Italian Cooking Holiday in Tuscany

Cooking Holiday in Italy - Learn to Cook Traditional Italian Cuisine in Tuscany

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Learn to cook authentic Italian cuisine with Rita, your host during your stay in this beautiful part of Tuscany. The courses are fun and informal and Rita will help you cook traditional Italian food from pasta to pizza and more. Combine cooking and wine tasting and learn all the basic Italian cooking techniques and traditions. Visit the local market, wander the streets of Barga, one of the prettiest villages in Italy and take a day trip to Pisa and Lucca. From € 998 pp for 4 nights, € 1,750 pp for 7 nights (based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room). Contact us for availability

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About Rita: Rita's background is a fairly typical one - her parents and grandparents, originally from the Barga area, emigrated to Scotland where, like many other Italian emigrants, they opened their own catering business. Over the years, she gradually immersed herself in the culture, customs and traditions of her parents and grandparents and in particular their culinary expertise, studying the age-old secrets and techniques of traditional Tuscan cooking. Rita has now been in Barga for almost 30 years running her B&B and apartments together with her children, and opening her own cookery school in the process. Her partner Alex, a professional singer, has a winery very close to La Mezzaluna. The couple are wonderful hosts, and will make you feel very welcome, so you can relax and enjoy the food, wine and music!

Get ready to explore

Learn to cook authentic Italian meals with Rita – your fantastic host for the week

Try some of the local wines at a wine tasting

Visit Pisa, Lucca and some lovely Tuscan villages

Included

4 or 7 nights' accommodation at La Mezzaluna guest house

Full board basis, including wine and soft drinks at meals and lessons

2 x 4 hour cooking lessons for 4 night stay, or 4 lessons for 7 night stay

Return Pisa airport transfers

Transfers to all locations on the itinerary

Live music from Alex

Wine tasting at Alex's winery

Excluded

Flights

Any drinks not stated above

Local taxes where applicable

Anything not specified above

Accommodation

La Mezzaluna This charming, friendly little hotel offers small self-catering apartments and rooms as well as a restaurant. It is located just 4km from the historic medieval town of Barga but is also conveniently located near the railway station to travel to the nearby cities of Pisa, Florence and Lucca. Rooms are spacious with an en-suite bathroom, T.V., and free WiFi access. There is also a veranda open to all guests with a spectacular view overlooking the Apuan Mountains. This is linked to the restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. There is also a bar area.

Location

The lovely medieval town of Barga is located in the northern part of Tuscany in central Italy. A small town of around 10,000 people, it is twinned with four towns in Scotland and known as “The most Scottish town in Italy”, apparently because the surrounding hillside recalls the Scottish glens, and also due to the fact that many people from the area emigrated to Scotland in the 20th century, so many people here have Scottish family and connections. Barga Castle towers over the region and is a sight to behold, while the Duomo (cathedral) dates back to the 11th century, making it a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. In the summer months there are a number of ‘sagre’ (festivals where there is music, dancing, drinking and lots of food) in and around Barga so you may be luck and have the chance to visit one during your stay. There is even one called the ‘Sagra del pesce e patate’ – a festival of fish and chips to celebrate the town’s aforementioned Scottish connection! There is even an app – iBarga – for iphones/ipads that offers detailed information about the town and its many historic buildings and monuments. So you can go for a wonder and discover more about the area’s rich history.

Day by day

N.B. This is a sample itinerary, timings and activities may change. Day one Transfer to residence La Mezzaluna (1 hour 15 mins) where you can enjoy a glass of wine and can talk about the weeks activities with Rita, your host. Visit Alex's nearby wine cellar for wine tasting and dinner. Day two After breakfast, take a morning visit to the lovely medieval village of Barga. Eat a light lunch at a local cafe then head back to La Mezzaluna for your first cookery lesson. Learn to make pasta by hand, as well as some delicious sauces; if there is time you might also make a tiramisu or flan. Spend the evening relaxing on the veranda and enjoying the food you prepared in the afternoon. Day three Head to Pisa to visit Piazza Miracoli, then on to Lucca for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by an afternoon wandering around the shops, admiring the various cathedrals and squares. Enjoy a BBQ dinner at La Mezzaluna. Day four Travel to Castelnuovo Garfagnana to visit the huge food market and stop for lunch at a local enoteca. Back at the mezzaluna it's time for your second lesson, dedicated to making pizza and focaccia in a wood fired oven. Enjoy the fruits of your labours hot from the oven as Alex entertains you with live music on the veranda. End of the 4 night holiday Day 5 After breakfast head to Fornaci di Barga to buy fresh vegetables and fish. Make some seafood salad and 'crostini di mare' for lunch, then enjoy a short siesta before continuing the lesson in the afternoon and dinner. Day 6 In the morning take in the sights of the Garfagnana area, including an 18th century monastery. Eat a light lunch at La Mezzaluna followed by a lesson in making lots of good, mainly vegetarian, dishes like sformatini, farro soup, and maybe even baked aubergines. Day 7 Visit the village of Sommacolonia, an ancient hilltop town with incredible views where Rita's parents were from, followed by a trip to the Concori vineyard to learn about the wine making process, wine tasting and lunch. After lunch you can relax or take a 2 hour basic Italian language lesson with Alessia, followed by dinner.

Getting There

Nearest Airport: Pisa Airport (approx. 1hr 10mins) By Private Transfer Return airport transfers are included in the package, contact us after booking with your flight details

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What will I actually learn on the cooking course?

You'll typically learn to prepare regional classics from scratch, from fresh pasta and sauces in Tuscany to traditional Greek dishes in Athens or Zante, guided hands-on by a local chef. Courses usually cover technique as well as recipes, so you leave with skills and dishes you can genuinely recreate back home.

Is the course conducted in English?

Yes, our cooking courses are run with English-speaking guidance, either directly from a bilingual chef or with translation support, so you won't need any local language skills to follow along, ask questions or get the most out of the hands-on sessions.

Can dietary requirements or allergies be catered for?

Yes, most of our cooking course partners can accommodate common dietary requirements and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten-free needs, with advance notice. Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you book so we can confirm exactly what's possible with the specific course and destination.

Do I get to eat the food I cook?

Absolutely, one of the best parts of the experience. After preparing each dish, the group typically sits down together to enjoy what you've cooked, often paired with local wine, making the course as much a social occasion as a lesson in Tuscan, Greek or island cuisine.

Is the cooking holiday just one lesson or a full itinerary?

It depends on the package, some are built around a single standout cooking class alongside sightseeing and relaxation, while others include multiple sessions across your stay. Let us know how much cooking you'd like included and we'll put together an itinerary that balances it with everything else you want to do.

Is this suitable for solo travellers or only couples and groups?

Cooking holidays are genuinely one of our most popular choices for solo travellers, since classes are naturally social and shared with other guests around the table. You'll never feel like the odd one out, and it's a lovely way to meet people while exploring somewhere new.