Lake Trasimeno Cooking Class: Fresh Pasta in Olive Mill

Roll pasta by hand, then sit down to eat what you made

A cooking class in an ancient olive mill by Lake Trasimeno, near Perugia in Umbria, where you make handmade ravioli, fresh pasta and traditional Umbrian appetizers with a live English-speaking guide, then share the meal you've prepared. The class runs three hours and includes all ingredients, water, coffee or tea, and a tasting of the mill's own olive oil. Lunch or dinner depends on your start time.

The experience

The mill sits in Monte del Lago, a quiet corner by the lake where Francesco Borsari, a 25-year-old chef who learned to cook from his father, teaches the way his family has cooked for generations. You'll work with local, organic ingredients: rolling out ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach, shaping fresh pasta by hand, and building the sauces that go with them. The mill itself is part of the lesson: after you cook, Francesco walks you through how the olives are pressed and what makes the oil from this place different, then you taste it alongside the food you've made.

The meal comes at the end of the class: the appetizer of Pecorino cheese with jam and honey, cured meats, and tomato bruschette; the ravioli with sage butter and Parmesan; handmade cantucci biscuits with Vinsanto wine for dessert. Everything you prepared is on the table. Water, coffee and tea are included. Wine comes with the meal depending on whether you're there for lunch or dinner.

What’s included

• All ingredients and equipment to prepare the food.
• bottled water.
• coffee and tea.
• lunch or dinner depending on your start time.
• a guided tasting of the mill's fresh-pressed olive oil and a tour of the pressing process.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 18:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (13 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (9 to 12 years) · Child (6 to 8 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Francesco

Is this one for you?The class runs three hours of hands-on cooking in the kitchen, so you'll be on your feet and working with your hands the whole time. If you want to learn by doing rather than watching a demonstration, and you're comfortable spending a morning or afternoon in an active kitchen, this suits you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 12 years); Child (6 to 8 years); Infant (under 6).

What do I actually make during the three hours?

You make handmade ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach, fresh pasta, and an Umbrian appetizer of bruschette with tomatoes and oil. Francesco guides you through each step, and everything you prepare becomes the meal you eat at the end of the class.

Is the olive oil tasting separate from the cooking, or part of the same class?

The tasting happens after you cook. Francesco shows you around the ancient mill, explains the pressing process and the history of the place, then you taste the mill's own olive oils while you eat the meal you've made.

What time of day does the class run, and does that change what meal I eat?

The class lasts three hours. If you start in the morning, you'll have lunch at the end. If you start in the afternoon, dinner. Francesco's schedule is flexible, so you choose the start time that fits your day.

Is transportation to the mill included, or do I need to arrange my own way there?

Transportation is not included in the class price. The mill is in Monte del Lago by Lake Trasimeno, and public transportation options are available nearby. You'll arrange your own way to the location.

Can I do this class if I have mobility concerns or use a wheelchair?

The mill is wheelchair accessible, and the space is set up to accommodate people with different mobility needs. If you have specific questions about access to the kitchen or the areas where you'll be working, reach out before booking.