I attended the one-week Italian course at Tuscookany’s Bellorcia property (June 2022). I had previously done the three-day Italian cooking course with Chef Franco at Torre del Tartufo many years ago, which I had really enjoyed. I was very much looking forward to returning to Tuscookany to do their one-week course at a different villa. Bellorcia is such a picturesque property with gorgeous views and is beautifully decorated. It was a movie-worthy setting! From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by Chef Laura and Alex and was made to feel right at home. The week was well structured to allow for time to relax, to explore the area and to cook. Chef Laura’s cooking classes were fun, extensive, and comprehensive. Her patience with her students, expertise, and passion for what she does were wonderful to witness. Loved her! And the food was delicious! We were a small group (5 guests); this made for an intimate and fun experience with great conversation. I attended my one-week course alone. Alex and Lena were wonderful to organize transportation for me from the train station to the villa. I never once felt lonely—the friendships you create with the other guests and the Tuscookany team are what make their vacations so special. If you stay at Bellorcia, make sure to take a moment to stop and enjoy every sunset, they are truly one of a kind! The Tuscookany hospitality is unmatched—their care and attention for their guests make for a truly unforgettable experience. Their vacations are worth every penny in my opinion. I highly recommend.…
For starters, the place is absolutely stunning. A real è,m postcard. The villa is authentic but very functional with all the comforts that a 5 star can provide. Now the staff, Laura the chef, a real pearl of kindness, funny and extremely professional. she loves her job and shares her passion with us. she is surrounded by equally dedicated and sympathetic staff. Alex, our guide, our help to satisfy all our requests and a person so dedicated to his work. I recommend a week with a spouse or a friend or even alone. A wonderful trip.
I do not even know where to begin. The week I spent at Bellorcia with all these amazing and lovely people was a truly magical one that I will forever look back upon with such happiness and love. The location is right from a Tuscan post card. You wake up every morning almost needing someone to pinch you to ensure you are not dreaming all the beauty surrounding you. The online pics of this location most definitely do not do it justice. The villa is so beautiful and charming that we didn't even bother leaving it some mornings to explore other areas. Then there is the Chef Laura…an absolute doll that you fall in love with the moment you meet her! Very refreshing to meet such an accomplished chef with such a loving and fun side that made each and every moment with her an absolute joy. A special shout out to Alex, the property manager, for arranging the days so beautifully and ensuring we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. To say that it exceeded any and every expectation I could have had would be an understatement. From the location to the people to the cooking to the laughs to the memories, nothing comes even close. I have been an avid globe trotter for the past few years and I can say without a doubt, this was the best trip I have taken to date. A week at Bellorcia is an absolute MUST for anyone wanting to have a Tuscan culinary dream come true.…
Wow!!! It was the vacation of a lifetime!!! I can’t begin to compliment our chef and cooking instructor Laura enough! She was expert in her cooking skills , patient, and fun! This was a family and friends cooking trip and we were blown away by the quality of our school and accommodations! We all felt very pampered and spoiled during our stay at Bellorcia! Alex was also helpful in managing any technical needs we had (GPS directions) and going above and beyond in our special dinner one night! This place is A+++ The pictures of the Villa you have on your site do NOT do it justice. Each room is beautifully decorated and appointed! I would absolutely recommend this beautiful place and cooking school to anyone!!! I sincerely hope to come back again someday!!!❤️
I went alone to Bellorcia last week. This was my 2nd vacation with Tuscookany cooking immersion / vacation.There were 8 of us although classes can hold 12 guests. The fun never ended and the cooking was intense. The beauty of the land and the villas are heaven The staff is top notch. Especially Laura Guisti our chef, teacher and friend. The manager Alax was very helpful too. We dined like kings and drank wine like a Godfather. Spectacular trip! The excursion day was fantastic too.
Had an amazing week at Tuscookany Bellorcia with the amazing chef Laura. Had a great time learning some of Laura’s secrets to great Italian cooking. Made many of the recipes at home: minestrone, ravioli, tagliatelle, lemoncello, ricotta cake...... all awesome!
Words cannot describe how wonderful our week was at Bellorcia! From the moment Claudia greeted us at the stunning Villa to the last meal with our new friends, it was perfect. The Villa was gorgeous - each room has it's own personality and all have amazing views. Claudia was there for all of our questions and needs. Antonella, Carmella, Tania and Mina worked tirelessly to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. Chef Laura was an absolute joy! She is a great teacher - we learned so much during our cooking classes about traditional Tuscan cuisine. The group started out as strangers but quickly became good friends - we shared food, wine and lots of laughs. There is no doubt that we will book another week through Tuscookany after this incredible experience :)
Everything about this week was exceptional.... Laura Giusti is a joy and it just makes me happy thinking about her! Claudia was so helpful and charming and nothing was every too much..... I can't wait to go back or to try one of the other Villas. This is the best way to holiday in my opinion and I so enjoyed meeting and working together with the other guests/friends. What could be better than great company, beautiful surroundings and excellent food and wine......I hope we meet again sometime soon...... Thank you Laura and Claudia!! Love Mattie xxx
If you don’t have fun here, you simply don’t know how to have fun. The scenery is magnificent, the Villa is beautiful, and the surrounding hillside communities are charming. My sister who is a professional interior designer was thoroughly impressed with the interior design of the Villa, done with a modern flare but in keeping with the traditional Italian “look”. We conducted a tour of the rooms, and all were beautiful, so no bad choice there, you should be pleased with any of them. The living room begs for a party, our group managed to make that happen. At the heart of this adventure, Is Laura Giusti, who is the Chef/teacher. I defy anyone to spend a week with her and not fall in love. She is a born teacher, a knowledgeable cook, and such a kind spirit, she positively oozes of joy. She is a perfectionist, and lucky for you her eye for detail is evident as you notice the individual attention that has been given to every aspect of your stay. I fell in love with the Sicilian Ortigia toiletries that were left in our rooms. Upon return from my vacation I went online to buy more of the body lotion, only to find that a 10 ounce bottle cost $55.50 (ouch). Another surprise, an American wash cloth for your face, which I have found hard to come by in Italy. There was fresh flowers in all common areas, and the grounds were immaculate. The tablescapes in the dining room were gorgeous, and changed on a daily basis. Overall, if you consider all that you get, I feel you receive great value for your money. Three delicious meals a day, with all the wine, beer and water you can drink. Laura even went so far as to throw me a surprise Birthday party with the most beautiful Birthday cake ever. A special thanks to Alex, who always went out of his way to make sure we were happy. I saved the best for last. The wonderful people we met from all over the country as well as Canada. Sharing the cooking experience makes you get to know one another, and our group really clicked. We laughed and laughed and by the end of the week we friends. You won’t be disappointed with this experience. I hope to return next year to another cooking school location.…
Our trip this year was the completion of the "Trilogy of Tuscookany," and it's hard to believe that each villa is more beautiful than the last. We began with Torre del Tartufo in 2015, continued with Ombuto last year (2016), and decided to try Bellorcia (on Laura's recommendation) this year. One of the frequent questions we get is "Which is the best?" My response is always that it is like asking which is your favorite child. While I absolutely loved Torre and Ombuto, the quiet beauty and lovely amenities of Bellorcia were also outstanding. The scenery cannot be described adequately, and the view from each and every window is breathtaking. The bedrooms are lovely and unique, and more modern than the other two villas--relatively speaking. The location can't be beat--you are 20 minutes from Pienza, a charming town that we visited three times, and Montepuciano is about 35 minutes away. One of the real pluses of the villa is the lovely living room with fireplace, which became a regular gathering place for our group of 12. Still, each villa has its own charms. You'll not be disappointed with any choice you make. The reason we've come back three years in a row, though, is our love of cooking--and of meeting new friends and "classmates" who have the same passion that we do. We've also immensely enjoyed the chefs (especially Laura Giusti, who taught both Mediterranean program last year at Ombuto and Italian this year at Bellorcia) and the staff--Alex was our very competent, caring, and generous host who made sure we all felt pampered and spoiled. We laughed, we cooked our hearts out, and we went on a lovely excursion to an olive farm, cheese farm, and winery. By the end of the week, we were all friends who hated to say goodbye. Thank you, Laura, Alex, Carmella, Antoinella and all of the other staff who took such good care of us. Ciao until we meet again!…
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