A Hands-On Pasta Cooking Class for Visitors to Lecco

Why pair Lecco with a class in Como

Lecco is the working, lived-in city at the south-east tip of the lake, set dramatically beneath the Grigne and forever bound to Alessandro Manzoni's novel I Promessi Sposi. It is less touristy than the western shore and rewards travellers who want hikes, Manzoni's landscapes and a more authentic rhythm. A morning in the mountains and an afternoon making pasta in Como is one of the most satisfying ways to spend a day on Lake Como.

How to reach us from Lecco

An honest word on geography: the two arms of the lake are not directly linked by ferry, so don't plan on a boat between Lecco and Como. The simplest route is the direct Trenord train (Como–Lecco line), which takes around 40 to 50 minutes; by car it's about 40 minutes. We are at Via Teresa Ciceri 10A in central Como, a short walk from the lakefront and the Duomo, so once you arrive everything is close at hand.

• Train: Trenord Como–Lecco, about 40–50 minutes each way
• Car: roughly 40 minutes, then a city car park near the centre
• No cross-lake ferry: ferries serve the central lake, not the Lecco–Como link

What to combine it with

Make a full day of it. Walk the Manzoni trail and the lakefront in Lecco, take the cable car up to Piani d'Erna for the Grigne views, or set off on one of the mountain hikes the area is known for. Then catch the train to Como, drop into the historic centre, and arrive with an appetite well earned. If you'd rather explore first, our things to do in Como guide maps out the lakefront and old town around us.

What you'll cook

Each guest kneads their own ball of dough from flour and eggs; while it rests we run a spritz lesson — build your own Aperol or Campari spritz and drink it as the aperitivo. Then you hand-roll the sfoglia with a wooden matterello, shape your pasta, and everyone sits down to eat what they made, finishing with gelato dressed with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP. The method comes from Rina Poletti's Accademia della Sfoglia, where our resident chef trained. Choose your shape from the four masterclasses: Tagliatelle with Fresh Tomato, Tagliatelle with Ragù Bolognese, Ravioloni Verdi with Ricotta or Farfalle e Garganelli with Ragù.

Practical details

The class costs 150 euro per person and runs about three hours, in small groups of up to 12 guests; larger private groups are welcome at a special rate on request. It's taught in English and French (and Italian), which makes it easy for international visitors based in Lecco. There's no upfront payment — send a request and we'll confirm your date by email or WhatsApp. You can send a booking request in a couple of minutes.

You might also like

• Cooking class from Varenna — the next stop up the eastern shore
• Cooking class from Bellagio — across the central lake
• Cooking class on Lake Como — our overview for visitors from anywhere on the lake