We were lucky enough to get into Torre Del Tartufo for a 3 day cooking course at the last minute after finding ourselves with an extra week in Tuscany and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend our time. What a treat it was. The accommodation was extremely tasteful and comfortable - we basically had an apartment to stay in with a huge lounge and a fireplace you could stand in! It was like stepping back in time, but with all the modern conveniences of today. The villa is located high in the mountains and while the days were warm the evenings were cool with alfresco dining being enhanced by heaters and blankets if it cooled down. The pool is stunning and there is a masseuse who comes if you need to wind down before a busy day cooking! Upon our arrival Lena met us and made us comfortable, Alex was always on hand for any maintenance and laughs and obviously the highlight was Franco, our excellent teacher ably assisted by the lovely Paula. We learnt so much in such a relaxed atmosphere with lots of laughter and wine breaks along the way. Our class had two other couples and a mother and daughter team and everyone participated in the cooking, so we met lovely like-minded people and much hilarity and storytelling was done around the table at the end of the day. The highlight being the amazing food we had prepared throughout the day and then Franco appearing with multiple boxes of every kind of liqueur you could dream of! Dangerous! Having said that, the cookery was so much fun and we sampled and made things we would never have dreamed of being able to make ourselves. The stay culminated with a day trip out to a cheese shop, vineyard (omg), olive oil making farm and a linen factory where we bought some fantastic keepsakes. We hope to return one day soon and would thoroughly recommend you go too if given the opportunity.

To truly appreciate the absolute beauty of not only the villa of Torre Del Tartufo but also the people who work there, you really must visit. I recently did the 3 day cooking school and within minutes of arriving realized it wasn't long enough, and that I would need to go back. Words cannot do the people or place justice.

Alex and Lena were our first contacts and right from the get go made you feel like you were part of the family. They are responsible for ensuring that all the guests are comfortable and that their stay is seamless. I would have to say that they went far beyond that. Their attention to detail was in a word, superior.

When it came time to start cooking, we had the privilege of being led by chef Franco Palandra and the lovely Paola. I can cook well enough but am sometimes intimidated by certain recipes. Franco made us all feel like we could be stars in our own kitchens. He is to be commended for his passion for food, his ability to deal with 11 people cooking several dishes at the same time, and above all, his patience!

the Villa itself, stunning! A self stustaining property that provides 5+ star accommodations. With everything from a hot tub, swimming pool, work out room with steam room and sauna, to ping pong, badminton, and hiking trails. And if you are so inclined, you can even do some laundry while you're there!

The day trip just added to the exceptional experience I was already having. It included a visit, with wine and cheese tasting, to the old town if Arezzo. A private tour to a doctors villa with another wine and cheese tasting, and a homemade lunch at the 'Olive Oil Man's' house. We ended the day in the mid evil town of Anghiari.

I cannot forget to mention the other staff that worked tireless behind the scenes. They cleaned up our dinner messes, made sure we had lovely clean rooms to come back to and that breakfast was ready for us when we needed it.

I have barely scratched the surface but in short, this was a trip of a lifetime, and worth every cent. I will definitely be back, and most likely it will be next year!