Florence Hills: Pasta & Gnocchi Cooking Class with Villa Views

Summary

Roll pasta by hand in a Florentine villa above the city lights

You’ll ride up into Florence’s hills for a homey pasta & gnocchi cooking class inside a lived-in 1500s villa. Expect welcome coffee, cookies, rolling dough side-by-side with locals like Francesca and Gaia, Prosecco breaks, and sharing your handmade meal overlooking the city. It’s warm, messy fun — you might leave with flour on your shirt but probably also a new friend or two.

What’s the experience like?

We bumped up the winding road out of Florence, the city shrinking behind us, and I kept thinking — am I actually heading to someone’s house for a pasta class? Francesca greeted us at the door with this easy smile and a tray of tiny coffee cups. The villa is old, but not in a museum way — more like you can smell flour in the air and see paintings tucked everywhere. Gaia handed me a cookie before I even set my bag down. I liked that.

The main keyword here is “pasta cooking class Florence” but honestly, it didn’t feel like any class I’ve done before. We started by cracking eggs into flour right on the table (I got more on my hands than in the dough). Francesca showed us how to pinch and fold cappellacci — she said her grandmother taught her that twisty motion. Tommaso poured Prosecco while we tried to say “bruschetta” properly; Li laughed at my accent. There was music playing somewhere, maybe from the kitchen radio, mixed with birds outside.

Making gnocchi was messier than I expected — soft dough sticking everywhere, potatoes still warm from boiling. Luisa told us stories about growing up nearby while we rolled little dumplings. The sauces simmered quietly as we set the table together, sunlight coming through those big old windows. Eating what we made felt different: maybe because we’d all put our hands in it (literally), or maybe it was just Tuscany working its magic again. Still think about that sage butter sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Pasta making and tasting in Florence hills

• Transfer from city center to villa
• Welcome coffee and cookies
• Make two pasta shapes: cappellacci and spaghetti
• Aperitif with bruschetta and Prosecco
• Prepare potato gnocchi dough
• Watch sauce preparation for gnocchi and pasta
• Set table and eat all prepared dishes

Top questions

Is pickup from Florence city center included?

Yes, transfer from and back to Florence city center is included.

What types of pasta will we make during this cooking class?

You’ll make two shapes: cappellacci and spaghetti, plus potato gnocchi.

Is lunch or dinner included in this experience?

Yes, you’ll eat all the pasta and gnocchi you make together as your meal.

Where does the pasta cooking class take place?

It’s held in a villa on top of Florence’s hills, about ten minutes from downtown.

Are drinks provided during the class?

You’ll have coffee or tea at arrival, Prosecco during aperitivo, bottled water, and wine with your meal.

Is this cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Can children join this pasta making experience?

Yes, infants can come with an adult; strollers are fine too.

Do I need any cooking experience to join?

No experience needed — hosts guide you through every step.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transfer from Florence city center up to the villa in the hills, welcome coffee and cookies to start things off easy, all ingredients and tools for making fresh egg pasta and potato gnocchi by hand (with help from Francesca’s team), plenty of snacks like bruschetta with tomato and basil plus glasses of Prosecco along the way, then sitting down together for lunch or dinner featuring everything you’ve cooked — drinks included before heading back down into town.