Organic Tuscany, Certaldo

The 15th-century tower house that provides the accommodation and venue for one of the region’s best-run cooking schools is not generally marketed as a rental villa, as the weeklong courses are sold individually. But get a group of nine cucina-minded friends together and your only other houseguests will be the personable team of instructors. The partially frescoed farmstead at the center of this 15-acre property—more village than villa—has stunning views across the vine-strewn hills near the medieval town of Certaldo. $ Rentals, including cooking classes, start at $2,035 a person per week; $1,445 a person per week for non-cooking guests (max two per group); organictuscany.org.

$ Establishment accepts no charge/credit cards or accepts cards other than the American Express Card.