Orecchiette Cooking Class in Martina Franca: Make Pasta by Hand

Hand-shape orecchiette the way locals do, then sit down to eat it

An orecchiette cooking class in a Martina Franca home where you mix dough, shape each pasta piece by hand, and cook the finished dish with a local guide. The class runs three hours and includes wine, a focaccia and capocollo appetizer, Italian coffee and homemade crostata. Your guide speaks English or Italian. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

The experience

You'll arrive at a home in Martina Franca and work through the whole process of making orecchiette: the small, ear-shaped pasta that defines Apulian cooking. Your host walks you through mixing the dough, then shows you how to shape each piece by hand, the way it's been done in Puglia for generations. Once the pasta is ready, you cook it together and move straight to the table.

The meal starts with focaccia and Capocollo di Martina Franca, a cured meat from the region, paired with a glass of local wine. You eat the orecchiette you just made, then finish with rich Italian coffee and a homemade crostata: a jam tart baked in the house. The whole thing takes three hours and happens in someone's actual kitchen and dining room, not a restaurant or a studio. Your guide is a local home cook from Cesarine, Italy's network of passionate cooks who host these classes in their own homes.

You can choose a morning or afternoon departure depending on what fits the rest of your day. The class is taught in English or Italian. Public transportation options run near the venue if you need them.

What’s included

• All ingredients and tools for orecchiette making.
• guidance from a passionate local home cook in English or Italian.
• focaccia and Capocollo di Martina Franca appetizer.
• local wine.
• Italian coffee and homemade crostata dessert.

Options for this experience

2 options

Morning ClassGuide in English or Italian · 10:00

Afternoon ClassGuide in English or Italian · 17:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 10:00 and 17:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish and Italian

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 today

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?The three-hour format gives you time to learn the whole process without rushing, then sit down and eat the pasta you've made in the same afternoon or morning. Something a restaurant meal or a shorter demo can't offer. Choose the morning class if you want the rest of your day free afterward, or the afternoon class if you're building the day around other stops in Martina Franca.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly do I learn to make in this class?

Orecchiette, the signature pasta of Puglia. You mix the dough from scratch and shape each small ear-shaped piece by hand, learning the traditional technique your guide uses at home.

Do I get to eat what I cook?

Yes. After you finish shaping the pasta, you cook it together and sit down to eat it right away, along with focaccia, capocollo, wine, coffee and homemade crostata.

How long does the whole class take?

Three hours from start to finish, including the cooking, the meal and the coffee and dessert at the end.

What's included in the price?

All ingredients and tools for making orecchiette; the focaccia and capocollo appetizer; local wine; Italian coffee and homemade crostata dessert; and step-by-step guidance from your local host.

Can I choose what time the class starts?

Yes, you can book either the morning class or the afternoon class depending on what works for your schedule.