Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence
5
Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence
By Walkabout Florence Tours
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About
Gain deeper insight into Tuscan cuisine during a cooking class and local market tour from Florence. A hands-on experience designed for food lovers, this tour allows you to explore Italian cuisine in more depth than you would by simply eating in restaurants. Pick fresh ingredients from a Florentine market, make the meal in a rustic farmhouse, and then feast on your creations paired with local wine. Recreate your meal at home with recipes delivered straight to your email after the class.
from per adult
$202.24
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 8-99, max of 26 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Delve deeper into Tuscan cuisine during a market tour and cooking class
- A great opportunity for solo travelers to socialize
- Pick ingredients from a market and cook traditional Italian dishes from scratch
- Receive recipes by email in order to recreate Tuscan cuisine back home
- Transport by air-conditioned minibus (20 mins ride to get to the farmhouse)
- Market visit and ingredients
- Cooking class
- 4-course lunch accompanied with wine
- Recipes (sent by email after the tour)
- Cooking diploma
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Meet your guide and group in central Florence, and head straight to a local market selling fresh Italian produce. Browse stalls replete with cheese, cured meats, olives, and balsamic vinegar before you select the ingredients required for this cooking class. Board a minibus and travel through the Tuscan hills to a rustic farmhouse, the quaint setting of your cooking class. Prepare seasonal Tuscan dishes that could include roast pork and bruschetta, stopping to enjoy a glasses of Chianti wine as you go. Create a dessert, like a tiramisu, from scratch before sitting down to enjoy the 4-course meal you've cooked. Return to central Florence by minivan and receive all recipes by email.
- Start:
- Piazza della Stazione, 14/39, 50123 Firenze FI, ItalyYour guide will be holding a WALKABOUT TOURS sign, right by the taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella train station across from the outside McDonald's Return: Santa Croce church area (different from first meeting point)
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5070FARMHOUSE- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- We regret that vegetarian or other alternative dietary requirements cannot be catered for
- On Sundays and public holidays there is no visit to the San Lorenzo Mercato Centrale (instead there will be a visit of the vegetable garden at the estate where you can pick the fresh ingredients)
- Due to uneven and steep surfaces, we are unable to accept anyone with walking difficulties or wheelchair users
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 26 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5070FARMHOUSE
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Sarah C0 contributionsAmazing day in the Tuscan HillsThis was an amazing day. Our guide Fabio did fantastic and was truly passionate about wine. Each of the vineyards had a different feel and a new perspective on wine. And the lunch! Fantastic!!!!! Finally Christian our driver kept us all safe in the safari van.Written September 8, 2024
- Alex S0 contributionsHighlight of Florence tripMano was our group leader, but let me say that every single person on this team was amazing!! So patient, kind and above all fun! Absolute highlight of my trip so far :) sooo fun. Meal was delicious and the estate is very lovely and so peaceful. Would highly recommend this tour. Walkabout tours you have a great team :) Many thanks!Written September 8, 2024
- F2244SMpaulan0 contributionsFun experienceThe vistas were spectacular. The luncheon was delicious and just right. We definitely enjoyed the tour. Guides were very helpful, friendly and sometimes funny. Driving the Vespas at times was a bit stressful. Definitely should not be the first time driving such a vehicle.Written September 8, 2024
- Mobile231382962450 contributionsGreat Day With Great Guides!Such a great day!!! Fabio and Mano were excellent guides and were super thorough and patient when the group did their test drives. So glad we were able to experience the hills of Tuscany with such a great group on a beautiful day. As someone who had no experience on a Vespa before the tour, I do think I would’ve felt more confident if I had done a private training beforehand. However, with the guidance of Mano and Fabio my nervousness completely went away once we got on the road. Could not recommend more. My wife decided that she wasn’t ready to drive the Vespa on her own so she rode in the car with Mano and still had a great time. 10/10Written September 8, 2024
- taketime2ctheworld0 contributionsProvided with excellent guide & great experienceOur guide Merietta was knowledgeable and friendly. The driver did an excellent job. The food was amazing. The countryside was spectacular. We were provided with stunning views. Highly recommend this excursionWritten September 8, 2024
- P2208KBbillc0 contributionsA Great total package Tuscany experience!The itinerary was perfect and covered the main Tuscan highlights we wanted to experience. The included wine tasting and lunch at the winery was a highlight. Our tour guide Alejandro was exceptional and made the whole day more memorable with his breadth of knowledge and humour. Highly recommendedWritten September 7, 2024
- Pauline G0 contributionsTrip to three fabulous placesGinevra was a fabulous guide. So much knowledge passed on from the start of the journey through to the end by her. Al three places of interest were stunning and the lunch at the winery superb. Great value for money. We were all so impressedWritten September 7, 2024
- joseaH8537NP0 contributionsFun fun funThis tour was so much fun!!! Mano made this trip very enjoyable!! The views to the Tuscan dinner were breathtaking!!!!!Written September 7, 2024
- Melissa H0 contributionsPizza and Gelato making with Walkabout Tours - the BestMy 27 year old daughter booked the pizza and gelato making tour. We had walk about tours. They were so magnificent. In all our travels from Florence to Rome then into Switzerland this was one of our favorite experiences. Chris Arla and Titiano were so entertaining and fun to hear and watch. They made things funny and exciting. Chris encouraged us to try different gelatos with different things and go out of our comfort zone with the tastings. We got the best pictures together and laughed so much. Beautiful area as well. Highly recommend this tour. We got to eat our own pizza we made. We are so excited to try and recreate at home. And after we were sent all recipie of all the gelato and pizza recipes. Talk about going above and beyond!! Loved this!!!!Written September 7, 2024
- michellebW2004ZU0 contributionsWine and Adventure!This tour was one hell of a safari! The back of the 4x4 was always bumpin so be prepared for that. If you enjoy adventure, gorgeous views, and delicious wine and food, this is the tour for you. Our tour guide, Sara, was amazing. She had so much knowledge to share and was very patient with all of our questions. It was a huge bonus having her, an almost sommelier, to teach all of us.Written September 7, 2024
- dmastamp0 contributionsHighlight Experience in TuscanyThe cooking classes were a lot of fun! Lavinia, Arla and Tiziano were wonderful instructors. Engaging, friendly and also entertaining! Making gelato from scratch ourselves and then trying every batch the group made was a really cool and gratifying experience. The wood fire oven pizzas we made were delicious. The step by step process was easy to follow and also full of laughs. I can’t wait to use our newly gained skills at home:). On top of all that the location of the classes was in a beautiful estate with an incredible view of the Tuscan landscape. 10/10 experience. I highly recommend.Written September 7, 2024
- antonbI2221QT0 contributionsA memorable trip in TuscanyExcellent experience. Walkabout tour operator seems to be very professional and our guide Genevra ( I hope I don’t misspelled her name ) was extraordinary. Very joyful a lot of knowledge of every place we visited. Also the local guide from Sienna , I am sorry I forgot her name was excellent. Visiting Sienna, San Gimignano and Pisa and taking the lunch at the Winery is a tour I would strongly recommend. A good mention is about our bus driver Igor who was excellent as well. Thank you for this wonderful experience.Written September 7, 2024
- Camper121940586250 contributionsExcellent Tuscan day tripGreat tour! Our guide Manolo was friendly and knowledgeable and kept us all on schedule. He gave us historical and practical information about each town we visited while on the bus ride. In Siena, there was another tour guide Annelisa, who gave us a fun walking tour of the town. San Gamignano and Pisa you explore on your own, plenty of time for pictures. The lunch at the winery/farm was delicious! (They are also generous and offer seconds!) You are able to walk to the vineyard while there. This tour is a great option for anyone who wants to visit more of Tuscany. Only area for improvement is the air conditioning on the bus, so plan accordingly.Written September 7, 2024
- MikeyJ4940 contributionsGreat time and a must see!Great time! Sara was excellent and very informative. Knew when to talk and give information but also let us enjoy the wine without it becoming a history lesson. And the fact that the group was kept to below 30 people made the interaction much more personal and enjoyable. I will say it was mostly couples in case that’s what you’re looking for.Written September 7, 2024
- W8184DOjordanp0 contributionsPizza and gelato class!It was amazing! My mom and I had a great time and we enjoyed the best Italian pizza and gelato we have had so far! All the staff were lovely and joyful great environment and the view and the garden were beautiful!Written September 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
1,873 reviews
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Jai
Tracy, CA23 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
It was a wet rainy Thursday when we did this activity but was by far one of the best experiences we had while in Florence. We first met with Lavinia (our guide and interpreter for Carmela) at the Santa Maria Novella station, then went to the nearby Mercato Centrale to get the ingredients we need. Lavinia gave us some tips and tricks on buying parmeggiano and other hard Italian cheeses and also pointed out places to eat traditional Florentine dishes inside the market. Then we headed to the beautiful estate where Carmela’s kitchen is. Carmela is such pleasant and funny lady and her energy is so contagious that everyone was comfortable in no time, with a little help from the Chiante wine they keep giving us. We also love Lucca who added more fun to the class. We highly recommend Lavinia and Carmela’s class as well as Lucca’s pizza making class if you have more days to spare.
Aside from the pasta we all made individually, we also helped make the other dishes like the pork loin roast, ragu sauce and also made pur own tiramisu. We had some wine with bruschetta with tomato basil topping.
Aside from the pasta we all made individually, we also helped make the other dishes like the pork loin roast, ragu sauce and also made pur own tiramisu. We had some wine with bruschetta with tomato basil topping.
Written December 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KatieW001
Dubai, United Arab Emirates30 contributions
This was a brilliant day out! Lavinia is a brilliant guide - she was passionate about Florence and the food culture of Italy! After a short walk through the streets of Florence, we went to the markets. This was a great experience and we really enjoyed hearing Lavinia’s explanations of everything she was buying.
After some time, we went up and out of the city (just 10 mins by bus) to a gorgeous Tuscan estate where we were greeted by the funny and fabulous chef, Carmela!
Throughout our time on the estate, we helped make bruschetta, ragu, a pork main and tiramisu! As the group was quite large, we all helped make these parts of the meal!
We had a brilliant demonstration by Carmela of how to make a range of different types of pasta and then we all made our own tagliatelle from scratch!
Throughout the day, Lavinia was wonderful - she was funny, informative and a great translator! We were kept topped up with a gorgeous Chianti wine too!
Overall, we would 100% recommend this pasta making class - it was so much more than learning how to make pasta! We really had a super day!
After some time, we went up and out of the city (just 10 mins by bus) to a gorgeous Tuscan estate where we were greeted by the funny and fabulous chef, Carmela!
Throughout our time on the estate, we helped make bruschetta, ragu, a pork main and tiramisu! As the group was quite large, we all helped make these parts of the meal!
We had a brilliant demonstration by Carmela of how to make a range of different types of pasta and then we all made our own tagliatelle from scratch!
Throughout the day, Lavinia was wonderful - she was funny, informative and a great translator! We were kept topped up with a gorgeous Chianti wine too!
Overall, we would 100% recommend this pasta making class - it was so much more than learning how to make pasta! We really had a super day!
Written August 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua M
5 contributions
Going into this class we were unsure how’d it’d go we didn’t know what to expect at all being we knew no Italian didn’t know if that’d be a problem. Gloria was an excellent guide through Florence and taught us so much we loved hearing about the wine doors on the streets and learning about the culture from her. Going through the market and learning where the ingredients come from and seeing her relationship with all the different workers at the market was fun and exciting especially once we got to the three year old Parmesan cheese (amazing) it was so delicious.
Once we got picked up and taken to the place we were doing the actual cooking was our favorite part that’s where we met Carmela, she’s so fun, exciting and full of life and energy really got us all involved and knew how to make everything so fun my wife and I learned how to make pasta and tiramisu. We had a great group of people who took the class with us aswell everyone seemed to enjoy everything so much. We had our dinner in a building next to the kitchen it was an amazing view and even better food mid way through dinner we had a rainstorm pass over and lightning struck really close by our experience was amazing to say the least. When we come back we’re definitely doing their other class as well as any other experience they provide thanks so much Gloria and Carmela
- Evangelina & Josh
Once we got picked up and taken to the place we were doing the actual cooking was our favorite part that’s where we met Carmela, she’s so fun, exciting and full of life and energy really got us all involved and knew how to make everything so fun my wife and I learned how to make pasta and tiramisu. We had a great group of people who took the class with us aswell everyone seemed to enjoy everything so much. We had our dinner in a building next to the kitchen it was an amazing view and even better food mid way through dinner we had a rainstorm pass over and lightning struck really close by our experience was amazing to say the least. When we come back we’re definitely doing their other class as well as any other experience they provide thanks so much Gloria and Carmela
- Evangelina & Josh
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Evangelina and Josh,
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us this review, Gloria and Carmela will truly appreciate it. It makes us proud to have been a highlight of your trip :).
Kind Regards,
Walkabout
Written March 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa G
11 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
My husband and I had such an incredible time on this tour! It was one of our favorites from our honeymoon. Olivia was amazing, she took us through the market and showed us and explained to us from top to bottom the market, what is in the market, and which produce we were going to get to make our delicious lunch. We were able to sample a few items which was delicious and had enough time that if we wanted to grab something for ourselves we could! Then we were bused to a BEAUTIFUL Tuscan farmhouse where we met Carmela who was incredible. Olivia and Carmela had such a beautiful friendship and their conversation/them playing off of each other is what truly made the cooking class fun, friendly, and exciting. We were able to interact/cook every step of the way and they were so encouraging for everyone to participate. Learning different ways to make pasta, cooking ragu sauce, and making tiramisu…my goodness I could go on and on! It was truly an incredible experience and we would recommend to anyone wanting a fun, interactive, delicious day!
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindy E
Irvine, CA19 contributions
What a fun way to spend the day in Florence! Isak was a great guide with a lot of knowledge and true passion for cooking and food. He also has a great sense of humor, so if this job as a chef doesn't work out I think he might be a good stand up comic.
I loved our tour of the market and getting tastes from the different vendors. Then we were off to our villa and exquisite kitchen to cook. Although Carmela doesn't speak much English, she shares her love for cooking in her songs and dances. It was especially amusing to watch Isak blush when he had to translate her naughty lyrics.
The food we made was delicious, the teachers were great, the setting stunning...I can't say enough wonderful things about the experience. It was a really nice way as a solo traveler to meet some people and enjoy a little company on the road. Thanks Isak and Carmela for making this an experience I will always treasure.
I loved our tour of the market and getting tastes from the different vendors. Then we were off to our villa and exquisite kitchen to cook. Although Carmela doesn't speak much English, she shares her love for cooking in her songs and dances. It was especially amusing to watch Isak blush when he had to translate her naughty lyrics.
The food we made was delicious, the teachers were great, the setting stunning...I can't say enough wonderful things about the experience. It was a really nice way as a solo traveler to meet some people and enjoy a little company on the road. Thanks Isak and Carmela for making this an experience I will always treasure.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Your sensational heading really brightens our day and the description of Isak and Carmela is so much fun!
Thanks a lot.
Kind Regards
Walkabout
Written January 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebekah
19 contributions
Jul 2019
This tour was a big highlight of our Italian trip. The tour started off with Isak taking us to a local market to collect ingredients for our cooking lesson. We then drove up to a beautiful farmhouse where we met Carmela. Carmela did not speak much English, but with her emotive personality we always knew exactly what she was saying (plus Isak would also translate). My top one reason for visiting Italy was for the food and this tour did not disappoint. The bolognese pasta we cooked was the best I have ever had, and now my partner and I don't even bother buying it out, we make it ourselves with the recipe Isak and Camela sent us after the tour.
Written April 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We are extremely glad to see that our class met your expectations and turned out to be a big highlight of your trip to our country. Carmela and Isak will be so proud to know that you are using their bolognese recipe. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Kind Regards
Walkabout
Written April 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nicole P
10 contributions
From the moment we met Luca at the meeting point we could tell it was going to be a fun-filled day! Starting out at the Mercato Centrale was a treat. Luca led us from vendor to vendor picking up ingredients we’d need for our lunch. Samples along the way introduced many in the class ( including several children) to new tastes and flavors . After the Mercato, it was just a short drive to the beautiful estate in the Tuscan hills. The cooking class was both a learning experience and truly entertaining. Luca, Guilia and the rest of the team led us through the phases of preparing our meal with skill and humor. The meal and wine were both delicious and enjoying them with the beautiful scenery made everything even more memorable. I couldn’t wait to get home to order Luca’s cookbook and try some more of his yummy recipes. It was one of the best days of our 3 week trip and I would highly recommend the experience to anyone.
Written August 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhiannah F
2 contributions
Aug 2022
This was easily the most fun and entertaining part of my 1 month Italy trip. It's clear Luca absolutely loves doing this, he made a huge effort to involve every person, remember everyone's names and make sure we were all having a good time. I would also recommend doing this if you're on a solo trip and tend to get home sick, I genuinely felt like I was right at home with all the laughs and fun people I met. Maria was also an absolute pleasure. Cannot wait to come back to Italy to do it all over again!
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Val L
Twin Falls, ID11 contributions
This was our favorite experience of many that we had. Luca did an excellent job touring the market and explaining many important details about choosing the right ingredients. The bust trip outside of the city was made more entertaining by his charming personality. The view and location of the class was just breathtaking. We learned to make ragout, bruschetta, pork loin, roasted potatoes all with rosemary and sage. Then we finished it with our own Tiramasu! All of this came with lots of instructions, help and laughs. It also helped to have some excellent italian wine to keep us going. I will definatley recommend this tour, specifically with Luca and Carmen, to anyone I encounter who is planning a trip to Florence.
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicholas
18 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
What a dream cooking class! We couldn’t have asked for a better day. First we headed to the market to pick up our ingredients, with Lavinia explaining parts of Tuscan food and drink history along the way. Then we were taken to Walkabout’s Tuscan farmhouse kitchen with the most perfect view where Carmela stole the show with her charisma and energy! Learning to make signature Italian dishes was fascinating and then getting to eat it all at the end was the cherry on top. The food was packed with flavour and so delicious. We’d recommend Walkabout tours to anyone traveling to Florence - forget all the other tour companies!
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hallo,
is it possible to meet at the location? We rent a rental car and are not staying in Florence.
Written July 29, 2024
You could drive to Florence and then catch their shuttle...I'm sure if you contacted them, there seems like there was room for parking there.
Written July 30, 2024
Hi I don’t eat beef, is there an option to ask for no beef? Or is it a fixed menu?
Written August 27, 2022
Hello,
The beef is only in the sauce for the pasta, you can instead get a simple tomato sauce without meat.
Kind regards
The Walkabout Team
Written August 29, 2022
Hi! I have heard AMAZING things about your cooking class. I just wanted to reach out because we are wondering if there is an option to meet at the farmhouse. We are staying in Lucca and we have a car to meet you. Let me know if this is possible! Thank you!
Written July 30, 2022
Central Market, Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Is this the Market you shop at?
Written July 30, 2022
Hello Carol,
Yes that is the market we go.
Kind regards
The Walkabout Staff
Written May 4, 2023
Can you tell me which market you'll be shopping at? Is it the one close to Piazza San Lorenzo?
Written July 30, 2022
Sorry I did not record the name of the market. Our hotel was about from the train station and the market was about 3 or 4 blocks from hotel.
Written November 13, 2022
I am traveling with a friend who can not eat pork for religious reasons. Is there any substitute that would be possible that day? We are currently reserved for 9/2/22
Written July 22, 2022
One of my daughters is a vegetarian, and she was able to enjoy a vegetarian version of the pasta entrée we made… They gave her a tomato sauce when everyone else had a meat sauce.
Written July 23, 2022
Do you make our own dishes? Is it possible to not add pork to my dish? Are there any pastas without meat?
Written July 18, 2022
I would suggest you tell them you do not eat meat so they can plan accordingly. They are very nice and I'm sure they can accommodate you.
Written July 18, 2022
Hi, we are a family that includes a 3 year old. Could this class, lunch and tour be ok for a 3 yr old, who very much loves to cook and eat. :-) Thank you for answering my question.
Written May 28, 2022
Sorry for the delayed response. I do not think this would be a good experience for a 3 year old. There is alcohol served and the tiramisu is also alcohol based. In addition, when we went, there were only adults and the conversation was quite lively at times and much adult humor.
Written February 7, 2023
Hello, Which is the period of the year you are looking to book for the cooking class?
Written February 19, 2022
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