Florence, Italy

Learn the art of Tuscan cooking on this 5.5-hour market visit and cooking class in Florence. Led by local chefs, visit Florence’s Central Market to choose fresh ingredients and then prepare a classic Tuscan lunch in the cooking school kitchen. Create dishes such as ‘bruschetta’ (tomato-topped grilled bread) and homemade pasta and dessert watched by your chefs, and savor your meal with your fellow cooks and two glasses of Chianti wine before receiving a diploma and recipe booklet.

Numbers are limited to 25 for this small-group class to ensure a personalized experience.

Make your own way to the start point in central Florence and meet the rest of your like-minded small group and the expert local chefs taking your class.

Then, walk to Florence’s nearby Central Market. Located in a cast-iron 19th-century building, this bustling stall-fest all is a paradise for food-lovers.

Head inside with your chefs and trawl the stands for fresh ingredients. Meet the farmers and other vendors selling everything from fresh meats to local delicacies, and learn how to identify and barter for the best produce.

Then, armed with your goodies, walk to the nearby cooking school, where a typically home-like Tuscan kitchen with elegant, marble-topped islands awaits.

Listen intently as your chefs talk you through the lunch menu for the day. Dishes will vary slightly according to the season and ingredients available, but you can typically expect to prepare bruschetta, different pastas such as tagliatelle or ravioli made from scratch, plus fresh pasta sauces and a dessert.

Pull on your apron and set to work under the watchful eye of your chefs, who will offer helpful guidance along the way. During breaks, enjoy tastings of the ingredients bought at the market, and then, once your meal is ready, take a seat in the dining area.

As you relax over your meal, discuss your efforts with your chefs and fellow cooks, and sip on two glasses of Chianti wine — the perfect complement to your food.

Afterward, receive a recipe booklet so you can recreate your dishes at home and a graduation diploma — both perfect souvenirs.