Review By Mary and Bill - Mount Juliet, TN - USA (January 2012)
They had me at buon giorno!
Cooking classes, authentic Italian meals and hosts that were more like friends and family than tour guides made this just what we were looking for.
| Written By: | Mary and Bill |
| Rating: | |
| Location: | Mount Juliet - TN - USA |
| Review Source: | Trip Advisor |
| Type of Traveler: | Couple |
| Itinerary: | Soriano - Cities Lost in Time |
Full Review
If you enjoy rubbing elbows with throngs of other tourists, read no further, because this tour is not for you! Having toured Italy several times with Globus and Perillo, we were ready for a whole new Italian experience. Viola, Michael and the Culture Discovery Family were there to provide us with that and so much more! Small groups, lovely accommodations right in the village of Soriano, no packing and unpacking every other night, cooking classes, authentic Italian meals and hosts that were more like friends and family than tour guides made this just what we were looking for.
We first joined them in 2009 as Americans looking for more than the usual Italian venues we had visited many times before, crowded with tourists and the accompanying tourist trap shopping areas, and left with real Italian family and friends. By the time we left, we were sharing greetings with the locals each morning and ordering our breakfast pastries and drinks in Italian. Cooking classes were laid back and you could be as involved as you chose in the preparation of the authentic recipes that have been passed down for generation in Paola's family, prepared at their villa just outside of the village. We have prepared many of the recipes for family and friends and used the hazelnuts we bought in the little green grocer's to make the biscotti for Christmas gifts following our fist visit. They were a HUGE hit with their recipients. A true highlight for us was the dinner at Maria Grazia and Cesare's home--she is the sister of the very amiable Spartaco who met us at the airport and acted as our guide for several of the day trips. What a flavor for the true meaning of Italian hospitality! In addition to being a fabulous hostess and cook, she is a talented artist. Her original oil paintings line the parlor walls and a shelf in the hallway houses her beautiful handmade dolls. She speaks no English, but no matter, you'll fall in love with her for her warmth and welcoming smile to say nothing about her delicious dinner.
We returned for the Chestnut Festival last October and learned even more about the culture and history of Soriano . We cheered on the Papaqua contrada with the locals at the flag throwing contest and sword fighting competetion as well as their entry in the parade. We ate with them in their food tents and shopped with them at the festival tents. What a great experience!
Cooking, visiting wineries and olive mills--bringing home the best of olive oils, wines and Pecorino cheeses, venturing out on our own in beautiful cities like Assissi and Orvieto and creating friendships with our fellow travelers and Italian hosts all contributed to making this the stuff that menories are made of. Are we planning a third trip in the future? You bet!
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| Sample Photo from this Itinerary |