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Tuscan Cooking Class: Private Culinary Experience
5.0
120 Ratings
Firenze
Join Maria for a private Florence market tour and Tuscan cooking class. Learn, cook, and dine with a local Italian family. Book now!
Join Maria for a private Florence market tour and Tuscan cooking class. Learn, cook, and dine with a local Italian family. Book now!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Forno Sale Grosso - Seeking an authentic cooking class in Florence ideal for honeymooners or families? Join Maria, a recently retired architect and enthusiastic Italian home cook, for a private culinary adventure in her beautiful countryside residence. Maria will pick you up from central Florence and share fascinating stories about the city’s…
- Forno Sale Grosso - Seeking an authentic cooking class in Florence ideal for honeymooners or families? Join Maria, a recently retired architect and enthusiastic Italian home cook, for a private culinary adventure in her beautiful countryside residence. Maria will pick you up from central Florence and share fascinating stories about the city’s history during the brief drive. In her kitchen, you’ll learn her grandmother’s traditional recipes — from handmade pasta and bruschetta to tiramisu — all of which can be tailored for vegetarian diets. If desired, include a market tour where Maria will guide you through San Lorenzo Market to choose fresh, seasonal produce and discover how Italians cook with local ingredients. Conclude your experience with a delightful meal and Italian wine, enjoying the breathtaking Tuscan hills, authentic flavors, engaging conversation, and laughter. For a gluten-free experience, make sure to book Maria’s special “Private Gluten-Free Pasta Cooking Class in Florence.”
What's Included
- Private cooking lesson and meal with your host Maria
- Alcoholic beverages
- Round-trip transport from a central meeting location in Florence
- Private cooking lesson and meal with your host Maria
- Alcoholic beverages
- Round-trip transport from a central meeting location in Florence
Meal Options
- Bruschetta -
- Spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli or tagliatelle - Handmade stuffed pasta or cut pasta in a sauce of your choice
- Tiramisu
- Local Italian wine
- Bruschetta -
- Spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli or tagliatelle - Handmade stuffed pasta or cut pasta in a sauce of your choice
- Tiramisu
- Local Italian wine
Additional Information
This is a special chance to participate in a private and engaging Tuscan cooking class in a charming Florence residence with a delightful retired Italian couple. It’s an ideal experience for those eager to connect with local culture through cuisine. The hands-on cooking class is held in a local home kitchen where Maria guides you in preparing 2-3…
This is a special chance to participate in a private and engaging Tuscan cooking class in a charming Florence residence with a delightful retired Italian couple. It’s an ideal experience for those eager to connect with local culture through cuisine. The hands-on cooking class is held in a local home kitchen where Maria guides you in preparing 2-3 traditional Tuscan dishes. You’ll acquire traditional Italian cooking techniques that can be easily recreated at home. After cooking, savor your meal with this wonderful Italian family. If you opt for a market tour, Maria will lead you on a guided exploration of San Lorenzo market, Florence’s historic food market, perfect for culinary enthusiasts. This experience includes round-trip transportation (for up to 6 guests) in Maria’s car from downtown Florence to her beautifully designed countryside home. During the drive, Maria shares captivating stories about the city. Vegetarians and guests with dietary preferences are warmly welcomed!
- Menu may vary depending on the season
- For your pasta, Maria offers a choice of sauces: Ragu, broccoli pesto, arrabbiata or butter and sage with parmesan cream. If you have a specific preference, please inform her when making your booking.
- If you are a group of 7 or more guests, Maria kindly requests that any guests beyond the first four arrange their own transportation to her home, as she can only accommodate up to 6 passengers in her car.
- Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.
- This experience is not suited for gluten-free diets. If you are interested in a gluten-free experience, be sure to book Maria’s dedicated “Gluten-Free Pasta Class in a Gorgeous Florence Home”.
- Please note that markets are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- This home has a cat.
Location
Forno Sale Grosso
Via della Mattonaia
Meet your host Maria at the entrance to Forno Sale Grosso in the Florence city center. She will pick you up in her car and drive you to the market if you choose the tour + class option or drive you to her beautiful countryside home, 15 minutes away if you choose the class only option.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(120 Ratings)
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Suzanne_f
Dec 15, 2025
Wonderful cooking Experience in Florence - This authentic Italian cooking class in Maria Christina’s beautifully renovated home was the high light of our trip in Florence! Not only did we learn some wonderful Italian cooking skills but we feel we have made a new friend. We would definitely recommend this activity to anyone visiting Florence!
Review provided by Viator
Nhaiara_d
Dec 13, 2025
Tuscan house with spectacular Mary - We loved the experience.
Maria picked us up at the market, we went to buy something with her and she took us to her beautiful restored house from 1200 in Tuscany.
He taught us how to make antipasti, fresh pasta, stuffed chicken meat and tiramisu.
Then we ate with her and she took us back to the pickup site.
Undoubtedly a wonderful experience.
100% recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Charlie_a
Nov 28, 2025
Wonderful afternoon! - Maria, her home, her cooking, her personality and warmth are all fantastic! We had a wonderful afternoon! We will plan another trip to Florence just to visit Maria again!
Review provided by Viator
Marijoyk2025
Nov 13, 2025
Wonderful experience - Maria is such a wonderful person! My husband and I truly enjoyed her cooking class in her beautiful countryside home which she renovated (retired architect). We made a delicious homemade ravioli, a chicken dish, and an autumn bruchetta, and finished off with a decadent pear cake, which we were able to take some with us (and was even more delicious the next day!). We enjoyed her company and learning about Italian cuisine. Highy recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aubrey_g
Nov 2, 2025
Miss Maria provided us... - Miss Maria provided us with a very enjoyable experience both at the market and in the kitchen of her beautiful home. We very much enjoyed the opportunity to prepare a delicious meal using fresh ingredients. Very excited to get home and try her recipes in our own kitchen. Great experience, a highlight of our visit to Florence!
Review provided by Viator
574deannah
Oct 30, 2025
Do not miss this absolutely amazing evening! - I have gone to several cooking classes during my trips abroad but this was my all time favorite! Maria was charming. She was very organized. Recipes were delicious but easy enough for us to participate and make them at home. Her home is an absolute treasure and beyond beautiful.
I’m so happy I booked this for our family trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z8362udtracyh
Oct 27, 2025
The best thing we did in Florence! - Soo much fun!! Christina met us at the food market, we helped prepare the food, pasta, tiramisu and chicken & mushrooms! Delicious!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_f
Oct 21, 2025
Best Italian cooking experience ! - Truly the most experience- it was like we were cooking with a nonna. Marie was amazing, taking all the time in the world to make us feel like guests in her house and sharing her many years of secrets to cooking genuine Italian cuisine. Her countryside cottage is like something out of a fairy tale. She allowed us to be hands on in the whole cooking process and even showed us how to prepare the beautiful table we shared our meal. By the end, we felt we not only knew how to cook and present an Italian meal, but also had made a new friend. Recommend to everyone
Review provided by Viator
Timothy_s
Oct 19, 2025
Marvelous Maria - She was right on time picking us up. Very welcoming at our first meeting. A short drive through the countryside to a rustic farmhouse/estate that Maria (who is a restoration architect) restored with her husband. The property is idyllic and the kitchen space a perfect classroom for Maria to begin your class. Incredible hospitality. You felt like family visiting over a holiday. The pasta and tiramisu instruction was easy to follow and delish, but the sweet yellow pepper cream sauce was one we had never had in any restaurant and has become our favorite sauce of the trip. She paired a delicious wine to our lunch, which included - black cabbage bruschetta, anti pasta tray, linguini with yellow pepper cream sauce (taught to her by her husbands grandmother), Asiago/prosciutto/chicken breast rolled and covered in seasoned bread crumbs and cooked in olive oil and white wine, and tiramisu for desert. The lunch was exquisite. We sat outside as we ate, enjoying the view from her stone porch with a grape vine covered arbor that she designed and restored to its current glory. Such a welcoming host who had lead a fascinating life culminating in this gorgeous classroom for learning Italian family recipes and variations on some of your favorite dishes. And she emails out the complete recipes so you can give it a shot at home. Highlight of our trip.
Review provided by Viator
Dreamer48463312639
Oct 17, 2025
A delicious, confidence building day! - While Maria has a two-person minimum for this private class, I was more than happy to pay for two and go by myself. Maria picked me up in Florence, a quick walk from my rental. She had called earlier that morning to confirm she had my request to learn gluten free gnocci. Her home is up in the hills outside Florence and is enchanting. Without using any special equipment we made the GF gnocchi along with a light tomato sauce, and I have already been able to recreate this amazing pasta and sauce at home. We also made a simple chicken and porcini mushroom dish, tiramasu, and assembled several antipasta treats to start with. I've made tiramasu at home before, but her recipe is much easier. She opened a lovely wine just for me and we dined on her patio enjoying the fabulous food, conversation, and surroundings.
The only sad part was realizing I neglected to take photos - but that was because I was too busy enjoying cooking with Maria and creating delicious food. Thank you Maria for an amazing experience and a delicious, confidence building day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
