This is a 5 star experience through and through! Everything about this 1/2 day class is…read moreunbelievable. Host and cooking lead, Manuela is a gem. She is friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable but most of all knows how to take your trip to Italy to another level! She immerses you in a full on sensory experience to cooking. Smelling ingredients, touching and understanding textures, seeing the freshness of ingredients and the rich colors, and finally tasting the fruits of your labor. Mmmmm. We opted for a regional class that featured Sicilian recipes and it was fantastic! We made a four course meal. One of the freshest meals I've ever had. Our food was down right mouth watering! You must must must go here when visiting Florence for a truly rich cultural and culinary experience. Loved this day more than I can capture in a review.

OMG!! This review is long overdue!! We had the best time with Manuela and Simon. Was definitely…read moreone of the highlights of our trip!! Manuela was patient, informative, and humorous. Everything we made was explained very well, and best of all was delicious. I will forever remember this time, and look forward to utilizing the recipes back home. Highly recommend taking a class with them!!

Such a great place for us very soon after arrival. Food was great and diverse menu options…read more.. assuming you like Italian you are in Italy so... Service was prompt and comfortable in English or Italian for speakers. They suggested great items. We sat in like a back area garden- charming. And they had a large TV set up to watch the Azuuri lose miserably to Spain. Fortunately the disappointment among the staff did not hurt the service or food!

Had such an amazing time here! I was a solo traveler and I was made to feel so welcome. Had the…read morechicken in a mustard and asparagus sauce that was so delicious but the whole menu looked tempting. Actually had dinner here twice. Wish I could go back again and again to try some more dishes. One of the staff a tall gentleman was just so great at his job and made it such a memorable dinner. I don't know his name but wish I could have thanked him. Hope you enjoy your future snowboarding travels to California.

Loved all the chefs -- they were personable, engaging, and fun. The camaraderie among the…read moreparticipants made the experience truly exceptional. The recipes were enjoyable to prepare, and the final meal was divine. I highly recommend adding this adventure to your trip itinerary.

We went here for a Corporate event and this was one of the best times we've had in Florence…read more Cooking on vacation doesn't sound like it would be a "Must Do", but believe me, it was! The Mama Florence Team were spectacular (knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely helpful). They taught us step by step how to make an awesome meal! Even if you've never even boiled water, you will be able to do this class! From beginner to expert, they've got your back. I love this place and will definitely come back next time we visit Florence! Great job team!

La Scuola di Cucina Lorenzo Medici has to be one of the top flight schools of Italian cooking…read more Everything about it is so totally impressive form its huge open modern design to its formally attired chef and master chef instructors attired in their dress whites with 52 pleated chef hats. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to attend any of the classes, though I wish I would have. However, I did carefully observe just about everything of their operations and the instructors left no detail to chance or uncovered. For example I noticed one student incorrectly cracking an egg against a knife edge and immediately saw two chef instructors showing him and instructing him on how to properly do it against a flat surface and they didn't leave him until he got it right. Also the instructors are constantly observing, tasting, having the students taste and advising throughout the entire process of students cooking. The instructions and classes are done in a totally "hands on" process of instruction. Furthermore you'll find that most of the students aren't comprised of armatures or wannabe cooks, but those who are already professionals and are there to improve and further hone their culinary talents. I've fortunately had the opportunity to observe many schools of cooking and culinary instruction including those of the Culinary Institute of America and have to say that those of the La Scuola di Cucina Lorenzo Medici were amongst the most impressive.

Took a cooking lass at the Central Market! What an amazing experience. Go on their website for…read morecooking class dates. €50 per person per class. You will not be disappointed

We had a great time on our tour with Roberto from We Drive You Tuscany! We did the 8 hour San…read moreGimignano and Chianti Classico as well as the Pienza, Val d'Orcia, Montalcino wine and Pecorino cheese private tours with Roberto. This was my first trip to Italy, we enjoyed a comfortable ride throughout the countryside in the clean, air conditioned van! Roberto was so knowledgeable and made sure we knew all the best places to visit along with the history of the beautiful Tuscan countryside! He even gave us recommendations for our second leg of the trip to Rome. We will definitely use this service again!!

We had the pleasure of touring Tuscany with We Drive You Tuscany. Roberto was our driver and we…read morehad a beautiful Mercedes van that was new and comfortable. Bottled water was provided and he even stopped to get Fresh pizza for us. By the time we finished touring with Roberto for two days we felt that we knew so much about the area, history and culture of the region. Roberto's knowledge or art, history, food and culture was so impressive. The tour we did with Roberto was much more than him driving us from place to place. Each place we went was so carefully planned and curated. We visited wineries, vineyards and a sheep farm that makes cheese. With his help, we were able to visit every place we wanted to see as well as some smaller unknown, hidden gems. We saw so many beautiful landscapes and Roberto stopped frequently for us to take in the views! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Roberto. We hope to go back soon to tour Umbria and Florence with Roberto.

Best cooking class I have ever taken and the food was so so good!!! He even sent me the recipient…read moreafter! We made papa pomodoro, a ravioli filled with cheese and pear and tiramisu! All 10/10!! And made in a timely manner too! I would go back again and highly recommend to everyone!

This class was so lovely , and informative! The host and staff was very very very friendly,…read morewelcoming and helpful! They all took their time with the whole group! The pizza , gelato, and sorbet! Came out ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and DELICIOUS! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PARTICULAR CLASS! Very wonderful experience!

My wife and I took a private cooking class with Chef Fabrizio. It was our favorite thing we did on…read moreour honeymoon! Chef Fabrizio is a fantastic instructor. He is hilarious! He taught us quite a bit about making pasta which will be quite helpful once we get home and make it ourselves. He was also very patient with our mistakes too. Mama mia! After the cooking class is over, you go down into the cellar below their kitchen and enjoy a private meal of the food you cooked. It was so much food! And extremely delicious as well. When we come back to Florence we will be sure to do it again.

I definitely recommend this. It was something fun to do with our big group. The instructor was…read morefunny. Honestly it was some of the best pasta we had the whole trip. They also give you the recipes to take home with you which I loved!

TL;DR - this tour is a delight to those who truly care about the entire winemaking process,…read morehistory, and culture. My wife and I planned our dream vacation to Italy with a focus on food and wine. Our time in the Florence area mandated the intentional trip to my (and now OUR) favorite winemaking area - Montalcino. We spent months planning and researching and came across this wonderful local company - "Italy & Wine Tours." Upon review of their website we were captivated by their intentionality to have the time be an intimate and thoughtfully curated all day adventure from Florence through the Chianti region, into the romantic hills of Val d'Orcia, and onto the hillside of Montalcino. To our delight - on the day of the trip we found that we were the only couple who signed up to go that day. Our tour guide Nicolò (who was INCREDIBLE and has formal WSET training/certification) was joined by the delightful daughter (Ippolita) of the company's owner. It was the best experience traveling with them. From the moment we were introduced to the moment we were dropped off at the end of the day we never stopped talking, laughing, sharing stories, and learning more about our favorite shared passion - Italian wine. Now onto the WINE! I won't spoil your trip with too many specifics, but our tour began from the beginning - how did Brunello di Montalcino come to be? We toured the streets of Montalcino and immersed ourselves in local history, tradition, etc. following the city, we were off to the first winery. The first winery focus was on the (traditional) aspects of Brunello. The centuries old family fortress made it abundantly clear. It was an idyllic location through the cellars, learning about the soil, property history for pilgrimages, ancient Rome, and crusades. We sampled 4 wines produced by the site which trended towards elegant, refined, and approachable. During the tasting we were blessed with a delicious and traditional private Italian lunch. Afterwards we went to the second winery which was slightly more modern (in winemaking style) but nonetheless a delight. We dove deeper into soil composition, weather, aging conditions, and micro-factors. The wine at the second location was big, bold, wonderfully complex and personally my preferred style. We concluded our time thanking our hosts and guides over and over again with multiple bottles in hand to bring home and shared with our family. We sincerely hope you (the reader) get to experience Italy and Montalcino in the same way we did. Personal highlights / Why choose this company: - historic, locally/generational owned wineries - not large corporate productions. - 2 production styles helped compare/contrast the same type of wine helping me choose future bottles more accurately. - The tour guides / owners. They care about you, and hospitality is so genuine. Please support companies like this. Thank you so much Nicolò and Ippolita. You are forever in our hearts and we hope our paths cross again in the future!! *David & Kenzie (Seattle, WA)

Our Montepulciano wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Italy, and much of that was…read morethanks to Niccolò. From the moment we left Florence, he transformed what could have been a simple drive into a fascinating journey through Tuscany. We spent the day discussing Italian history, culture, education, and different perspectives on life, which added tremendous depth and meaning to the experience. Niccolò is knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country with visitors. By the end of the day, he felt more like a friend than a guide. The wineries themselves were equally impressive. We especially appreciated visiting family-owned vineyards where generations of winemakers have preserved traditions while producing exceptional wines. The hospitality was warm and authentic, and each winery offered a unique glimpse into the rich heritage of the Montepulciano region. The wine tastings were outstanding, but it was the stories, family histories, and personal connections that made the experience truly memorable. This tour provided far more than wine tasting--it offered an opportunity to experience the culture, people, and traditions of Tuscany in a meaningful way. If you are considering a wine tour from Florence, I highly recommend this experience, and if you are fortunate enough to have Niccolò as your guide, you are in for a remarkable day. Thank you, Niccolò, for making our day so special and for sharing your knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm with us. We will remember this experience long after the last bottle of wine is gone.

We had so much fun in our cooking class here with chef stefano! He started by bringing us to the…read moremarket to buy fresh ingredients to cook. We loved tasting truffle items, meats and cheeses and exploring the market beforehand. It was fun and educational! He taught us how to make noodles, bruschetta, kale chips, and a panna cotta! Chef was extremely patient with us and his English was perfect! We had a lot of fun and the food turned out delicious! Wish our stomachs were bigger so we could've eaten more of what we cooked but he says that the school never lets anything go to waste. Hoping someone else finished off our food! Def recommend making your way to a class here!

What a wonderful experience!! We had 8 of us and Chef Francesco was amazing!!!! His skills,…read moreteaching, and wonderful fun humor, made this one of the most fun times for all. From learning how to make tiramisu, eggplant Parma, to the wonderful lesson on making home made pasta!! Just a beautiful and fun experience!! Thank you for a memory of a lifetime CHEF Francesco and his wonderful team!! Advice, book direct and not through another service!!

The culinary school is as good as it gets!!!…read more It IS however, for serious cooks! Maria IS a serious chef and the intinery is intense. We plannned the class during the week and everyone who partisciapted enjoyed it very much AND learned. Wine was served at the end of the "prep" along with dinner. There was NO drinking doing the presentation. We highly recommend this for any visitor to Italy.

From the owner: Gigliocooking is a modern school with a professional character…read more Cooking courses of different matter and lasting times are offered over the year. We also offer private and open 1 day lessons. With us, you learn to make the real Italian food in a comfortable environment. Here you will discover the secrets and everything that will enhance your cooking techniques from true Italian Chefs. Gigliocooking is a unique experience of culture and fun, for both professional and amateur level. The school was born in 2009 with the will to create a place where Cooking is not competition, but it is taught as what it really is, everything else: chemistry, nutrition, culture, history, health, sharing, beauty, necessity. You enter the school through a small courtyard. The work space is a very well lighted large room equipped with professional instruments. It is located in the city of Florence, about 10 minutes walking from Porta alla Croce, one of the doors to enter the historical center. It is very near the gardens of the riverside Lungarno del Tempio. Walking along the river from the city center is the best way to get here.