Rocco Forte Hotels has announced its first series of seasonally-led Italian culinary retreats, titled Culinary Secrets of Italy. 

Curated by Fulvio Pierangelini, Michelin-starred Creative Director of Food at Rocco Forte Hotels, the retreats are intended to offer an immersive exploration of the world of Italian gastronomy, taking place across multiple destinations, including Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany.  

The first retreat will be held from 20 – 24 October 2023 at Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel, promising to delve deep into the traditions of the Sicilian countryside. Here, a guided farm tour will be followed by a garden-inspired cooking class led by Fulvio Pierangelini, then a Sicilian Conserves class, an exploration of Caltabellotta, an immersive cheese-making masterclass with U Canuscituri, and a personalised wine bottling experience at Planeta, culminating in a vineyard lunch. 

The second retreat, held between 29 November and 3 December at Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte Hotel, will be a five-day culinary journey through the heart of Tuscany, where the highlight will be a truffle hunt alongside Guilio, the Savoy’s Truffle Concierge, followed by a hillside lunch. Guests will also enjoy a Palazzo Gondi tour, a hands-on pasta-making class, wine tasting class and a wine cellar dinner. 

Other retreats on the roster are an olive oil-based exploration in Puglia at Masseria Torre Maizza, and an exploration of the cuisine of Palermo at Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel.

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