Unique Florence cooking class in a gorgeous countryside home

My husband and I were on a combined Birthday/Anniversary 2 week trip to Italy, and all I wanted to do was a cooking class. (Husband not so keen, but....it was my Birthday). I found Maria's class through Viator, and it sounded perfect. And it was. We met at a Piazza about a mile from our hotel and drove to a grocery store to get some last minute items. Maria is a retired architect, so, as we drove up into the Tuscany hills, I was really excited to see what she'd done with a 12th century farmhouse that she and her husband initially purchased without electricity or running water. The house was stunning. I cannot put it into words adequately - and, so we were off to an amazing start. Then the cooking - Maria had my husband and I sit at her farmhouse kitchen table as she talked us through making fresh pasta with a white sage sauce, bruschetta, roast beef and tiramisu. The food was incredible her directions impeccable, and I wish I could have stayed the weekend. The next day Maria emailed over all the recipes plus others she thought we'd enjoy. (She also sent us the link for her pasta machine - and we've purchased and are awaiting delivery). This was an event I will never forget - and, if we're ever back in Florence - booking Maria for sure. Thanks Maria, you are the best!!!

Maria was the best! She picked us up and drove to her beauty countryside home where we made fresh pasta and tiramisu. She served us wine and prepared a fabulous dinner. Would highly recommend this tour.

This is the cooking class you want. It is private and personal. Maria Cristina picks you up in the center of Firenze and drives you through the picturesque Tuscan countryside (10-15 min) to her beautiful estate. There, she teaches you how to make several authentic recipes. We made tagliatelle (fettuccine) from scratch with ragù tomato sauce, bruschetta with black cabbage (fall variation of the typical tomato bruschetta), and tiramisu. This was our first time to Italy and this was a highlight of our vacation. You learn how to cook with personalized tips and recommendations for making it yourself when you get home. You also enjoy wonderful company and make a dear friend 🩷

We had an amazing experience with Maria. We started at the largest market in Florence. She then drove us to her 12th century renovated home and taught and shared with us her recipes for ravioli and tiramisu. She was very generous with her time and knowledge. We had a wonderful time with lunch and conversation. We will do it again our next visit!

Words prove ineffective to truly communicate how amazing our time with Maria was! Maria picked us up at the pre-set location and took us to her beautiful home in the Tuscan countryside. Maria was so warm and welcoming. My husband and I learned to cook with Maria with another couple. Maria expertly guided us on how to make pasta (we selected ravioli), and her white sauce for the pasta was nothing short of heavenly, along with a delectable appetizer of black cabbage and tiramisu for dessert! If you want to take a cooking class in Florence, please choose Maria and she will show you how to make the most delicious foods in her kitchen, filled with understanding, humor, proper instruction, wonderful wine, and truly outstanding and delicious food! If we are in Florence again, we will definitely book with Maria! Five stars does not adequately describe how great Maria was! Ciao!

Wow!! Honestly, this could not have been any better! We had a relaxing tour of a local market, and then we were chauffeured to Maria's home. What a fantastic setting! We learned so much about cooking, and we were inspired by Maria's architectural skills and her many furniture refinishing projects. This experience was like spending a lovely day with an old friend. We will never forget it!

We had a wonderful day with Maria--first a market tour with local vendors and then traveled to her lovely home for a morning of cooking and great conversation that concluded with a beautiful lunch on her patio overlooking the amazing countryside and their property. Maria shared personal recipes and great instruction for making pasta--we always learn something new-- a beautiful mushroom sauce and delicious tiramisu. Maria is a fascinating and welcoming host and teacher, highly recommend!

We had a delightful tour of the market before traveling to Maria Cristina’s home to cook a fabulous meal. She shared cooking tips and kitchen tools that we are sure to use. Lunch on her patio was so very amazing!

This private cooking class was fantastic! Christina was incredible from meeting us at the pick up location and bringing us back to our car afterwards. We had beautiful drive through the countryside to arrive at her restored 12th century country home. We prepared a delicious meal of fresh homemade pasta that she taught us how to make. While the pastas dough rested, she and the kitty cat took us on a tour of her gorgeous property. We prepared appetizers, pasta and a lovely dessert. As we set the outdoor table for dinner, a fox came to visit us! As the sun went down we enjoyed all the food we had prepared for dinner. The moon was shining and the entire experience was magical!! I would highly recommend this cooking experience for anyone who wants to do something that feels more like visiting your friend.

When my husband and I were deciding what we want to do on our honeymoon we both agreed we wanted to have an experience to learn from a local. As someone who loves to cook (and eat) this was exactly what we were looking for. Our time with Maria Christina has been the highlight of our honeymoon. First we went to a market in Florence where she was able to teach us about all the different stations, different foods, classic Italian options etc. Then we went to her incredible home and made bruschetta, pasta, arrabiata sauce, fried zucchini flowers and tiramisu. All of these dishes were delicious and she teaches you in ways to highlight how easy it can be to make something so good and authentic. Maria Christina was so welcoming, we learned a lot about Florence history, lifestyle in the countryside and about her. I would recommend this experience to anyone coming to Florence!!

If you are looking for an authentic and personalized cooking/foodie experience in Florence, look no further than this! We met Maria at the market where we gathered our ingredients for the day and then we drove up to her country house (about 20-25 min away). The views from the drive were stunning and her home is so beautiful. She gave us options on what to make - we ended up making bruschetta, melon & prosciutto, ravioli with a lemon ricotta filling, and the most special dessert she learned from her trip to an Italian island. We loved our experience with Maria & couldn’t recommend this enough!

We shared a wonderful day with Maria Christina. She introduced us to the market, gave us options to choose from regarding what we would be preparing, and then brought us to her beautifully restored home where we prepared a delicious meal! Antipasti of San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, salami with fennel and bread. We made fresh pasta with a delicious sauce we had never had before - pepperoni crema (yellow peppers sauted with shallots then puréed and combined with mascarpone cheese). We enjoyed all this with a delicious white wine on her patio overlooking her beautiful view. Last she prepared delicious Sicilian biscuits filled with sweet ricotta and cinnamon. She was a very gracious, interesting, informative host!

Maria Christina created memories with us that we will never forget! From her expertise in the locals market to her historical knowledge to her beautifully restored Tuscan villa, each moment was authentic and so charming. The cooking experience and the meal were both amazing!!! If you want a one of a kind authentic experience you simply cannot miss her class. It was our favorite meal in Italy!!!!!

My wife and I booked this experience and had an excellent time. Christina was welcoming and friendly, and taught us some expert tips for making pasta. The meal was fantastic and fresh - one of the best we’ve had on our time in Italy. We would absolutely recommend!

We have a beautiful day in Maria’s kitchen cooking pasta, tiramisu and some appetizers! Maria picked us up in Florence and showed us around a local market, before driving us to her place in the hills outside the city - its so beautiful! Maria was very warm and welcoming and gave detailed directions on cooking. We had a fantastic lunch of the food we prepared with Maria and her husband.

I highly recommend this unique local Tuscan experience! Cristina was an amazing host and teacher of local Italian cuisine. Her home in Tuscany was spectacular as she brought her professional architectural design talent to the renovated farmhouse overlooking the countryside. She had essential tips, and brought great detail to the instruction in making our delicious dinner of homemade tagliatelle (pasta) with eggplant, olives, capers and tomatoes, bruschetta, and tiramisu. She gave us several options of what we would like to learn and eat! We had wonderful conversation with her and her husband as we learned about their life in Italy over dinner and wine! If you enjoy cooking and having a personalized cultural experience, definitely do this!

What a magical evening! Maria was so informative and sweet. We learned to make ravioli, cordon blue, tiramisu, sauces, roasted veggies, and fried zucchini flower. It was the best meal we’ve had in Italy. Maria should open a restaurant with her recipes. You can tell she makes everything with love and passion. We will bring the kids next time! Lots of love to Maria!

It’s was a wonderful experience ! She was super flexible and chose a menu according to our preferences. She made us really authentic dishes that you wouldn’t find in a standard pizza and pasta cooking class. Highly recommend! On top of the cooking, it was such a pleasure - the conversations we had with her and her husband at the dinner table . Her home is beautiful, she is also an talented artist . We had dinner in a beautiful setting overlooking the forested area. She is a perfect host and made us really feel at home. Don’t look any further just book this class!

Amazing experience! To do when you are in florence. Maria is a perfect host! My kids enjoyed the stay. Everything was easy, pickup / cooking....

We met Maria at the oldest produce market in Venice and selected a few items. She then drove us a short drive to her home in the hills above Florence. The drive way to her home crosses the old road to Bologna- about 2,000yrs old. You pass an ancient inn & stable that was available to those walking the road. You arrive to an impressive 10th century home that Maria has renovated (she’s an architect). It is perfect! We entered the kitchen & began making ravioli. She taught us so easily. We also learned her way of making Bruschetta as well as a terrific tart for dessert. We had wonderful wine and conversation with Maria. She is beautiful and kind and intelligent and a wonderful cook! We are hosting family and friends once we arrive home to share with them what we learned in Maria’s kitchen! Don’t miss out! Join in and you will love it; just as we did!

AWESOME cooking class. Cris was…AMAZING! My wife and I had such a blast. Cris brought us to a market and showed us around, all while buying fresh ingredients. Then she took us to her beautiful home right on the outskirts of Florence. It was a little taste of paradise and words cannot describe it. She and her husband remodeled a Tuscan home and it’s great. Now for the actual cooking. Cris curated the menu to fit our needs of what we were looking for in the class. She also made it extra special by baking a separate cake since it was my wife’s birthday on the day of our class. Throw in the wine and the Prosecco…it was delightful. We learned how to make so many classic Florentine dishes, and she sent us all the recipes after. Definitely a class you should do!

Culinary escape in the Tuscan hills. If you want to escape the heat and the hustle and bustle of downtown Florence, head to the hills and the lovingly restored 12th-century villa with a cooking class with Maria! She picked us up, offered a history of the area, and accommodated the vegetarian dietary needs of one of our attendees. She was creative and thought outside of the box for a varied menu. She made pasta and tiramisu, making it look effortless. I can't wait to try the recipes she sent to my home!

Like cooking with family! Maria Christina was SO great. So accommodating, kind and friendly. She welcomed us into her amazing home with open arms. We got to chat about what we liked to eat and she suggested great options for us to cook. She showed us how to cook ravioli, so simple and so delicious. The highlight was cooking the amazing dessert Baci Panteschi, a specialty of the little island where she visits friends regularly, and not something we had seen anywhere else in Italy. A truly special and memorable experience that I would recommend to everyone.

Highly recommended private cooking class. It was a wonderful experience. The class was in the beautifully remodeled home from the 12th century in the countryside. The instruction went well & the food was the best we have ever had for the dishes prepared. She's very personable and detail oriented. Plus gave a us opportunity to practice making the recipes & take videos & pictures.

We had an amazing evening with Maria Cristina. Maria picked us up at the Sant’Ambrogio market in Florence and whisked us away to her beautiful Tuscan villa which is rich with history. We opted for the cooking experience with Maria Cristina through Traveling Spoon. Maria has renovated the entire home, sticking to the historic design throughout. We enjoyed every moment with Maria, who is a true renaissance woman with numerous varied talents. The delicious meal we prepared was made with the freshest ingredients. I need to be gluten free so Maria took every precaution to make sure everything was gluten free or avoided cross contamination. The best part was how much fun we had getting to know Maria. We all had many laughs and stories to share. Maria even packed up leftovers for us to enjoy at our Airbnb. We are still talking about how amazing this experience was. I highly recommend Maria Cristina for a true local culinary experience in Tuscany.