Scott Dunn: ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

Tuscan cuisine, know as 'La Cucina Povera Toscana' is a peasant culture tradition where all of the ingredients used in the recipes are grown locally in family farms and pastures and then prepared fresh. Food production in Tuscany is at once art, religion, serious business and common talk. This culinary tradition has earned world acclaim as it is incredibly varied, pure, bursting with flavour and always accompanied by stellar wines. Tuscan cooking makes full use of the region's fantastic bounty and the genuine dishes created are as much a joy to prepare as they are to eat.

The kitchen at Villa Fontelunga was initially set up by 'Ines', Paulo's mother, who grew up in her mother's restaurant. Stuffed tomatoes, pasta al ragu, beef strips in truffle sauce, the list is endless as are her recipe books! What they aim to do is to pass on some of those simple yet priceless hints and tips to those wishing to make perfect pasta at home. The resident desert chef, Simon, has his angle of the sweeter tooth, so if you would like to pass an afternoon cooking and then the rest of the evening eating the fruits of your efforts all with great company then courses are regularly held from 1600 to 1930.

Arezzo has a wealth of elegant renaissance and medieval architecture, art, shopping and restaurants. Ostensibly a commercial city, the capital of the province and one of the biggest gold manufacturing centres in the world, the historic walled centre is definitely worth a visit. On the first weekend of every month this historic centre plays host to Italy's largest antique fair where the streets are lined with treasures and trinkets just waiting to be discovered! If you would prefer a more leisurely antiques experience then why not visit Piazza Grande, which offers numerous antique shops while Corso Italia is the main shopping street.

The Piero della Francesca frescoes in the church of San Francesco are world famous for helping in the development of fresco painting in Italy, whilst the pizzeria outside the church was made famous but the Benigni film 'Le Vita e Bella'.

There is an annual jousting tournament that is quite an event taking over the whole main square combine this with the Duomo and the castle for an ultimate renaissance and medieval day out.

After the hustle and bustle of Arezzo why not experience a but of calm in one of the most beautiful hill top towns of the Val di Chiana region, Monte San Savino. A town well known in Italy for its antique dealers and shops, it also has several good restaurants and a stunning town hall, which if open should be explored all the way through to its garden beyond. The town is worth a visit if only to sample the delights if its gelato parlour 'Cioccolato di Carlo'!

Avignonesi Winery - Montepulciano region

Vino Nobile Wines (booking required)

Wine tour, tasting and lunch. Winery tours take place at the beautiful Fattoria Le Capezzine three times a day and explain the different steps in wine making, from the harvesting to the ageing process in the production of their fine Vino Nobiles and Vin Santo. You can also enjoy the wines over a fantastic lunch.

Poggio Antico Winery - Montalcino Region

Brunello wines (booking required)

Wine tour, tasting and lunch. This winery is one of the smaller producers of the famous Brunello with tours taking place at the state of the art winery throughout the week. There is also another very good restaurant in the nearby town of San Angelo in Colle, called Trattoria 'Il Pozzo'.

Santa Vittoria Winery - Arezzo region (booking required)

Wine tour and tasting. The estate borders the Chianti region to the north and the Montepulciano to the south producing an excellent Vin Santo, award winning red wines, and is making a name for its experimental use of divers varieties of grape. It also forms part of the 'Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo'.