June

Hardworking bees were collecting acacia nectar in May, and at last it's ready for the beekeeper to extract from the hive. Black truffles may be lurking in the woods. Delve into the mysteries of cheese and ricotta: visiting cheesemakers, making it, tasting it, and cooking with it.

Sample activities

Visit a beekeeper, learn about the extraordinary life of bees, help extract honey from the frame and sample the intense and varied flavours of single-flower honey
Visit a shepherd and watch her make pecorino and ricotta with milk from her own flocks
Forage for nettles and use your ricotta to make ravioli and other local dishes based on ricotta
Spend a day in a village where ancient and modern work together in harmony: bake Garfagnana potato bread with the village baker in his wood-fired oven, visit farro fields and state-of-the-art farro polishing machine
Hunt for black truffles with Riccardo and his truffle hound and return to his home for lunch (truffles will be on the menu)
Visit a silkworm breeder and feed mulberry leaves to the silkworms (they can't feed without human help)
Learn to make gelato at one of the best gelaterias in Italy
Guided tour of one of the grand villas and its gardens near Lucca
Walk in the summer woods
Learn to dye with wine with a creative young designer
Meals in family restaurants off the beaten track

Ask us for our full menu of activities since we're always finding new interesting producers.