Top Matera Cooking Classes

Step inside a historic cave in the heart of Sassi di Matera, once used as an ancient olive oil mill, and discover Matera’s rural food traditions through a hands-on pasta-making class. Begin with a welcome glass of prosecco while exploring the original stone milling spaces carved into the rock. Then learn how to make handmade cavatelli or orecchiette alongside a local expert using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Choose between two options: the “Pasta Class” experience includes the pasta workshop, welcome prosecco, a souvenir participation certificate, and the chance to take home the handmade pasta prepared during the class. Or select the “Pasta Class with Lunch” option to enjoy a complete cave dining experience inside the historic cave setting. This small-group experience embraces a true farm-to-table philosophy, with seasonal ingredients and authentic local recipes inspired by southern Italian rural cuisine.

This cooking class captures the true essence of Matera — a blend of ancient traditions, warm hospitality, and simple, genuine flavors. In a kitchen carved into the city’s iconic stone dwellings, you’ll prepare time-honored recipes passed down through generations, using fresh ingredients from the local countryside. Each dish tells a story of resilience and community, seasoned with olive oil, laughter, and southern sunshine. It’s more than a class — it’s a journey into the heart of Lucanian culture, one bite at a time!

Southern Italy is famous for its cuisine across the globe. Connect with a local home cook and discover the secrets to turning out traditional fresh pasta with this small-group cooking class in Matera. Roll up your sleeves and prepare three different specialties under the guidance of your host and instructor, then sample your handiwork served with wine at the end of the class.

This wine tasting experience in the heart of Matera tantalizes the senses with a flavor that is both rich in history and vibrant in the present. It's a fusion of tradition and modernity, where ancient winemaking techniques meet contemporary appreciation. But it's not just about the wines: it's about the entire sensory experience. The aroma of aging barrels mingles with the scent of freshly poured wines, creating an olfactory symphony that sets the stage for discovery. With each swirl, sniff, and sip, the flavors dance on the palate, revealing layers of complexity and depth. Paired with delicious bites that enhance and complement the wines, the tasting becomes a culinary journey through Matera's gastronomic heritage. And for those who choose to indulge in the optional olive oil tasting, another dimension of flavor is unlocked, adding a touch of Mediterranean magic to the experience!

Take a break from sightseeing and discover Matera’s rural heart with this private cooking class at a traditional farm. Connect with a local family to visit their olive and orange groves, then roll up your sleeves and get to work in the kitchen preparing fresh pasta and other classic dishes. Enjoy a country-style lunch featuring the recipes you’ve prepared at the end of the class.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta and tiramisu-making class in a welcoming home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and tiramisu and taste the fruit of your labour for lunch or dinner accompanied by local wines. During this private lesson, you will learn how to prepare 2 pasta recipes and the tiramisu dessert from scratch. Your Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of these iconic recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family once home with an Italian meal! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Location: A private olive estate just 50 minutes from Matera city center (shuttle service available on request). • Perfect For: Foodies, couples seeking romance, and families looking for a hands-on cultural escape. • What to Bring: A healthy appetite and your camera—the golden hour light through the olive trees is a photographer’s dream!

Learn to make authentic pasta the old farmer way, right in a Sassi cellar carved from ancient stone. Using the freshest local ingredients, you’ll prepare bruschetta, cialledda salad, and traditional pasta with guidance from a professional chef. Once the cooking is done, sit down to savor your creations in this extraordinary and historic setting.

Learn about the art of cheese making with a master cheesemaker in Matera. Enjoy a typical farmer's breakfast of organic dairies, try to make your mozzarella and taste lots of cheeses.

Don't lose the opportunity to become a "pizzaiolo" (pizza-maker) and a great tiramisu maker! Enter a local home, connect with an expert home cook and discover how Italian mamma and nonnas used to prepare awesome pizza at home. With this hands-on cooking class, you will learn how to make pizza and tiramisù from scratch from a real Italian family. To complete your feast, enjoy what you have prepared for lunch or dinner with a selection of local wine included. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family with a pizza party once you come back home! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.