Pesto Making Class in La Spezia: Learn from a Local Chef

Make pesto by hand and eat what you've made

This hands-on pesto-making class in La Spezia teaches you to prepare authentic Ligurian pesto from scratch under the guidance of a local Italian chef. You'll learn the traditional techniques, then sit down to taste your pesto with trofie pasta and a traditional Italian dessert, plus a glass of regional wine. The class runs about two and a half hours and is taught in English or Italian.

The experience

You start by learning the fundamentals of Ligurian pesto directly from a skilled Italian chef who walks you through each step of making the sauce by hand. The class is built around doing the work yourself (crushing basil, garlic, pine nuts and cheese together until you reach the right consistency), so you leave knowing exactly how to recreate it at home. This is not a demonstration you watch. It's a technique you practice.

After the pesto is ready, you move to the table for a meal built around what you've just made. A plate of trofie pasta dressed with your pesto comes first, followed by a traditional Italian dessert and a glass of regional wine. The whole experience is hosted by Cesarine, Italy's oldest network of home cooks, so the setting stays intimate and the instruction stays rooted in how Ligurian families actually cook.

What’s included

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

Before you book

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

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

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “This experience will be held in a local's home and for privacy reasons, you will only receive the full address of your host after you have booked.”

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Small groups work best here. You'll be cooking alongside other travelers in an intimate home-kitchen setting, which is where Cesarine's classes happen. If you want to learn a technique hands-on and eat the result immediately, this fits. If you prefer to watch a chef work and then taste, look for a demonstration instead.

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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.

What exactly do I make during the pesto class?

You make authentic Ligurian pesto from scratch, learning to crush basil, garlic, pine nuts and cheese by hand using the traditional method. The class teaches you the technique so you can recreate it at home.

Do I get to eat what I make?

Yes. After the class, you taste your pesto served with trofie pasta, then enjoy a traditional Italian dessert and a glass of regional wine.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs about two and a half hours from start to finish, including both the hands-on cooking and the meal.

Is this class suitable for beginners?

Yes. The class welcomes both beginners and experienced cooks. The chef guides you through every step, so no prior cooking knowledge is needed.