Abruzzo Traditional Italian Pasta Making Class with Nonna Amina

Marino was awesome. He has now become part of our family. He goes above and beyond to meet all your needs. He sent us a driver Ricardo who also is part of our family. Both are genuinely awesome and I highly recommend them both. Also if you need a rental car contact Ricardo thru Marino
Also Marinos family was wonderful as they invited us for a cooking class and made us feel at home

Every Experience with Experience BellaVita was well planned, fun, and delicious! We spent time with local purveyors who were families, and they made us feel like a family member too. Food was delicious and authentic. Truffle hunt was fun.Walking tours were gorgeous and we learned so much about Abruzzo history. Best of all was Marino and Riccardo. We feel as if we made 2 new friends for life. We will be back!

The pasta making class was simply magical. The minute we walked into the kitchen, we knew it was going to be a great afternoon. Marino and family were warm, welcoming and really fun! We made pasta, passagiata around the property with Marino's Dad and then a big family dinner with eth food we just made. Marino manages the outing professionally but also maintains an authentic experience. Highly recommended.

We were a group of four couples plus my 13y old boy visiting the town of Pacentro where my husband's family is from, looking to experience the originality of the flavors of food and food making of the area, that's how I found this add that as soon as I read Abruzzo Tradional Pasta Making with 85y old local Grandma I said "THIS IS IT! ". 3 out of the 9 in my group who love to cook were looking foward to learn the secrets of how to make a good pasta and sauce the others were just coming for the taste of good food. From the start Marino (the chef) was super helpful accomodating all of us for a class the date we requested. Going to his house, meeting his grandma (her recipes), his right hand Alberto and cooking in this tradional old fashioned kitchen was just like going back in time! Just by seeing the perfect set-up they had in this long table for all of us was enough to get the other six in my group excited to be there! What we experience from beginning to end was more much more than we expected!! Everything was amazing, Marino, Alberto, the Nonna and even Marino's mom Ana made us feel like family, preparing the pasta, the sauce, the meatballs while sipping delicious local wine was so especial that each of us including my 13y old boy enjoyed so much. Marino answered all our curiosities about the food preparation and local tradions, we all learned so much but most of all we were all happy to have been part of genuine Abruzzie family and their traditions preparing from scratch all of the food and eating it was just pure love for this experience transformed into that delicious dish of guitar pasta, meat sauce, tiny meatballs we proudly learned to prepared! I GRADLY RECOMMED THIS TRADIONAL PASTA MAKING TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR GENUINE FLAVORS AND TO EXPERIENCE GENUINE PEOPLE AND THEIR TRADITIONS!

Having deep Abruzzo roots I wanted my friends to have a real traditional pasta making experience. Marino, Alberto, mama Anna and nonna herself gave us exactly that. We had a blast making chitarra pasta The home made Ragu was fabulous as well using all local ingredients Then to all sit down together and enjoy the wonderful taste of fresh pasta, local vino , while chatting and laughing about all that Italian wonderfulness .. really made it a fantastic day. Grazie your new friend , Mauro

I have such fond memories of my evening making chitarra con pallottine with Mario! I learned about Abruzzo customs--wines, appetizers and most of all had a great time! Mario is a knowledgeable and welcoming host and has a real passion for Abruzzo.

I am Paula from Virginia, USA. We have a home in Montedinove. I have “Experience BellaVita’s” 3 times and will be there again in a couple of weeks! I’ve made Chitarra and cheese dishes! When we go to BellaVita, we always bring friends with us! It’s a great way to spend the day!

14 members of our family and friends joined Marino at his family home to learn how to a make Chitarra pasta. It was a delightful day that will forever stay on our memories. Our daughter purchased a Chitarra pasta maker and we have relived the fun at her home. We had many adventures while visiting Italy but this is the one experience that everyone cites as the highlight of our trip.

I really enjoyed this experience! Marino was so friendly and shared so much of his extensive knowledge of Abruzzo food, wine and culture. It was exactly as described, and the meal with family, a friend, and the fire was awesome. And the place is just right—the yard with its vegetable garden and grapes, and chickens, geese and peacocks, and the large kitchen space. I highly recommend this if you want an authentic experience of Abruzzo food and culture!

Te dan la oportunidad de conocer Italia viviendo su propia cultura con un guía que sabe castellano. La experiencia que hemos realizado es la de cocinar pasta con la abuela Amina, mujer que ha nacido en Italia y que durante toda su vida ha hecho miles de platos de pasta de la famosa Chitarra Teramana. Muy diferente su plato al que te sirven en restaurantes.

My time in Experience Bella Vita’s pasta making class was incredible! Marino, the guide and instructor, was extraordinarily thorough, making sure we all grasped not only the techniques of making quality traditionalpasta but also ensuring that we understood the history behind it. He spoke about the region and its traditions with such passion that it was infectious. We also got to meet his Nonna (Grandma) who was the MASTER of pasta making and she made the whole experience feel very authentic and as though we were learning pasta making from a friend or family member rather than from a class. I cannot speak more highly of the experience! You should definitely check it out!

I don't even know where to start. Marino is the guide that you need to have to experience Abruzzo. We spent the first part of the day in a local family-ran dairy farm, we got to make some cheese and learned all the secrets to obtain a great ricotta. The owner even showed us all of his farm animals from goats to bulls, from chickens to cows.Marino then took us to visit the beautiful town of Campli, one of the many highlights were the "Holy Stairs" (only 3 in the World) and the nearby ancient cemetery "necropoli" that goes all the way back to Roman Times.We then spent the afternoon with Marino and his grandmother Amina, gorgeous lady that taught us how to make delicious Spaghetti alla Chitarra. An Italian grandma teaching you how to make pasta from scratch?!?! It's a must do! Then we ended the night with a great dinner eating what we made. 10/10 Marino and his Experience BellaVita is the way to go to enjoy beautiful Abruzzo. Trust me, I'm an Abruzzese myself.Thank you thank you thank you Marino, you are the best.Psst...ask Marino what Scuppoz is 😉

We had a great time with Marino on the market tour and pasta making with Nonna Amina! Marino has such a great passion for everything Abbruzzese and his enthusiasm is infectious. It was amazing to learn about the market and history of the area and to try the local produce - the porchetta was to die for! The warmth that Marino and his family showed us during our pasta making class made our day in Campli and Teramo one we'll never forget. Grazie mille Marino!

Marino's pasta making experience was completely immersive. He covers all aspects of Italian country life with a warm and welcoming attitude. All of the products and food were sourced locally from the community. If you have any desire to: taste local cuisine, experience the Italian country side community, learn about Italian cooking techniques, or feel connected to a rural Italian community, Marino will provide any of these connections! Absolutely a must!

 Chitarra pasta making with family meal. An unforgettable, welcoming experience! Loved meeting this wonderful family! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this to all!!!

 Truly our favorite experience on our most recent trip to Italy!!! Marino and his family are exquisite and genuinely passionate about sharing their home, their traditions and their time to experience making an authentic Abruzzo-style cuisine. We had many laughs, learned recipes we cannot wait to replicate and savored every single bite of our delicious preparations. Marino is also fluent in English, so conversation and explanations are easy and clear to understand. When I return, Marino will be my first phone call! He offers a variety of different experiences and I have no doubt that all of them are amazing. Marino does not cut corners or run his business to simply gather as many tourists as he can. He is passionate about his expertise, his homeland and in teaching others to embrace the local delicacies. It was such a special experience to enjoy with my family - we were a large group of 16 and everyone felt included and celebrated. Don't think twice to join him - just book it!

 Amazing memories making pasta with Marino and his family. Nonna was a complete gem and not only was the food amazing, we learned a lot and got to share the experience that we will remember for years to come. Highly recommend!

 Every minute and penny you spend making pasta with Nonna and Marino and family is more memory, laughter and friendship than you will ever expect! If you want a trip to Italy that authentically embraces Italian culture and the spirit of family, delicious food and wine, make time to experience with Marino and his family how it’s done.

 We had a fabulous day learning tips and tricks making pasta from scratch with the family, and experiencing the full range on Italian Family life. The highlight was cooking and eating the dish, which turned into a fabulous full on family 7 course meal - so much fun was had. Marino and his family have so much love and energy for their produce, food, family and the area - I highly recommend spending time with them; you're guaranteed a fantastic experience.

 My friends and I took a cooking class with Marino and his Nonna (grandmother) to make a traditional pasta called "chitarra" at their home near Teramo this summer. We had a great time cooking together and learning about Italian cuisine. His parents joined us for a wonderful meal at the end, which capped off the day beautifully. The experience was authentic and very well organized - thanks Marino! We're looking forward to the truffle hunting experience next time we visit. Can't wait! * * * * *

 We had a fantastic time with Marino and his Nonna Amina. We learned how to make Chitarra, a type of traditional spaghetti in Teramo, as well as Pallottine, a tiny little meatball. We made it all from scratch and it was a lot of fun, not to mention absolutely delicious. Doing it at his home with his family made for a really memorable experience for us, because when travelling it's those local connections that make it extra special.

The Abruzzo region has plenty of delicious food and wine, and Marino was kind enough to show us a lot of it. He knew so much about the region and we had a great time with him and his family. We're excited to try the other experiences next time!

 Marino is an amazing tour guide with tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm for Abruzzo. He not only ran a great cooking class with his grandmother, visit to a salumeria, and a truffle-hunting expedition, but also recommended a complete itinerary with hotels, stays in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, visit to Rocca Colascio, Scanno, Pacentro... Wow - what a wonderful way to see this unexplored and authentic part of Italy!

Absolutely worth it! If you are in Abruzzo and would like to learn some traditional cooking techniques and enjoy a delicious meal with a local family, look no further. We did not have enough time to book any more activities with Experience Bella Vita during our short weekend, but we will definitely be back to see more! Marino is so passionate about his region and there is no better way to experience Abruzzo than with him! He will show you the best his region has to offer!!!

Thanks to Marino, I had the pleasure to taste nonna Amina's life style and it was a memorable afternoon in pleasant company.She teached us her original dish and how making pasta from the beginning: kneading the dough and blending the meat in very little balls, one by one, for the best chitarra I've ever eat.All of the ingredients to make and cook the recipe entirely come from local sources, healthy and natural, also the secret ingredient!Marino is an expert in italian culinary arts and he kindly shares his cookery skills with people passionated in local food and wine.This experience is a full immersion in Abruzzo's tradition indeed chitarra alle pallottine is a custom of folks that meet up in family for lunch on Sunday.I suggest to everybody to do this experience once in life.Eat well, enjoy more!

Our pasta making lesson and experience were tremendous. Marino and his grandmother( and mother and father and his friend, Vito) were so gracious. Tthanks to their expert training the pasta we prepared was delicious. This is a must do experience when visiting northern Abruzzo or southern Ascoli Piceno.

My Aunt and I had the best experience with Marino and his Nona!! We made chitarra (meaning guitar) pasta. Made with a special tool that looks like a guitar. We learned old traditional methods as well as new. He gave us a tour of his farm. Collected some eggs to make pasta. We enjoyed local wine and cheese. Sampled some honey he made on local pecorino. We were not disappointed as we loved everything we tried. His family had lunch with us and it was awesome! Thank you Marino, Nona and the rest of the family making us feel so welcome! We left with our stomachs full of Italian happiness and new friends! We will be back!

We had an amazing time with Marino and his family! We have been in Teramo only for three days and there was no experience scheduled, but because I was so excited about the experience i texted them and he did everything to make it possible for us. The experience was highly interesting, very tasty and a lot of fun. From the homemade syrup, to cheese, olive oil, honey and the whole pasta meal everything was really delicisious. And on top of that his grandma made fried pizza for us, which we enjoyed a lot. All together I can only say Thank you for this great time! And to everyone else I really recommend you to go there and have a great time!

Wir waren ziemlich weit entfernt, als ich das Angebot von Marino entdeckt habe. Sollen wir mitmachen oder nicht? Immerhin fast 200km hin und zurück und wenn's doch nicht so gut ist?Wir wurden nicht enttäuscht. Es war einfach schön den Tag mit dem Marino und seine Oma verbringen zu dürfen. Durch die Beiden haben wir viel über die italienische Ess- und Kochkultur erfahren, wie zum Beispiel die Spaghetti-Herstellung mit Hilfe einer Chitarra oder das Kochen eine italienische Tomatensoße. Auch die Bedeutung der Gänge beim Essen hat uns der Marino sehr genau erklärt und Vieles mehr.Uns hat Marino's Liebe und Leidenschaft für die Schönheit seiner Heimat sehr inspiriert.Unbezahlbare Erfahrung!

 Marino is a gracious host! I’ve done two cooking classes with him and he made it so fun and enjoyable! I highly recommend his cooking classes if you are wanting to experience real Abruzzo Italian cooking! I’m looking forward to doing some of his other experiences in the near future!

 My Aunt and I had the best experience with Marino and his Nona!! We made chitarra (meaning guitar) pasta. Made with a special tool that looks like a guitar. We learned old traditional methods as well as new. He gave us a tour of his farm. Collected some eggs to make pasta. We enjoyed local wine and cheese. Sampled some honey he made on local pecorino. We were not disappointed as we loved everything we tried. His family had lunch with us and it was awesome! Thank you Marino, Nona and the rest of the family making us feel so welcome! We left with our stomachs full of Italian happiness and new friends! We will be back!

 We had a fantastic experience making pasta with Marino and his grandmother! Their hospitality is the best and we learned so much about the food and customs of this part of Italy. Marino's passion for food and for his culture was obvious and he speaks English perfectly. Making the pasta was fun and eating it at their family table was even better! Marino also recommended some local sights and activities which we enjoyed. We ran into him at the farmers' market the next day and it was like meeting an old friend. I'm looking forward to booking another experience with him soon!

 We had a great time doing the Chitarra pasta making experience with Marino and his Nonna! Marino is a great host, we had fun, learned a lot about pasta and the Abruzzo region, and got to eat delicious food at their table. One of the highlights of my trip to Italy!

 I recommend adventure with Marino, we were sightseeing, admiring architecture of Campli, Campovalano and Civitella del Tronto, we tried porchetta, pecorino and liguirizia from local market, then we were preparing together hand made Spaghetti a la Guitarra with his lovely grandparents, Marino preperad for us coffee in Italian way. It was priceless experience which i'll remember for long time. 🙂

 It was great day for us! Marino showed me and my girlfriend beautiful places in Abruzzo,
he talked about the customs and culture of this region. Cooking traditional dishes with his wonderful grandmother completed this magnificent day!