Culinary Tour of the Italian Countryside

The central Italian region of Ciociaria (pronounced cho-cha-REE-a) is known for simple rustic dishes, fresh cheeses, and extra-virgin olive oil prepared using traditional methods. You can taste all the authentic flavors of the area on this luxury 7-day culinary tour from Epitourean. All ingredients used during class are meticulously handmade by local farmers without being industrially produced or processed. This tour includes:

• 6 nights of luxury room accommodations at 5-star resort, Casa Gregorio
• Round-trip airport transfers from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
• All meals, all excursions, all cooking classes, and all wine are included in the tour
• Note: Airfare is not included. All prices and purchases are in USD.

Transportation:

• Round-trip airport transfers

Hotel (6 nights)

• 6 nights of accommodations in a luxury room at 5-star resort, Casa Gregorio
• Casa Gregorio has a fully-equipped kitchen with an incredible view of the surrounding hill-top where guests will learn traditional Italian cooking

Attractions & Meals

• All meals and wine
• Four hands-on cooking classes
• All day tours and excursions

Itinerary at a Glance

• Day 1: Check into Casa Gregorio. After a welcome drink and light lunch, take a guided walk through the medieval historical village of Castro dei Volsci. Take some time to unwind and unpack, then depart for the town of Pofi and the Pizzeria Borgo Antico for your first night’s welcome dinner.
• Day 2: Head to the town of Arpino to tour a traditional olive oil mill and attend a tasting. A light lunch accompanied by the owner’s organic wine follows, along with a visit to the best gelato shop in Ciociaria. Later, your first hands-on cooking class is followed by dinner, where you will enjoy dine on the fruits of your labor.
• Day 3: Set off for a visit to a local cheese caseificio to sample fresh ricotta, buffalo mozzarella, and provolone. A visit to the local town’s farmers’ market is next, to gather what is needed for the night’s cooking class and dinner, antipasto. Next visit the seaside town of Terracina for a view of the sea and lunch at a seafood co-operativa. Return to the Casa for your second hands-on cooking class and dinner.
• Day 4: Head off to La Pastorella to see the process of making fresh sausage, and then visit a “Prosciuttificio” in the town of Guarcino to share a picnic lunch of fresh hand-cut prosciutto or porchetta. Return to the Casa for your third hands-on cooking lesson with a resident pasta-maker to try your hand at variety of primi piatti, such as zuppa di pane, sagna con fagioli, fettucine con tartufo and gnocchi al sugo. Dinner with wine to follow.
• Day 5: Visit a vineyard in Val Comino, a region in Italy famous for its Cabernet wines. Check out the vineyards, the cellar, and bottling plant while learning about the vinification process and tasting wine. Next, visit the town of Atina for lunch. A sommelier host gives everyone a taste and sampling of another wine of the region. Return to the Casa for your fourth cooking class, which could include such dishes as involtini, salsiccia con patate e peperuola, and scaloppine alla mela, and enjoy your creations at dinner with wine.
• Day 6: Make a perfect authentic Italian pizza with fresh vegetables and wonderful cheeses. Lunch to follow. After a few hours of free time, head to Frosinone for some shopping. A multi-course farewell dinner at “Ristorante il Frantoio” in the historical town of Boville Ernica caps off the vacation.
• Day 7: Grab a quick breakfast, then head to the airport for your return trip home.

How to Book

1. Choose departure city and dates from drop-down menus or “See Options” button.
2. Complete your order; a confirmation email is sent after your order processes.
3. Book your trip: Go to the My Groupons section of your account and select View Voucher for Epitourean contact and redemption instructions. Book by 3/31/17.

Each person must buy a Groupon; price is based on two people traveling together and sharing a room. Additional $500 fee to travel solo.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much would it cost to fly from an airport not listed as part of this deal? Airfare is not included with this offer.

2. Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal? Yes. Epitourean can arrange for lodging in Rome either before or after the main tour, plus any day excursions requested.

3. How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available? Groupon customer should call 800-390-3292 or email customerservice@epitourean.com to inquire about desired dates. Customer should be a little flexible in choosing their dates. Epitourean will do everything possible to accommodate the requested dates, but we also run this tour virtually every week throughout the year.

4. Does my child need a Groupon, and can they stay in my room? This package is sold on a per person basis regardless of age. Due to the nature of the cooking class focus of these tours, we do not recommend kids under the age of 10. But kids pay the same price as adults in this particular package.

5. What happens if I buy the Groupon and my travel dates are not available? If the dates requested by the customer are not available, they can request flexible dates so that they can use their voucher for a future date (where we honor the discounted price and pre-paid status), or they can request a refund through Groupon, as long as it is within the Groupon refund period.

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