LEARN ITALIAN WHILE COOKING ITALIAN

In an old Puglian masseria, situated just 4 miles from the Adriatic Sea coast in the hills above Mola, a small fishing port south of Bari, students of all ages and nationalities can learn about Italian cooking, language and culture in a unique and unforgettable study experience.

COOKING ITALIAN
Our Italian cookery classes fit every budget: hands-on day, weekend and week-long courses are available. Every day, in addition to the practical cookery and Italian lessons, you will also have the possibility to attend tastings and visit small local markets. You will learn how to make different types of local pasta, and master a variety of sauces using our wonderful local ingredients and world-famous Puglian olive oil. You will also learn how to grill sea-food, prepare our exquisite desserts and much more…… then, we’ll gather around the table and dine in leisure in the open air of the garden in true Mediterranean style.
Some of our recipes, especially the home-made liqueurs, have been in the owner’s family for years.

The owner Rita in her kitchen	Martha showing her hand made focaccia

You will also have the possibility to make rosolio (local home-made liqueur), based on Rita’s great grandmother’s recipes.
Some of these rosoli have therapeutic properties, such as Nocino (a walnut liqueur) which is an excellent digestive; others are excellent accompaniments to desserts; others possess virtues that you will discover through experience!
Visits will be organised to local producers of wine, cheese and olive oil, as well as museums, and charming restaurants.

Alfonso preparing ‘ pasta e verdure’	A classic dish from Bari: ‘riso, patate e cozze’

LEARNING ITALIAN
Our Italian courses are practical, functions-based and interactive. The aim of the courses is to develop strong receptive and productive skills, with particular attention being paid to fluency and grammatical accuracy. In a short period of time students will develop the capacity to interact confidently in Italian in different every day situations. Full immersion in the language and local culture allows students to take part in a unique and unforgettable study experience.
(in the pciture Our Italian teachers and some students)

Silvia and François	Silvia and some young students

THE PUGLIAN EXPERIENCE
We offer more than just a culinary and study vacation, we offer an experience!
Together with your hosts, you will have the possibility to visit interesting local towns and villages, where you will experience the ongoing dialogue between art and food, history and language, religion and place, and discover how any real understanding of Italian daily life is always the result of a memorable encounter.
As a matter of fact, the masseria is the ideal point of departure to discover all the region. The many paths outside its white-washed walls will lead you to places, legends and emotions that easily escape the itinerary of a busy tourist. Each town or village has its own peculiarity, history and some small hidden treasures.

A watermelon pool party!	Mola fishing port

ACCOMODATION
The masseria is a manor house surrounded by secular olive trees.
Its 18th Century architecture has been perfectly preserved. The heart of the masseria is the lamione (a great vault), a stone-built room, once used as frantoio (an olive oil mill), serving as the main living room. Its thick walls provide cool shelter during the summer and warmth in winter.

The Masseria was built by the lady owner ’s family in the 18th Century.
More than the owner, she considers herself the heiress and guardian of a tradition. After years of working as a journalist specialising in environmental and agriculture issues, she now spends her time studying local history and anthropology. The masseria’s library is a source of great interest and curiosity for the guests.
Once you have selected the book of your choice you can retire to the garden where you will discover the joy of relaxing under the trees and just letting time go by in true Southern Italian style.



WEEK – LONG COURSES
€ 1.500,00 per person, which covers everything, from your arrival in Bari or Brindisi airport till your departure from the airport.

DAY 1: Saturday
Arrival in the afternoon.
Welcome dinner along with the lady owner.
Overnight stay.

DAY 2: Sunday
Breakfast. 2 hours Italian lesson in the Masseria garden: full immersion in the Italian culture..
Trip to the seaside with the Italian teacher: this trip will be the occasion to learn the Italian language through leisure activities and chatting.
In the afternoon trip to Polignano a Mare for an early romantic dinner in a renowned sea-food restaurant on the rocks facing the sea. After dinner, tour of the town and tasting of an excellent local ice-cream (“gelato”).
Return to the Masseria for the overnight stay.

DAY 3: Monday
Breakfast. Trip to Bari: tour of the Old Town and stop in the lane of the “orecchiette” (literally: “little ears”, a kind of traditional Puglian hand made pasta) for a lesson in the preparation of the hand made pasta.
Wine tasting in a local cellar and association of Puglian wine producers.
In the afternoon, cooking lesson with the Italian teachers and preparation of pasta, focaccia and pizza for your dinner.
Dinner.
Overnight stay.

DAY 4: Tuesday
Breakfast.
Tour of the near fishing town Mola di Bari, among old women sitten on their little chairs in the lanes.
Trip to the local vegetable market to get all the products and ingredients for the day’s cooking lesson and preparation of dinner.
Lunch stop at the seaside,
In the afternoon 1 hr Italian lesson.
Afterwards, cooking lesson in pasta and vegetables (one of our most appreciated traditional dishes).
Dinner with pasta and vegetables.
Overnight stay.

DAY 5: Wednesday
Early breakfast.
Departure for Alberobello for a lesson in making ricotta cheese and mozzarella.
Tour of Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca.
Late afternoon, return to the Masseria for the day’s cooking lesson and preparation of dinner.
Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 6: Thursday
Breakfast.
Departure for Lecce and tour of the town.
Lunch in Alvino Caffè with the renowned pucce and pasticciotti .
In the afternoon, trip to Ostuni and tour of the town.
Dinner in an excellent local restaurant.
Return to the Masseria and overnight stay.

DAY 7: Friday
Breakfast.
3 hrs Italian lesson in the garden.
Light lunch.
In the afternoon, trip to the local fish market to buy fish for the day’s cooking lesson and the final dinner of the week.
After dinner, overnight stay.

DAY 8: Saturday
Breakfast.
Goodbye, leave-taking transfer to the airport and departure.

The above week-long course includes:
7 overnight stays
7 dinners
5 Italian lessons
4 practical cooking lessons
2 outdoor cooking displays
4 tours throughout Apulia
some visiting tours to the local vegetable and fish market, wineries, restaurants and excursions
2 transfers from and to the airport
all the transfers you need for your personal shopping, etc.

TOTAL COST: € 1.500,00 per person

WEEKEND COOKING COURSES ONLY
€ 700,00 per person, which covers everything from your arrival in Bari or Brindisi airport until your return departure from the airport.

DAY 1: Thursday
Arrival in the afternoon.
Welcome dinner with the owner.
Overnight stay.

DAY 2: Friday
morning:
Breakfast.
Trip to Bari. Tour of the Old Town. Stop in the lane of “orecchiette” (literally: “little ears”, a kind of traditional Apulian hand made pasta) for a lesson in the preparation of the hand made pasta.
Wine tasting in a local cellar and association of Apulian wine producers.
Light lunch in a restaurant in piazza Ferrarese.
afternoon:
Return to the masseria. Brief rest.
Cooking lesson in the preparation of pasta, focaccia and pizza for your dinner.
Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 3: Saturday
morning:
Breakfast.
Tour of the near fishing town Mola di Bari, among old women sitten on their little chairs in the lanes.
Visiting tour by the local vegetable and fish market to buy all the products and ingredients for the day cooking lesson (rape, cicorie, fagiolini, polpo, spigola, cozze, alici, etc.)
Light lunch at the seaside.
afternoon:
Brief rest. Cooking lesson in pasta and vegetables, “stewed octopus” and “mussels au gratin”.
Dinner with pasta and vegetables, polpo and cozze.
Transfer to the near Polignano a Mare to taste the gorgeous local ice-cream on a terrace overlooking the sea.
Return to the Masseria for the overnight stay.

DAY 4: Sunday
morning:
Early breakfast.
Departure for Alberobello for a lesson in the making of mozzarella and ricotta (our local fresh cheeses).
Tour of Alberobello, Martina Franca and Locorotondo (well known towns in the Itria Valley).
Light lunch in a Locorotondo winery to taste the renowned local wine and gastronomy.
afternoon:
Return to the Masseria. Brief rest.
Cooking lesson and preparation of the evening dinner.
Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 5: Monday
morning:
Breakfast.
Greetings, transfer to the airport and departure for home.

The above weekend cooking course includes:
4 overnight stays
4 dinners
3 practical cooking lessons of 2/3 hours each
2 outdoor cooking displays
2 tours throughout the central Apulia area
some visiting tours to the local vegetables and fish market, wineries, restaurants and excursions
2 transfers from and to the airport
all the transfers you need for your personal shopping, etc., etc.

TOTAL COST: € 700,00 per person