UMBRIA'S FOOD TRADITION

Day One

Arrival on your own at Villa Monte Solare. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner featuring Umbrian specialties.

Day Two

Your first cooking lesson will be "The Secrets of Pasta: types and sauces, " a hands-on session featuring hand-made pasta. Lunch follows, featuring what you've prepared.

In the afternoon visit Bevagna, a typical Umbrian hill town.

Dinner at the villa.

Day Three

Morning cooking lesson: "Meat & Fish: miracles of fresh herbs. " Lunch after the lesson.

Afternoon excursion to Torgiano to visit the Lungarotti wine museum. After coffee or tea, visit the Olive Oil museum.

Dinner at the villa.

Day Four

Morning visit to Castiglione del Lago to shop at the local weekly market. Then cruise by ferry to Isola Maggiore where you'll enjoy lunch or a picnic with beautiful views of the hills surrounding Lake Trasimeno.

Afternoon visit to a local fishing village, then back to the villa for dinner. Tonight you'll have an introduction to Umbrian wines.

Day Five

Today's cooking lesson: "Gnocchi and stuffed pastas. " Lunch follows the lesson. In the afternoon visit Todi, described as one of Umbria's prettiest hill towns. Then on to Deruta, world renowned for its beautiful ceramics.

Dinner at the villa.

Day Six

This morning's cooking lesson will be "Vegetables and starters: simple and magic effects, " a hands-on lesson featuring a small buffet of appetizers and vegetables. Lunch after the lesson.

Afternoon excursion to Perugia, the best well-preserved hill town of its size.

Farewell dinner at the villa.

Day Seven

Departure after breakfast.