Strolling the streets of San Gimignano, Tuscany, makes for a fruitful afternoon.
Italian Cooking Lesson with Chef-Guided Market Shopping
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” has a certain transitive truth to it; it’s only a given that when in Tuscany, you should do as the Tuscans do — especially in the realm of cuisine. What better way to get a lay of the culinary land than through an Italian cooking lesson and guided visit to a market? Depending on the day, you might explore a local outdoor market or a traditional storefront. Either way, trust a professional chef to steer you toward the produce and ingredients that are too good to miss, and then enjoy the hands-on experience of learning how to combine them into a delectable dish. The best part? Savoring your creation as a three-course lunch, accompanied by (delicious) local wines.
The hills of Tuscany are rich with truffles — or “black diamonds.”
Private Truffle Hunting & Wine Tasting in Florence
Ahhh, truffles: nature’s original delicacy. For the uninitiated, that finely grated umami sitting atop your pasta dish is actually an underground fungus similar in shape to a potato. Just about every attempt to farm these like a crop has failed — which means sourcing them is still something of an adventure. The oak forests of Tuscan Italy are world-renowned for their truffles; truffle-hunting while visiting is simply a must for anyone with a healthy appetite for wanderlust. Take a jaunt scouring the countryside with a guide and a truffle-sniffing dog, hot on the trail of “black diamonds,” before ultimately retiring to lunch to savor the fruits of your labor integrated into a bevy of local dishes.
No sweet treat is as quintessential to Italy as gelato.
Pizza and Gelato Class
At the end of the day, there might be no dishes as quintessential to the Italian experience as good ol’ pizza and gelato. To put it succinctly: Even with both being available worldwide, they somehow just taste better in Italy. What’s their secret? To attempt figuring it out for yourself, you can learn from the masters with a lesson in making pizza and gelato. Spend a late afternoon as pizzaiolos walk you through how to make the perfect dough and tomato sauce, followed by the ins and outs of baking your pizza in a wood-fired oven. Then, you’ll move on to dessert: An expert Italian chef will teach you how to make Italy’s favorite frozen sweet treat. At the end of it all, you’ll have a satisfyingly full stomach and the know-how to recreate a little bit of Tuscany at home.
Acropolis, Greece
Trust Delta Vacations for a Fruitful Getaway
All the above is available when you book with Delta Vacations through our agents, but these luxury tours are just the start of it. Getting there is a breeze when you fly on premium airlines. Resting up after a day spent exploring. Adventuring is a joy when you’re staying at luxurious resorts. Summed up: the ease of realizing your vacation dreams is shockingly simple when all the above can happen pre- or post-cruise. Our agents know the offerings of Delta Vacations well, so we can help you choose, plan and book your vacation to perfection.
