Special Rome Cooking Vacation with Anna Dente

5 days in the company of celebrated chef Anna Dente, ambassador and savior of the the traditional cuisine of the Roman countryside. 

Join us for a 5 day cooking tour with Sora Anna, Queen of the Matriciana.

This tour has been put together exclusively with Anna Dente for In Italy Tours with the aim of teaching not only the secrets of preparing classic Roman recipes handed down over generations, but also the historical and cultural context of each. A story which goes back two thousand years.

Introduction to Anna Dente

Anna was born in 1943 in the small rural hamlet of San Cesareo near Zagarolo in the province of Rome, a rich agricultural zone.

Her mother and father ran a local butchers shop or 'norcineria' as well as a few hectares of land producing grain, fruit and grapes, while her grandfather worked as a young man in the slaughter house of Monte Compatri.

Her grandmother was a 'ciambellaia' or biscuit maker and introduced Anna to the the use of wild country herbs for use in bread, cakes and liqueurs.   

From an early age she would also frequent the kitchen of her Aunt Ada's osteria in Rome. Not surprisingly, a passion for traditional Rome dishes and cooking soon took hold of the young Anna.

The lifetime culinary experience of the family was consolidated in 1995 with the opening of a restaurant in San Cesareo with the emphasis on preserving the preparation of traditional dishes and, in particular, those originating from a zone between the Castelli Romani or Roman Hills and Prenestina.

The restaurant was named after an osteria in the town dating from Roman times 'Lavicanum Caesaris' when it was an important locanda along the Via Labicana connecting Rome to Capua and running through the land of Julius Caesar.

The restaurant soon gained national and then international recognition; from Gambero Rosso, Il Corriere della Sera and L’Espresso in Italy, to the Michelin Guide, Travel and Leisure, and Italian Cooking and Living abroad.

Heniz Beck, three star Michelin Chef of La Pergola in Rome, even describes 'Sora Anna' as the 'Queen of Roman cooking' 

'Sora 'Anna' Tour Summary

Participants on this unique In Italy Tours vacation package will enjoy three morning cooking classes with Anna in her restaurant including meal.

The afternoons will feature excursions to many of the most beautiful visitor locations in the Castelli Romani, as well as activities to deepen your appreciation of the local food and wine, such as wine tasting and a close up look at bread production.

In particular:

Ariccia

A visit to the town famous for its roasted porchetta. We will eat at a traditional fraschetta and tour Palazzo Chigi designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Our frascetta lunch will include a wide variety of antipasti together with various pastas and meats, but especially the 'porchetta' of Ariccia. This oven roasted and seasoned pork is eaten with delicious Genzano bread and seasonal vegetables. A favorite destination for Romans on a Sunday, a visit to a fraschetta is an essential and enjoyably raucous dining experience in the Castelli Romani.

By contrast, Palazzo Chigi was a popular destination during the Grand Tour for such notable travellers as Turner, Ibsen, Longfellow, Goethe and Gogol. The original furnishings of the palace have been preserved almost entirely and it also houses a large collection of art masterpieces. In the 1960’s, the palace was the setting for the interiors of the film “The Leopard” by Luchino Visconti starring Claudia Cardinale and Burt Lancaster.

Nemi

Nemi is an incredibly picturesque town overlooking the small volcanic lake of the same name. It is, above all, famous for it's wild strawberries or fruits of the forest. We will stop to taste the delicious strawberry dolci or 'sweets' and savour a traditional aperitivo of prosecco with wild strawberries.

After lunch, there will be an opportunity to view the ruins of the temple of Diana, goddess of abundance and fertility, close by. And also the small museum dedicated to the 2 boats of the madcap Emperor Caligula, who spent time on the lake and was a devotee of the goddess.

Genzano

Genzano is a vibrant town holding fast to the traditions of its historic past. One of the most important of these is the 3 day religious festival in June called the "Infiorata". People come from far and wide to see the floral patterns and pictorial representations using flower petals laid out in the main street of the historic center. Genzano is also famous in all Italy for its DOC bread, baked in wood fired ovens.

Tusculum and Frascati

Afternoon visit to the site of ancient Tusculum which sits high on a rolling hill with sweeping views and explore the ruins of the villas of the ancient nobles. Then a visit to the town of Frascati which is now one of the primary urban centers of the Castelli Romani and famous for its DOC white wine production.

Accommodation

Your accommodation is a hotel in Castel Gandolfo overlooking the large Lake Albano.

A wonderful panoramic location, Castel Gandolfo has been the preferred summer residence of the Pope since 1597.

The 4 star hotel is located in the small historical center of the town

4 day or 5 day itineraries are available and include:

• Transfer to and from your hotel in Castel Gandolfo
• 2-3 morning cooking sessions with Anna Dente in her osteria with meal to follow
• 4-5 day stay in a 4 star hotel in Castel Gandolfo
• Breakfast served daily
• Private transport during your tour
• Welcome dinner
• Lunches and dinners where specified on your itinerary
• English speaking guide throughout your tour
• Excursions mentioned in your itinerary
• All museum entrance fees where specified

How to get there:

By Air – to Fiumincino or Campino airports

If you happen to be in Rome a local train from Termini Station (approx 20 minute ride) to Campoleone is available and a transfer can be arranged there.

Do contact us for more details and a sample itinerary of the 'Sora Anna' tour.