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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Simona

Florence, Italy

USD
$72-$90 per person

Private authentic culinary experience in a Tuscan countryside villa

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Simona

Your hosts are Simona and her mother, two Tuscan-born and raised Italians from Impruneta, a beautiful wine town located in the outskirts of Florence. They are kind and polite, and complement each other perfectly to provide the most traditional Tuscan experience.

Simona, who speaks fluent English, will be your official host, while her mother, who does not speak English, is the official cook. They are both incredibly friendly and eager to share stories about their family, the food and the history of the area and their home.

Their house is surrounded by other similar properties, typical Tuscan villas with large green spaces and vineyards that exemplify country life. One of the most interesting things about the house is its history: the property has belonged to the host's family for many generations and the property's history is deeply tied to that of the town.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-6 guests) Meet Simona and her mother at their house in Impruneta. As you arrive, your hosts will take you on a tour of their property where you will enjoy views of their vineyards, a huge garden with orchards and other fruit trees, as well as house accommodations such as the tennis court and pool.

Once you enter the house, the first thing you will see is their gallery room which is next to their lovely dining room, where you will enjoy your meal. If it is cold, Simona will set the table in their open and spacious kitchen. All the rooms are large, with family furniture and a generous view of the valley surrounding the property.

After your property tour sit down together to enjoy authentic, home-made Tuscan meal. All the food will be served in the original pots of the house, which have been preserved for many generations. As a starter, Simona's mother will make her family's recipe for vegetable lasagna, which has an incredible texture and deep flavor.

For your main course, your hosts will serve sliced tender meat, seasoned with local herbs and accompanied by steamed beans, which is a typical preparation of that area of Tuscany. For dessert, you will try a home-made cake served with custard and fruits from their own property, such as blueberries and currants (depending on the season).

Throughout the meal, Simona will share stories about her grandfather, the owner of a restoration company that, among other things, restored many of Florence's famous buildings. She has many interesting stories linked to the history of the city - be sure to ask her to show you the book showcasing her grandfather's work!

During summer and fall, the temperature will be hot and warm, respectively, and the temperature of the house will be adequate. During winter, the temperature can get very cold, and after dessert your host will invite you to continue the conversation by their large chimneys.

Notes: Simona and her family's villa also accommodates some overnight guests, so there may be other travelers present on the property. Your experience however will be private. Also, paid transportation is only offered from central Florence hotels.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Spanish

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
The view was beautiful. Simona and her mother were great hosts and cooked a fabulous meal. Would definitely recommend the whole experience.
- donald October 25, 2023
Excellent wine and food. We were treated like royalty by the friendly and wonderful staff. The scenic view , with panoramic hills and vineyards was incredible. Lots of wine and freshly made pasta- just great.
- Christopher December 27, 2022
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Simona

$72-$90 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $90 $72
Alcohol
 $18 per person
Transportation
 $72 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $90 $72
Alcohol
 $18 per person
Transportation
 $72 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 7:00pm-10:00pm

Meet Simona

Your hosts are Simona and her mother, two Tuscan-born and raised Italians from Impruneta, a beautiful wine town located in the outskirts of Florence. They are kind and polite, and complement each other perfectly to provide the most traditional Tuscan experience.

Simona, who speaks fluent English, will be your official host, while her mother, who does not speak English, is the official cook. They are both incredibly friendly and eager to share stories about their family, the food and the history of the area and their home.

Their house is surrounded by other similar properties, typical Tuscan villas with large green spaces and vineyards that exemplify country life. One of the most interesting things about the house is its history: the property has belonged to the host's family for many generations and the property's history is deeply tied to that of the town.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-6 guests) Meet Simona and her mother at their house in Impruneta. As you arrive, your hosts will take you on a tour of their property where you will enjoy views of their vineyards, a huge garden with orchards and other fruit trees, as well as house accommodations such as the tennis court and pool.

Once you enter the house, the first thing you will see is their gallery room which is next to their lovely dining room, where you will enjoy your meal. If it is cold, Simona will set the table in their open and spacious kitchen. All the rooms are large, with family furniture and a generous view of the valley surrounding the property.

After your property tour sit down together to enjoy authentic, home-made Tuscan meal. All the food will be served in the original pots of the house, which have been preserved for many generations. As a starter, Simona's mother will make her family's recipe for vegetable lasagna, which has an incredible texture and deep flavor.

For your main course, your hosts will serve sliced tender meat, seasoned with local herbs and accompanied by steamed beans, which is a typical preparation of that area of Tuscany. For dessert, you will try a home-made cake served with custard and fruits from their own property, such as blueberries and currants (depending on the season).

Throughout the meal, Simona will share stories about her grandfather, the owner of a restoration company that, among other things, restored many of Florence's famous buildings. She has many interesting stories linked to the history of the city - be sure to ask her to show you the book showcasing her grandfather's work!

During summer and fall, the temperature will be hot and warm, respectively, and the temperature of the house will be adequate. During winter, the temperature can get very cold, and after dessert your host will invite you to continue the conversation by their large chimneys.

Notes: Simona and her family's villa also accommodates some overnight guests, so there may be other travelers present on the property. Your experience however will be private. Also, paid transportation is only offered from central Florence hotels.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Spanish

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
The view was beautiful. Simona and her mother were great hosts and cooked a fabulous meal. Would definitely recommend the whole experience.
- donald October 25, 2023
Excellent wine and food. We were treated like royalty by the friendly and wonderful staff. The scenic view , with panoramic hills and vineyards was incredible. Lots of wine and freshly made pasta- just great.
- Christopher December 27, 2022
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $90 $72
Alcohol
 $18 per person
Transportation
 $72 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $90 $72
Alcohol
 $18 per person
Transportation
 $72 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 7:00pm-10:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.