Cooking Class with Lake View in Varenna, Lake Como

Varenna is widely considered the most romantic village on Lake Como — a pastel-coloured fishing settlement of just 800 inhabitants, with a wooden walkway (the Passeggiata degli Innamorati) hugging the lake at sunset. Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi offer some of the lake's finest gardens, and the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio and Menaggio takes 15 minutes — making it the perfect quiet base from which to explore the whole lake.

Lake Como cuisine is distinct from anything in the south of Italy — Lombard butter rather than olive oil, lake fish rather than seafood, polenta as a staple, and the influence of the nearby Alps in the cheeses and cured meats. A cooking class in Varenna introduces you to risotto al pesce persico, missoltini (sun-dried shad), fresh pasta, and the classic torta del Lario.

Classes run in a private kitchen with a lake view, often on a terrace, with the chef demonstrating then guiding you hands-on. Sessions are 4–5 hours and finish with the meal you've cooked, served with paired local wines from the Valtellina and Franciacorta.