Sophia Loren once famously said that she owed everything to... spaghetti. With a nation this passionate about their food, there's only one real way to learn to cook it - in Italy with Italians- and where better than Tuscany? Spend a week at this gorgeous Tuscan villa near Arezzo, soaking up the sun, the food, the wine, the good life. Italian chef Franco has traveled widely and his cooking style -an exciting combination of classic Italian and modern- reflects that. You'll learn all the fundamentals of Italian cooking: a wide range of anti pasta's and pastas- rolled out yourself with Tuscan fillings and delicious sauces; pizza baked in the wood-burning oven,polentas, pepper sauces, panna cotta, its all there for the cooking! Most excitingly, as the estate has 5 acres of truffle land you'll learn about the different kinds and how to use them. If you're lucky you may even see the truffle hunter and his dog in action and get to take home your very own snuffled truffle! The sessions are a lot of fun but your hosts never forget you are on holiday. There's plenty of time to relax: swim in the villa's solar heated pool, laze in the hot tub or the steam room, go for drives and explore the spectacular area. The villa lies on a 30 acre private estate with breathtaking views over the hills and valleys and you can have wonderful walks. There are 12 ensuite well-furnished bedrooms. There's also a fitness suite, volleyball and badminton for the more energetic. Non-cooking companions will have plenty to do and are welcome to come along, enjoy the villa and tuck in with everyone else at dinner.