Without a doubt one of the most uniquely gratifying dining experiences of my life. Nestled in the hills of San Angelo you enter a garden kitchen where everything is picked right before it's cooked or it was caught that day. The pasta is handmade and every dish is prepared with Marianna with a big assist from her husband Franco. The feast is beyond compare. I can't say enough. From an antipasti of local cheeses and meats to black squid ink pasta to stuffed tomatoes to mussels and oh so much more you will simply eat until you break. The finest ingredients, lovingly prepared by wonderful Calabrians, you will be very happy that you decided to go with Tania and In Italy Tours.

Thanks, I loved it!!

Mike Colicchio, New Jersy, USA

Ciao Tania

Vince and I arrived home safe and sound and are already missing Tropea... the food, wine, beach, sea... did I mention the food!!!! We absolutely loved our holiday and it was so nice to meet you! It really was such a privilege to cook with Marianna and Franco. Vince made homemade pasta last night (our first night home!) and it was bellisimo... he would have made Marianna very proud!! We are already planning our return next June so look forward to seeing you again! We'll make sure to post some pics for your website! Thanks again for all of your help... the sailing and cooking class will be special memories we'll always cherish.

Take care and keep in touch.

Ciao Bella!

Tracy and Vincenzo, Toronto, Canada

Hey Tania

Unfortunately we are now back in Londra! :-( I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the whole experience of Tropea! Especially the food! ;-) Thanks again for your wonderful hospitality. We'll definitely be back at some stage next year! That's where a direct flight would be handy! It was wonderful to meet such a free spirit like yourself! I wish you all the best with your business! We'll send the photos through, Vince took some fabulous ones of our evening. They are very sad to be home but apparently Vince is cooking up a storm Tropea style! Big hug & kiss. Take care & definitely stay in touch! x

Lisa Chapman, London

Hi Tania

How I long to be back in Italy, what a beautiful place and such a wonderful lifestyle - I do envy you.

Thank you so much for dropping off my special rolling pin - I can't wait to use it. I have told everyone who will stand still long enough about my cooking lesson so, of course, my friends are waiting for a demonstration!

Geoff and I had such a wonderful evening, Marianna and her husband are beautiful people and having you there to interpret was fantastic. Please say hello to them for us and tell them that we have come home to rain, rain and more rain and would give anything to be wandering around their garden again!

Marianna is a wonderful cook and she and her husband very gracious hosts. The evening was filled with fun and laughter. I felt as if I was cooking with friends but before the night was over I was eating with family. A very memorable occasion.

I have attached some photos of our wonderful night. Thank you so much. Kind Regards

Loraine Leslie, New Zealand

We wanted a different vacation in Italy. We wanted a vacation that was tropical, romantic, adventurous and tied to water. We went on the internet and investigated 'boating trips in Southern Italy". Tania's name popped up… and the rest was history.

Tania found us a boat, an experienced captain, a car rental company and a fabulous hotel. She met us in Italy and set us up for our 7 day sailing trip. She took us to dinner, took us to buy groceries for the boat, and arranged for our ride to meet the boat. Then she surprised us with a gift basket of Italian delicacies, and a detailed book on the Aeolian Islands. That book proved valuable as we explored each of the islands.

When we returned from our boat trip, Tania met us, again, and showered us with attention. To say she made our trip better is an understatement. Tania made the trip happen and took care of all the worry and all the details. She is dedicated, detailed and genuinely caring about her clients. Our trip was a huge success and we can't thank her enough!

We highly recommend utilizing Tania for any and all vacation and cooking plans!

Gary Saulter, USA

Tropea
We've laid on the white beach (no painful grey rocks here), swum in clear aqua waters, eaten clams and mussels drowned in garlic and white wine and mopped up the juices with crusty bread.

We've been driven up into the hills by a fabulous ex pat from Melbourne, Tania, who runs various tours here. She took us for a cooking class at the home of a local, Mariana, who has a remote old uninhabited house surrounded by a beautiful vegetable garden where she runs her cooking classes in an outdoor kitchen.

We were straight away given glasses of home made wine and toured round the garden. Mariana had prepared enough antipasto for ten people and then taught us to make pasta with parmigiana sauce, pork ragu, polpette, peperanata, zucchini flower fritters and so much more. Because I know people won't believe me, I took photographic evidence of Joe rolling pasta and stirring a pot of peppers.

We cooked with herbs and vegetables straight from the garden, where we also saw lemon trees, chickens and enormous caged rabbits ready for the cookpot.

We sat down to eat the feast with Mariana, Tania and Mariana's husband Franco and the three dogs.

We finished off with figs from the garden, home made cake and limoncello. Calabrian hospitality meant that we headed back to our hotel with plates piled high with cake and figs, and literally rolled into bed, groaning from over indulgence.

Then we slept the sleep of the glutton - deep, dreamless, Calabrian.

Marika Harvey - comment from her blog, Melbourne, Australia

Dear Tania,

A very big thank-you for all that you did for us during our recent stay in Tropea. We know that it was difficult with the Easter holidays, but the schedule you arranged for us was perfect. Loved our time with Marianna and Franco in their very special country retreat, and the visit with Edo in the mountains was equally wonderful. The restaurant meals you arranged were all superb, and everyone involved with the program was personable, generous, and so friendly. And, of course, many thanks for your help with my lost luggage. Without you and Roberto I'd still be tracking it down!

I'll forward pictures as soon as I'm able to get them downloaded.

Good luck with your program----you exceeded all of our expectations, and we wish you the best!

Karen Wand, Connecticut

Thank you for a fabulous taste of Calabria! Your hospitality made me feel like I was visiting family.

Elaine Turner, North Carolina

Tropea was incredible. We had a lot of fun cooking with In Italy Tours. Marianna and her family were wonderful; they are such extraordinary people! The food was fantastic and we've been quite successful recreating the recipes. During previous trips we had taken cooking classes (yes, we are foodies!) in Emilia Romagna and Northern italy, but the detail, attention and authenticity of yours can't be compared. Truly an experience!!! It made us feel as if we were part of it instead of the american tourists who think italian food is just a bowl of pasta. We have highly recommended this tour to our friends in town. They were blown away when we showed them the pictures and gave them a run down of the whole cooking experience; I'm sure they'll be booking you soon!

The boat trip to Capo Vaticano was unforgettable. Such a serene, and relaxing time. Heavenly! We are happy you were able to schedule it for our last day there at such little notice.

Thank you so much for accommodating our needs and working around our short week. Without your help we would never have been able to rearrange things the way we did and have a few days on our own to enjoy the beach and a stroll around gorgeous, sunny Tropea. We will be back next summer to do the Aeolian Islands cruise. We are already gathering a group together. We will keep you informed of our plans. Thanks again!

Grazie mille,

A. & R. Sanz, New York

Thank you Tania for such a wonderful evening. Learning to cook a local Calabrian meal was an amazing experience.

Marianna and Franco were such wonderful and gracious hosts who made sure we had an unforgettable night with plenty of food and wine.

We look forward to returning to Tropea soon.

Best wishes

Ursula and James, London, England

The Tropea cooking school is an Italian travel dream come true. Everything from the accommodations in a renovated 17th century palazzo set right off the main square of the magical town (complete with awesome rooftop terrace for breakfast AND computers with free internet access in every room!) to the variety of classes, to free time on the beach and strolling through town to taste the friendly locals' delicious specialties combined to make for a spectacular three days. I spent one evening with Mamma Marianna teaching me the rich sauces and pastas of the region from her hilltop garden kitchen and another afternoon on chef Rosanna's seaside terrace, where she featured excellent preparations of vegetables from her organic gardens, homemade pastas, and swordfish caught that morning. It was my first time in the region of Calabria -- a wonderful introduction to inspire me to return to explore even more of what this enticing region has to offer.

Susan Van Allen, Los Angeles, California

Dear Tania:

Thank you for everything. We had a wonderful time in Tropea. The cooking class with Marianna was definitely an experience; I loved picking the fruit & vegetables to prepare dinner. Everything was so fresh and delicious!! It doesn't compare to anything I have tried before. Working the pasta dough was fun and easy. I can still close my eyes and taste all the amazing food I had.

The beaches were like no others I've seen before. The boat trip was incredible!

Thank you for making everything so easy and personalized for us! It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip in Italy. We will be back!!

Ciao!
Alberto Machuca, Manhattan, NYC

I did not know what to expect when my son booked me a cooking session with 'initaly'. We were picked up from outside our hotel and driven up the most spectacular route to our destination in the mountains. On route we stopped continously at the most astounding points for us to take photographs and breath in the beautiful flowers and the sea and mountain air. On arrival we were met by our host Tania. Tania introduced my group to Marianna and Franco. First of all we were served a number of local foods and wine. The atmosphere was' out of a novel' it was 'heaven'. The rustic farm house was surrounded by orchards and home grown vegetables and herbs. We spent time in the garden learning about the different uses of the vegetables and herbs, and collecting food for the meal. We were then treated to an interactive workshop, making our very own pasta, meatballs , fried zucchini flowers and special beans just to mention a few. After the cooking lesson and making of the food we were ushered to a beautifully arranged table, with a white linen canopy and pure white linen cloth , in contrast to the rustic surroundings it provided a chic setting for our dinner party. As the sun set we ate our fabulous food and engaged with our fabulous new friends. It is a birthday I will never forget and I will be planning my next visit with these wonderful talented people. The experience far exceeded my expectations. Thank you Tania.

Rachelle Maxwell, London, England

Dear Tania,

My Daughter and I would like to thank you for one of the most beautiful experiences while travelling in Italy. Although we assumed we would have a great dinner, we had no idea that we would be picked up by the most amazing , adorable woman who quickly whisked us away on a magical journey to the most exquisite beaches imaginable. We thought we would be driven to our cooking class but you went out of your way to show us locations no one would ever find , complete with cocktails overlooking the the most pristine sea and then we got to meet the famous Marianna!!! This lady is a secret jewel. from her country garden home where her husband, Franco gave us the garden tour as we tasted fresh strawberries, Marianna had us roll up our sleeves, and I thought I knew what Italian Cooking was all about. I obviously had no idea. The regional specialties that she had us prepare with the freshest local ingredients amazed us from the moment we arrived. All dishes were exquisitely prepared with great wine, especially Francos home made wine that he had stored away for us, and not to mention the home made liquors. We feel so privilaged to have had this experience with you in Beautiful Tropea.

Lori and Rachel Gray, Malibu, California

"We felt welcomed into a warm Italian family lifestyle and enjoyed making the delicious menus while tasting typical Calabrian wine. You have the best of both worlds; the bright blue sea and the exquisite views from the mountaintops. You succeeded in creating a marvelous tour with lots of variation and respect for the local products and culture. One we will never forget!"

Tania We haven't stopped talking about our trip. You made sure we had a wonderful time and we enjoyed every minute of it. We can't thank you enough for your enthusiasm and your warm friendly touch. It has been a great vacation.

Margareta (Griet) and Helena (Leen), Belgium

Cooking Classes with Marianna were fantastic. I will never forget what a wonderful time i spent here in Tropea. Everyone was so wonderful and made this holiday the best thing i have done in a long time. Having Tania here making sure that everything was perfect and beautiful. You are a rare find. I'm so happy to have met you in Tropea. Best of luck in all that you do. You have made this holiday an experience I will never forget.

Julie Knight, Perth, Australia

Dear Tania,

I am writing to express my thanks in being able to participate in you Culinary tour!! Tropea, a hidden secret of Italy, was an exquisite setting for such a tour.

After being picked up by Franco, the journey up the mountain was picturesque and the views to the bay were magnificent. Both Franco and his wife Marianna were such friendly and hospitable hosts and delightful characters. Marianna has obviously been cooking for many years and I have never tasted such fresh organic food. The meals were absolutely delicious with such great aromas and flavours. The outside setting under the arbour was charming and the food kept coming out - course after course!!

I will always hold fond memories of Tropea not only of its beautiful aqua beaches but of the delicious feast I was fortunate enough to share with everyone.

Thank you so much Tania for arranging the banquet and I would highly recommend your tour to all who hope to travel to Italy!

Yours sincerely,
Rosa Spanti, Melbourne, Australia

Hello Tania!

I just wanted to send you a big Thank You for taking care of my clients. They couldn't say enough about you and your hospitality.

Tropea was the best part of their entire trip! They were absolutely delighted with everything they experienced. I hope to send more clients your way.

Take Care,
Ashley Jackson, Myrtle Beach, SC

Tania,

I can't thank you enough for such an unforgettable experience in Tropea. Thanks to you and you beautiful website, I would never have decided to visit such a beautiful region in Southern Italy and what a place!

We have had such a great time from the minute we landed here in Tropea. The hotel was superb and cooking with Marianna was so much fun. We really felt like we were part of a family. We loved cooking in the outdoors. It was the perfect setting and the food was fantastic. We really had the fortunate opportunity to taste the real food of the region and the beaches were beautiful. Please thank Marianna and everyone involved in making our holiday so memorable.

We are already making plans to return.

Lisa Graham and family, Melbourne, Australia

In Italy tours, what can I say… From the moment I found this 8 day Calabria cooking tour on the net to the moment I left Bella Tropea I was continuously amazed. It is without exaggeration when I say every moment exceeded my expectations. Amazing accommodation, cooking with Rosanna, Days sailing on the Calabrian sea, Tropea city tours with Tania - everything was fantastic. Every one involved in making this tour happen were so exceptionally friendly and helpful, it honestly was an extraordinary experience.

Maria Occhiuto, Sydney, Australia

I found Tania's excursions exciting and beautiful. The cooking course was just the rustic setting I was hoping for. The farm with the beautiful animals was so much fun. If you are a couple or a family this is the trip for you. I look forward to doing it again someday. Thanks Tania. You are a great host!

Nancy Ursino

My family and I recently took a trip to Capo Vaticano.

We decided to use initalytours for a cooking class and a day on the farm and dinner. This was truly an amazing experience for us. This part of Calabria is just waiting to be discovered. Our host Tania is wonderful and oversees every detail.

For the true experience of the area you should consider using Initalytours.com Thank you Tania it was amazing. We can not wait to do this again!!!

Dave, Nancy and family, Boston Massachusetts.