Culinary Tour in the heart of Marche - Maritaly by Gazzella Viaggi - Inbound Tour Operator in the Marche region

Description:
What better place to share a love for food than the beautiful region of Le Marche with a perfect balance of coastal fruits of the sea, intensively farmed midlands, and the wild harvest of the mountains. Along the coast, seafood is abundantly available. Inland and north from the coast, game flourishes. Truffles grow happily on the roots of old oaks. In addition, wild boar, which ends up in marvelous ragu and sausages, fatten on the acorns of this ancient forest. Between the mountains and the sea, there are gently rolling hills rich in farro and wheat, peaches and plums, tomatoes, garlic, fennel, basil, lavender, and rosemary. On the farms, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and cattle all fatten on the grasses of Le Marche. This variety typifies the region and why it is the perfect place on earth.
Our Chef combines classical cooking techniques with home-style secrets, preparing traditional foods with a unique personal twist.  Each region within Le Marche has its own distinctive cucina tipica based on tradition and local produce. Much use is made of food gathered from the wild such as, funghi, game, nuts, field herbs and wonderful truffles, the area’s greatest culinary treasure. The dishes you will cook in class depend on the availability of fresh, seasonal ingredients. On this program you will also visit a local vineyard where you’ll sample some of the area’s typical wines, and take a trip to a local oil producer’s to taste one of the best olive oil in the whole Italy.
If you appreciate good, wholesome food, you will discover many gastronomic pleasures with Maritaly gastronomic tours.  

1st DAY: Welcome in the Marche region (Dinner). Get settled and welcome dinner, an intro to traditional regional Italian cuisine.
Meeting at Ancona Airport. Private transfer to our accommodation in a fabulous villa on the fascinating hills of the Marche region.
Welcome dinner to enjoy traditional, simple, local dishes.

2nd DAY: Extra virgin olive oil tasting, lunch at olive oil mill, 1st cooking lesson (B, L, D)
Cartoceto is the area where you have to be if you would like to taste the best extra virgin olive oil of Le Marche. That is why we are going to drive there. This is a great occasion for you to learn how to taste exquisite olive oil and to understand the differences between a traditional local production and a massive industrial production.  The olive oil tasting is accompanied by some local olive oil-based delicatessen and good wines. The sampling of olive oil will be accompanied then by a delicious lunch including local dishes.

In the afternoon roll up your sleeves for your first Cooking Class.Dinner follows and everyone eats the foods prepared in class together. Water and local wine included.

3rd DAY – Corinaldo e Grotte di Frasassi  (B, L, D)
Today we are going to leave for a visit to Corinaldo, a medieval village, a sort of jewel hided among the hills of Le Marche. Walking through the village we are going to fall back into the past thanks to its old defensive walls, gates and sighting towers surrounding the village. Corinaldo is known for a warm-hearted expression naming it “Town of the Mads".
After the Lunch in the local restaurant we’ll make a "journey to the centre of the Earth" through the Grotte di Frasassi, one of Italy's largest and most famous complex of caves.  Some 13 km of limestone caverns have so far been explored and it is reckoned that they may run for up to 35 km. Only one and a half km of this crystalline wonderland is open to the general public. Equipped with walkways and theatrical lighting, it includes the awesome Grotta Grande del Vento, Europe's largest single cavern, so vast that Milan Cathedral would fit comfortably inside, and some of the most extravagantly fanciful stalagmites and stalactites you are ever likely to see. Even claustrophobics shouldn't find it too challenging.
After excursion – return to the villa for the relaxation and dinner.

4th DAY: Visit of Urbino and traditional cheese production, 2nd cooking lesson.
The morning after breakfast we will have us in a small family dairy to see the making of famous italian cheese Caciotta di Urbino. Casciotta di Urbino, from the term “cascio”, is a cheese with an ancient past. It was produced and consumed during the time of the Dukes of Montefeltro, when it was used for barter. It is said that even Michelangelo liked Casciotta di Urbino quite a lot and bought it regularly.
After tour in Caseificio we go to the majestic city of Urbino. Urbino, is a Unesco World Haritage Site and the capital city of the Renaissance. Its history is tied to the Montefeltro family that came into the possession of the territory in around 1200. The most famous member of the Montefeltro was Federico, lord of Urbino from 1444 to 1482, a very successful military leader, a skillful diplomat an enthusiastic patron of arts.
Walking up the characteristic streets called “piole” you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city, and you can find old buildings, churches full of masterpieces such as the Oratori and Raffaello’s house, where the artist was born in 1483 and where his father had his studio. Lunch at the great local trattoria with warm atmosphere and great food..
In the afternnon return to the villa for our second cooking class and dinner of your creations.

5th DAY: Free morning and wine degustation.
Spend this morning as you please.
Or choose optional excursion to Acqualagna for a truffle hunting adventure. A truffle hunter and his highly-trained dogs in the forest will lead us through forest and parks, their secrets places for white truffles. Acqualagna is in fact considered the capital of truffle. Follow with us the excitement of the dog for its dreamed reward after a productive truffle hunting. Looking for truffles is always a unique experience.
Before lunch visit of a truffle products factory where truffle sauces, pasta with truffles and other delicious products are made.
Lunch in a simple trattoria, serving traditional food and special pastas.  
After lunch, departure to a Local Vineyard. Tour, taste and learn about the delicious wines of Le Marche.
Return to the villa for dinner.

6st DAY: Fano- town of fortune, fish market and 3rd cooking class
In the early morning we are going to walk towards the port where we will find one of the highest quality markets. Only fresh fish is available there. Following the suggestions of our afternoon teacher, we will take advantages of the efforts of fishermen spending nights on the sea. Directly, from the fishermen boats for our afternoon cooking lesson, fish is going to delight our dinner.
After you will have a  walking tour of Fano and Fano underground. Fano is a popular resort and one of the most important fishing port on the Adriatic. A tour of Fano is a path that winds through the streets , the tunnels, the underground galleries of the city and leading to the discovery of unusual places and suggestive . Our professional tour guide  will accompany you to discover the interesting vestiges , telling the history and mysteries of the “town of Fortune”. Lunch at the traditional  restaurant with the high quality products and wines from the Marche region.
In the afternoon, our chef will give us his precious suggestions and recipes for an amazing dinner. The cooking class will be based on fish dishes we bought at the market. Cleaning, marinating and cooking are only few of the steps we are going to take in order to prepare an unforgettable dinner.
A dinner of your creation can't be disappointing. So, let's take a seat and "buon appetito"!
7th DAY : GOOD-BYE MARCHE (Breakfast)
The tour officially ends. You will be accompanied by your  tour leader to the to the airport (o train station) and assisted with check-in formalities to board your flight home.

2016 Dates: This program is available throughout the year.