Matera Culinary Experience: Learn Cooking in the Midst of Olive and Orange Groves

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Basilicata countryside and learn the art of cooking amidst olive and orange groves. Discover traditional ingredients and techniques in a professional kitchen.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Bari airport bus station - Get away from the hustle and bustle of the Sassi di Matera and discover a true Italian farm.

Silvia, Greg and Agriturismo L’Assiolo invite you to your own personal cooking class set at a beautiful local organic olive and orange farm just outside of Matera in the Italian countryside.

First up, a quick tour of the farm so that you can really understand where the food we use in this part of the world comes from. Learn all about our ‘liquid gold’, extra virgin olive oil, and how we produce it with our very own trees. What’s more, you’ll get the chance to eat some fruit straight from a tree - just like a real Italian farmer!

Then, it’ll be straight into the kitchen where you’ll meet Silvia, the daughter of the family, who has had over 20 years of seeing her Mamma wow local and international guests with her traditional Matera, farmhouse cooking.

You’ll learn the authentic, original way to make fresh pasta, a typical pasta sauce and also two typical dishes from Matera. From secret techniques to our philosophy of simplicity, this special experience in the countryside of Southern Italy will whisk you away to a side of Italy that is truly authentic.

What's Included
  • Lunch included.
Meal Options
  • Fresh Pasta
  • Sauce for Fresh Pasta
  • Traditional Antipasto
  • Traditional Antipasto
Additional Information

Nestled in the distinct and stunning natural landscapes of Basilicata, the farmhouse construction utilized conventional materials sourced locally. The farm is composed of more than 2000 olive trees and nearly 300 orange trees together with organic gardens producing a variety of fruits and vegetables such as eggplants, zucchinis, tomatoes, artichokes, chicory, lemons, cherries, pomegranates, and a whole lot more. Visitors will have the opportunity to enhance their cooking skills in the farm’s proficient kitchen.

Location
Bari airport bus station
Piazza Giacomo Matteotti
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(59 Ratings)
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K9985fjkenw
Sep 16, 2024
Devine lunch in Italy - It was worth the drive to the beautiful family farm. So nice to get a tour and learn the history and see the hard work that goes into producing olive oil. I loved Sylvia’s passion for cooking and her bubbly personality kept us engaged while learning the different ways to make pasta and the importance of a few simple ingredients to create unbelievably delicious lunch!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kylie
Aug 29, 2024
Live like a real Italian for one day! - What a memorable experience! We went thinking we would have some fun making pasta, but the day was so so so much more. Our day started with Greg picking us up from our accommodation and taking us to Silvia's family home. On the way, Greg shared some of the history of the area as well as some hints about what we were going to experience. We loved walking through the farm where we got to learn about olives, the history of the farm, as well as eat treats straight off of the trees. Greg was a wealth of knowledge. In the kitchen is where Silvia and her mum (who made an impromptu visit) starred. What a wonderful teacher who is passionate about her heritage, food, family, and her guests having a wonderful time. Whilst enjoying the fruits of our labour and Silvia's teaching, we had Greg provide some beautiful wines. It was fabulous to eat and drink only local products. It was one of the best days that we have had on our three week tour of Italy. We can't thank Greg, Silvia and her family enough for making the day so special!
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Sqrlie
Aug 10, 2024
A great day - We had a great day on our honey moon with Greg and Silvia at Agriturismo L’assiolo. Greg showed us around the farm and explained to us the process of olive farming. We got to meet some of the animals living on the farm and got to taste some of nature’s candy, like organic figs and lemons (with some sugar) straight from the trees. After that Silvia learnt us how to make two different pastas, and three different traditional dishes using local produce. We also learnt a lof from Silvia when it comes to cooking techniques, and what was unique was that Sivilia explained to us the why and not only the how. After that, an amazing lunch with the food that we prepared, as well as some other great dishes and produce coming from the local area. Paired with some great local wine. All in all, truly a great experience that I really would recommend! It was also really nice to meet Greg and Silvia, and get an insight into their food philosophy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Williamfo105lf
Aug 10, 2024
A genuine Italian experience - A genuine Italian experience. The Matera cooking course is a fantastic way to learn more about Italian culture and the history of the region as well as discovering how to cook authentic Italian dishes. Greg picked us up to Matera and after a short drive we arrived and he gave us a tour of his families beautiful picturesque farm. After walking through the olive trees and seeing the animals on the farm we met Silvia who ran the cooking class itself. Silvia was very helpful and patient with us as we made two types of pasta and then prepared a wonderful meal together in their fantastic kitchen. After we sat down with our fellow friends on the cooking course to eat the wonderful meal Silvia had taught us to create. We were treated to additional traditional side dishes as a bonus which were all local produce from surrounding farms. It was exceptional. Greg & Silvia made us feel truly welcome and this was a highlight of our visit to Matera. This isn’t something I would usually have picked to do on holiday. It was a gift for my wife on our first anniversary but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone visiting Matera.
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Rienskeg
Aug 8, 2024
Recommended! - Super experience with Sylvia who provides a warm welcome, good guidance and lots of fun facts:) you notice that she is part of this family business with enormous passion for what they do. The surroundings are also so incredibly beautiful, definitely worth getting off:) the products used are all straight from their gardens and you can taste this; everything was tasty and to drain your fingers of. We would do it again in no time 😊
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Followingthesunn
Jul 28, 2024
An authentic Italian experience - Our time with Greg and Silvia at the Matera Cooking Class was thoroughly enjoyable. The Agriturismo is a beautiful setting and it was great to hear about the history of the place and Sylvia’s family. We learnt how to make 3 delicious dishes including making our own pasta and nothing was too over complicated. Thank you for a wonderful experience! 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z4654oiemilyc
Jul 26, 2024
Best cooking class experience!!!! - Not a single negative thing to say about this experience. Everything was wonderful from the landscape to the food to the wine. However, meeting Sylvia and Greg was the best part. They are so friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about everything they do. Please give them a visit it is so worth it!!!
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Charles
Jul 22, 2024
EPIC!!!! Book now or miss out on a chance to have the BEST time!!! - Wow wow wow. Such an amazing experience. Highlight of our ten day trip. If u get chance to spend time with Greg and Sylvia do it, you won’t regret or forget it. What a couple, his storytelling and understanding of Italian heritage told from an outsiders perspective mixed with her culinary expertise, charisma, and an energy is something I will remember forever. Thank you so much for inviting us into your home and giving us a slice of your amazing life in Italy. I just wish I had booked a room so we could’ve continued the fun we were having. Next time for sure I can’t wait to return ❤️
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Miaec2019
Jul 5, 2024
Unbelievable Matera Experience - The best experience I have ever done! I have learned so many valuable lessons about food and life. Since the beginning they made us feel very welcome! Both Ella and I wanted to learn more about Matera, its culture (both food and regionally), and the italian lifestyle because of their passion. It was by far a life changing experience for me. Hopefully, in the near future, I can bring friends and family to experience what I experienced.
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Ellaa528
Jul 2, 2024
Unforgettable Experience! - My friend and I booked the one and a half day experience that included a cooking class, a visit to the town of Matera where we ate panzerotti and tried a local beer at a locally owned restaurant, and then had gelato while walking around Matera and were shown amazing views of the Sassi. Greg & Silvia also treated us to drinks at a fun local bar! The next day we had a delicious breakfast and then drove to a vineyard where we had an amazing wine tasting experience, and then came back to the farm to have another amazing lunch. I can’t recommend this enough. Greg & Silvia curated the perfect couple of days for us, but more than that, they truly made us feel like family. The farm is a family run business in which members of Greg & Silvia’s family are cooking the amazing food and running the farm, and everyone is so welcoming and happy to have you there. We learned so much history just about their generations of family and their lives in this region of Italy. Silvia taught the cooking class and the way she taught us to make pasta and the rest of the food’s recipes were passed down from her family. It was a cooking class and history lesson wrapped into one! We ate the food we made and more, and the lunch and every other meal was amazing, and I left feeling very full and happy every time. Spending time with Greg & Silvia was the highlight of the trip. They are full of knowledge about the history of their farm, the region of Basilicata, the town of Matera, the food, the wine, and so much more. They did everything in their power to make sure we had an unforgettable experience - and we did! If you want a truly authentic experience on an olive farm learning how to cook authentically, eat amazing food, learn more than you can imagine, and taste some of the best wine in the world - book this experience. Thank you Greg & Silvia, I hope to be back!
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September 2024
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