Overview
Beyond Tuscany’s celebrated cities and postcard landscapes lies a quieter, more personal Italy: one shaped by market mornings, seasonal ingredients, family recipes, and gathering around the table.
During the first three days in Val d’Elsa, the journey is hosted by food writer and cooking teacher Giulia Scarpaleggia. In her countryside kitchen, you’ll enter the rhythms of the Tuscan table: shopping at the market, making fresh pasta by hand, following the season, and sitting down to generous meals.
From there, the journey unfolds toward the sea, through Bolgheri’s wine country, the Etruscan shores of Populonia, and finally Rome, where the week closes with one last celebration of food, culture, and Italian conviviality.
What to expect: cooking with Giulia, countryside meals, Bolgheri wines, and a convivial Roman finale.
Dates
April 6-12, 2027
Price
From €5,900
Highlights
- Shop the market in Colle Val d’Elsa with Giulia and discover seasonal Tuscan produce.
- Spend three hands-on days cooking with Giulia in her Tuscan countryside kitchen.
- Explore Siena and San Gimignano through relaxed walks and local food culture.
- Travel from the hills of Chianti to the Mediterranean coast, following Tuscany’s changing landscapes.
- Visit Bolgheri wine country for lunch and tasting among coastal vineyards and cypress-lined roads.
- Finish in style with a quintessential Roman night of food, wine, and conviviality.
Your Host
Giulia Scarpaleggia
Food Writer & Cooking Teacher
Giulia Scarpaleggia is a Tuscan food writer, cookbook author, and cooking teacher known for her warm, deeply rooted approach to Italian home cooking. From her countryside kitchen in Val d’Elsa, she shares the seasonal recipes, family traditions, and everyday gestures that shape the Tuscan table.
Since founding Juls’ Kitchen in 2009, Giulia has become a respected voice in Italian food culture, with work centered on regional cooking, vegetables, and recipes passed down through generations. Her book, Vegetables the Italian Way, celebrates the simple, generous food that defines everyday Italian meals.
For this journey, she hosts the opening days in Val d’Elsa, guiding guests through market shopping, hands-on cooking, and the quiet ritual of gathering around the table.
Itinerary
In exceptional cases, the itinerary may slightly change.
← Scroll the Days across to see more Itinerary →
Arrival in Tuscany
Tuesday, April 6
- Arrive independently in Colle Val d’Elsa area and settle into your countryside accommodation.
- Begin the journey with a gentle introduction to Siena, exploring its medieval streets, historic center, and contrade.
- Gather for a welcome dinner in Siena, with traditional Tuscan cuisine and time to meet the group.
Market Morning & Giulia’s Kitchen
Wednesday, April 7
- Shop the weekly market in Colle Val d’Elsa with Giulia, choosing seasonal ingredients for the day’s meal.
- Cook a Tuscan lunch in Giulia’s countryside kitchen, from antipasto to dessert.
- Spend the afternoon in San Gimignano with time to wander its stone streets and towers at your own pace.
- Enjoy an evening at leisure in Colle Val d’Elsa, with restaurant recommendations provided.
Cooking & Tuscan Traditions
Thursday, April 8
- Return to Giulia’s kitchen for a deeper look of Tuscan home cooking and seasonal techniques.
- Prepare fresh pasta by hand, bake traditional focaccia, and cook recipes shaped by Tuscany’s seasonal rhythms.
- Share a relaxed lunch around the table, paired with local wines and conversation.
- Spend the afternoon at leisure, followed by dinner at a classic osteria in Colle Val d’Elsa.
Toward the Tuscan Coast
Friday, April 9
- Enjoy a final morning cooking with Giulia, refining techniques and preparing one last shared lunch.
- Leave Val d’Elsa and travel toward the Tuscan coast, where the landscape shifts from rolling hills to Mediterranean shoreline.
- Arrive in San Vincenzo and settle in near the sea, ending the day with dinner by the water.
Bolgheri & the Coast
Saturday, April 10
- Travel into Bolgheri wine country, where vineyards stretch between cypress roads and the sea.
- Visit a local winery for a tasting and lunch shaped by the flavors of the Maremma coast.
- Continue through seaside villages and historic hill towns of Suvereto and Populonia, with time for relaxed walks and coastal views.
- Return to San Vincenzo for dinner by the sea.
From the Coast to Rome
Sunday, April 11
- Depart the Tuscan coast and continue south toward Roma.
- Arrive in the capital in time for a relaxed lunch at your leisure and a first walk through the city.
- Settle in and explore nearby neighborhoods at your own pace.
- Gather for a farewell Roman dinner celebrating the final evening together in Italy.
Departure
Monday, April 12
- Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out and private transfers to Roma Fiumicino Airport.
Gallery
Testimonials
What an amazing, beautifully curated trip!! Gorgeous places, generous and gracious people, and gastronomical genius! Cannot wait to explore more!
Alice made our trip unforgettable. She truly listened to what we wanted, adjusted plans with care, and made everything seamless. Her timing was perfect — always checking in just when needed. The guides felt like old friends, and every hotel, restaurant, and activity was spot on. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
The total program was perfect including itinerary, guides, lodging, transportation,and food choices. Your recommendations and guidance was spot on!
We had an incredible trip! We are leaving with full hearts and endless memories. Thank you for being a constant source of help and information. The level of service we received from you was truly one of the biggest highlights from our trip. And the care each hotel put into receiving our children was heartwarming. I’m so grateful for you and all your attention to detail. Thank you for crafting such a well executed adventure for me and my family!
Authentic is the correct one word description. The tour guides were fantastic, and really portrayed to the local society tremendously. Thank You for a Great trip !!!
