Pasta Making Class in Parma, Italy | Authentic Cooking Experience – Pasta Special
🌍Classes in Italian & English
⭐5.0 · 80+ reviews
👥Max 10 guests · Small groups
📍Calestano, Parma · Italy
🚗40 min from Parma · 1h from Bologna
Pasta Special – Authentic pasta making class in Parma, Italy. Virginia teaching fresh tagliatelle in Calestano.
Pasta Making Class · Calestano, Parma · Italy

Cook, taste, share. Like family.

I founded Pasta Special in 2022 to share the real experience of handmade pasta in the hills of Parma — 40 minutes from the city. Every day I welcome people from around the world, and every class is different.

Book your pasta class Private groups & special occasions →
+800Guests per year
2022Founded
40'From Parma city
3International pop-ups
Our cooking classes
Choose your experience.
Fresh pasta making class in Parma Italy – tagliatelle and ravioli by hand Most popular
Fresh Pasta in the Food Valley
Pasta fresca nel cuore della Food Valley

Make tagliatelle & ravioli from scratch with organic local ingredients. Farm-to-table lunch or dinner included.

€75 /person Book now
Pasta and black truffle class Parma Italy – premium cooking experience Seasonal
Fresh Pasta & Black Truffle
Pasta fresca e Tartufo nero

A premium experience with fresh black truffle from the Parma hills. For those who want something truly special.

€129 /person Book now
Gyoza making class in Parma Italy with master Mitsu – Japanese cooking experience With Mitsu
Gyoza Experience with Mitsu
Gyoza Experience con Mitsu

Handmade Japanese gyoza in Parma. Travel to Japan without leaving Italy — with master Mitsu.

€85 /person Book now
Virginia – founder of Pasta Special cooking class in Parma, Italy
Pasta Special
since 2022 · Calestano, Parma
About Virginia
Hi, I'm Virginia 🙃 Pasta is about sharing.

I grew up in Parma — the capital of Italian gastronomy — where cooking means being together. I founded Pasta Special to offer an authentic experience, far from tourist formats.

Here, you don't just watch: you knead, you laugh, you cook together — just like a real Italian home kitchen. I guide you step by step through the art of handmade pasta, sharing traditional techniques and practical tips passed down through generations.

Meet Virginia
Panoramic terrace overlooking Val Baganza valley – Pasta Special Calestano Parma Italy
The location
The most beautiful terrace in the Val Baganza.

After the pasta class, this is where we sit. On my terrace with a panoramic view over the Val Baganza hills in Calestano. The landscape is the Parma Apennines: rolling hills, forests and silence.

🌿

Panoramic view over the Val Baganza

Parma Apennine hills, vineyards and forests. A postcard you experience, not just look at.

🍷

Lunch or dinner with what you've made

Local appetisers, the pasta you made, wine from the Parma hills. Time slows down here.

🔇

Nothing but peace, nature and silence

40 minutes from Parma. Another world entirely.

My philosophy
You're not a tourist here. You're my guest.

40 minutes from Parma, the world slows down.

No crowds, no rush, no tourist traps. Just the Val Baganza hills, the silence of the Apennines and a kitchen that smells of flour. One of those corners of Italy that doesn't make noise — and that stays with you long after you leave.

— Virginia 🌾
Pasta Special around the world
Italian pasta beyond borders.
2024
Brooklyn, New York
Where Italian pasta slowed down New York.

In 2024 I brought Pasta Special to Brooklyn — the same pasta I make in Calestano, unchanged. New York responded with curiosity, attention and genuine participation.

2025
Dubai, UAE
Beyond Brooklyn. Dubai.

In 2025 Pasta Special arrived in Dubai, hosted by an Italian pasta restaurant. Same method, same pasta — applied in a high-expectation international context.

2026
Coming soon · April 2026
Los Angeles, USA
The next chapter. Los Angeles.

In April 2026 I'll be in Los Angeles, guest of an Italian pasta restaurant. Same pasta, same care, a new city. The journey continues.

FAQ
Got questions? I've got answers.
Do I need cooking experience to join? +
Not at all. Classes are open to everyone — complete beginners are very welcome. Virginia guides every guest step by step. All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to get your hands floury.
How many people are in each class? +
Groups are kept small by design: minimum 2, maximum 10 guests. This keeps the atmosphere warm and personal — more like cooking at a friend's house than attending a formal class.
Is the class held in English? +
Yes. All classes are held in both Italian and English. Virginia is fluent in English and has welcomed guests from the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan and many other countries.
Is lunch or dinner included? +
Yes. After the class, everyone sits down together to eat what they've made — fresh pasta with traditional sauces, local appetisers, Parma wine and homemade tiramisù. Morning slot (11–14) is lunch; afternoon slot (17–20) is dinner.
How far is Pasta Special from Parma, Bologna and Milan? +
Pasta Special is in Calestano, 40 minutes by car from Parma, approximately 1 hour from Bologna and 1h30 from Milan. Parma is served by high-speed trains from Milan (1h), Florence (1h10) and Rome (2h30). We also offer a shuttle service from Parma train station (+€30/person, return).
Can I book a private class for my group? +
Yes. Pasta Special offers private experiences for bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate team building and any special occasion. The entire kitchen and terrace are reserved exclusively for your group — no other guests, no strangers.
Ready to get your hands floury?

Choose your date, book your spot and come to Calestano.
We'll take care of the rest — together.

Book your class

Every day · 11:00–14:00 or 17:00–20:00 · Calestano, Parma · Italy