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A Food Lover's Paradise in Norcia Cooking Vacations
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Best Food Experiences & Culinary Vacations in Norcia, Umbria
Norcia, a small town famed for its black diamonds, black truffles, its nestled in the center of the region of Umbria, historically enclosed by its 14th century walls and surrounded by the Monti Sibillini Park. It is one of the most popular destinations for Italy cooking classes and some of our best cooking vacations in Umbria.
Having withstood a severe earthquake in 2016, the town has really rebounded with a sense of renewal. Many of the buildings (including the beautiful hotel Palazzo Seneca and its restaurant) were completely undamaged. Other buildings are being rebuilt and restored. The recovery has been remarkable and we are thrilled to be sending culinary travelers to Norcia once again.
With a great culinary history and ancient traditions, the area is famous for its lentils, pork products, cured meats, sausages, cheese, as well as the local truffles, all of which you will explore on our week-long cooking vacations in Norcia. The Umbria region is rich with culture, Renaissance art, wine and gastronomy, as well as hand-crafted products.
Your home will be a beautiful boutique hotel, where you will be welcomed like family by the owners and their staff. Join us for a cooking vacation in Norcia and experience a true food lover’s paradise!
What to Expect on Our Norcia Gourmet Tours in Italy
Why visit Norcia on our cooking vacations in Umbria? There is a reason we call it a food lover’s paradise, and your Italy culinary vacation will include some of the country’s best food and wine, including such local specialties as lentils from Castelluccio, cured meats like coppa, lonza, capocollo, and prosciutto tascabile, delicious pastas, exquisite truffles, and more! Your cooking vacation in Umbria will include:
- hands-on cooking classes with the chefs of a Michelin-star restaurant
- local product tastings and wine tastings
- a truffle hunting excursion
- visits to Assisi, Spoleto, and Montefalco
- accommodations at a deluxe, boutique hotel
- transfers from Rome
- and more!
Norcia, Italy Food & Wine Trip Itinerary
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Day One
- Transfer from the Rome Fiumicino Airport to Palazzo Seneca in Norcia.
- This afternoon, settle in a rest, or take a walk through town.
- This evening, enjoy a dinner at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Vespasia of Palazzo Seneca (3 courses, beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Two
- After breakfast, at 10:30 am, meet for your first cooking class. It will last about two hours and will be an introduction to Umbrian cooking. Sample menu, subject to change:
- Umbricelli pasta with black truffles
- Lamb “porchetta”
- Torta al cioccolato
- Tasting lunch based on your efforts to follow.
- At 4:30 p.m., go on a black truffle hunt. (In the summer, the truffle hunt begins at 6 p.m.) Traditional dinner at the Granaro del Monte restaurant to follow (local wine included).
- Overnight.
Day Three
- Breakfast, followed by your next cooking lesson at 9:30 a.m. Sample menu (subject to change):
- Cannelloni pasta with ricotta cheese and spinach
- Lamb shank
- Panna cotta
- Tasting lunch based on your efforts.
- At 4:00 p.m., visit a local chocolate producer. Visit to the laboratory and tasting of three glasses of wine paired with three types of chocolate
- Dinner at Ristorante Vespasia (3 courses, beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast.
- At 9:30 a.m., depart for an excursion to the legendary Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, with time on your own to explore.
- Lunch on your own in Assisi.
- Afterward, at 3:00 p.m., it’s on to the famous town of Montefalco, land of the Sagrantino red wine, and a visit to a local winery where you will be invited to taste the wonderful wines.
- Return and dinner at Granaro del Monte (local wine include).
- Overnight.
Day Five
- After breakfast, around 9:00 a.m., transfer to Passaggio di Bettona for a 2 1/2 hour olive oil experience. Visit the mill and surprise your senses with a sensory tasting of 5 oils. Through food pairings, you’ll discover how quality oil can enhance the flavors of even the simplest dishes.
- At 3:00 p.m., visit Spoleto, a bronze-age town located on the slope of a sacred mountain in the Apennines. Just one of their numerous ancient Roman and medieval sacred sites is the Duomo, which is home to Filippo Lippi’s last fresco cycle. Time to explore the town on your own.
- Return to the hotel. Ristorante Vespasia for dinner (3 courses, beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Six
- Breakfast followed by your final cooking lesson at 9:30 a.m. Sample menu, subject to change:
- Tagliatelle pasta with Norcina sauce
- Porchetta maialino
- Lentil and ricotta tart
- Tasting lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- Afternoon at leisure.
- Tonight’s final dinner will be at Vespasia (3 courses, beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Seven
- Breakfast at the hotel, final farewells and depart for your transfer to Fiumicino Airport in Rome.
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Day One
- Transfer from the Rome Fiumicino Airport to Palazzo Seneca in Norcia.
- This afternoon, settle in and explore the town.
- This evening, enjoy a dinner at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Vespasia of Palazzo Seneca (beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Two
- After breakfast, at 10:30 a.m. meet for your first cooking class. It will last about two hours and will be an introduction to Umbrian cooking. Sample menu, subject to change:
- Umbricelli pasta with black truffles
- Lamb “porchetta”
- Torta al cioccolato.
- Tasting lunch based on your efforts ends about noon.
- At 4:00 p.m., go on a black truffle hunt. (In the summer, the truffle hunt begins at 6 p.m.) A rustic dinner at Granaro del Monte restaurant to follow (local wine included).
- Overnight.
Day Three
- Breakfast, followed by your next cooking lesson at 9:30 a.m. Sample menu (subject to change):
- Cannelloni pasta with ricotta cheese and spinach
- Lamb shank
- Panna cotta
- Tasting lunch based on your efforts.
- At 4:00 p.m., visit a local chocolate producer. Visit to the laboratory and tasting of three glasses of wine paired with three types of chocolate.
- Dinner at Vespasia (3 courses, beverages not included).
- Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast.
- At 9:30 a.m., depart for an excursion to the legendary Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, with time on your own to explore.
- Lunch on your own.
- Afterward, at 3:00 p.m., it’s on to the famous town of Montefalco, land of the Sagrantino red wine, and a visit to a local winery where you will be invited to taste wonderful wines.
- Return and traditional dinner at Granaro del Monte (local wine included).
- Overnight.
Day Five
- After breakfast, the final cooking class begins at 10:30 a.m. Sample menu, subject to change:
- Tagliatella pasta with Norcina sauce
- Porchetta Maialino
- Lentil and ricotta tart
- Tasting lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- After lunch, transfer to the Rome airport or city center. Arrivederci!
Norcia Food Holidays Details
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Included in Your 6-Night Norcia Cooking Vacation
Accommodations6 nights accommodation in double room
Food & Beverages- Daily breakfast
- 3 lunches, wine included
- 6 three-course dinners (truffles, wine, additional courses paid locally)
Classes & InstructorsYour 3 hands-on classes will teach you the secrets of Umbrian cooking and will be led by the chef of the Ristorante Vespasia, or by their staff. Your classes will focus on environmentally sustainable, local ingredients such as:
- black truffles from the territory of Norcia
- lentils from the plateau of Castelluccio
- lamb provided by local farms situated in the Monti Sibillini National Park
- Chianina beef from a pasture in the Visso area, pork from a small farm in Pieve Torina
- Salumi prepared by a small producer according to the local tradition
- one-year-old pecorino cheese matured in a cellar, and fresh ricotta cheese from a local producer
Classes are held either in the original house of the Bianconi family, or in the beautiful, well-equipped kitchen of the Vespasia Restaurant.
Excursions- Truffle hunting excursion
- Trip to Assisi with time to explore on your own
- Visit of Montefalco with winery visit and tasting
- Olive mill experience
- Visit to chocolate producer
- Excursion to Spoleto
Transfer Details- Round-trip group transfers to/from Rome airport or city center. Late arrivals or early departure transfers may incur an additional fee. Please note that driving restrictions in Rome may limit our ability to transfer you to the city center. We would be happy to confirm transfers with you before you finalize your travel arrangements.
Not Included
- Wine with the dinners at the Ristorante Vespasia
- In-room mini-bar
- Gratuities
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Included in Your 4-Night Umbria Culinary Holidays
Accommodations4 nights accommodation in double room
Food & Beverages- Daily breakfast
- 3 lunches, wine included
- 4 three-course a la carte dinners, wine included (truffles excluded)
Classes & InstructorsYour 3 hands-on classes will teach you the secrets of Umbrian cooking and will be led by the chef of the Ristorante Vespasia, or by their staff. Your classes will focus on environmentally sustainable, local ingredients such as:
- black truffles from the territory of Norcia
- lentils from the plateau of Castelluccio
- lamb provided by local farms situated in the Monti Sibillini National Park
- Chianina beef from a pasture in the Visso area, pork from a small farm in Pieve Torina
- Salumi prepared by a small producer according to the local tradition
- one-year-old pecorino cheese matured in a cellar, and fresh ricotta cheese from a local producer
Classes are held either in the original house of the Bianconi family, or in the beautiful, well-equipped kitchen of the Vespasia Restaurant, which was awarded 1 Michelin star in November 2015.
Excursions- Truffle hunting excursion
- Trip to Assisi with time to explore on your own
- Visit of Montefalco with winery visit and tasting
- Visit of chocolate producer
Transfer Details- Round-trip group transfers to/from Rome airport or city center. Late arrivals or early departure transfers may incur an additional fee. Please note that driving restrictions in Rome may limit our ability to transfer you to the city center. We would be happy to confirm transfers with you before you finalize your travel arrangements.
Not Included
- Wine with the dinners at the Ristorante Vespasia
- In-room mini-bar
- Gratuities
Accommodation Information
The Palazzo Seneca dates back to the 16th century and has been recently restored by the Bianconi family, the owners who have worked in hospitality since 1850, in the heart of Norcia. In the renovation, every detail has been paid attention to with both modern and traditional touches. The comfortable rooms include free Internet access, mini-bar, coffee and tea service, and television, among other amenities. A wellness center and bar is located on the first floor, and a shuttle service is available to a nearby sports center that has a pool and tennis courts.
Sitting room at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Double room at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Elegant room at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Double room at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Bathroom at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Bedroom at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italian Culinary Vacation.
Library at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, home for your authentic Italy cooking vacation
Detail at the Palazzo Seneca in Norcia.
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Norcia Cooking Vacation Packages: Pricing and Dates 2024-2025
See the pricing and tour dates for our fabulous and authentic cooking vacations in Umbria below, and contact us with questions or to book your trip!
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Norcia 6-Night Food & Wine Tour Samples Pricing
See moreUS$4990 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$660 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
- Add US$100 per person to upgrade to Superior room
- Add US$300 per person to upgrade to Deluxe room
- Add US$520 per person to upgrade to Junior suite
- Add US$840 per person to upgrade to Suite
Pricing can vary by date – please inquire!
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Single supplement: please inquire.
Norcia 6-Night Culinary Vacation Tour Dates
See moreOur amazing cooking vacations in Umbria are April 11 through early November for a minimum of 2 people. Our Norcia Italy culinary vacations can also be confirmed for 1 person on request. The itinerary generally starts on Sunday, but other start dates possible, please inquire. The cooking classes are not available Sundays and Wednesdays.
2025
Now taking 2025 bookings. Please inquire for 2025 availability! -
Norcia 4-Night Culinary Tour Sample Pricing
See moreUS$3550 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$75 per person to upgrade to Deluxe room
- Add US$200 per person to upgrade to Superior room
- Add US$350 per person to upgrade to Junior suite
- Add US$560 per person to upgrade to Suite
Pricing can vary by date – please inquire!
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Single supplement: please inquire
Norcia, Umbria Cooking 4-Night Vacations Tour Dates
See moreOur authentic Umbria cooking vacations are available April 11 through early November for a minimum of 2 people. Our Norcia Italy culinary vacations can also be confirmed for 1 person on request. The itinerary generally starts on Sunday, but other start dates possible, please in inquire. The cooking classes are not available Sundays and Wednesdays.
2025
Now taking 2025 bookings, please inquire for availability.
