Cooking class: learn how to cook traditional & innovative Italian recipes from a local Cesarina
Shared Experience
Your experience
We will stroll through the villa's vegetable garden, among olive and fruit trees, to immerse ourselves in nature before entering the kitchen. Together we will prepare zucchini alla scapece, a fresh and traditional appetizer of Neapolitan cuisine. We will continue with fresh pasta for gnocchi, which we will dress with crispy eggplant, artisanal provola cheese from a local dairy and fragrant basil. We will close with a typical Roman dessert: ciambelline, following an ancient recipe with a secret ingredient. Each guest will have everything they need to participate in the lesson with Francesca, our Cesarina of the heart.
We had such a memorable visit with you and your team. You are a charming and lovely host. Your home is beautiful and your culinary skills are amazing. Grazie mille once again,
Gayle & John
John -
We had a wonderful time at Francesca’s villa! To be honest, my husband spents more time enjoying the wine than actually focusing on the cooking recipe, but we had an absolute blast anyway. Francesca was a fantastic and incredibly patient host. Beautiful place, great food, and a very fun atmosphere!
Susan -
Wonderful evening! Youssef was so happy and had the best time ever. A special thank you to Gabriele for how he managed and made my son laugh, it truly touched our hearts. Golden people. Thank you so much for everything!"
Hassan Al Abbas -
My wife and I chose this cooking class based on the wonderful reviews we found, and it completely exceeded our expectations. In a peaceful villa just outside Civitavecchia, Francesca and her team welcomed us with genuine warmth. We began with a lovely aperitivo on the beautiful patio, a place that already feels special and full of charm. Francesca told us they are planning to add a pool in the future, which will make this little corner of paradise even more extraordinary. We then moved into her incredible kitchen, with its beautiful marble floors that immediately caught our attention. With Francesca’s clear guidance and passion, we prepared every dish from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. The entire experience was fun, authentic, and filled with wonderful stories, cooking tips, and laughter. We ended the day sitting together, enjoying the meal we had created, paired with delicious wines and great conversation. A truly unforgettable Italian experience. We cannot recommend Francesca’s cooking class enough.
Bob -
We’ve traveled extensively and have taken more cooking classes than we can count, but this experience stands in a category of its own. Francesca’s home is the kind of place you can’t create on purpose. It simply exists. Elegant, authentic, and surrounded by a beauty that no photograph could ever fully capture. The food was exceptional, but what we’ll remember most isn’t what was served on the table. It’s how we were welcomed. For a few hours, we didn’t feel like guests who had booked an experience. We felt like friends who had been invited into someone’s home. One small detail has stayed with me ever since. My favorite flowers, turmeric flowers, were on the table. How could they possibly have known? I’m sure it was just a coincidence, but somehow it perfectly reflected the thoughtfulness that seemed to be woven into every part of the day. Lunch was served beside the vegetable garden, surrounded by herbs, summer scents, and the quiet beauty of the countryside with generosity, and sharing a table with people who genuinely love what they do.
Cesarina from 2024Location: Civitavecchia (RM) Languages: Italian, English, Spanish, French
Hi, I'm Francesca! Originally from Naples but now living in Rome, I welcome my guests to a villa nestled among olive and fruit trees in the countryside of Civitavecchia. "Those who cook with love nourish more than just the body" – this philosophy guides every dish I prepare. Together, we’ll share the joy of picking vegetables from the garden, while discovering stories and traditions dating back to the early 1900s, offering a unique and authentic experience.