Ciao Maria!

Spend a day on the farm and discover the simple rhythms of country life. Begin with a traditional farmer's breakfast known as ruppi diuno ("breaking the fast") before exploring Valle Lao Farm, meeting the animals, wandering through the nursery, flowers and vegetable gardens, and discovering the crops growing in the fields. You’ll finish by enjoying a farmer's lunch basket together with the farm’s wine, tasting the fresh produce grown on the land. A genuine experience to reconnect with nature and discover life on a real working Italian farm. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Traditional ruppi diuno farmer's breakfast. Visit to Valle Lao Farm's fields and crops. Guided tour through the nursery, plants and flowers. Meet the farm animals. Farmer's lunch basket with house wine.

Experience one of the most authentic moments of life on the farm: milking the goats. Begin with a visit to the farm with Maria before witnessing the milking process. Afterwards, you’ll experience the transformation from fresh milk to cheese using traditional methods. Finish the experience by tasting the freshly made ricotta, and take home a piece of cheese as a delicious reminder of your day. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre, ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Visit to Valle Lao Farm and the goat area. Goat milking. Introduction to traditional cheesemaking with a hands-on workshop. Fresh ricotta tasting. A piece of cheese to take home.

A childhood memory brought back to life. Join Maria as you recreate a simple tradition from the days when families would head out into the countryside carrying homemade food prepared with love and care. Together, you'll prepare this classic recipe in two versions: one with frittata and another with peppers and potatoes. Once ready, we'll wrap everything in a traditional stiavucco cloth bundle before heading off together for a countryside picnic. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Preparation of traditional pane sponzato - bread with frittata, capscium and potatoes. Preparation of the traditional stiavucco picnic bundle. Shared countryside picnic including house wine.

On cold winter days, when the scent of wood smoke fills the air, it means only one thing: it's time for the pig preparations! Join Maria for one of the most important traditions of rural life: the ritual of the pig. A tradition passed down for centuries, you'll discover how every part of the animal is carefully prepared as we step into the laboratory to explore age-old techniques, from preparing the meat to crafting traditional Calabrian cured meats using recipes handed down through generations. The day follows the rhythms of the countryside, beginning with a traditional farmer's breakfast before preparing a classic rural lunch together and gathering around the table to enjoy. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Traditional farmer's breakfast. Visit to the farm animals and pigs. Introduction to traditional pig butchering and processing. Practical demonstration and participation in preparing traditional cured meats. Preparation and shared countryside lunch. House wine.

Step inside the Valle Lao Farm workshop and discover how traditional Calabrian cured meats are made, following techniques and gestures that have been passed down through generations. Together with Maria, learn how the meat is prepared for salami, and the secrets of an authentic tradition built on simplicity, patience and care. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Introduction and practical demonstration of traditional Calabrian cured meat preparation. Tasting of the homemade cured meats. A salami to take home.

Experience one of the most authentic moments of the Italian summer: harvesting tomatoes and making traditional tomato sauce (passata). Begin in the fields, picking ripe tomatoes under the summer sun before transforming them together using simple techniques that have been passed down through generations. From field to table, you'll discover every step of this cherished family tradition. You’ll finish with a shared lunch where the freshly made tomato sauce takes centre stage. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Tomato harvesting in the fields. Traditional tomato sauce (passata) preparation. Preparation of lunch featuring freshly made tomato sauce. House wine. A bottle of passata to take home.

Discover an ancient farming tradition with Maria: the preparation of sun-dried tomatoes. Begin by harvesting tomatoes at Valle Lao Farm before preparing them together for the drying process, where time, patience and generations of knowledge come together. Finish your experience by tasting the homemade sun-dried tomatoes, and take some home as a reminder of the flavour that captures the warmth of the summer sun. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Tomato harvest. Introduction to the traditional drying process. Tasting of homemade sun-dried tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes to take home.

Discover one of Calabria's most iconic and surprising specialities: pipi cruschi—sweet capsicums (peppers) dried in the sun and quickly fried until they become light and wonderfully crisp. At Valle Lao Farm, you'll discover every stage behind this traditional recipe before trying your hand at the delicate art of frying them yourself. Finish by tasting this unique local delicacy. A humble farming ingredient transformed into something truly extraordinary. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the tradition of pipi cruschi. Discover the traditional capsicum drying process. Demonstration and participation in the traditional frying technique. Tasting of pipi cruschi.

Enjoy a unique experience among the cedro trees, discovering one of Calabria's most distinctive fruits and an authentic symbol, specific to this region and area. You'll take part in harvesting cedro while learning about their fascinating history and deep connection to the local traditions. You will then gather in the fields for a traditional farmer's lunch, sitting together on blankets, sharing food, stories and the simple joy of being together. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Possibility to participate in the Cedro harvest at Valle Lao Farm. Introduction to the history and traditions of the Cedro. Traditional countryside lunch in the fields.

Discover the humble onion as the star of simple yet surprising recipes from the Italian countryside. During this experience at Valle Lao Farm, you'll prepare a selection of traditional dishes—from baked onions and sweet-and-sour onions to onion frittata and soup—following methods that have been passed down through generations while celebrating one of the essential ingredients of Italian cooking. You will then gather around the table to enjoy everything prepared together. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Onion cooking workshop. Preparation of traditional recipes (baked onions, sweet-and-sour onions, onion frittata, salad). Shared lunch featuring the dishes prepared together with house wine. Preparation of traditional onion braids.

Discover Calabria's beloved chilli pepper from plant to plate, learning how it is grown, preserved and celebrated in local cuisine. Together with Maria at Valle Lao Farm, you'll explore every stage of its preparation, including the creation of the traditional chilli pepper braids that have become a symbol of Calabrian culture. You'll then step into the kitchen to prepare simple traditional dishes where chilli pepper takes centre stage. You'll finish with a shared lunch, celebrating the bold flavours of the land. Location: Scalea, Calabria (4km from Scalea centre ~ 5 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to chilli peppers, from cultivation to preservation. Hands-on workshop creating traditional chilli pepper braids and preparing classic recipes (garlic, olive oil and chilli pasta; cheese with chilli). Shared lunch with house wine.