Italy | July 15th, 2025 — While Italy welcomes millions of visitors every summer, a growing number of travelers are looking for something deeper — a chance to truly connect with local culture, far from the tourist trails. This is where Cesarine, Italy’s oldest network of home cooks, steps in with a selection of intimate culinary experiences in two of the country’s most breathtaking regions: Liguria and Lombardy.
Cesarine’s experiences are not only authentic and deeply local, but also crowd-free — ideal for those looking to escape the hustle of traditional tourism. Each class is held in a private home or unique heritage location, curated for cultural immersion, genuine hospitality, and gastronomic storytelling.
Liguria: The Hidden Tastes of the Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera
In the iconic yet often overcrowded Cinque Terre, guests can unlock the true soul of the region with Barbara in Riomaggiore. Nestled on cliffside terraces with panoramic sea views, Barbara invites you into her home for a 3-recipe cooking class where you’ll prepare traditional Gnocchi, local meatballs (“Tomaxelle”), and Tiramisù infused with Sciacchetrà wine. It’s a multisensory immersion that combines storytelling, food, and scenery — all in one unforgettable moment. Watch the video of Barbara’s stunning location in Riomaggiore, overlooking the sea.
In nearby Manarola, sommelier and pesto expert Ivonne offers a tasting journey through the local wines and vineyards, including a walk through cliffside plots and a sweet finish with cheeses and Sciacchetrà. Her pesto-making ritual with mortar and pestle is both meditative and mouthwatering.
📍 Experience it here
In Genoa, step back in time with Tiziana at the historic Villa Serra di Comago, where you’ll learn to make fresh Ligurian pesto in an 18th-century kitchen or beneath the trees of an English-style garden estate.
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End your Riviera journey with a refined aperitivo overlooking Portofino at the magnificent Villa San Giacomo in Santa Margherita Ligure, where you’ll savor local wines, focaccia, and pesto in an exclusive seaside villa with frescoed halls and Italian gardens.
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Lake Como: Authentic Flavors with a View
Cesarine also invites travelers north to Lake Como, where Monica, a writer and food activist, hosts guests in her elegant home just steps from the water. Her cooking class — focused on fresh ravioli with local herbs and cheeses — is paired with lively conversation and stories of local artists, anti-waste cooking, and the region’s culinary legacy.
📍 Discover her class
In Bellano, on the eastern shore of the lake, Patrizia — a painter and gardener — shares recipes passed down through generations, from buckwheat pizzoccheri to crispy sciatt. Her lakeside garden kitchen and wood-fired stove offer a timeless escape where guests dine outdoors under the stars.
📍 Experience Bellano
Travelers can book these experiences now at www.cesarine.com.
For more information, visit cesarine.com watch the video and follow @cesarine__ on Instagram.
