Join us in…
Puglia, Italy
June 2nd - June 7th, 2025
Join Us For A Culinary Experience on an Italian Masseria
Nestled on a serene, family-run masseria amidst olive groves and rolling vineyards, this cooking school will be focused on experiencing, tasting, and exploring the abundance that Southern Puglia has to offer.
Reserve Your Spot
Fresh pasta lessons, olive oil cake classes, and hands on dinner parties…
Imagine mornings waking up to the gentle Mediterranean sunlight, wild horses greeting you for breakfast, cool sea salt breeze walks along the beach, and sipping coffee under the farmhouse vineyards. Our days will be spent with interactive cooking classes, exploring vibrant local markets, and mastering the art of pastry, pizza and pasta. Picture yourself wandering through the farm's bountiful gardens, foraging for fresh ingredients that will later inspire your creations in our shared outdoor kitchen. There will always be time to relax if you prefer a midday swim, afternoon nap or a spritz in the shade.
Evenings will be a celebration of Puglian cuisine and culture, with wine tastings poolside, woodfired pizza and sunset aperitivo hours. And no Italian holiday would be complete without lively dinner parties under the stars, where we’ll set the table, arrange flowers, pour drinks and host our very own Cucina Melissa Convitos.
Anyone is welcome to attend (18+) - no cooking experience is required, just your curiosity and excitement to learn new culinary skills, create lasting friendships over shared meals + experiences and maybe even pick up a phrase or two of Italian.
Cooking School Itinerary
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June 2nd - Group Arrival
Guest Transportation
Welcome Spritz + Group Dinner
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June 3rd - Garden and Herbs Cooking Classes
Farm-to-Table Breakfast
Garden Foraging and Beehive Tour
Lunch Cooking Class Using Local Techniques and Ingredients
Herbal Cocktail Aperitivo + Dinner
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June 4th - Market Visit + Pasta Class
Farm-to-Table Breakfast
Local Market Visit + Lunch in Puglia
Relax Poolside
A Master Class On Fish and Open-Fire Dinner
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June 5th - Pasta Class + Puglia Exploration
Farm-to-table breakfast
Morning Coastal Hike and Ocean Dip
Pasta + Pastry Cooking Class
Group Pasta Dinner
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June 6th - Pizza Poolside and Final Convito!
Farm-to-table breakfast
Prep Olive Cakes
Woodfired Pizza
Italian Dinner Party
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June 7th - Group Departure
Farm-to-table breakfast
Group departure from Puglia
Masseria Prosperi, Our Luxury Boutique Farmhouse
Masseria Prosperi is designed to give you the true luxury of small pleasures, the art of knowing how to live the countryside a stone’s throw from the sea and the most genuine flavors of Puglia. During our stay, we’ll have complete use of the farmhouse and access to the outdoor kitchen + vegetable garden, visit with the farmhouse animals + horses and experience the indoor and outdoor pools + spa facilities.
Reserve Your Cooking School Spot
June 2 - 7, 2025
In order to reserve your individual spot at the retreat, please select a room below and follow the check-out process. Each room can be shared with two guests or booked privately. Both the Classic and Superior rooms have one bed, a private bathroom and entrance to the terrace or garden. The Classic room is slightly smaller than the Superior room.
We’d encourage attending with a friend or family member! Prices shown below are per person. Each guest must purchase their own ticket. You have the option to pay in full or select a payment plan.
Due to the interactive itinerary and intimate farmhouse setting, spaces are very limited.
Questions? Email us at ciao@cucinamelissa.com
What’s Included in the Ticket Price:
Six days of curated programming led by Melissa and local Italian chefs, artisans and makers
Six days of private accommodation and rooms located on the farmhouse property, each curated with natural interiors, crisp white linens, private terraces and bathrooms
Six days of daily meals and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, local + seasonal breakfast buffet, lunches, aperitivo hours and group dinners
Transportation to and from Bari Airport (additional destinations can be arranged at an extra cost if required)
Multiple offsite meals at local restaurants in Puglia, including alcoholic beverages
Multiple offsite excursions and transportation to local markets, vendors and artisans
Six days of hands-on cooking demos and classes, groceries and pantry items to prep and make our dishes onsite
Optional morning walks, ocean dips and afternoon hikes along with Salento coast
Full use of the masseria property including the vegetable garden + outdoor kitchen, farmhouse accommodation, bicycles, and bocce ball courts
Spa facilities which include a steam bath, jacuzzi, indoor pool, and outdoor pool with sunbeds overlooking the countryside and olive groves
Gifts and surprises along the way - exclusive branded merchandise, cookbooks and more!
What is Not Included in the Ticket Price:
Additional transportation to be arranged if not arriving and departing with the majority of the group
Personalized spa treatments beyond the spa facilities
Souvenirs or items purchased while on offsite excursions
Extra alcohol and food other than what is provided in schedule
Travel insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
We're here to answer any questions about Cucina Melissa’s Cooking School. Please review the questions and answers below.
Once your spot is confirmed, we will be in touch with a detailed itinerary, packing guide, suggested travel schedule and some of our favorite Italian recipes, curated playlists and fun surprises to start the cooking school experience at home. All you need to do is book your spot, grab your apron and passport, and our team will take care of the rest!
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Anyone is welcome to attend and no cooking experience is required. All guests must be 18 years or older.
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The best route is to fly into Bari International Airport (BRI) and we will arrange a group shuttle to the masseria. Once your spot is confirmed, we’ll be in touch to confirm the best arrival flight times.
If you’re traveling before the retreat in either Rome or Naples, you can take the train or fly to Brindisi Airport (BDS). Once your spot is confirmed, we’ll be in touch to confirm the best arrival flight times. This option may require extra transportation fees beyond your ticket price.
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Calming rooms located on the farmhouse property, each curated with natural interiors, crisp white linens, private terraces and bathrooms
Daily meals and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, local + seasonal breakfast buffet, lunch, aperitivo hour and dinner at the masseria
Offsite meals at local restaurants in Puglia, including alcoholic beverages
Offsite excursions and transportation to local markets, vendors and artisans
Daily hands-on cooking demos and classes, groceries and pantry items to prep and make our dishes onsite
Optional morning walks, ocean dips and afternoon hikes along with Salento coast
Transportation to and from Bari Airport (additional destinations can be arranged at an extra cost and will most likely be private)
Full use of the masseria property including the vegetable garden + outdoor kitchen, farmhouse accommodation, bicycles, bocce ball court, spa facilities which include a steam bath, jacuzzi, indoor pool, and outdoor pool with sunbeds overlooking the countryside and olive groves
Gifts and surprises along the way - think branded merchandise, cookbooks and more!
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Additional transportation to be arranged if not arriving and departing with the majority of the group
Personalized spa treatments beyond the spa facilities
Souvenirs or items purchased while on offsite excursions
Travel insurance
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Once your spot is confirmed, we’ll send the group detailed information on how to book any additional activities prior to arrival.
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Please click on the accommodation option you’d like to book above and process the payment to confirm your spot. If you’re booking with another guest(s), each person will have to process their own reservation.
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Yes, we encourage purchasing a ticket with a friend or family member to share a room - or you’re welcome to come alone.
Please share the name of the guest you'd like to share with when you check out. Each guest on property must pay for their own individual ticket.
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Due to the interactive and hands-on itinerary, we can’t accommodate vegan or gluten-free diets. If you have a different food allergy, please contact us prior to purchase.
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With just a select number of spots available, tickets are non-refundable. However, tickets can be transferred to a friend or family member with enough notice.
We offer payment plans and those can be selected when booking your accommodation.
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English and Italian
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Yes, there will be free wifi available on the masseria property. Your ticket does not include data or wifi once offsite the property.
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There is a maximum of 10 ticketed guests, plus the family members that manage the masseria, Melissa and one member from the Cucina Melissa team and a few surprise guest chefs along the way.
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The weather in Puglia in June is warm and sunny. It's perfect coastal weather with average temperatures ranging between 75-80 degrees.
We will be in touch with a detailed packing list once the retreat group is confirmed.
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Unfortunately, due to the original and rustic design of the farmhouse, this retreat is not wheelchair accessible. For guests interested in experiencing Cucina Melissa in person, check out our local events here X and x.
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We cannot book travel insurance for you but we do recommend checking your credit card provided if travel insurance is included. If not, we recommend purchasing a “Cancel Anytime Trip Insurance” policy since your ticket cost is non-refundable. Faye is a provider that makes it easy to purchase an individual policy, see here for details.
