The Gift of the Holy Thorn: the Middle Age in Montone, Umbria

4  Days Cooking Classes and Tours from 16th to 20th August 2018

Montone is a charming walled medieval village about 35 km north of Perugia, in Umbria . The town boasts a rich historical, artistic, cultural and natural heritage, its history is closely tied to the military and political fortunes of the Fortebracci, a dynasty of Italian warlords, and reached its maximum splendor under the rule of Braccio da Montone also known as Braccio Fortebraccio.

 

Carlo Fortebraccio, son of Braccio, was fighting in the service of the Republic of Venice and as reward for its brilliant military exploits was given a sacred relic, one of the thorns of the crown that pierced the head of Jesus Christ.

He decided to bring it as a present to his hometown Montone.

Every year in August, Montone is home to great historical, cultural and religious event, which is under the UNESCO patronage since 2007, to celebrate the donation of the Holy Thorn.

The streets and the squares of the village come back into the magical atmosphere of the Middle Ages thanks to musicians, jesters, jugglers, flag-throwers, merchants, men-at-arms and many other historical characters in faithful period costumes.

The program includes music and dance shows, arts and crafts exhibitions, the customs and the flavours of the Middle Ages, and yet historical dinners in the picturesque taverns and inns.

The festival ends with an impressive historical parade.

 

Details of the Middle Age Tour in Montone

Trip Length: 5 Days (4 nights)

Departure Dates: From 16th to 20th August 2018

Destinations: Italy, (Umbria Perugia, Assisi, Montone, Montefalco)

Activities: Culinary,  Cultural exploration

 

Day by Day Itinerary of the Tour

• Thursday 16th August– Arrive in Perugia Arrival at the country farm “La volpe e l’uva” (Perugia, Central Italy, Umbria, near Tuscany). Check-in your apartment at 4:00 pm.

 

• Friday 17th August– Cooking + Assisi Tours
  Morning. Hands-on cooking class starts around 10:00 am. You will prepare a four course lunch that you will eat at the end of the class, accompanied by our wines.
  Afternoon. You will visit the mystical city of Assisi, a beautiful medieval town based on Mount Subasio, overlooking a peaceful Umbrian landscape.  Assisi is essentially known for the fact that it’s the place of birth of St. Francis in and that of Santa Chiara.
  You will visit the city and the famous churches like the St. Francis Church filled with spectacular frescoes by Giotto, and also the Eremo delle Carceri, a peacefully isolated church and monastery in the wooded slopes just outside Assisi’s walls and the St. Damiano church .Professional guide in the tour.

 

• Saturday 18th August– Cooking + Wine Tour in Montefalco
  Morning. Hands-on cooking class starts around 10:00am. You will prepare a four course lunch that you will eat at the end of the class, accompanied by our wines.
  Afternoon.It is a wine tour in a winery that produces Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCGS. You will have a guided tour of the vineyard, cellars finishing up with a test of local Umbrian specialties and the wines.
  You will also visit the medieval cities of Bevagna and Montefalco

 

• Sunday 19th  August– Cooking + The Gift of the Holy Thorn in Montone
  Morning. Hands-on cooking class starts around 10:00am. You will prepare a four course lunch that you will eat at the end of the class, accompanied by our wines.
  Afternoon. Visit of the charming walled medieval village of Montone and of the Grand Historical Parade of the Gift of the Holy Thorn. Professional guide in the tour.

 

• Monday 20th August– Departure.

 

More about the COOKING CLASSES
Read what MEALS are included in the Cooking Program
More about your ACCOMMODATION in the farm

 

PRICES 2018

The prices are for single travelers  (single occupancy) and for groups from 2 to 8 people ( double occupancy).  If your group is composed by more than 8 people send me your request and we will send you the best price!
It is also possible to bring along a non-participating partner who can spend the morning enjoying the surroundings, and could then join the group at lunchtime. Non-participating guests are welcome on the excursion and can use all the facilities at the farmhouse and join all the meals, just not the actual cooking classes.

 

Solo travelers
Participating guest, single occupancy 1200 euro

 

Group of 2  people Participating guest, double  occupancy in 1 apartment  1100 euro

Group from 3 to 4  people Participating guest, double  occupancy in 2 apartments 860 euro

Group from 5 to 6 people Participating guest, double occupancy in 3 apartments 750 euro

Group from 7 to 8 people Participating guest, double occupancy in 3 apartments 700 euro

 

Non-participating guest, double occupancy 800 euro

 

 

Inclusions:

• Accommodations in the apartment of the farmhouse “la volpe e l’uva” in Perugia (40mq, lounge with cooking area and double sofa bed double bedroom and bathroom), included bed linen, towels, final cleaning.
• 3 breakfasts (in your apartment you will find coffee, milk, biscuits, jams, butter and sugar)
• 3 cooking classes of approximately 4 hours,
• 3 Four course meal from the cooking lesson;
• Umbrian wines during meals, liquors for after dinner/lunch;
• Certificate of participation;
• Folder with all the recipes;
• Apron of Let’s cook in Umbria.
• 3 Tours as indicated in the itinerary

In the COOKING CALENDAR  you will find all the dates and availability of our Seasonal Tours

Group discount – These trips are priced assuming up to six travelers. Special offers are available for bigger group. If your group is composed by more than 6 people send me your request and we will send you the best price!

No cooking guests. It is also possible to bring along a non-participating partner who can spend the morning enjoying the surroundings, and could then join the group at lunchtime.

If you are interested in a culinary holidays without tours (only accommodation and cooking classes) please visit the page Cooking Vacations.

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Our 4 Seasons Cooking Holidays

 

Winter

• Christmas Cooking Vacation –  December
• New Year –  2018/2019 – December/January
• The Organic Umbria  – February

Spring

• Easter Cooking Vacation  – April
• Corpus Domini Spello –  June

Summer

• The Medieval Market –  June
• Palio of the Boats – July 
• The Gift of the Holy Thorn, Montone – August 

Autumn

• The Treasures of Umbria  – October  
• The Olive Harvest –  November
• The New Olive Oil – November