Pesto Class in Chiavari: Make & Taste Authentic Ligurian Sauce

Two and a half hours making pesto the way Ligurians have for centuries, then eating what you made.

A hands-on pesto cooking class in Chiavari where you prepare authentic Ligurian pesto from scratch under the guidance of a local Italian chef, then taste your work in a plate of trofie with pesto and traditional dessert. The class runs two and a half hours in either the morning or afternoon. A glass of regional wine is included. You'll learn the techniques and proportions that make the sauce work, so you can recreate it at home.

The experience

The class starts with the fundamentals: how basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese and olive oil come together, and why the order and the tools matter. Your chef walks you through each step of making the pesto by hand, showing you the pressure and the motion that release the basil's oils without bruising them. You're not watching a demonstration. You're doing the work yourself, with your hands in the mortar, learning what the sauce feels like when it's right. The whole process takes you through the afternoon or morning session you choose at checkout.

Once the pesto is ready, you sit down to eat. A plate of trofie (the hand-rolled pasta shape Liguria is known for) comes dressed in the pesto you just made, followed by a traditional Italian dessert. A glass of regional wine rounds out the meal. The class is hosted by Cesarine, Italy's oldest network of home cooks, so the setting is intimate and the instruction is rooted in how people actually cook in this region, not in restaurant technique.

Chiavari sits on the Ligurian coast east of Genoa, and public transportation options are nearby if you're arriving without a car. The class is taught in English or Italian, so language isn't a barrier whether you're a beginner or someone who already knows your way around a kitchen.

What’s included

• Hands-on instruction from a local Italian chef.
• all ingredients and equipment for making pesto.
• a plate of trofie with the pesto you made.
• a traditional Italian dessert.
• a glass of regional wine.

Options for this experience

2 options

Morning cooking classGuide in English or Italian · 10:00

Afternoon cooking classGuide in English or Italian · 17:00Dinner

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 17:00

Book up to10h before

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

GroupUp to 12

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 yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Choose the morning class if you want the rest of your day free in Chiavari, or the afternoon session if you prefer to explore the town first. Either way, you leave with the technique to make pesto at home, not just the memory of eating it.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

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

How long does the pesto class actually take?

The class runs two and a half hours from start to finish, including the time you spend making the pesto and then sitting down to eat the trofie and dessert.

What exactly do I make and eat during the class?

You make authentic Ligurian pesto from scratch using basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese and olive oil, then taste it on a plate of trofie pasta, followed by a traditional Italian dessert and a glass of regional wine.

Can I choose between a morning or afternoon class?

Yes. You pick either the morning or afternoon session when you book, so you can fit the class into the rest of your day in Chiavari.

Is this class suitable if I've never cooked before?

Yes. The class is designed for beginners and experienced cooks alike, and the chef guides you through every step, so no prior cooking knowledge is needed.