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Positano Then & Now: Ancient Roman Villa Tour & Elevated Culinary Experience

Exclusive Experience

See Positano through two timelines. First, a local guide leads you through the village and down beneath the church to a buried Roman villa, where frescoes, stucco and mosaics reveal a luxurious seaside life frozen by Vesuvius. Later, as evening falls, you’re welcomed into a 12th-century hilltop villa for an intimate chef’s table. You cook alongside a passionate, story-rich chef using seasonal, local ingredients, then savour multiple finely crafted courses paired with an extraordinary range of Italian wines from a vast private cellar. All the while, Positano glitters below, linking ancient banquets and modern fine dining in one unforgettable night.

Duration:	6 Hours
Suitable for:	All ages
Available days:	Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Inclusions:	Cooking Class Entrance into Roman Villa Private Guides Private return transfers from Sorrento only Private wine tasting with Sommelier Shared Culinary Evening Including Food and Wine

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You begin the afternoon in the heart of Positano, meeting your local guide in the shadow of the church of Santa Maria Assunta. Together, you wander through the town’s narrow lanes and stairways, hearing stories of fishermen, pilgrims, and the early travellers who first fell in love with this vertical village.

The highlight of your walk lies hidden beneath the church itself. You descend into the Roman villa buried for centuries under Santa Maria Assunta – an aristocratic seaside residence frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius. Ten metres below the piazza, vivid frescoes, stucco details, and fragments of mosaic floors reveal a world of ancient banquets and seaside leisure. With your guide bringing the space to life, you trace Positano’s history from Roman holiday retreat to the beloved coastal town you see today.

At 6pm, you step through the doors of a 12th-century private home high above the town – a place of stone arches, vaulted ceilings, and terraces that seem to float over Positano’s iconic coastline. This is where your private culinary and wine journey begins.

You’re welcomed with a glass of chilled Prosecco Millesimato or Franciacorta and introduced to the bespoke tasting menu for the night, tailored to your preferences and any dietary needs. Your host-chef shares a little of his story – growing up between British and Italian traditions, learning the seasons at his fisherman father’s side, travelling the world to study different cuisines – and explains how each dish you’ll prepare and taste fits into Italy’s wider culinary tapestry.

In the villa’s kitchen and on the terrace, you move from observer to participant. Guided by the chef, you work with seasonal, pesticide-free ingredients sourced from local farms: chopping, kneading, stirring, and plating as you uncover techniques behind traditional Italian dishes reimagined with a modern touch. This is an intimate, hands-on experience, limited to just ten guests, so there’s plenty of time to ask questions, taste, and learn.

Throughout the evening, each of the 4 courses is paired with wines chosen from an extraordinary cellar of more than 9,500 bottles and 318 grape varieties. From crisp sparkling to structured whites, elegant reds, and perhaps a rare Brunello or Amarone, your host leads you through up to 10 different wine styles – explaining the regions, producers, and food pairings in a way that feels both expert and approachable.

By the end of the night, you leave with new skills, a deeper understanding of Italian wine, and the memory of having spent an evening in a historic villa where every detail – from the view to the last sip – feels utterly unforgettable.

Pricing - ex Positano

Pricing - ex Sorrento

We can arrange pick-up and drop-off in other towns; pricing is available on application (POA).
We can also cater for more participants; pricing is available on application (POA).

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