Is prior cooking experience required?

No, the workshop is designed for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.

How large are the groups?

Groups are kept small for a personalized experience with the sommelier guide.

Are dietary restrictions accommodated?

Please notify Arbaspaa in advance if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.

Is the wine included suitable for minors?

Wine is served only to participants over the legal drinking age; minors receive a non-alcoholic alternative.

What languages is the workshop offered in?

The class is conducted in English or Italian depending on group composition.

Can I take my pesto home?

The pesto is tasted on site paired with focaccia, but printed recipes are provided to recreate it at home.

Pesto Making Workshop in Manarola with Arbaspaa

Manarola, one of the five villages that make up Italy’s famed Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast, offers visitors a chance to connect with local culture beyond the usual trails and vistas. Here, Arbaspaa invites you to roll up your sleeves in a unique hands-on pesto-making workshop set just off Via Belvedere. This isn’t your typical cooking class; it’s a deep dive into Liguria’s culinary heritage, guided by a professional sommelier who weaves history, flavor, and tradition into every moment.

The workshop centers around preparing authentic pesto alla Genovese using a classic mortar and pestle, the same method that has been used for centuries. As you crush fragrant basil leaves alongside pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and rich olive oil, you'll gain an appreciation for the texture and balance that define this celebrated sauce. The setting itself enhances this sensory experience—Manarola’s colorful houses rise sharply from steep cliffs, framed by the shimmering Ligurian Sea and the terraced vineyards that cling to rugged rock walls.

To finish, guests savor their freshly made pesto atop a slice of traditional focaccia, paired with a glass of Cinque Terre’s iconic white wine. This combination highlights the synergy between food and place, reflecting arboreal aromas and seaside salt air. Arbaspaa’s offering stands out in the region’s crowded adventure scene because it ties together outdoor flavor, local ingredients, and expert knowledge in a compact, approachable format — perfect for travelers wanting to taste the spirit of Liguria without leaving the village.

Whether you’re winding down from a day’s hike along the Via dell’Amore or seeking a cultural complement to coastal exploration, this pesto workshop offers an immersive, practical, and delicious way to engage with Cinque Terre’s distinctive slow-food culture in the heart of Manarola.

About Arbaspaa

Arbaspaa is an activity and tour operator based in Manarola, Liguria, offering a broad range of guided experiences across Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets. Specialties include cooking classes, marine activities, photographic workshops, wine and food tastings, boat and kayak tours, e-bike routes, and diving sessions inside protected marine areas.

Arbaspaa collaborates with qualified local instructors and professionals: sea activities are led by marine biologists and certified diving instructors, photography tours are taught by a professional Nikon photographer, and some wine tastings are guided by an AIS professional sommelier. Experiences range from short, focused sessions—such as a three‑hour cooking lesson and two‑hour photo walks—to multi‑hour boat trips, half‑day kayaking, and full e‑bike excursions. Activities depart from Manarola, Monterosso, La Spezia, and Porto Venere depending on the trip.

Many tours include provided equipment, local ingredients, or onboard meals like BBQ fish lunches and aperitivi with wine and focaccia. Arbaspaa also offers private tours, self‑guided hiking packages, and specialty courses such as pesto and kneading classes in nearby towns. Safety and respect for local environments are emphasized through operations in Marine Protected Areas and guided snorkeling and diving protocols. Booking options cover small groups and private bookings. For travelers seeking authentic Ligurian food, coastal exploration, photography coaching, or active sea adventures, Arbaspaa provides locally grounded, professionally guided options across the Cinque Terre and surrounding Liguria coastline. Sample activities include cooking lessons, snorkeling, diving, kayak and boat tours, photography walks, e‑bike routes, pesto and bread courses, and guided wine tastings across Liguria.