Ostuni Orecchiette & Pizzica Dance Class: Cook & Learn

Pizzica is a dance that tells the story of Puglia, and you learn it the same afternoon you make the pasta.

A three-hour class in Ostuni where you hand-roll orecchiette pasta following Apulian tradition with a local Nonna, then learn the basic steps of pizzica, the region's folk dance, and finish with the pasta you made and a glass of local wine. The guide speaks English or Italian. Children are welcome from age 6.

The experience

You start by learning orecchiette from someone who has made it for decades. A Nonna walks you through the hand-rolling technique that defines this pasta shape (the name means "little ears" in Italian), and you work with the same tools and apron she uses. The first part of the class is about the motion and the feel of the dough, not a lecture. By the end of it, you have made enough to eat.

After the cooking, the energy shifts. A guide teaches you the basic steps and rhythm of pizzica, the traditional dance of Salento. This is not a performance you watch. You learn the footwork and the body movement that go with the music. Pizzica tells stories of joy, courtship and celebration. The guide explains what the movements mean as you practice them. The music itself is part of the instruction: once it starts, the rhythm makes the steps clearer.

The class ends with the orecchiette you rolled, dressed with tomato sauce and served with a glass of local wine. You eat what you made, in the same place where you learned it.

What’s included

• Orecchiette pasta made by hand.
• apron and pasta-making tools.
• the fresh orecchiette you prepare, served with tomato sauce.
• one glass of local wine.
• pizzica dance instruction with a guide who teaches the basic steps and rhythm of this Apulian folk tradition.

Options for this experience

2 options

Combo package: Orecchiette cooking class in Ostuni plus Pizzica dance classGuide in English or Italian · Available from 15 Mar 2027

Option to add a complete Apulian dinnerGuide in English or Italian · Available from 15 Mar 2027The Apulian dinner comes with frise, fresh local cheeses, panzerotti, and three glasses of local wine

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 timesNext departure: 15 Mar 2027

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Not recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Senti La Puglia

Is this one for you?The three-hour length fits a morning or afternoon slot without eating into the rest of your day in Ostuni. If you want to extend the meal into a full dinner, that option is available at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the whole class take?

The class runs three hours total: the orecchiette-making portion, then the pizzica dance instruction, then the meal at the end.

What exactly do I learn to make in the cooking part?

Orecchiette pasta, the hand-rolled kind traditional to Apulia. You work with the same tools and technique a local Nonna uses, and you make enough to eat at the end of the class.

Do I need to know how to dance to join the pizzica class?

No. The guide teaches the basic steps and rhythm from the beginning. Pizzica is a folk dance meant to be joyful and social, not technical, and the class is built for people with no dance experience.

What's included in the price?

The apron and pasta-making tools; the orecchiette you make, served with tomato sauce; one glass of local wine; and the pizzica dance instruction.

Can I add a full dinner to this class?

Yes. You can book the class alone or add a full Apulian dinner, which extends the meal beyond the pasta and wine.