Tivoli Day Trip: Villa D’este & Cooking Class

No one should miss this absolutely amazing! Plan to spend a couple hours here or more The fountains are absolutely stunning

We have traveled the world and have done many adventures. We have to say that this one was one of the best experiences, by far. Davide & Elena made the day so fun. We learned so much about pasta making. Their charming home, along with their two pups, really made our tour so special. I would highly recommend this and will do it again the next time we are in Italy. We now have Davide's recipes and will try our hand at making some of the recipes. Of course, it won't have the same effect not being in Italy!!! Thank you to both host and hostess for a fabulous day. We enjoyed you both so much.

Davide and Elana were Fabulous Hosts! Pickup/return to our hotel was prompt in a very nice Mercedes Van with cold a/c. Davide's Villa in Tivoli was spectacular and the food was Amazing. We made handmade Ravioli and Fettuccine matched with 3 different sauces combined with succulent appetizers prepared by Davide and Elana. Sparkling Rose and white wine (our choice) flowed freely and we ended lunch with a beautiful chocolate mousse and Appertif. Then Magnificent Gardens and Fountains!! A wonderful way to get away from the hustle of Rome and enjoy a relaxing day. Thank You, Davide & Elana.

We ended up being the only couple on this tour and appreciated that Chef Davide and his wife Elena did not cancel because of this. Had so much fun making our own pasta and learning about Tivoli and olive oil process. Food was wonderful and it was such an honor to be invited in their home. Wish they had dined with us so we could chat more. It’s a pricey experience but glad we did it once.

Our day with Chef Davide and Elena at their beautiful home in Tivoli was a true high point of our trip to Rome. We brought our three kids, aged 9 to 15, who all had a ton of fun. Davide and Elena were great with the kids. Every step of the visit was well organized and easy to navigate. I’m not new to cooking and I’m not new to Italy, but I still managed to learn quite a bit from our hosts. It was really quite a good time. Oh, and of course, the food was top notch. Many thanks and best wishes to our wonderful hosts!

Davide and Elena entertain you as well as instruct how to make genuine Italian dishes. Tivoli gardens are amazing and transport to and from Rome was seamless,

The gardens at Villa d’Estes was on my bucket list. I want to see the top 10 gardens in the world (according to National Geographic) and these gardens were rated number 5. They were beautiful and I have never seen so many fountains! But even better than the gardens was the cooking class with Chef Davide. He was absolutely wonderful. We met his mother and his wife and they were very nice too. The two puppies were so cute and very well behaved! They made a charming addition to the visit. Chef Davide taught us how to make pasta and then we cut our pasta into fettuccine noodles and also made ravioli. They served different appetizers and lots of wonderful wine. Then we had an awesome dessert. This was an awesome tour and I suggest you book it!

This is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The sommelier and the chef go above and beyond to give you a personalized treatment while feeding you amazing food and providing amazing wine. I would do this a 1000 times.

If we could give this experience extra stars we would! Davide was such a generous host and we enjoyed every moment of our day.

Davide is a perfectionist starting with all the communication preceding the tour including advising us of the weather and recommending that we bring umbrellas and rain jackets. He and his wife, Elena, make a great team and treated us wonderfully. We learned to make two types of pasta and were treated to a delicious lunch which included two appetizers, two pasta dishes, dessert, and wine. At the end of lunch they drove us to the city center where we strolled on our own through the Tivoli Gardens which were stunning. Finally, the drive to Tivoli and back was very comfortable in a large Mercedes Benz van.

David and Elena are welcoming, wonderful hosts. We made pasta and ravioli, drank delicious wine and had the best time! You will never want to leave their beautiful property. We felt like we were in a movie while being there. Villa d'Este is also gorgeous and it was great to explore and stroll through the gardens after our meal. This was our favorite experience while visiting Rome. Eight thumbs up from us!

This is a great escape from the city. Not only do you learn to make and enjoy wonderful food, Davide abd Elans couldn’t be more welcoming.

The best experience! Chef David was wonderful. Professional, knowledgeable, and patient. Welcomed us into his home and made us feel like family.

I cannot say enough great things about this experience. This was our favorite experience while visiting Rome. Chef Davide and his wife Elena invite you into their beautiful home to learn how to cook pasta. You are served different types of local wine while cooking. Chef Davide and Elena were great teachers and really worked well together. None of us had any experience making pasta yet this was the best meal we had while on vacation. The ingredients were fresh. We picked herbs from his backyard garden. When we were done, we ate on their back porch and enjoyed the views. After our cooking class, Davide and Elena drove us to the gardens at Tivoli where we walked around for about 2 hours. It was plenty of time to take it all in. Truly an amazing experience you will never forget.

Chef Davide n sous chef Elana were wonderful. They worked in perfect harmony and were patient teachers. We prepared from scratch our own ravioli and fettuccine and enjoyed a delicious luncheon accompanied by Davides creations. To top off the day we enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Villa de Este. The gardens and fountains were exquisite and should be a must see on any trip to Rome.

Our Tivoli Day Trip to Villa D’Este & Cooking Class was a true highlight, hosted by the wonderful Chef Davide and his beautiful wife Elena. Though the class is typically outdoors, the windy and cold weather that day prompted them to graciously open their home instead, making us all feel like part of their family. My husband and daughters absolutely loved this unique experience and we highly recommend it!

Everything was incredible! Chef Davide and Elena were great hosts. Their home was incredible and they explained everything so well. The food we cooked was amazing! We were traveling with a 2 year old and they were so understanding and helpful. Highly recommend this tour.

We decided to do this tour for our last day in Italy to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This was a perfect way to finish the trip with David and his amazing family. They were very welcoming and made us feel like we were part of their family. The experience of cooking homemade pasta and enjoying the afternoon drinking great wine and eating great food was unforgettable!!! I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone looking for a relaxing and beautiful day in the Tivoli countryside. We finished our afternoon with a beautiful walk-through the Villa D’Este. This beautiful garden is amazing and breathtaking overlooking the valley. I highly recommend this tour.

This is a must do experience! Our hosts welcomed us into their home for the cooking class in the countryside. We immediately felt welcome and enjoyed a relaxed afternoon drinking, cooking and learning with great company.

This was an amazing day out and possibly undersold in the information in Viator. Davide and Elena were extremely welcoming and knowledgeable both about the local area as well as food preparation and wine pairing. The hotel pick up was arranged for us as part of the experience and our driver gave us information about the local region en route, and told us how the local stone is used as we passed the quarry. The drive was only 40 minutes from the hotel. We were welcomed into Davide and Elena's lovely home for the cooking experience. From the start we were greeted with a glass of Prosecco and Fragolino (local red sparkling wine with a strawberry flavour) and the recommended wines were offered freely during the time of our stay. We helped create two of the five courses that we were served. Great fun as I've never made pasta from scratch before. The trip to Villa D'Este was a spectacular finish to the day. Although there is a lot of art to see in the house, the gardens were the highlight with a myriad of fountains as you traverse up the down the levels, plus glorious views over the local countryside. I highly recommend this trip if visiting Rome for a few days.

This was a perfect way to spend our last day after many busy days in Rome. We booked the private experience for just the two of us. A driver picked us up at our hotel and we spent a beautiful day in the countryside. Davide and Elena were the perfect hosts, teaching us how to make fettuccine and ravioli accompanied by delicious sauces. They were very patient and answered all of our questions! We tasted many wonderful appetizers, oil and wines from the region. Everything was delicious and the instruction and company was amazing! To end our day, we toured the lovely Villa D’Este which was incredible!! We would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of Rome to enjoy an amazing day of relaxation, good food and hospitality!!

Absolutely gorgeous in every way. We wanted to spend a day doing something different from the usual Roman sites and are so happy we spent the day with Chef David and his family. The property is divine, the food was amazing and the afternoon at the gardens was the perfect way to top off the day. All four of us rated this one of the very best experiences we had over a couple of weeks in Rome and surrounds.

Chef Davide and his wife are incredible humans who felt like friends after spending the day in their home with their animals cooking incredible food. It is a relaxing day in the countryside tasting wine and food and experiencing Italian life. Then, as an added bonus, you get to your Villa D’Este, which is breathtaking. We could not have enjoyed this more.

“Pure magic from beginning to end! This culinary experience was everything we were hoping for — amazing food, wonderful hosts, and just the right amount of instruction in the culinary arts. We learned so much for the next time we make pasta in our own kitchen. After a full day touring the Vatican, this was the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle. The peace and tranquillity— broken only by our own laughter — blended beautifully with the gentle rustle of the wind through olive trees. We hadn’t expected the idyllic setting: a charming country home nestled among the olive groves. It swept us off our feet! David and Ellena were the most gracious hosts — truly beautiful people in every sense. Our driver, Maurizio, was another joy of the day— kind, engaging, and so knowledgeable that the 40-minute trip from Rome to Tivoli became an informative tour. (He also insisted that David looks like Tom Cruise — we had to agree! 😊) The simplicity, warmth, and rural goodness of the whole experience were utterly heartwarming. We didn’t want it to end.”

David and Elaina were incredible hosts. Beautiful atmosphere at their lovely home and the meal was delicious! We met new friends and we learned how to make fresh pasta.

If you can only choose one activity while in Rome, I highly recommend this cooking class with Chef Davide. This was an experience unlike anything else — cooking with a renowned chef in his beautiful home in the Italian countryside felt truly special. Not only did we learn to make classic Italian dishes from scratch, but we also learned about the history and artistry behind each one. Chef Davide’s hospitality and attention to detail were unmatched — even the appetizers looked like pieces of art. I can’t wait to return with family and friends to share this remarkable experience. Grazie mille, Chef Davide!

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. I would recommend anyone that is traveling in the area to do this. We had a wonderful time being in the countryside and learning how to make pasta from scratch. The food was delicious and they were so welcoming. To top it off, we got to walk through the gardens which was the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen! I highly recommend.

Chef Davide and Elena treat you like family welcoming us into their home for such a fun class. They made sure we understood how to make pasta so we could repeat at home and they sent us all of the recipes! They are both so talented, the food was delicious and beautifully presented and Elena paired wine with each course so we had the perfect bites. They are both so kind and passionate about what they do and make you feel right at home . After cooking and lunch we explored Villa D’este which Is absolutely beautiful. It truly was a perfect day and we would highly recommend the whole experience !!

My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of taking a cooking class with Chef Davide and his wife Elena at their beautiful countryside home in Tivoli during our honeymoon, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Italy. From the start, everything was seamless—transportation was arranged and extremely comfortable, and after the class we even had admission to the stunning gardens at Villa D’Este included. The experience itself was unforgettable. Chef Davide welcomed us into his home and kitchen with warmth and enthusiasm, and Elena made us feel like old friends. Together, they created such an inviting, relaxed atmosphere where we learned, laughed, and indulged. We made fresh ravioli and fettuccini from scratch, with plenty of guidance and encouragement, while enjoying delicious wine and small bites that Davide had prepared. Every moment felt authentic and personal, and it was clear how much passion and love they both put into sharing their craft. The setting was picturesque, the food was incredible, and the hospitality was unmatched. This wasn’t just a cooking class—it was a memory we’ll carry with us forever. If you’re visiting Rome and want an experience that combines food, culture, and genuine connection, I can’t recommend Chef Davide and Elena enough.

Davide and his wife were wonderful hosts. The class is in their farmhouse in Tivoli and the food and wine were excellent. Their instruction in pasta making was perfect and even better was their ability to talk about the history, culture, food and wine of the region. Great experience!

Our visit with David and Elena was one of the highlights of our entire time in and around Rome! It was a very professional and fun experience from start to finish, and delicious to boot. David is a local with over a decade of professional cooking experience and Elena was fantastic.Highly recommend to get away from the normal touristy sights in Rome and get a little more authentic experience!

If you only had one thing to do while visiting Rome, this would be it! What a wonderful day we had - getting picked up by Fabrizio in his sharp Mercedes van at our Rome hotel, then we were greeted by Elena who got us started on a tour of the beautiful Villa d’Este for about 2 hours. The gardens and fountains were so peaceful. Chef Davide then picked us up at the Villa and we took a short drive in his classic 1964 Fiat to their wonderful farmhouse. We enjoyed a brief tour, met the adorable dogs and some farm animals and got started into our class. Both Chef Davide and Elena (a trained sommelier) were so personable and made the cooking class so much fun. We enjoyed making ravioli and fettuccini, and then sat back and enjoyed a 7 course meal prepared by them and paired with local wines. It was so refreshing to see how they use local, fresh ingredients for their menus. Next time we are in Rome we will certainly return.

Both Davide and Elena were more than gracious hosts. They are both so warm and friendly and were happy to share what they know with us. Bianca (the sheep) was a highlight along with Rho and Lucy (dogs). We didn’t get to meet the chickens personally but if the rest of the family is any indication, we’re sure they’re lovely as well. The home and surrounding area is beautiful beyond words and if heaven were a place on earth, it may just may be Tivoli.

My family and I have had the privilege and pleasure of doing several cooking experiences as we have traveled abroad, and this has hands down been the most incredible time we have had. If you are looking for an experience you and your family will remember for years, this is it. Davide and family made us feel like we were long lost relatives and we could have not have asked for a more fun, and unique way to spend time together with amazing food, friends, and family!

We loved our day with Davide and Elena. It was so much fun for both the adults and the kids. The food was outstanding. Highly recommend

This was the most amazing part of our Italy trip! Chef Davide and Elena will give you a Michelin star experience in their beautifully charming home. The experience began as soon as their driver Fabrizio picked us up (such a nice gentleman), meeting Davide and Elena, learning the art of making pasta, the wines, small bites, the meal and dessert, and the explosion of flavors. Then you will get to spend time at the Tivoli gardens, which are beyond beautiful. On our way back to Rome Fabrizio took us to the waterfalls in Tivoli. What a way to end the day!! I will never forget this day. As a foodie and someone who is passionate about cooking and gardening, I highly recommend this experience.

Fantastic day spent learning about regional foods and cooking. Lunch was phenomenal, property was a relaxing place to spend the morning with hosts Elena and Davide making you feel right at home. Then we spent the afternoon in Tivoli walking the gardens and enjoying the views. Perfect day trip to escape the crowds in Rome!

I ordered this class directly from the Holy Pizza secure website and the transaction went smoothly and communication before, during, and after! What a well coordinated day learning to make pasta in the beautiful villa of Chef Davide! 6 farm to table gourmet courses, all with wine pairings. After multiple days fighting the crowds in Rome, this was a lovely and relaxing day enjoying great food and wine, with a pasta making course in the middle. The tour ended at Villa D'Este with the tour included. All of the transportation was included, to/from the hotel and the town of Tivoli with Villa D' Este. Thank you so much to Chef Davide and Elena for a wonderful addition to our visit to Italy!

We loved every minute with Davide and Elena - from the professional hotel pick up and drive to Tivoli, to Davide arriving in an amazing '64 Fiat. An enchanting drive thru private lands to the most charming and artful, generational villa with dogs and chickens and views where we were to have our lesson! The instruction was bountiful but whimsical, we had a lot of laughs and the new tastes (pearl onion w/8 yo balsamic - whoa) were unforgettable! We received recipes for all we did and more. It was a wonderful day! Sincerely highly recommended!

I don’t usually write reviews, but with such an amazing experience like this one I had to. From start to finish, everything was extremely organized and so personable! Chef Davide and Elena were absolutely incredible - I can’t recommend this experience enough!!

If you want an amazing cooking experience in a beautiful villa, do not miss this!!!! You will make two kinds of pasta, eat lovely chef created small bites, and feel like a cherished guest with the beautiful couple who own this home. To top it off, you’ll see the gorgeous gardens in Tivoli- away from all the hub bub of Rome. The driver was on time and very safe. Get off the beaten path and treat yourself to this one!!!

Worth every penny! Sometimes you just need to spend more than you want to and this is one of those times. This was hands down our favorite tour in our week long trip to Italy. Our very gracious hosts Davide and Elena are fantastic! They make you feel at home, provided excellent instruction, and of course awesome food & drink. The Villa D’Este were beautiful as was the Tivoli city center. What an enjoyable day that I would highly recommend!

What an absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience! This was the best thing we did in Italy while on our honeymoon. If you’re wondering if it’s worth the money and time- YES! BOOK IT! Davide and Elena are so hospitable and make you feel like family. They are excellent teachers and so knowledgeable. What we learned was so valuable and will stay with us for years to come.

We enjoyed David and Elena. The personal interaction was very nice. We thought the instruction was very good and well as the finished product. After completing the cuisine portion we were amazed by the Villa D’este garden and fountains.

While Davide and Elena were delightful hosts, the setting was beautiful and the food delicious, we came away from this "class" with little new knowledge. We have taken many cooking classes in Italy and both of us are somewhat skillful amateurs, so we asked a number of questions before signing up for a class. What we were expecting was not what we received*. If what you want is a pleasant day in the Italian countryside, a visit to Villa D'Este and the Tivoli Gardens, plus a delicious meal beautifully prepared and presented, you will enjoy the experience here immensely. If what you want is to add to your existing culinary skills, you may be left wanting. * We were presented with a premeasured bowl of pasta flour and one egg, from which we then made into two kinds of pasta. We snipped some herbs from the lovely veranda which was added to a ravioli filling made by Chef Davide. The hosts did everything else, mostly out of site. Except for the ravioli filling, the recipes provided after the course were not included on the lunch menu.

From the hosts to the food & drink to the surroundings, everything was amazing and such a wonderful change from the hustle & crowds of Rome. Be sure to include this in your Italian holiday. You won’t be disappointed.

We had the most amazing time with Chef David and Elena! The pasta-making was very fun and they helped us along the entire way, and the end product was delicious. I would highly recommend this excursion for anyone regardless of confidence/experience in the kitchen. It was the perfect balance of fun and learning (with great wine!).

This was so much fun. The wine, the process, the food, the property, the dogs…shall I go on? What a way to start out our Italian adventure. Definitely do not miss this opportunity!

We had a great experience at Holy pizza! We made great food with the instruction of Chef David & his beautiful assistant. We loved our time with everyone. It was truly amazing!!