During my April 2022 trip to Puglia, Italy, I had the opportunity to enjoy a cooking class at Tenuta DonnAnna. This was a lot of fun and the hostess and her staff did a wonderful job. If you have been following my Italy adventures, this is day 8 of a group walking/hiking trip I had joined touring the Puglia area of Italy.
Location
Tenuta DonnAnna is located in Puglia, Italy. It is east of where we had stayed the night before in Santa Maria al Bagno and southeast of where we were going to stay in Lecce.
Morning Walk
This morning was different than the other mornings as we were going to be picked up by a transfer van. The van was not picking us up until later in the morning so I had some much needed time to myself. I decided to walk to Torre Santa Caterina. I noticed this tower the day before while walking to Porto Selvaggio. According to my google it was only about a 15 minute walk away so this worked well.
I again enjoyed walking along the Ionian Sea to Santa Caterina. I found the steps to the tower easily and enjoyed my solitude. Unfortunately, just before I reached the tower I found the path to be blocked off by a netted fence. The fence had been trampled down in some areas. Although tempted to go further, I did not want to get in trouble in a foreign country so I took a few photos through the trees where I was and then continued back to the hotel. Regardless of not being able to get close to the tower, I still enjoyed my beautiful morning walk.
Tenuta DonnAnna
Tenuta DonnAnna is a beautiful family home in the countryside. Not only are cooking classes offered but lodging as well. The property is very peaceful, serene, and beautiful. I would imagine it is a wonderful place to stay. This is also a family business and they make you feel at home.
Cooking Class
The cooking class was fun and the hostess and staff were very gracious in sharing their expertise and experience with us. They let us all try our hand at making pasta and pastry. Mine did not turn out at all like theirs did nonetheless, I was happy to be part of the meal making. Once the food was ready, we were able to sit down with the family and enjoy a wonderful meal that we all helped make. It felt good to be a part of this and again, the hospitality of the family, chef and staff was wonderful.
Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alessandria
After enjoying a great meal we transferred by van to the city of Galantina where we visited the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alessandria. It is a beautiful church with many frescoes and also has a relic room. This Roman Catholic Church was built between 1383 and 1391. We were told it was built so elaborately to help convert the Greek Orthodox in the area to Catholicism and reaffirm the Catholic Church’s dominance in the area.
Next to the basilica is a monastery.
I would have loved to wander around the city of Galantine as it looks like a really unique and historic place. Unfortunately, time was running short and we had to transfer to Lecce where we would stay the next two nights. Regardless, we saw the highlight here at Galantine and had a lovely day.
Conclusion
This was a super fantastic day. The cooking class at Tenutta DonnAnna was one of my highlights during my Puglia, Italy visit. I would highly suggest to anyone who is interested in the Puglia area to check their website, Tenutta DonnAnna out for a cooking class or maybe even a few nights stay. The hospitality and homey atmosphere is really something special.
Data per my Fitbit
Total Steps: 17,058
Total Miles: 6.77
Diary of a Gen-X recommendations for hotels, restaurants, & tours are based on our own experiences. We do not receive compensation for recommending at any of these nor are we affiliates of any hotels, restaurants, or tours. The only hotels & restaurants we recommend are places we stay which are clean, comfortable, and also provide exceptional hospitality.
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Check out my other Italy posts:
Walking Through Porto Selvaggio-Puglia, Italy April 2022
Walking Through Capo di Leuca-Puglia, Italy April 2022
The Ciolo and Cipolliane Path-April 2022
Punta Palascia Italy-April 2022
Wander the Countryside in Puglia, Italy-April 2022