Discover the Flavors of Puglia on an Immersive Cooking Vacation
8 Days, 7 Nights of Authentic Cooking and Culture in Southern Italy
New Dates! Nov 9th to Nov 16th, 2025
8 Days
7 Nights
Small
Group
Immersive
Experiences
Join us in Salento, Puglia for an immersive cooking vacation where you’ll connect with locals in a slower, more meaningful way. Experience the joy of authentic flavors, the warmth of community, and a deep connection to Pugliese culture and traditions.
From: $3,990 USD
Dates: November 9th to November 16th, 2025
Location: Salento, Puglia
Authentic flavors
Deep connections
Max group: 10
Solo traveler friendly
What Awaits You in Puglia
Spend 8-day/7 nights in a cozy historic Masseria and learn to cook traditional recipes
In 4 dedicated hands-on and immersive cooking classes, you’ll transform seasonal ingredients into authentic homemade Pugliese flavors working alongside a local chef
In a dedicated pasta workshop, you’ll work side by side with an Italian nonna and master three iconic local pastas from shaping Orecchiette to rolling Minchiareddhi.
Leave with traditional Pugliese recipes and the skills to recreate them at home
Endless local Pugliese wines will accompany all meals
Enjoy exclusive excursions to local producers (farmers markets, wineries, olive oil, cheese making, farm visits, and Unesco towns and nearby beaches)
When you’re not cooking, unwind in the underground jacuzzi or on the picturesque terraces of the restored Masseria
For a more active break, hop on a complimentary bike and discover the charming surroundings at your leisure
You’ll come as a guest and leave as part of the family
Welcome to Puglia
Dubbed the ”garden of Italy,” where fertile soils and a warm climate create the perfect environment for growing vegetables and wheat.
Our home base for this immersive cooking vacation is a historic, family-owned urban masseria, a former palace of the marquis of the town.
Here, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore Italy’s granary, where over 360 types of wheat are cultivated.
Using only Km 0 products, you’ll learn to make fresh, handmade pasta like Orecchiette (“little ears”) and Lecce’s cream-filled pasticciotto, which is as delightful as the Baroque city itself.
Olive oil, the lifeblood of the region, comes from trees as old as 3,000 years, still flourishing along ancient Roman roads.
The Roman motto “Ubi panis, ibi patria” – “where there is bread, there is homeland” – reflects the region’s rich production of wheat, olive oil, and wines.
The pristine waters of the Salento peninsula, stretching gracefully between two seas, will captivate you, as will the delicious bounty of the sea creatures.
Join us in this timeless landscape and immerse yourself in the flavors and traditions that make Puglia a true culinary paradise.
Taste Puglia – Day By Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, Tour And Welcome Dinner
Upon arrival, we will pick you up at the airport and take you to our historic Masseria where you can settle in and relax.
We’ll take a tour of our beautifully restored residence, once the second home to the town’s marquis, now blending historic charm with modern comforts.
Later, we’ll enjoy a delicious welcome meal made with fresh products from the region, accompanied by local wines.
Day 2: First Cooking Class Pasta Workshop And Olive Oil Tasting
After a breakfast of homemade jams, seasonal fruits, and traditional Salentino sweets and savory treats, we’ll take a tour of our little village and learn its history.
After a quick lunch in the countryside under a Carob tree, we’ll have our first immersive cooking class. This is a pasta workshop where we’ll master the techniques of making three traditional Salentino pasta shapes from our Italian nonna with over 50+ years of culinary experience.
We’ll learn how to make the dough from scratch using local ingredients to create iconic shapes like concave orecchiette, tubular rolled minchiareddhi, and the distinctive sagne.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a guided tasting of Pugliese extra virgin olive oil, learning to identify its quality, flavors, and aromas, paired with local delicacies and rosé wine.
Back at the Masseria, we’ll enjoy a three-course Salentino dinner prepared by our chef using our fresh pasta with three different local sauces.
Day 3: Otranto Tour, Bread Workshop And Second Cooking Class
After breakfast, we’ll explore Otranto, a UNESCO World Heritage Town. After the visit, you will have free time to eat and shop. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the Masseria and learn about the local flour as we prepare traditional breads including sweet and savory iconic Taralli treats.
In our second cooking class, we’ll learn to prepare a traditional Salento sweet, pasticciotto.
Sitting on the rooftop with views overlooking the town, we’ll enjoy our traditional dinner with homemade bread, baked vegetables and legumes, and pasticciotto for dessert.
Day 4: Fish Market Visit, Gallipoli Beach Time And Scenic Boat Trip
Today, we will visit Gallipoli, one of the most significant cities in southern Italy, renowned for its strategic location and large port on the stunning Ionian Sea.
We’ll start by visiting the vibrant fish market to learn about the rich fishing traditions, explore the daily catch, and see how fresh seafood plays a central role in Pugliese cuisine.
After free time to relax or swim on Gallipoli’s pristine sandy beaches with calm, crystal-clear waters, we’ll take a scenic boat trip. While admiring breathtaking views, we’ll enjoy a light aperitivo before returning to the Masseria for a delightful fish and seafood dinner prepared by our chef.
Day 5: Third Cooking Class Cheese Workshop, Wine Tasting And Pizzica Show
Today’s cooking class is a sensory adventure in the beautiful world of authentic Pugliese cheeses. Using fresh cow milk, we’ll make three different cheeses, including ricotta and mozzarella. During lunch, we’ll savor a delightful spread of our homemade cheeses paired with honey, jam, and a delicious pasta dish featuring our freshly made ricotta.
Later, we’ll visit a typical Pugliese winery for a tour and tasting of a variety of local wines.
The day ends with a delicious dinner prepared by our chef, accompanied by a lively pizzica show, a traditional dance of Salento.
Day 6: Guided Visit to Lecce UNESCO Town And Traditional Italian Pizza Dinner
Today is a leisurely day dedicated to visiting one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Lecce.
Locals call it the“Florence of the South” because of its stunning Baroque architecture. Our professional guide will show us the most beautiful corners of the city, highlighting its rich history and culture. After the tour, enjoy free time to wander, shop, or simply soak in Lecce’s charm at your own pace.
We’ll end the day at a traditional pizzeria for authentic Italian pizza in a cozy setting near our Masseria.
Day 7: Farmers Market Visit And Fourth Cooking Class
The menu for our last cooking class will be inspired by the freshest seasonal ingredients available at the local farmers market. Together with our chef, we’ll walk to the nearby market to pick up fresh ingredients like zucchini, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes.
Our last cooking class will be a true farm-to-table experience, where we’ll transform the fresh produce into wonderful Salentino dishes.
We’ll enjoy free time in the afternoon before our last celebratory dinner together.
Day 8: End Of The Cooking Vacation And Farewell
We will enjoy our final breakfast together, celebrating our incredible immersive cooking vacation in Puglia. While our time together may be over, we hope the memories and friendships last a lifetime. Rather than say goodbye, we’ll say until next time, or as the Italians say, arrivederci, alla prossima volta!
After breakfast, we will arrange your transportation back to the airport or train station.
Watch Highlights Of Our 2025 Cooking Vacations In Puglia
Pricing
Double occupancy (2 people in 1 room)
$3,990 USD per person
Single occupancy (1 person in 1 room)
$4,290 USD per person
What’s included
7 nights accommodations with copious breakfast and meals included
Endless local wines
4 Cooking Classes and Workshops
2 Market Visits (vegetable and fish markets)
Olive oil tasting and mill visit
Pugliese winery visit and wine tasting
Boat trip along pristine waters and breathtaking coastline
Complimentary bicycles to explore the surroundings
Dinner at a traditional pizza restaurant
Visits of the main towns (Otranto, Gallipoli, Lecce)
Pizzica show
Daily guides and experts from the region
Airport/train transfer
What’s not included
Transportation to and from Italy
Optional activities not included in this trip itinerary
Meals during your free time
Souvenirs
Travel Insurance
Past Trips Photo Gallery
Guest Testimonials
My husband and I have dreamed of a cooking & wine experience in Italy for a few years. We chose Authentic Food Quest with great anticipation. What a delightful week!! Every detail was handled to perfection. We absorbed the culture into every pore of our bodies. The 16th century massaria we stayed in was comfortable and authentic. The family that hosted us was knowledgeable, hospitable, and fun. A fabulous experience that I up highly recommend. – Diane, Puglia 2025
I’ll admit—cooking isn’t really my thing. I joined the trip because close friends were going and I’ve always wanted to visit Puglia. And I’m so glad I did. The experience was truly wonderful. Claire and Rosemary were exceptional hosts, and the warmth of the local family made the week feel incredibly special. It wasn’t just a vacation. It was a heartfelt experience I’ll always remember. – John, Puglia 2024
I did not have many expectations, as I had not done this type of touring before, although I’ve done many small group tours. Mostly I liked that we were in a not overly touristic place, it felt like being on vacation, with no worries—EVERYTHING was taken care of. Transportation, tips, meals, all arranged and done seamlessly. Puglia is very different from the rest of Italy, with its own dialect and customs. – Lydia, Puglia 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Check Our Other Immersive Cooking Vacations
Loire Valley – France
2026 Dates to be Announced
Pricing to The Announced