Matera: Sassi Farmer's Pasta Class in an Ancient Wine Cellar

I highly recommend booking this if you’re in Matera, it was the highlight of our trip. We had such a lovely time, full of laughter and very tasty food. Lorenzo and Cosimo were the best. When we arrived, they gave us a tour of the cave and taught us a bit about the history of Matera and the rejuvenation of the cave we were in. We felt like we got way more out of the experience than anticipated, you could see their genuine passion and love for Matera and it’s history. After that, they taught us how to make a typical tomato sauce and pasta of the southern region of Italy/Matera area (without eggs and garlic). Their knowledge and passion was inspiring and really lovely to experience, they take a lot of pride in their culture, it was a pleasure to learn all about it. Outside of the cooking experience itself, more so on a personal level, we are so grateful to have met such a lovely duo in Lorenzo and Cosimo. They have undoubtedly left a strong impression on us and our experience in Matera.

Fantastic experience. Cossimo and Lorenzo were fantastic and very informative. The pasta was wonderful and learned much about the history of Matera from their personal experiences with their families. I would absolutely recommend this experience.

This was an amazing experience of local culture. If you want to absorb Matera culture, book this! You'll never forget it.

Hands-on cooking class with wine. Set in a cave fantastic experience chef and owner had so many wonderful family stories. Highly recommend.

Lorenzo and Cosimo were great! First there was a tour of their cave and a bit of history on how they had rejuvenated the cave to its present condition. After that they gave us a great presentation on the making of pasta with water and typical tomato sauce of the Matera area. We enjoyed the class with a couple from Germany and Netherlands. It was great fun and Kate and I would recommend it to everyone. Thanks Lorenzo and Cosimo!

Lorenzo and Cossimo (?) apologies for spelling their name wrongs. They were amazing. Enthusiast, sincere in their for food and Matera and what makes Matera so special. Engaging and funny. Not to mention the food was delicious. We went with our 12 year old and she also enjoyed it

A really authentic experience led by two people from Matera who want to keep the traditions of their area alive. We learned a lot and the food was, of course, delicious.

We had originally planned to stay four nights in Matera, but after two days we felt like we’d seen it all and wanted to move on. The only reason we stayed a third night was because we had already booked this cooking class — and we couldn’t cancel it last-minute. So we told ourselves: Let’s just go, do the class, and then leave straight after. And thank God we did. Because this turned out to be the best experience of our entire stay in Matera — no exaggeration. Lorenzo and Cosimo, our hosts, were incredibly kind, warm, funny, and welcoming. We had no idea a three-hour cooking class could be this engaging, meaningful, and entertaining. We laughed, we learned, and we left with full hearts (and full bellies). What makes this cooking class so special is that both Lorenzo and Cosimo are grandchildren of original Sassi residents. They shared personal stories passed down from their grandmothers about what life was like growing up in the caves. It wasn’t just about food — it was about culture, resilience, and survival. Their storytelling brought the history of the Sassi to life in a way no museum ever could. They showed us how people in the Sassi used to cook with extremely limited ingredients, and how their creativity helped them survive in such tough conditions. You learn not just how to make delicious traditional dishes, but why those dishes existed in the first place. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the culture, the resourcefulness, and the soul of Matera. We had seen many other cooking classes advertised — some out in the countryside — but we are so glad we chose this one, inside the Sassi itself. If you’ve come to Matera for the Sassi, this class is essential. It connects everything: food, history, people, and place. This class didn’t just complete our trip — it made it. If I could give it a 10+, I would.

What a wonderful experience. Cozumel and Lorenzo were amazing hosts who not only taught us about the wonderful culture of food in Southern Italy, but also talked about the culture of their village and the history of the cave they had their business. We shared many conversations and many laughs. This is an experience not to be missed!!!

It was an amazing experience. We learnt so much and truly made some new friends. I'd highly recommend for anyone that wants to learn more about Matera and Italian food in general.

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