The 10 Guided Food Experiences in Italy We Would Book

1.Private/Guided Godfather with appetizer and Pasta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 233 reviews · 4 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $235Our pick

Travel by private car from Taormina with an English-speaking guide such as Marco, Bruno, Massimo, or Omar. Walk through Savoca and Forza d’Agro, visit Bar Vitelli and movie churches, discuss Mafia history, then enjoy antipasti, pasta, wine, and lemon dessert at a local trattoria.

“This was a fabulous tour given by knowledgeable guides Davide and Leonardo. Both men provided us with a very personalized and friendly tour. We never felt rushed. Rather, they kept telling us that “today is your day”. We moved from place-to-place at our pace, not theirs. We very much enjoyed spending our day, and our lunch, with them. They wanted to give us time to ourselves during lunch, but we could not exclude them. Thank you Davide and Leonardo!”

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2.Olbia: Traditional Pasta-Making Guided Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 73 reviews · from $114

At Rosinita in Olbia, an Italian or English-speaking guide leads you through roughly two and a half hours of Sardinian pasta-making. Shape malloreddus, culurgiones, and seasonal ravioli, then eat your work with wine, fruit, sweets, digestifs, and coffee.

“Great experience making the pasta and a delicious tasting session afterwards.”

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3.People of Bari unusual guided tour with pasta making at Grandma house

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $72

Join Giorgio for a three-hour walk through Bari Vecchia, starting near Teatro Margherita and ending at Piazza del Ferrarese. Meet local pasta makers, visit Saint Nicholas Basilica, see fishermen at the dock, and arrange food tastings directly with neighborhood shops.

“Giorgio is a great tour guide and Bari is such a cool city! He has so much information and passion for Bari and it’s people. He introduced us to some of his friends there, and although we didn’t make pasta, but we loved seeing the fisherman sitting at the dock, playing cards and eating brasciole. He took us to the most fascinating church of Saint Nicholas. It is now one of my favorite chiesas. Georgio‘s enthusiasm is infectious, and I would definitely go on any tour he was leading.”

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4.2 Hour Florence Pizza and Gelato Small Group Guided Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $96

At Florence Food Studio, an Italian chef guides you through fresh pizza dough, sauce, and two gelato flavors. The English class lasts about 2.5 hours, serves up to 12 people, and ends with your handmade meal and a glass of wine.

“Georgio couldn’t have been more welcoming! My family said this has been their most favorite part of the trip! This is a must do while in Florence. Making beautiful and delicious memories.”

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5.Olbia: Sardinian Pasta-Making Guided Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $181

Spend 3.5 hours in a Gallura country house learning to shape several Sardinian pastas with Simonetta, tasting local wine, visiting her winery, and sharing a full meal of homemade dishes, breads, desserts, and digestives.

“Absolutely brilliant! Simonetta was a gracious, welcoming instructor in how to make pasta and how to enjoy cooking in Sardinia. Would recommend her to anyone who wants a cooking class.”

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6.Private/Guided Godfather with Appetizer and Pasta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 5 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $342

Travel by private car from Catania to Savoca and Forza d’Agro with an English-speaking guide such as Maurizio, Bruno, Marco, Fabio, or Omar. Visit Bar Vitelli, movie churches, a Norman castle, and enjoy a local lunch with sea views.

“Maurizio was fantastic! This was definitely a great Godfather tour but it was an even better tour of Sicily—we learned a lot about the region and the culture and he asked us a lot about ours as well. It felt more like a cultural exchange opportunity which was a pleasant surprise. Of course he knew a lot about the Godfather and filming locations but we expected that. We really recommend Maurizio and this private tour — it was so nice not to be on a group tour for a change. Definitely worth the price — lunch was fantastic!”

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7.2-Hour Guided Family Pasta or Pizza Cooking Class in Acqui Terme

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $108

Join Ariela in Acqui Terme for a two-hour family cooking class with a choice of fresh egg pasta or stone-baked pizza. You will mix, knead, shape, cook, and eat your dish with salad, local wine, dessert, and a take-home recipe.

“my wife and I took a cooking lesson of how to make pasta with Ariela, and we loved it! Atiela was so welcoming and explanatory. We enjoyed learning from her, and she is a great hostess! The experience was absolutely superb.”

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8.MaMa Florence Guided Market Tour and 4 Course-Pasta Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $263

Start at San Lorenzo Market with a guide such as Lavinia or Lisa, then walk to MaMa Florence in San Frediano for hands-on pasta making. Chefs teach dough, fillings, sauces, and dessert before you sit down to eat with Prosecco and Italian wine.

“This class was amazing! Emmanuel was the best — super friendly, patient, and made everything so easy to follow. He gave everyone personal attention and really made the whole experience fun. We laughed a lot, learned tons, and the pasta turned out so delicious.”

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9.Monopoli: Parco Rurale Guided Tour with Pasta-Making Lab

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $71Best value

Meet your English- or Italian-speaking guide at Masseria Spina in Monopoli for a 2.5-hour tour of its ruins, citrus grove, underground olive press, and red Masseria Spina Grande. Then make three Apulian pasta shapes with included ingredients in a small group of up to 10.

“Tour of the Maseria was interesting and informative. Our guide, Elaina, was very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Pasta making class was fun. Enjoyed learning how to make three different pastas from scratch.”

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10.guided tour of the ruins and cooking class fresh pasta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $300

Spend two hours exploring Pompeii with an English-speaking guide such as Clelia, Carla, Lucy, or Lello, then cook a Campania pasta dish with Sabrina in a family garden. You will pick ingredients, make lunch, enjoy dessert, and sip Gragnano wine beneath views of Vesuvius.

“Esperienza completa… abbiamo visitato gli scavi e fatto una bella passeggiata x la strada principale di Pompei, poi siamo arrivati in un giardino dai mille colori , profumi e sapori…abbiamo provato il piacere di toccare con mano e soprattutto assaporare tutte le delizie che ci sono state offerte…consiglio vivamente.”

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