In A Local Home In Lucca: Fresh Pasta & Meal By Cesarine

If I could give this experience more than five stars, I absolutely would! My friend Laurie and I spent the most wonderful evening with Rossana and her husband Alberto in their beautiful home near Lucca. From the moment Alberto picked us up at our hotel, we felt genuinely welcomed. Rossana patiently taught us how to make fresh pasta dough, spinach and cheese ravioli, tagliatelle, her family’s traditional ragù, and tiramisu. Throughout the class, Alberto helped keep everything organized and made us feel completely at home. One of the unexpected highlights was a walk around their lovely property, where Alberto showed us their 40 olive trees, which produce enough olive oil for two families for an entire year! After cooking, we enjoyed an incredible meal served on their beautiful covered patio. From the delicious bruschetta and unique peach crostini to our handmade ravioli with butter and sage, tagliatelle with rich homemade ragù, and tiramisu, every bite was wonderful. But what truly made this experience extraordinary was Rossana and Alberto themselves. Their kindness, hospitality, warmth, and wonderful conversation made the evening feel less like a cooking class and more like dinner with new friends. We shared stories, learned about their lives and traditions, and laughed throughout the evening. Rossana even offered to share her family recipes and answer any questions as we continue our Italian cooking adventures at home. Of all the wonderful experiences we’ve had in Italy, this evening will always hold a special place in our hearts. We came hoping to learn authentic Italian cooking and left with beautiful memories and the feeling that we’d made two new friends. Grazie mille, Rossana e Alberto! We cannot recommend this experience highly enough!

Our cooking class with Monica in Lucca was outstanding. A great value for spending a lovely evening in Monica's home.

This was by far one of the best experiences we had in Italy! We feel honored to have found Rossana and her husband while in Lucca. The experience was beyond a cooking lesson; it was a magical evening. We learned new recipes and tasted wonderful dishes while sharing an evening with two amazing, welcoming people - and their lovely dog, Arte! They made us feel like family. We toured their olive grove and shared our meal with them at a lovely table set in the garden. It felt like we were in a movie! Rossana also shared many recipes after our lesson. I highly recommend scheduling a cooking experience with Rossana!

I cannot say enough how wonderful this class was! Letizia and her family made us feel like family . We left feeling like we made new friends! Delicious!

My wife and I, along with another couple traveling with us, had the absolute pleasure of spending an evening with Alberto and Rosanna in their beautiful home in Lucca—and without question, it was the highlight of our entire trip to Italy. During the week, we visited Pisa, Florence, Lucca, and stayed in Calamecca. Each place was incredible in its own way, but nothing compared to the warmth, joy, and authenticity of this cooking experience. From the moment we walked in, Alberto and Rosanna made us feel as though we were longtime friends being welcomed to their table. Their friendliness and hospitality were unmatched. We shared wonderful conversations about family, travel, Italian and American culture, and of course—great food. Watching them cook together was a joy, and learning from them felt effortless and genuine. We left not only with delicious recipes that we can’t wait to recreate at home, but with memories we will treasure forever. More than just a cooking class, this was an experience filled with connection, laughter, and heart. Alberto and Rosanna now hold a special place in our hearts, and we are so grateful for the time we shared. If you are anywhere near Lucca—or even if you’re not—this is an experience worth planning your trip around.

Viatour are not reliable. We were at the meeting point confirmed at least six times in the lead up to our cooking class. And it was incorrect. We were there early and no pickup happened. We finally found the real address and we were 30 minutes late for the class. Very stressful and very disappointing.. Pour chef however was outstanding.

This was so much more than just a cooking class. We were a group of four and wanted to experience authentic Italian cuisine. Andre and his wife were so accommodating and lovely. They opened up their home to us. And yes, while we did make three incredible pasta dishes, we also learned so much about the local culture. The cooking experience far exceeded our expectations and I would without hesitation. Recommend this experience to others.

If I could give a minus mark I would. Full disclosure - we booked last minute. The booking was confirmed. We turned up at the address given and waited over an hour for response/meeting. NOTHING. Could only contact via whatsapp and various other platforma. Answer message on phone number given on website and booking. Company number - also answer phone. We did get full refund. Would not recomemend. Complete lack of respect for client's precious time on holiday.

Sylvia was great! She is very knowledgeable and personable. She loves sharing her family recipes and explaining how and why certain ingredients are used. We were a group of 6 women and had a great evening!

Had a great time during our pasta cooking class. The instructors were very fun and taught us lot . Best of all the meal we prepared was delicious . Highly recommends .

This was not as advertised. I expected a nice farm house and lovely woman (or gentleman) to guide us in cooking some wonderful Italian meals. Instead it was a HOT apartment in the city (which could be overlooked) but we only made ONE pasta which was then tossed in olive oil and parmesan cheese. That was it, that was our cooking experience from a 20ish something (although nice) young man. This was in no way as advertised or a fun event.

Monica was wonderful! She and her husband welcomed us into their home and we had a great time. We made three types of pasta which turned out delicious!! We shared appetizers and wine. It was a lovely afternoon. We are remaking one of the dishes for Mother’s Day!

Our host, Fausto, was gracious and welcomed us in to his house as if we were old friends. The olive oil tasting was well organized and extremely informative. My husband and I intend to throw out our olive oil at home and replace with quality olive oil. We learned a practical way to make pasta and will definitely make it for our friends.We highly recommend this class.

Amazing experience in her home! We made 3 homemade pastas while drinking Prosecco! It was such a fun time and totally authentic. We ate the pasta we made! Lovely conversation and such an awesome atmosphere!

They had us show up to an apartment complex in Lucca Italy for a pizza making class. The person at the door said it was not at that address. We called the number that we were given multiple times and nobody answered. We contacted TripAdvisor and they said they got ahold of the teacher of the class and she said to call her. We called again and still got no answer. We checked multiple apartments in the complex until the property manager walked up to us and said there was no such class at that property and told us we had to leave We tried to contact Trip Advisor, explaining the fraud and they have essentially ignored our request, it is sitting at “customer service” desk and they have still not refunded the $300+ cost of the class Don’t sign up for Cesarine Classes in Italy!!

Unfortunately, our class was canceled. We were about to arrive for our private class with our family, and received a call about it being delayed. An hour later, it was canceled. We were really looking forward to this to end our trip and we’re extremely disappointed.

Our experience once we got to our cooks home was amazing and unforgettable, we are grateful for the good experience. Getting their is a different story. Beware of the address that Trip Advisor sends in the confirmation. We booked 2 different tours in Tuscany and the meeting place for both was the same address in the middle of nowhere in Lucca -55100 Lucca. Not a real address. Seems to be a default address. Contact hosts privately prior to meeting to confirm.

This was a fabulous experience! Nonna and Nonno were amazing hosts in their home. The translator was amazing. The dinner was wonderful. This was an experience of a lifetime, and we hope to come back for many more classes with them.

On our first ever overseas visit to Lucca, the area both my great grandparents came from, I wanted to do a cooking class from an Italian cook. Silvia was just what I was looking for for my wife and I to learn from. Listening to her Italian accent while learning the “secrets” brought me back to listening to my grandmother speak to my great grandfather. The three dishes we prepared tasted exceptional, and we can’t wait to try and make them at home! Silvia was very clear in her instructions but delivered all of her comments with the best personality. The class was both fun and entertaining at the same time, and truthfully was one of the better parts of our trip. We would highly recommend Silvia to anyone wanting to learn the art of Italian cooking while in Lucca.

Our family had an extraordinary time immersing ourselves in the art of pasta-making under the guidance of the delightful Novella. Even our young food enthusiasts, an eight-year-old daughter and a ten-year-old son, were captivated! The moment we stepped into Novella's inviting home, we were embraced like treasured guests, enveloped in an atmosphere of genuine warmth. It truly felt as though we were visiting a cherished friend. Novella had thoughtfully arranged everything in her immaculate and charming condo, ready for our culinary adventure. While her English wasn't fluent, she had the support of a helpful friend and colleague who skillfully translated and assisted throughout the class. Together, we dove into the creation of mouthwatering dishes, such as a delectable meat ragú, fresh pasta crafted from eggs and flour, delicate ravioli filled with spinach, ricotta, and a touch of nutmeg, and pillowy gnocchi made from impeccably boiled potatoes and flour. This entire experience exceeded even our wildest expectations. If you ever find yourself with the opportunity to schedule a class with Novella in the enchanting town of Lucca, seize it with all your might! You will depart with cherished memories of an intimate encounter with a remarkable woman who possesses an extraordinary talent for cooking. Novella, thank you for granting us such a wondrous experience.

Looking for an intimate experience with the locals, look no further. Novella and Marco not only taught us how to make homemade pasta, they gave us a snapshot into the lives of Italians living in Lucca.

We truly made three different pasta dishes from scratch but really enjoyed sitting down and eating with our wonderful host and her husband! What a special night.

This was a fantastic experience. Assunta and her family were just delightful. We learned so much, the kids were engaged throughout, and the dinner was fabulous. I cannot say enough positive things about this experience. Definitely worth doing!!!

Amazing experience in the heart of Lucca, our host Maria is a very friendly and skilled mama who together with her friend made us feel welcome at once. With her gentle style of tutoring we all together made three wonderful, classic pasta dishes while enjoying refreshments, great coversation and a stunning view. Sharing the meal with and getting to know the family was a very nice way to round off. 10/10, we feel inspired and confident about trying our hand at this back home!

We had a great time making and eating pasta dishes with Silvia. We made 3 different dishes, learning the techniques of each. The conversation was great, along with the food and wine. We strongly recommend!

Pasta making with our host Antonietta was amazing. She and her husband were gracious hosts with a lovely home. She made the evening so enjoyable- we are looking forward to making pasta again when we return home.

So nice to see Sylvie’s home and learn from her. She was patient, informed, and fun. We will definitely try to make pasta when we return home.

Sylvia was amazing. Our family had such a special day learning about pasta, Italian traditions and fabulous recipes! We made delicious food!!!!! Thank you. Will definitely do again when we return to Lucca

We had the best time learning to cook pasta, tiramisu and bruschetta! Antonietta was nice and welcoming and meeting her husband was a wonderful bonus! The whole experience was awesome. Their home was decorated authentically and the meal and wine was delicious! We will be talking about this experience forever!!

Our family had a great time cooking w Sylvia. We made nudie (sp?), gnocchi, and tagliatelle and they were all yummy. We’re inspired to make homemade pasta when we get back home. Really great to spend time in a local’s home and talk with them.

We went to Lunia. She has a Really nice cooking room where we prepared Perfect Ravioli, gnocci and tagliatelle! We would highly recommend this Adventure to everyone! She was very skilled and Really friendly.

As our bellies grew so did our hearts. From the animals to the music we not did only learn a new skill but walked away with a memory we won’t forget. What a wonderful family and recommend to anyone with a soul

Highlight of our trip - We had a wonderful time making pasta in this cooking class at Anto's House. The family that hosts and teaches how to make pasta is so warm, fun, and generous. We learned how to make homemade pasta (and later applied what we learned when we got home to the US), ate said pasta, and enjoyed many other fine Italian foods and wines while trading stories with the hosts and other travelers who were in the class. Highly recommended

What was expected to be a good morning turned out to be a wonderful day in the home of or host with the chance to learn & enjoy. Our Hostess, the beautiful and talented Antonette (Anto), allowed us into her home and shared her pasta making abilities with us. My lady and I arrived at our appointed time and helped develop a magnificent sauce that would be used later with our pasta. Later another group of families and couples from across the world joined us our small group in the making of pasta. We ended up spending over 5 hours enjoying the magnificent hospitality of Anto her friends and family while learning pasta making tips all will use I am sure. The interpreter for Anto was Lucrizia, a very pleasant young lady who skillfully translated and explained exactly not only our host’s words but her feelings. Without her assistance the experience would have been less rewarding. Is you are in search for a pasta class and a good time in Tuscany please consider Anto and her offering. You will not be disappointed.

Atonetta and PIedro were the most genuine and welcoming couple we had the pleasure of meeting. Piedro picked us up from our apartment and took us back to their beautiful farmhouse where we made fresh pasta using eggs from their chickens! The bruschetta was delicious and we had an aperitivo while the sauce was cooking. We shared stories with the help of a neighbor who was in college learning languages as the translator and we felt like old friends by the time dinner was over. An incredible experience that will immerse you in the culture and it was a tour that couldn't be topped for our week in Tuscany! I would recommend this tour for anyone wanting to go 'off the beaten path' and get a great Italian experience.

We were warmly received by Rossana and Alberto. It was agreed in advance what would be made which makes the experience more personal. Rossana changed the workshop because our granddaughter loves spaghetti, we thought this was the max. The making of the pasta was explained and demonstrated very well so that we had it in our fingers from the first time. The meal was delicious. Alberto was a good assistant cook alongside the chef Rossana. Both were excellent hosts and their English was very good. Afterwards, the family recipes were shared with us. If we're near Lucca again, we'll visit. Sonja, Hailey and Ludovicus.

We celebrated 47 years of marriage in absolute tranquility with the animators who excited us when they gave news with good wishes.