Torre del Tartufo Tuscookany cooking classes in Tuscany

I struggle to put in words how perfect our experience was with Tuscookany at Torre del Tartufo! I have traveled extensively my entire life but this was by far one of the best vacation experiences ever. The villa itself is supremely beautiful, set on top a hill with superb vistas of the Tuscan countryside. It has been lovingly restored to be wonderfully cozy and comfortable while retaining its historical ambience. The service throughout our stay was impeccable, with the staff always going above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience possible. And I can’t begin to say enough wonderful things about Chef Franco and his partner Paola. Between them they made every cooking lesson both educational and fun. We cooked things we never thought we’d be capable of, and with their watchful guidance absolutely everything turned out both beautiful and delicious. The small group of eleven “students” meshed wonderfully and lasting friendships were created. The cooking classes were just the right length with plenty of time in the mornings to explore the surrounding Tuscan towns. And the dinners at the villa enjoying what we had created under Chef Franco’s kind tutelage were the perfect end to each day. I cannot recommend this experience more highly!

I took the cooking class at Torre del Tartufo in late Fall - the last class of the season. Although it presents itself as a "Cooking Vacation" it was much more than that and rewarding in many ways I had not expected. The 3-4 hour cooking sessions were intense but fun, with the Chef Franco and his assistant Paolo constantly watching, helping and encouraging all of us in our efforts. By mid-week the 12 participants had developed a unique sense of camraraderie and made the leisurely evening meals a celebration of our achievements. A great variety of Tuscany wines added to the experience. I left with a sense that it was a special week well spent in a beautiful place and will consider attending another session.

When I booked the week at Torre del Tartufo, it was intended to be the once in a lifetime celebration of our 10th Anniversary. By the second day, the experience had so exceeded all our expectations we said to each other, “This is too wonderful to happen only once in our lifetimes.” The breathtaking setting, the warmth of all staff, the stealth service that provided everything we could need, the quality of the food we cooked while learning from Chef Franco and Paola—all of the experience was magical. Learning in a small group (in the beautiful teaching kitchen) enabled us to make sophisticated Italian dishes at the same time we were making friends. The road trip to the small farm coop, the winery, and the fabric weaving shop was an immersion in many of the skills and people that make Tuscany unique. We also got to participate in the first olive harvest at the villa, which is now becoming a special experience offered in the last two weeks of their extended season.
You could plan a week in Tuscany going from place to place to place in order to find what you were looking for when you booked the long flights to get there. OR, you could spend the week with Tuscookany and actually know that you are in the Tuscany you came for.

This was a magical trip. Tuscookany provided an authentic and enriching culinary experience. The hands-on classes were led by passionate chefs who shared insights into traditional Italian techniques. The use of fresh, local ingredients added an extra layer to the learning process. The picturesque villa of Torre del Tartufo overlooked the hills of Tuscany with breathtaking sunsets/sunrises. The school's emphasis on creating a companionate and patient atmosphere made it not just a cooking class but a memorable journey with other like minded people. Highly recommended for both beginners and seasoned cooks looking to delve into the heart of Italian cuisine.

This was a bucket list item for my girlfriend and I and our week at Tuscookany exceeded our expectations, which were pretty high. The villa is stunning, perched high above a mountain just north of Arezzo. The weeks' itinerary was perfectly planned and we had lots of time to relax and enjoy the villa and the views with just enough time in the kitchen learning from Franco and Paola. Cooking classes were amazing and we learned the art of making pasta, pizza, desserts and high end main course dishes and I came home with loads of inspiration along with my cookbook. The intimacy of the small group size and the wonderful people (staff and guests alike) made this the most amazing vacation and I would highly recommend Tuscookany.

My husband and I spent three days of our Honeymoon at Torre del Tartufo in the three day cooking class. This was by far the highlight of the trip! We enjoyed meeting some amazing people, cooking delicious meals, and taking in the stunning scenery. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone!

An amazing experience both times! I booked this vacation as a sisters trip about five years ago. My sister and I had an amazing time and pondered the idea of taking over the entire villa with 24 couples, including ourselves. It is possible to book this online and share the property with other people similar to a hotel. However, if you can gather enough family, and or friends to take over the entire villa, I highly recommend it! (It is possible to take over the entire villa with any number of guests.)

Our plan finally came to fruition when we invited 20 of our friends to the villa for a week of sightseeing and amazing culinary experiences. Chef Franco and assistant Paola are wonderful in the kitchen and spent the entire week not only preparing our group amazing meals, but also spent time teaching us how to make very unique Italian dishes.

In addition to our spectacular culinary experience, the talents of Lena went unnoticed by her prowess in booking everything from spa treatments, to sightseeing, a visit to the not to be missed Villa Ripa winery, and multiple individual excursions around the Tuscan countryside.

The property is quiet and serene. The rooms are clean and simple. Many in our group claimed that this was one of the best vacations they had ever taken!

Personable, exceptional staff members. Relax, hike, sightsee. Enjoy history, wine and cheese on a tour that includes tastings and magnificent landscapes! Best of all, hands on cooking with Chef Franco and Paola. A dream come true vacation!

Spent an amazing week learning, improving and discovering new cooking techniques with Chef Franco and Paula .
This experience had been in our bucket list since before the pandemia, it definitely was worth it; we will for sure return !!!
Meeting new friends from different parts of the world was also really wonderful !

We enjoyed learning how to make Italian food, making fun memories with new life-long friends, and relaxing in the beautiful setting of the Tuscookany cooking school. The staff and amenities were wonderful and I'd like to go back for the Mediterranean class.

Such a great place such a great experience. When Lena, the customer relations manager (and much more), says “we want you to feel at home”, she will make everything for you to feel like it’s a real home and always with a smile.
Franco's sensitivity to each of the guests deserves appreciation and admiration. Just by filling out the form with my personal details, Franco (the great an genius chef), realized that when I wrote I'm a pescatarian and that I'm from Israel, it's probably related to kosher issues. Franco took care of special dishes for me and also made sure to explain to me how to turn the pork dishes into beef or chicken dishes. So not obvious!
Paula, the sous chef and the woman behind the scenes, she’s such a wonderful person , who works hard, and in her special silence, she sees everything, and try to get us out of any “ cooking trouble”.
Alex who wins over everything and all the people of the villa who do a wonderful job, just for making everything perfect for us, Thank you all, for a wonderful Italian cooking week and an unforgettable experience.

We recently booked Torre del Tartufo for one of our travelers and we cannot say enough wonderful things about them! Our traveler absolutely loved his experience there. He described the place as being "very relaxing, you could let your guard down." Lina and Alex were amazing and very sweet. He also said how he loved to sit in the hammock and enjoy the sounds of nature. His cooking class experience was one of the best he's ever participated in and he made some lifelong friends and beautiful memories!

The love and passion for cooking with Chef Paola was an emotional, inspiring and overall memorable experience. The ideas, tips, and hands on cooking was fabulous. Loud, laughter, fun, exciting and allora…the accommodations were exquisite. Beautiful linen, comfortable furniture, well equipped bathrooms with a spacious shower. The grounds were inviting, lovely pool, beautiful gardens to walk through, I had a west facing room so I enjoyed the evening sunsets. I highly recommend this cooking vacation, well worth the money as everything is included - accommodations, meals, drinks, and the cooking experience was priceless.

My partner and I loved Tuscookany at Torre del Tartufo. If you're on the fence about going - don't hesitate! It was an amazing experience. Several other individuals had been to cooking schools all over the world, and said that Franco was by far the best. When I first read the itinerary and saw there were only four days of cooking, I thought it would be too few. They have mastered the schedule and it is perfect! I can't imagine adding more to the schedule it's was spectacular as is. The accommodations are unbelievable. Beautifully decorated and impeccably clean. I have no complaints. We loved our time there and can't wait to return!

I have travelled to many places and enjoyed them all, but my experience at Torre del Tartufo soared over the top of my expectations. This was the very best vacation experience of my life. The villa is gorgeous and everything from the rooms to the grounds are picture perfect. The cooking classes were so much fun and Franco's professionalism made each class interesting. Laughter and fresh organic products went into the cooking every day.

The hospitality was out of this world and everyone went out of their way to make it so. Lars, Alex, Franco, Paola, Lena, thank you so much. Please pass on my best compliments to all the rest of the gang who made this the best holiday ever.

Wow! I treated myself to the 7 day school immediately after retirement. I can, in all honesty, say this was one of the best weeks of my life. There were 14 "cooks" from several countries and we all got along famously. Franco is amazing and so responsive. Since I got home, I have emailed him with questions and received immediate replies. Paola, Lena and Alex were terrific too. Alex was very patient with the Americans that wanted to grill hamburgers on our free day. Even though we got back late he fired up the grill for us. I can't say enough about this experience, you should do it! Sylvia Francis- Denver, CO

Amazing week at Tuscookany! Loved every minute of the 7 day school. Franco, Paola, Christy, Lena and Alex were terrific. Had an amazing group of “chefs” in our class, all 14 of us got along great and really enjoyed each other’s company! You should do this, you will not regret it. Sylvia Francis, April 2022, Denver,CO

I have just returned from a wonderful holiday at Torre del Tartufo in Tuscany. My partner attended a cooking course with Tuscookany and while I too am passionate about food, learning how to prepare it was not top on my list of holiday activities. As it turned out I got the best of both worlds. Torre del Tartufo is a magnificent villa situated in the hills and forests of Tuscany. The villa is tastefully decorated with an understated luxury where your every need is taken care of with warm hospitality, excellent service and a deep attention to detail. The grounds and amenities are inspiring and invite you to indulge your senses and finally relax in beautiful surroundings with breathtaking views. My days were spent taking walks in the surrounding hills, lying in a hammock, dipping in the pool, eating delectable food and sharing great stories with others foodies. Some days we ventured out in our hired car to explore the local villages but were always happy to return ‘home’ to the comfort and beauty, and of course delicious fare that Tartufo offers. Bravo to the team of Tuscookany for creating my perfect holiday experience.

My week spent at Torre Del Tartufo was in one word - INCREDIBLE.

Your every whim is catered for, the staff (who felt more like friends) are so welcoming and helpful. The accommodation was beautiful and cozy, the kitchen was state-of-the-art!, the set-up of our dinners (all of the meals really) was stunning, and the overall experience was just heavenly. I loved our "day's off" out of the kitchen as well, visiting a nearby wine estate and having the day off to explore on our own accord. Watching the cutie patootie Truffle Hunting dog do her thing was so much fun!

Thank you Tuscookany and the rest of the team for bringing my Italian/Tuscan cooking dream to life! There is not a day that goes by that I am not thinking about my trip or enthusiastically talking about it with friends and family. I cannot wait to visit again!

Buon Prosieguo!

Response owners:

Oh Lianne, I know how long you had to wait to get to Tuscookany due to Corona and so pleased to read that your patience paid off and that you had such a wonderful time!! Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write this wonderful review.

Torre del tartuffo is absolutely the most beautiful place that I have been to. Upon my arrival, I was greeted warmly by the manager. As the other guests arrived, we were offered wine and appetizers. It was so memorable. I just love it there so much. The cooking classes were very thorough and I brought home wonderful recipes and new knowledge to cook for friends and family. I highly recommend Tuscookany.