Holiday House Lodging & Cooking is part of an old country house from the eighteenth century where is the seat of the International Academy of Italian Cuisine of the chef Gianluca Pardini and accommodate 3 delicious apartments in the areas once reserved for the servitude of the Lords.
The house still features its original structure: the kitchen (reserved to the Academy of Italian Cuisine) and the living room on the ground floor and the accommodations at the first floor.
Brick floors and ceiling with wooden beams are original and it is furnished with typical pieces of furniture of the Lucchese tradition, conjugating the heat of the ancient country house to the modern comfort.

THE PLACE
The location in the small village of Vicopelago, about 3 kms from Lucca and 15 kms from Pisa, between hills of olive groves and vineyards provides a perfect atmosphere setting where you can combine study, work, relax and fun. Excellent base for excursions to the sea, the mountains and cities of Tuscany.

THE ACCOMMODATIONS
The 3 apartments: Papavero, Borragine e Tarassaco, available for weekly rent, take name from fragrant grasses used in the Lucchese cuisine; they are renovated to provide comfortable and modern accommodations but with respect for the typical Tuscan tradition. Every apartment is composed by a kitchen, a bathroom with shower and two bedrooms and can offer accommodation for 4/5 people. An external spacious area, with a suggestive view on the surrounding countryside, can enjoy moments of relaxation outside.

THE ACADEMY
The International Academy of Italian Cuisine was founded in 1985 thanks to the intuition of Professor Nishimura, a famous personality in Japanese cultural world who was even awarded by the President of Italian Republic for his deep knowledge of Italian culture.
The Academy is recognized for its professionalism, years of experience and cross cultural learning environment. The cooking school specializes in Tuscan and Italian cuisine. Lessons take place in the kitchen with practical method, and after the 2 months course we can organize an apprenticeship in a highly qualified Italian restaurant.
What’s more, our location among the most beautiful hills of Tuscany provides a perfect atmospheric setting where you can combine study, work and fun.
Our target for the future is to take advantage of our experience and enthusiasm to become more and more valued both at amatorial and professional level in what concern Italian cooking and culinary art.
Course description
Group and private “cooking for pleasure” courses for Italians and overseas visitors.
Professional courses, with possibility of apprenticeship in an Italian restaurant.
Specific courses at basic and advanced level; monothematic lessons; bread making, pastry; vegetarian, macrobiotic, biodynamic cooking; Japanese cooking
Partnered programs with overseas academies and schools.

SPORT FACILITIES (nearby)
Golf court, Tennis-Club, 2 swimming pools open all year round (one for adults with diving board and one for children), a fully equipped gym with indoor courts for volley ball and basket ball etc. These facilities are available to guests for a small fee. Rent bikes, hiking, trekking and riding.

AMENITIES
Outdoors:
oven to firewood, stone arcade, communal parking lot, deckchairs, garden furniture, gazebo, shared garden and communal washing machine

Included in the price: electricity, water, heating, bed linen, towels, kitchen linen and final cleaning service.

OTHER DETAILS (to pay)
pick up form/to airports and train stations, breakfast, lunch and dinner on request, cooking courses (in different languages) for individual or groups, languages courses, visits eno-gastronomic with food and wine tasting, baby-sitting, apartment cleaning.

FREE ADSL internet with wireless connection.

HOW TO REACH US
From A11 Highway exit at LUCCA EST, turn left and drive the rotatory round until you find indications for... After about 1 km turn right (indicator for Vicopelago), than follow instructions for "Italian Cuisine - Cooking School".
Not reachable with vehicles higher than 2.30 m.