Italian Cooking Holiday

Villa Pieve - Cooking Programs 2008

Leisure & Culture at Villa Pieve In the centre of Italy is a region called Umbria, often called “the green heart of Italy”. In this beautiful land of olive groves, vineyards and gently rolling hills, lies the medieval town of Corciano. On a hill adjacent to this idyllic village, among a grove of Cyprus trees, sits the Villa Pieve, first occupied in the fourteenth century.

V Villa Pieve is a historic rresidence completely rrestored, equipped with eelegant and spacious bedrooms, shared leisure b sspaces, up to date cclassrooms, surrounded by a private park b ccharacterized by Mediterranean vegetation M aand situated in front of a medieval castle. m

the fourteen century while the first and second floor have been realized in the 18th century around the central chapel.

Both the Villa and the Country house are equipped with large suites ideal for multiple occupancy. In double occupancy the Villa and the Country-house can currently host up to 18 couples.

St.Francis Tavernetta

Activities Groups are transferred by chartered bus to Villa Pieve from either San Egido International Airport (Perugia, 30 minutes away), or Fiumicino Airport (Rome, 2 hours away) to Perugia.

Cooking lessons are provided by Master Chef and Sicilian Aristocrat, Bibi Vasta directly in the large Villa’s Kitchen of the Villa (see picture). Meals are served in the private

Inside Court

Villa Pieve is located half V way between the Lake of Trasimeno (where Annibal was defeated by the Romans) and the historic etruscan City of Perugia just 20 minutes away from Assisi (the hometown of San Francis) o Villa Pieve is composed of three V building blocks: the “Villa”, the b ““Country house” and the “Group eevents center”. The Villa has for long b been the private residence of key ffamilies belonging to the Umbrian nobility. The inner part dates back to n Angelo Vasta

Villa Pieve Inside Court

“Tavernetta”. Bibi Vasta and Paola will teach how to quickly prepare famous traditional Italian dishes such as “carbonara”, “parmigiana”, “pasta aglio e olio”, “matriciana” and the like.

The support staff arranges day visits by chartered bus to wine makers , olive oil producers and delicatessen food processors. Accompanied leisure day-tour trips to famous cities such as Florence, Rome and Venice can be accommodated.

Angelo Vasta will provide all the necessary assistance to ensure participants enjoy at the most their Italian experience at Villa Pieve

Gala Dinner at Villa Pieve

Bibi Vasta “Donna Bibi” & Kitchen aide Paola at Villa Pieve

7 day Program Did you know that Pasta alla Carbonara has historical roots? Treating food as a cultural event, you will be taught both theoretical and practical lessons on Italian food and typical regional dishes. In seven days you will learn how to cook real Italian pasta in a program focusing on preparing the most popular and appealing main courses, and revealing the secrets of Italian cuisine.

Bibi Vasta “Donna Bibi” & Kitchen aide Paola during a lesson at Villa Pieve

The penne pasta can also go with the "Sicilian Sauce" that will also be taught in this lesson.

Dinner at Villa Pieve - Main Course: "Penne alla Norcina" and "Pasta alla Norma" with suggested local wines and specific table flower decorations.

First Day Arrive in Rome and travel to Villa Pieve by private coach.

Welcome tour and orientation.

Afternoon - Visit of Corciano: Medieval town near Pieve.

Visit to the “Casa Contadina” Museum of typical country living.

Second Day Presentation of the main course of the day, explanation of how to prepare a handmade "tagliatelle pasta," how to prepare a mushroom sauce and a truffle sauce. Introduction to truffles with truffle tasting on bruschetta.

Lunch at the Villa Pieve.

Main course of the day: "Tagliatelle al sugo di funghi" and "truffles" with suggested local wines and specific table decorations.

Afternoon excursion: Oil Tasting in Umbria’s famous Frantoio located in charming Trasimeno lake.

Dinner in a restaurant whose specialty is sea food.

Don Michele “wine expert”

Third Day Visit to Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis, and Santa Maria degli Angeli. Lunch in a typical restaurant in Assisi and free time for shopping.

Evening cooking class on how to prepare a "Norcina Sauce," typical Umbrian sauce to go with penne pasta.

Donna Bibi “Sicilian aristocrat”

Fourth Day Morning - Visit to Perugia includes “Rocca paolina” The town underground. Duomo, Roman Aqueduct. Lunch at typical Pizzeria and shopping time Afternoon - Cooking lesson at Villa Pieve: Bibi will reveal some of the secrets of the most appealing "Sicilian dishes."

Evening walk to Corciano and Gelato in Piazza during the Medieval festival

Sixth Day Morning - Visit to Florence include: Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days (others were

Scene from the “Agosto Corcianese” Famous Medieval Festival

lunch - at Bar 500 Free time and shopping Afternoon - return to Villa Pieve and packing Evening - 8:30pm Grand Gala Dinner at Villa Pieve with guest personalities.

Eight Day Morning - Goodbye Villa Pieve Bus travel to Fiumicino Airport and back to USA View of “Ponte V V Vecchio” ecchio” (old Bridge) in Flor Florence rence

Fifth Day

destroyed in World War II).

Morning - Visit to a nearby "Cantina." includes wine tasting and explanation of wine making.

Visit to a local Cashmere factory.

Lunch at Villa pieve

lunch - at a local trattoria near the open market.

Afternoon - Tour to the Perugina Chocolate factory and visit to the chocolate museum.

Evening - Return to Villa pieve, dinner and a movie.

Evening - Cooking lesson at Villa pieve, dinner and Wine tasting with Don Michele, your wine expert.

Seventh Day

Afternoon - Visit to the Open market and shopping time on your own.

Morning - Visit to Cortona (filming location if the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”)

View of Casa Bramasole in Cortona

Villa Pieve Fees Double Occupancy

Description 7 day course/per person

$3,399.00

10 day course/per person

4,200.00

Above prices include Lodging, all meals and Day Trips as described in each program.

Single room accommodation add $250 for 7 days or $350 for 10 days Minimum number of participants is 12, Maximum number of participants is 45, however we suggest breaking up large groups so to not exceed 12-20 participants per group.

Given the popularity of the cooking courses reservation is suggested at least 6 months in advance.

To make your reservation please contact Angelo Vasta at the following:

Snail Mail: UmbriaGroup USA W57N524 Hilbert Ave. Cedarburg, WI 53012

Email: avasta@umbriagroupusa.com

Phone: Italy Office: +39-075-782-7147 USA Office:

+1-262-672-2554

USA Cellphone: +1-262-302-0571 Note: The cooking course consists of 2-3 hours per day, the first hour is theoretical and the remaining two hours are of practical demonstration in the well equipped kitchen. Bibi, our Master Chef, Benedetta La Vecchia (a charming Sicilian aristocrat and co-founder of Villa Pieve) will teach the secrets of Italian cuisine in our industrial grade kitchen for practical demonstrations. The general manager of an important Umbrian Winery "The Pieve del Vescovo Cantina," will offer precious suggestions on local wines and wine tasting of the wines they produce.

Antonella Parlani, an anrtist and expert in flower decorations, will show the participants the best way to decorate their tables.

UmbriaGroup USA • W57N524 Hilbert Ave. • Cedarburg, WI 5301