WINE, OLIVE OIL AND BLACK TRUFFLES, AUTUMN LONG WEEKENDS IN GORGEOUSLY GREEN, ROMANTIC UMBRIA
Our base is a medieval palazzo dating back to 1200AD, originally the home of the crusader, Braccio Fortebraccio. La Locanda del Capitano was established in 1997 and the restaurant has just won its first Michelin star. At La Locanda del Capitano you will meet Il Capitano, charming owner of this ancient building, now an elegant boutique hotel that he has created with his lovely wife. He is well known as a local gastronome and fabulous chef.
A little bit of local history.... The origins of Montone, or rather the first traces of its existence, reach back to the first millenium. A document dated 1121 refers to a "Castrum" or fortified village comprising a castle and a church which, although under the control of Perugia, retained the right to administer itself.It is not until the XVth century, however, that Montone takes its place in history with the advent of Andrea Braccio Fortebraccio known as Braccio from Montone.The village has kept many of the artistic treasures arising from its fame:
At the foot of the hillside stands the church of Madonna delle Grazie built in 1578 to commemorate a miracle which took place there. On the hilltop, the Collegiata a church built in the shape of the traditional Latin cross is home to a Madonna of the Perugino school, to frescoes by Parenti and of course to the silver reliquario where the Holy Thorn (and the Capitano's beloved motorbike) are kept. The gothic church of Saint Francis with its carved doors is decorated with numerous frescoes from XVth century. In the museum one can admire wooden holy figures dating back to 1200, a painting by Bartolomeo Caporali of 1482 and a collection of textiles and fabrics from the XVth and XVIth centuries. The hilltop village of Montone is situated in Northern Umbria, in the region known as the Upper Tiber Valley, 30km.North of Perugia on the E45 motorway, which runs north-south through Umbria from Orte to Ravenna and is the main road-link with the rest of Italy. Our Umbrian programme involves some hands on cooking, lots of fun, and a great deal of eating and drinking!
This is a sample programme, just to give you an idea:
FRIDAY: Ryanair flight arrives Perugia 10:55 (Please note: transfer from Perugia included, transfers from/to Ancona/Rome or other, will be at extra cost) Late lunch en route to Montone and tour of olive mill. Check in at La Locanda. Explore the tiny village of Montone - meet the locals! Dinner and overnight stay at La Locanda with grappa tasting after dinner.
SATURDAY Breakfast. Excursion to a local wine producer, stopping off at the little weekly market in Umbertide en route, with Valentina and Il Capitano. Lunch at wine producer in the vineyard, with some of our freshly purchased market producer. Wine tasting over lunch, some of it cooked by us. There will be a cooking lesson in the on site kitchen. Cooking demonstration by local chef. Return to Locanda for dinner via Spello - this is a shopportunity, or just a chance to admire the town and drink in some if its history!
SUNDAY: Breakfast. Truffle hunting or foraging. Lunch in the country with a cooking lesson. Truffle dinner at La Locanda.
MONDAY: Breakfast. Departure for Perugia airport Ryanair flight departs 11:20
YOUR UMBRIAN CULINARY ADVENTURE WILL INCLUDE:
Free airport transfer to/from Perugia
2 hands-on cooking classes
3 x 4 course Michelin starred dinners at La Locanda
1 grappa tasting
1 olive oil tasting
1 wine tasting
1 market visit
1 cookery demo
1 al fresco lunch in the countryside
Please note that the above programme could be subject to change without prior notice and that wine with meals and all other beverages are not included.
N.B. OUR COURSES ARE ALL SUBJECT TO A MINIMUM NUMBER OF BOOKINGS IN ORDER TO RUN. WE ADVISE GUESTS NOT TO BOOK THEIR FLIGHTS UNTIL FINAL CONFIRMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED 8 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START DATE. AS STATED IN OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS, WE CANNOT REFUND PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF TRAVEL IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION. THEREFORE, EARLY BOOKING OF YOUR FLIGHTS IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.