10 Best Cooking Classes In Florence, Italy - Updated 2024

Jayric
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 5 min read

World-famous for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy, is also home to world-class art and cuisine. Left and right, up and down, this small city is a place filled with art created by renowned artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. There are only a few cities in the world that have been able to preserve as many of its historical buildings as Florence. Some of the most popular attractions here are Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, and Basilica of Santa Croce. Though you may not be able to replicate the city’s artworks, you can certainly recreate its Tuscan dishes. If you are interested in gaining some culinary knowledge before you go back home, check out our list of the best cooking classes in Florence, Italy.

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1. Learn to make pasta from organic ingredients

Tuscan cuisine is one of the most popular styles of cooking. People around the world enjoy all kinds of dishes that originated in Italy and one of the most famous ones is pasta. In this class, you will be taught how to make fresh pasta with minimal effort. Some of the pasta variations you will learn would include ravioli and tagliatelle. The instructor will be the chief of Vivanda, an organic restaurant. Not only are you going to experience making pasta first hand but also benefit from the English instructions accessible through email after the session.

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2. Make and taste quality pizza and gelato

Pizza and ice cream have become the most commonly served party foods. Pizza is a popular dish much loved around the world. Today, almost every country has their own variation of pizza. Gelato, also known as Italian ice cream, is a thicker and tastier form of ice cream. In this class, you will learn to make Tuscan pizza and gelato in a fun learning environment. The class will be taught by a professional chef and will be divided into three sections, namely, appetizers, pizza, and gelato. After the class, each student will enjoy a three-course meal with complimentary wine or beer.

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3. Learn the fundamentals of Tuscan cuisine from a local cesarina

Looking for a class that teaches fundamental Tuscan cuisine and the country’s culinary culture instead of just one or two specific recipes? Then, this class is for you! It is taught by a local cesarina (Italian cook) and will be held at her house. You will learn traditional cuisine and make different dishes such as ribollita, a Tuscan bread soup. After the session, you will be allowed to taste and enjoy your prepared dishes with complimentary beverages such as wine and coffee. Before leaving, you will also be awarded an official ‘Le Cesarine’ apron to show that you have learned Tuscan cuisine.

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4. Prepare delicious meatballs at the beautiful Boboli Gardens

Meatballs are yet another popular Italian dish that everybody loves. In this class, a local Italian chef will be teaching you how to make classic comfort Tuscan dishes at the beautiful Boboli Gardens. The goal of the session is for you to prepare a three-course meal that has meatballs as the main course and creamy tiramisu as the dessert. All the ingredients and kitchen utensils are provided, and you will also get to taste rustic Chianti wine when you finally sit down to feast on your prepared dishes. The experience will be completely hands-on and will include seven other people.

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Florence Tour Guide

Joanna

Joanna

Hello, my name is Joanna. I was born and raised in Poland but then I fell hopelessly in love with Tuscany and have been living in Florence for 20 years. Wisely enough, I decided to turn my passion into work and became a tour guide. Now I can share with you my immense love for the beauty, history and art of these enchanted places. I am particularly passionate about the Middle Ages, history, scu... Read more

Tours by Joanna

Florence Tour Guide

Sara Pallabazzer

Sara Pallabazzer

I am a lively well-spoken tour guide and tour leader from Florence, and a person who has the ability to motivate different sets of audience; to communicate effectively and possesses a high degree of energy and enthusiasm.I am able to manage multiple tasks, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. I am proficient in Italian, English and Norwegian and possess a strong love ... Read more

Tours by Sara

Florence Tour Guide

Francesca Boldrini

Francesca Boldrini

Linguist specializing in art history. I am a licensed tour guide with natural communicating skills and a big passion for Tuscany andRinascimento. I speak five languages: Russian at B2 TRKI level, German at B1 level, English, Italian and French at the mother tongue level.I’ve got a great problem solving skills and the ability to work under pressure gained thanks to my experience in hospitality. ... Read more

Tours by Francesca

5. Create pasta from scratch with seasonal ingredients

Want to take your pasta skills to the next level? Why not learn to make it from scratch. This cooking class will teach you how to make different kinds of pasta including ravioli, tagliatelle, and spaghetti. A professional chef will conduct the class that will have a maximum of eight people to ensure that everyone learns as much as possible. A few recipes you will recreate will be ravioli with pumpkin, tagliatelle with meat sauce, spaghetti pesto, Bi fusilli with zucchini and lemon, and spaghetti with porcini mushrooms. Each person in your group will also receive a few take-home recipes to keep learning even after the class is over.

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6. Make quality pasta and a Tuscan dessert with an expert Italian chef

In this cooking class, you will learn to make various types of pasta as well as an awesome Tuscan dessert that everybody loves. You and your small group of 15 people will be taught by an expert Italian chef. Prepare fettuccine alla Norma, potato dumplings with tomato sauce, and mezzelune pasta with ricotta ravioli and spinach. After all the slicing, dicing and cooking has been done, everyone can start tasting their creations accompanied by a glass of complimentary local red wine.

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7. Prepare pizza and gelato that will astonish your friends and family

Ever wanted to make Tuscan dishes that will astonish your friends and family? This class will teach you how to make pizza and gelato as well as educate you on the fundamentals of Tuscan cuisine. The menu will be a three-course meal with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. All the necessary ingredients and kitchen utensils will be provided. After preparing the meals, your group will enjoy their own creations and each participant will be presented with a certificate proving that they’ve attended an Italian cooking class.

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8. One-on-one private cooking lesson with a professional chef

Are you looking for a one-on-one Italian cooking class? Then, this will be the ultimate cooking session for you since it is a completely private lesson with only you and a professional Italian chef to teach you Tuscan cuisine at an authentic home kitchen. Feel free to ask questions and learn to prepare any Tuscan dish that you would like. All the ingredients and cooking utensils will be provided during the session along with a few complimentary drinks such as prosecco, wine or liqueur to go with your food.

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9. Cooking class in a private villa near Florence

Enjoy visiting a beautiful villa as well as learn Tuscan cuisine with a small group of people. In this cooking class, you will learn how to cook various Tuscan dishes such as tiramisu, tagliatelle, and ricotta and zucchini flan. As for arriving at the villa, you will be provided with a round-trip transport service to the villa and back from a selected location. A local Italian chef will demonstrate and instruct how to cook a four-course meal - from appetizer to dessert. Then, enjoy your prepared dishes at the villa’s terrace where you will have a beautiful scenic view of the area.

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10. Enjoy a Tuscan cooking class with lunch in an organic winery

Discover the secrets of making good pasta and incorporating organic vegetables and sweets to make it even better. This class will be a hands-on session with a local Italian chef, who will teach you the fundamentals of Tuscan cuisine. The goal is to prepare a three-course meal using fresh produce from the garden, which you will pick yourself. After gaining experience in making your very own Tuscan meal, you will be allowed to enjoy it with drinks such as an organic wine.

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A few hours of learning is a lifetime of knowledge

Florence in Italy is easily one of the most famous cities on earth. It is a place well known for its beautiful buildings, historical events, the Renaissance period, and Tuscan cuisine. Dishes such as pizza, spaghetti, and meatballs are typically Italian foods that almost everybody is familiar with. Since you are in Florence, why not take a couple of hours to learn to make the famous dishes of this region? Listed above are the best cooking classes in the area where you will gain the knowledge and confidence to recreate these dishes in the comfort of your own home.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Jayric, a young man in his early twenties, possesses a passion for tech, philosophy, and the arts. He's currently engrossed in personal projects, occasionally indulging in writing on the side, and...Read more

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