Florence: Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine

Summary

Hands-on pizza making gelato tasting & wine in Florence’s heart

You’ll roll dough by hand with a Florentine chef guiding you step by step, taste fresh gelato you’ve made yourself, and linger over lunch with unlimited local wine. Expect laughter over language slips, real kitchen messes, and those small moments when Florence feels close enough to touch.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re kneading too gently,” Chef Marco said, grinning as he pressed my hands deeper into the dough. I was already dusted in flour — sleeves rolled up, apron a little crooked. The kitchen smelled like warm yeast and tomato sauce, and there was this hum of voices from the other tables. We’d met right in the center of Florence, just a few steps from where locals zipped past on scooters outside. Marco switched between English and Italian without missing a beat. At one point he asked if anyone had tried to say ‘mozzarella’ with an Italian accent — I gave it a shot, everyone laughed (my attempt was pretty tragic). There was Chianti on the table already, which helped.

Making pizza dough from scratch is messier than I thought — sticky at first, then suddenly smooth under your palms. Marco showed us how to stretch it without tearing (I tore mine anyway), and told stories about his nonna’s kitchen growing up near Naples. While our dough rested under a damp cloth, we moved over to the gelato station. The vanilla scent hit me first — sweet but not heavy — and we whisked cream and sugar until my arm started to ache a bit. My favorite part: tasting the base before it even went into the machine. It tasted like summer somehow.

When it came time to build our pizzas, I piled on too much cheese (no regrets). Sliding them into that wood-fired oven felt kind of ceremonial — everyone hovered around waiting for their turn, glasses refilled with more red wine. Lunch was noisy and relaxed; people swapped slices and compared crusts. Someone asked Marco if you could ever put pineapple on pizza here and he just shook his head slowly with mock horror. I still think about that first bite — crisp edge, chewy middle, sauce just tangy enough.

I left with flour on my shoes and a certificate tucked into my bag (I almost forgot it on the counter). Walking back out into Florence’s streets after all that warmth felt strange — like you’d been let in on something local for an afternoon, even if you didn’t get every word right.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Pizza and gelato cooking class

• Meet in central Florence
• Learn to knead pizza dough
• Prepare authentic Italian gelato
• Cook your pizza in oven
• Taste your pizza and gelato
• Enjoy unlimited Chianti wine

Top questions

How long does the Florence pizza & gelato class last?

The class lasts about three hours from start to finish.

Is unlimited wine included during the cooking class?

Yes, unlimited Chianti red wine is served throughout the workshop.

Where is the cooking class held in Florence?

The class takes place in a local pizzeria in central Florence.

Do I get to eat what I make during the class?

Yes, you’ll enjoy both your handmade pizza and gelato for lunch or dinner.

Are kids allowed in the pizza & gelato workshop?

Yes, children are welcome; soft drinks are available for them instead of wine.

Is there an English-speaking chef leading the class?

An English-speaking professional chef guides the entire experience.

Are vegetarian options available for pizza toppings?

You can choose your own ingredients from a selection provided during class.

Is pickup included for this cooking class?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet directly at the pizzeria in central Florence.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes all ingredients for making both pizza and gelato from scratch, use of aprons and utensils in an exclusive pizzeria setting right in Florence’s heart, guidance from an English-speaking chef throughout each step of the hands-on workshop, unlimited Chianti wine or soft drinks for kids during your meal together at the end (where you eat what you cooked), plus water throughout—and you’ll leave with a graduation certificate as a keepsake.