My parents and friend and I all did their truffle hunting with cooking class-tour-combo as well as an in villa chef dinner. Both the dinner and tour were amazing, worth the price, and extremely memorable. The truffle hunting experience was authentic and not made just for tourists. We were asked to respect the hunter and his dogs and not try to distract the dogs from obeying him. There was no guarantee we'd find truffles either which I appreciated because it means we were getting the authentic experience and they weren't reburying previously found truffles or anything just for their tours' benefits. We learned about how truffles grow and are hunted and how they train the truffle dogs (which were world class hunters I must say). The cooking class after the truffle hunt was also amazing. Every course was more than enough food and we all got our fill. The mother of the farm owner was our teacher which was also really cool. We loved the family aspect of the whole experience and business. Lucca was our guide and helped translate so we could understand our chef and truffle hunter and he also ate with us and knew everyone who we encountered. It was a very personal experience and we felt like part of the family. The in villa chef made dinner was also delicious. When making your reservation you get to choose what they make which is nice. The "chef" is a grandma or mom from a nearby town and either come with a translator or understand enough English so that you can converse. She made more than enough food for us and everything was phenomenal. By the end of the meal we were stuffed with leftovers in the fridge and happy tastebuds. It was nice to come home from a day of wine tasting in Chianti to a warm home cooked meal that we didn't have to think about or clean up after. I would do both again and would definitely try their other tours and programs in future trips. read more

See all

If you are thinking about attending the Teatro del Silenzio 2027, reconsider. I have loved Andrea Bocelli for 30+years. What that are doing to him is disgraceful. Only making money from his beautiful voice. Many people walked out of his concert early on July 25, 2026 in Lajatico. So disappointing. I thought it was only my husband and I. But now I see online the many, many disappointed concert attendees. Many traveled so far. We traveled 4800 miles. VIP Tickets were exceptionally expensive. Views of the stage were obscured. Spotlights in your face all night. Close seating arrangements. No programs. No directions. Personally, expressing our feelings as Americans, they are 'pimping' you out, Andrea. read more

When my significant other told me we were going on a bus tour, I pictured a slow, simple, and quite relaxing ride through the Tuscan countryside -- maybe some wine, some photos, and lots of air-conditioned comfort....... Something I've done before, the standard issue bus ride. You can imagine my surprise, and moreso, confusion, when we arrived to find Luca, our friendly tour guide, peeking around the corner greeting us with a very excitable, "Are you ready for your Vespa tour?!?" My eyes immediately widened. Did I hear him correctly? Was something lost in translation? I paused to process.....instinctively went outside for some fresh air.....and came back in after momentarily catching my breath. Still visibly choked-up, I struggled to speak during my waterfall of emotions......."Who's cutting onions in here?" This had all hit me, fast, all at once. I was beyond moved and thoroughly excited. Now, I've been riding for nearly 34 years -- from dirt bikes to adventure bikes to the high-speed track, and as an instructor -- but this experience was something entirely different. What started as a "bus tour" magically transformed (with a twist of the wrist) into one of, if not, the most profound and unforgettable rides of my life. The awesome team at Arianna & Friends made everything seamless, and our private guide, Luca, was nothing short of exceptional -- professional, kind, and deeply passionate about sharing the hidden beauty of his piece of Tuscany. He led us through rolling hills, olive groves, and charming villages, while stopping at breathtaking viewpoints that perfectly captured the magic of the region. This was our ride, Luca included, not just mine. Even with all my years on two wheels, this day reminded me why I fell in love with riding in the first place -- the freedom, the connection, and the pure joy of the open road. I have seriously struggled to find the words (strong enough) to thank Arianna & Friends, Luca, and my significant other, for turning a "bus tour" into a bucket list experience checked off in the most meaningful way. This adventure was exhilarating, enriching for the soul, and unforgettable..... I found peace. Andiamo! read more

Arianna & Friends - We made a friend, us and Luca! - Food Tours Near Me - Terricciola, PI

See all

Prior to our visit to the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Borgo Alle Vigne in rural Selvatelle south of Pisa, Italy, we contacted Arianna & Friends on line to arrange for a private cooking class for 4 at Rita's Farm in rural Tuscany. The five hour hands on 4-course food preparation session was the best and most rewarding experience of our trip to Italy. Massimo was an excellent guide and teacher. We were impressed by his vast knowledge of subjects which he presented in an interesting way. Silvia the cook was patient and supportive. Her warm, sweet personality showed through language barrier. We really had fun learning to cook and appreciate Italian food and wine. read more

See all

Our family booked a pasta and pizza cooking class with Arianna & Friends while we were in port on a cruise. Every single part of the experience was superb! From the seemless booking to the transportation, I can't say enough good things. Our driver Diego was on time and a great driver! Of every single place we went on our cruise this was our favorite port because of Arianna and Friends. Victoria and Laura were the most amazing hosts. They made us feel like family. We were taken by air conditioned van to a small town in the heart of Tuscany. The driver showed us a little bit of the town by taking the long route. We came to Rita's farm which has breathtaking views. The farm is everything you could imagine, chickens, donkeys, a vineyard, and olive trees. We sat down to our cooking class and waited until about 11:00 a.m. to start drinking the wine. It was 5 o'clock somewhere! We made a delicious pasta that we ate outside with the amazing view and then we cooked our pizzas for round two. I loved every bit of it and can't wait to return. Thank you over and over and over. read more

We just finished an incredibly delicious meal cooked by Arianna and Friends chefs. They were lovely people and their food was wonderful. We had their panzanella, ravioli with ricotta and spinach, bracioline rifatte and zuppa inglese and we applauded the chefs every time they brought out a course. I cannot recommend this enough. read more

What a fun way to spend a couple of hours! It started as a group virtual Valentine's Day dinner and ended up with the kids helping. Arianna was so wonderful and answered all the group's questions about where she lives and how our pasta is looking. Highly recommend!!! read more

We stayed at the Hilton Club at Borgo Alle Vigne. This unique location is set in a small village with breath taking views and spacious modern conveniences. We had a 2 story villa, 2 bedrooms each with its own full bathroom, a living room with a pull out couch if needed, dining room and full kitchen stocked with utensils you need if you enjoy cooking. I could easily live in our suite! If it were a warmer time of year we would have breakfast on our patio overlooking the valley and lush hills. The free wifi worked fine the entire time we were there. Everyone on staff at the resort truly seems to love being here. They are always genuinely cheerful and helpful. They are extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding cities, how to best plan your visits and recommend the best way of getting there. Really they even drove the route to Pontedera (free parking lot for the train station to Florence) and took photos at the turning points with a description to keep everyone on track. And then there is Arianna & Friends, a tour company of local articulate warm and joyful guides. I can't say enough about our experiences on the tours we took with them. First we had a cooking class with 9 other people which was so much fun. We made pasta from scratch all of us getting to knead the dough, roll it out and cut it to size. It culminated in a 4 course feast of all the things we cooked. Getting to know our fellow travelers as well as Massimo our lead teacher was a highlight of the night. info@ariannandfriends.com is the way to contact them. Then Luca was with us for part of the next two days. We visited a sheep farm and cheese making facility all family owned. The lunch they prepared at their restaurant for us included a cheese tasting and was one of the best meals we had in Italy. Luca was also full of great information about the area and how the agriculture and villages worked together. Then off to an olive oil press and tasting followed by a wine production facility and tour of the family vineyard. The lunch at the vineyard was in a room of all windows overlooking the rolling hills. It was spectacular. Massimo and Luca's enthusiasm was contagious. Even if you are a seasoned traveler and are totally capable of being independent, don't miss the opportunity to meet Massimo, Luca and their team. They will give you a glimpse of Tuscan living more authentic and deep then you could possibly do on your own. read more

Arianna & Friends is a wonderful company with with a wide array of services. My husband and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club in Tuscany. We used Arianna & Friends for two events - private chef in villa and cheese and olive oil tour. Daniella came to our villa and made us a an authentic Italian meal from scratch with items fresh from the farmers market that morning! It was absolutely delicious, but even more wonderful was the company and culture brought to our own villa that evening. Luca took my husband and I on a private tour and tasting of a local EVOO mill and separately a cheese farm where we had an incredible and filling lunch, which included excellent wine! It was so personalized and we truly experienced the life and culture of the Tuscan locals. Can't wait to go back and we will only book with Arianna & Friends! Looking forward to it...It looks like we'll be back this summer!!! read more

We took a cheese and olive oil tour and it was superb. Our guide very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We learned the processes at the organic farm where we had a delicious lunch with the owner. At the olive farm the owner sat with us and answered all our questions and we learned how to taste olive oils. A great day to remember thanks to Arianna and Friends. read more

We loved our cooking class at Rita's farm!!! One of the best things we did in Italy! Ester was our chef and was simply delightful and super talented! I'm hard pressed to say we had a better dinner on our entire trip (and we ate a lot of wonderful food). Can't wait to get home and make pizza and pasta for our family. Rita was the most generous host, and we felt as though we had spent the evening in the home of a good friend instead of just a class. I popped my tire as soon as I arrived, but she was so kind, and helped me in every way - her husband tried to change it for me, but the lug wrench was damaged so she ended up talking to road side assistance for me (my Italian is terrible and I would have never been able to communicate our location) The next day, I got a call from our hotel letting me know Rita had come by and brought a pair of glasses she thought I had left. They weren't mine, but I had left the notes I had taken, and she brought those too. I will book again if we ever get back to Tuscany - just to see Rita and her adorable family. She shared her kitchen, her wine and olive oil. She showed us around the farm and shared stories of the history. I loved every minute! read more