Matera Pasta Class in Ancient Wine Cellar: Make Strascinate

Roll pasta by hand in a stone cave and eat what you made

A 3-hour hands-on pasta class in Matera's Sassi caves where you learn to make Strascinate al tegamino, a traditional farmer's dish, from a live English-speaking chef. You knead dough, shape the pasta and cook it in the cave's ancient stone setting, then sit down to eat bruschetta, your finished pasta and local olive oil tasting as part of the experience.

The experience

You arrive at a working wine cellar carved into the Sassi, the ancient stone neighborhood that rises from Matera's ravine. The chef walks you through making Strascinate al tegamino (the ear-shaped pasta local farmers have been perfecting for generations) starting with kneading the dough and moving into the hand-shaping that gives the pasta its distinctive form. The cave's stone walls stay cool around you as you work, and the ingredients are sourced locally.

This is a working lunch, not a demonstration. You handle the dough, learn the shaping technique, and cook what you've made. The class runs three hours, which gives you time to move through each step without rushing and to sit down afterward in the same cave to eat. Bruschetta comes first, then your pasta dish, finished with a tasting of local extra virgin olive oil. Soft drinks are included.

The experience is built around a small group (you're learning alongside others, not alone with the chef), and the guide speaks English throughout. If you have celiac disease, the operator notes this class may not suit your needs.

What’s included

• Three hours of hands-on instruction from a live English-speaking chef.
• all ingredients and equipment for making Strascinate al tegamino.
• bruschetta.
• your finished pasta dish cooked in the cave.
• local extra virgin olive oil tasting.
• soft drinks.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday and SaturdayDeparts at 11:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Child (under 5): free

GroupUp to 6

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Omega13

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself, not watch it done, so this suits anyone who wants to learn by doing rather than observe. Small-group format means you're working alongside others in the same cave, which works well if you enjoy shared learning. If you prefer one-on-one instruction, ask the operator about private options at checkout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 5): free.

What exactly is Strascinate al tegamino?

Strascinate al tegamino is a traditional pasta shaped by hand to resemble small ears, a dish that farmers in the Matera region have made for generations. You'll learn the authentic hand-shaping technique during the class and cook it in the cave before eating it as part of your lunch.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No prior experience is required. The chef teaches the techniques from the beginning, walking you through kneading the dough and shaping each piece of pasta. The class is designed for anyone who wants to learn, whether you've made pasta before or never have.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs three hours total. That time covers learning the pasta-making process, cooking what you've made, and sitting down to eat your finished dish along with bruschetta and olive oil tasting in the cave.

Is this class held in an actual wine cellar?

Yes, the class takes place inside a working wine cellar carved into the Sassi caves. The ancient stone walls and the cave setting are part of the experience, and you'll eat your lunch in the same space where you cooked.

What's included in the meal at the end?

Lunch includes bruschetta, the Strascinate al tegamino pasta you made during the class, and a tasting of local extra virgin olive oil. Soft drinks are also provided.

Is the guide in English?

Yes, the live guide speaks English throughout the entire class, so you'll understand each step of the pasta-making process and the stories behind the dish.