Top Puglia Cooking Classes

More than our expectations. Anita was a warm and welcoming host. She was entertaining as well as a perfect teacher. The whole experience was beyond what we expected. Not only did we learn how to make focaccia and pasta but Anita presented a magnificent apperativo with locally produced foods and excellent wine. She welcomed us into her home like old friends and she shared her knowledge and love of creating wonderful food with charm and a few jokes along the way. We walked away not only with our stomachs full but also with a long lasting memory of a great experience. Thank you Anita for making this an exceptional evening.

We had a great deal of fun making the pasta. Although it was a big group it worked really well and the team running it used their knowledge and experience well. We learnt a great deal about how to make pasta and also how not to make pasta! The setting was really lovely, the food was fun to make and good to eat. Highly recommended

This was an AMAZING and memorable experience, from start to finish. There was nothing more authentic than being able to put together an entire home cooked meal with Cesarina Lucrezia. Her and her partner were wonderful hosts...the best! The food was incredible and the service was excellent. I highly recommend it if you are in the Puglia area!

This was a fun tasting in the old town part of Lecce in a restaurant/wine bar. Our guide was the owner of the place and had very good knowledge of the wines that are made in Puglia. We tasted 4, a white, a rose, and the 2 reds. They were all great and the food pairings were good.

It was a great introduction to Lecce! Nadia was a wonderful guide and shared the perfect amount of history and architecture about the city. They were light snacks but filled us up, so something to keep in mind with timing / dinner plans. Would recommend to others wanting to explore the city!

WOW THIS TOUR WAS FANTASTIC! First of all the music played on the boat was amazing and then the operator of the boat let us swim a little bit towards the end and poured us a glass of prosecco, the cave tour was awesome and the small bits of history described by the tour guide was amazing

Very interesting and informative tour provided by Fabio, explaining the history of the Masseria and the process of making cheese from how they manage the cows and milking through to seeing the making of mozzarella and burrata. You also get to have a go yourself. And then the tasting plate at the end is more than enough to make it a meal/lunch in its own right, not to mention how tasty it all is! We couldn't resist buying some of the Casatello cheese and yoghurt afterwards :) Highly recommend!

This boat tour was absolutely incredible! Our guide Claudio was outstanding – knowledgeable, professional, and engaging throughout the entire journey. Despite traveling from the United States (New Jersey), we couldn't have asked for a better experience exploring the stunning Polignano a Mare coastline. What Made This Tour Special: Expert Commentary: Claudio delivered fascinating historical and geological information about the area, from the famous Domenico Modugno statue and "Volare" connection to the Red Bull Cliff Diving Challenge platforms. His explanations about the limestone formations, seashell fossils, and tectonic processes were educational without being overwhelming. Spectacular Cave Exploration: We visited multiple stunning caves including Grotta Palazzese (home to the famous restaurant), Bishop Cave, Grotta Ardito with its historic passage, and the massive Pigeons Cave. Each had unique features and stories. Swimming Opportunity: The stop for swimming near Grotta Palazzese was a highlight – the water temperature was around 18-19°C (mid-60s°F), refreshing and totally worth it! Perfect Pacing: The ~1.5 hour tour covered approximately 3.5 nautical miles of coastline without feeling rushed. Claudio balanced narration with time to simply enjoy the views. Small Group Experience: Our boat (Marika) had a comfortable group size, allowing for personalized attention and easy interaction with our guide. Bonus Details: Learning about local history like the trulli structures, the former butchery cave that once attracted blue sharks, and the illegal salt production caves added authentic cultural depth. Pro Tips: Book early, bring a towel if you plan to swim, and don't worry about the November timing – the experience is magical year-round! Highly recommended for anyone visiting Puglia. Worth every euro! What You Should Know Before Booking This Tour: BOOKING & LOGISTICS: Book well in advance – tours fill up quickly Meeting point is at the port in Polignano a Mare Check-in involves paperwork (one person fills out main form, others just sign) You'll be assigned to specific boats (ours was "Marika") Tour duration: approximately 1-1.5 hours Distance covered: 3.5 nautical miles of coastline WHAT TO BRING: Towel if you plan to swim Waterproof case/bag for phones and electronics (water spray is possible, especially with southeast winds) Light jacket – it gets breezy on the water even if the day is warm Bathing suit under your clothes if you want to swim SWIMMING DETAILS: There IS a swimming stop (not all tours offer this in November) Water temperature in November: 18-19°C (mid-60s°F) – cold but doable Depth at swimming area: approximately 5 meters Boat has platforms and stairs for easy water access Swimming is optional – no pressure to get in Most participants did swim despite the temperature WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS: Tours run year-round, including November Expect some bumps and water spray, especially with southeast winds The guide will warn you about conditions at the start Dress in layers LANGUAGE: Tour conducted in English (guide speaks slowly and clearly for international guests) Guide accommodates multiple nationalities on same tour ACCESSIBILITY: You'll need to board/exit the boat via stairs/platforms Some movement required during the tour Not ideal for those with severe mobility limitations WHAT YOU'LL SEE: Multiple sea caves (Grotta Palazzese, Bishop Cave, Grotta Ardito, Pigeons Cave, Saddle Cave, Well Cave) Red Bull Cliff Diving platforms (27m for men, 21m for women) Domenico Modugno statue ("Volare" singer) Old Town Polignano elevated 23m above sea level Limestone cliffs, seashell fossils, rock erosion patterns Port Alga (old fishermen's village) Hermit Rock island with cross monument Views toward Monopoli GUIDE QUALITY: Claudio is a licensed ship master with 10+ years experience Extremely knowledgeable about local history, geology, and culture Professional yet personable Takes photos for guests Willing to answer questions GROUP SIZE: Small groups split across multiple boats Intimate experience, not overcrowded Easy to hear guide and ask questions VALUE CONSIDERATIONS: This is educational AND experiential – not just a scenic ride You get historical context, cave exploration, AND swimming opportunity Comparable to or better than similar coastal tours in Italy Well worth the price for the quality of experience PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent photo opportunities throughout Guide will take photos of you with cave backgrounds Protect your phone from water spray Best lighting is during "golden hour" (late afternoon) SAFETY: Life jackets available Professional captain with proper licensing Boats are well-maintained Guide explains safety procedures at start NOT INCLUDED: Hotel pickup/drop-off (you meet at the port) Food or drinks Wetsuits (if you want to swim comfortably in cold water) BEST FOR: Couples, families, small friend groups History and geology enthusiasts Photographers Adventure seekers willing to swim in cooler water First-time visitors to Polignano a Mare BOTTOM LINE: This is a must-do experience in Puglia. The combination of natural beauty, expert narration, cave exploration, and swimming opportunity makes it exceptional value. Don't skip it due to cooler November temperatures – the experience is worth it year-round!