10 of the Best Cooking Classes in Italy

Come immerse yourself in the kitchen of Rita Lucherini, a Tuscan chef who takes seriously the culinary customs and traditions of parents and grandparents. You will wander the medieval village of Barga, visit local markets, and participate in hands-on traditional cooking classes. People love the small group atmosphere of the vacation and the rustic charm of La Mezzaluna, a bed and breakfast with self-contained apartments and en-suite double rooms. Cooking lessons, excursions, accommodation, daily meals, and transfers to and from Pisa are included in the package.

Chef Paolo Monti shares his profound knowledge of Northern Italian cuisine in his small, hands-on classes where you will learn to make (and eat!) simple but delicious meals. You will participate in daily cooking classes, a variety of olive and wine tasting sessions, experience cheese and balsamic vinegar production, and participate in excursions to different areas such as Parma, Modena, and Chianti. During this holiday, you will be accommodated in a private or shared double room in the Tuscany Sun Apartments in Lucca, and you can choose among the four newly remodeled Tuscan-style apartments. The package includes excursions, cooking classes, and full-board accommodation for the duration of the holiday.

At this historic bed and breakfast on the Amalfi Coast, people appreciate the magnificent coastal views and incredible hospitality of this family-run establishment. Gabriella, Frederico, Salvatore and Maria offer a special mountain and sea program where you will learn to make lasagnas, cannelloni pastas, cakes and cookies like a great nonna. You will be immersed in the spirit of Southern Italian cuisine, with cooking classes, wine tasting, cheesemaking, and more. Highlights of the holiday include an excursion to Pompeii. You will be hosted at the bed and breakfast in the small town of Agerola, with a private single or double room for up to four people. Accommodation, classes, tours and excursions, as well as all breakfasts and five dinners are included in the package.

Cook Eat Discover offers intimate gastronomy experiences in the hills of Tuscany. You will participate in authentic tours that visit small-scale producers of wine, olives, cheese, and more. Develop your palate with wine and buffalo mozzarella tasting before you learn to cook risotto, filled pasta, gnocchi, pizza, and other Italian dessert. You will stay at the Residence Il Ciliego, a poolside apartment with charming views of the Maremma valley. This culinary holiday includes all daily meals prepared by a private chef, cooking masterclasses and workshops, tastings and tours, as well as accommodation for the duration of the trip.

The Accademia Italiana di Cucina Pandolfini has 20 years of experience in providing authentic cooking classes and tours. Their intensive holiday programs are designed to develop your palate and love for food and cooking. Over six days, you will learn to cook around 30 traditional Italian dishes from professional chefs while living the bella vita, enjoying wine, local pastries, and real Italian pizza. You will stay on the magnificent Villa Pandolfini estate with a private forest, vineyard, olive grove, and swimming pool. Private single and double rooms are available. Packages include a five-course meal after cooking classes, culture and food excursions, cooking classes, and accommodation for the duration of the holiday.

MangiarDivino offers a variety of culinary vacations, from traditional Italian cuisine to vegetarian cooking and truffle forest tour experiences. Chef Fabrizio Merli was raised on strong Italian culinary traditions, founded in the flavours of Tuscany. These vacations include daily cooking classes with experienced chefs using organic ingredients of MangiarDivino’s own production, tours and excursions with knowledgeable guides, and special themed experiences, such as a truffle hunting expedition. You will stay at a rustic farmhouse in the rolling hills of Arezzo, with private singles, doubles, and apartments available for up to four guests. Accommodation, tours, excursions, classes, and meals with wine are included in the package.

Since 2005, Cook in Umbria has been offering a wide variety of authentic culinary experiences in central Italy. Join Raffaella Bucefalo and her family on various experiences such as the Feast of Flowers culinary holiday, black truffle season, and cooking and hiking breaks in the beautiful and timeless countryside. You will stay on a lush Umbrian farm, perfecting your cooking and devouring delicious homemade meals and wine. In addition to hands-on cooking classes, there are several tours and excursions that follow the theme of your culinary getaway, from flower festival tours, visits to local Christmas trees and nativity scenes, and trips to winemakers and olive oil producers. The farmhouse has five lovely, two-room apartments; accommodation, daily breakfast and lunch, excursions, and cooking classes are part of the package.

With culinary experiences across Italy, Wonderful Italy provides a variety of culinary tastes and flavours available to visits from around the world. Head to Sicily, Genoa, or Puglia for an authentic culinary vacation where you will learn to taste, recognize, and recreate typical dishes and delicacies from the region. In Genoa, you will taste cheese focaccia, a traditional dish of Liguria; in Palermo, you will participate in a street food tour to taste local specialities. Wonderful Italy offers cozy homes and charming apartments for one to four people included in the package.

Italia Sweet Italia promotes sustainable tourism with their culinary vacations that provide local experiences, such as grape and olive harvesting and salami making holidays in Aburzzo. Discover authentic Italy while picking olives, stomping grapes, or learning to make passata with a group of people who are passionate about Italian cuisine and cooking. During the holiday, guests will be accommodated at the newly renovated Hotel dei 7 in Vasto. The hotel offers private double rooms. Each experience offers a variety of excursions, daily buffet breakfast, meals, accommodation, tours, and hands-on cooking classes.

Get to know Italy and its people through food, culture, and wine with a culinary vacation in Rimini. You will stay at an exclusive relais in the hills of Santarcangelo and receive a private concert of Bel Canto. As part of your introduction to Italian cuisine, you will learn to prepare a four-course Italian meal. Visits into town as well as a wine cellar with a private lesson from a sommelier will round out your learning. Accommodation is at the beautiful Hotel Il Villino, a 17th century villa with private single and double rooms. The package includes a cooking class, trips, some meals and wine, and private transfers to and from Federico Fellini International Airport.