Genoa: Pasta & Pesto Cooking Class with Terrace Lunch

Summary

Make trofie or corzetti pasta from scratch and crush pesto by hand in a Genoese palace before lunching on the terrace

You’ll knead fresh pasta dough inside a historic Genoese palace, learn to make traditional pesto by hand with a local guide, then relax over lunch on a sunlit terrace with wine. Expect honest flavors, hands-on moments, and glimpses of daily life in Genoa that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell — not just basil (though there was plenty of that), but something green and sharp, almost like the sea had snuck into the kitchen. We were inside this old Genoese palace, all faded tiles and high ceilings. Our guide, Marta, handed me a wooden board and said, “You’ll get flour everywhere, it’s normal.” She was right — my hands were soon covered in dough and I kept glancing at everyone else’s shapes to see if mine looked remotely like trofie. Spoiler: not really.

I’d never made pesto with a mortar before. It’s louder than you think — the sound of pine nuts cracking is kind of satisfying. Marta showed us how to move the pestle in circles (“not too fast!”) and told stories about her grandmother making this same sauce every Sunday. I tried to say “testaroli” properly but she laughed and corrected me (twice). The windows were open so you could hear scooters zipping past outside, and every now and then someone would wave up from the square below.

Lunch happened out on this little terrace overlooking Piazza. Sunlight bounced off the stone balustrade, wine glasses clinked, and honestly — eating pasta you made yourself (even if it’s lumpy) hits different. The pesto was grassy and rich; I’m still thinking about it days later. If you’re after a day trip in Genoa that feels real — with flour under your nails and laughter in the air — this cooking class is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Genoese cooking lesson and lunch

• Learn about local ingredients
• Prepare fresh pasta dough
• Shape the fresh pasta
• Make pesto with traditional tools
• Enjoy lunch on terrace

Top questions

What dishes do we cook in the Genoa pasta & pesto class?

You’ll make fresh pasta like trofie or corzetti with traditional pesto sauce using local ingredients.

Is lunch included in the cooking class?

Yes, after cooking you’ll enjoy lunch on a terrace overlooking the square—eating what you prepared together.

Where does the cooking lesson take place?

The class is held inside a beautiful historic palace in central Genoa.

Are drinks provided during the class?

Bottled water and local wine are included with your meal.

Can children or infants join this activity?

Yes, infants and small children can join—the location is stroller-friendly.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transport options close to the meeting point.

What’s included

Your day includes all ingredients for making fresh pasta (trofie or corzetti) and traditional pesto by hand inside an historic palace, bottled water to keep you refreshed while cooking, local wine poured at lunch, plus time to relax on a terrace as you eat what you’ve made together before heading out into Genoa again.