Kras Masterclass

Culinary and architectural wonders of the Karst

Embark on a journey of masterpiece discovery and get close to the creative pinnacles of the Karst. This in-depth experience of Karst architecture begins with a tour of the village Pliskovica and the visit of a stonemason's workshop, before heading to a tasting of select wines and famous karst prosciutto, reaching its apex among the architectural masterpieces of Fabiani in Štanjel and wrapping up in the style of Karst cuisine, with a chef's dinner.

Highlights of the experience

• stroll through the village Pliskovica and tour the Old Slamčeva Farm
• visit a karst stonemason and see the art of stonework up close
• wine tasting with a local winemaker
• karst prosciutto tasting at an established prosciutto producer
• tour of architect Fabiani's masterpieces in Štanjel with a surprise
• dinner in the Štanjel Castle

On the journey across landmarks of stone and architecture, from Karst produce to gourmet cuisine, you'll be starting off with a tour of the village Pliskovica and its Old Slamčeva Farm, a gracefully restored karst homestead with its typical borjač yard and old agricultural buildings, now protected as a cultural monument. The guide will showcase interesting architectural elements and their stories. You can also see how the beautiful details are made on a visit to the stonemason's workshop, feeling firsthand the stone of the Karst, described by the mason as soft when it's being worked with genuine affection ...

From the stonemason's workshop the way continues to a vaulted wine cellar, to a local winemaker continuing the family tradition of making Teran, famous red wine with a protected denomination of origin. Having tasted excellent wines, flavours of the magical Karst are next explored at a prosciutto producer whose house tradition of prosciutto ripening has been upgraded with a technologic procedure unique in Slovenia. Mouth-watering karst prosciutto, perfectly dry and perfectly soft enough to be cut to translucent slices, makes for an absolutely delicious bite.

Next, considered by many the pinnacle of this trip, comes a stop in medieval Štanjel, an architectural pearl of the Karst. The ancient settlement whose foundations trace back to prehistory was shaped profoundly by Maks Fabiani, among the Habsburg Monarchy's most significant urbanists and an innovator in architecture at the break between the 19th and 20th century. Creations that elevated Štanjel into a pearl of architecture were built during his twenty-year tenure as mayor of Štanjel. Fabiani's most important heritage is the restored Villa Ferrari and the design of the Ferrari Garden, whose distinct waterway makes it a worldwide architectural landmark. Here you can take a moment for yourself in the enjoyment of fabulous views once inspiring this great master of architecture.

An unforgettable end to the journey comes with local culinary masterpieces. Karst is a garden of wild herbs and vineyards swaying in the mighty bora wind, with hints of salt in the air. Conducted by its master chefs, all these colours, fragrances and flavours unite into a phenomenal whole. Precisely what you'll be savouring during your dinner, wrapping up your masterful experience of the Karst. Karst produce to gourmet cuisine, you'll be starting off with a tour of the village Pliskovica and its Old Slamčeva Farm, a gracefully restored karst homestead with its typical borjač yard and old agricultural buildings, now protected as a cultural monument. The guide will showcase interesting architectural elements and their stories. You can also see how the beautiful details are made on a visit to the stonemason's workshop, feeling firsthand the stone of the Karst, described by the mason as soft when it's being worked with genuine affection ...

From the stonemason's workshop the way continues to a vaulted wine cellar, to a local winemaker continuing the family tradition of making Teran, famous red wine with a protected denomination of origin. Having tasted excellent wines, flavours of the magical Karst are next explored at a prosciutto producer whose house tradition of prosciutto ripening has been upgraded with a technologic procedure unique in Slovenia. Mouth-watering karst prosciutto, perfectly dry and perfectly soft enough to be cut to translucent slices, makes for an absolutely delicious bite.

Next, considered by many the pinnacle of this trip, comes a stop in medieval Štanjel, an architectural pearl of the Karst. The ancient settlement whose foundations trace back to prehistory was shaped profoundly by Maks Fabiani, among the Habsburg Monarchy's most significant urbanists and an innovator in architecture at the break between the 19th and 20th century. Creations that elevated Štanjel into a pearl of architecture were built during his twenty-year tenure as mayor of Štanjel. Fabiani's most important heritage is the restored Villa Ferrari and the design of the Ferrari Garden, whose distinct waterway makes it a worldwide architectural landmark. Here you can take a moment for yourself in the enjoyment of fabulous views once inspiring this great master of architecture.

An unforgettable end to the journey comes with local culinary masterpieces. Karst is a garden of wild herbs and vineyards swaying in the mighty bora wind, with hints of salt in the air. Conducted by its master chefs, all these colours, fragrances and flavours unite into a phenomenal whole. Precisely what you'll be savouring during your dinner, wrapping up your masterful experience of the Karst.

Price:

• when booking for 2 people: 233 € per person

• when booking for 4 people: 173 € per person

• when booking for 6 people: 153 € per person

• when booking for 8 people: 143 € per person

The price includes: a guided tour of the village of Pliskovica and the Slamič family homestead, a visit to the local stonecutter Jernej Bortolato with a short stonecutting workshop, a tasting of wines at the local winemaker’s (Vino Derenda), a tasting of Karst prosciutto in the renowned Ščuka prosciutto-producing plant in Kobjeglava, a guided tour of Maks Fabiani’s architectural masterpiecesnjel with a surprise, a dinner at Štanjel Castle (5-course tasting menu) and all transport according to the programme.