separate living area and private in-room dining area. Enjoy a
spectacular sunset over Tuscany, direct views over the city of
Florence or a candlelight dinner from your terrace.
The terrace suites also offer: plasma TV, Internet facilities, minibar and two phone lines.
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Cooking Vacations 
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