Practical Info
Where: Lunigiana region, Tuscany (approx. 1 hr from La Spezia)
Duration: ~6.5 hours (8:30 AM – 3:00 PM)
Who is it for: Families, couples, cruise visitors, and solo travelers
Sample Itinerary
8:30 AM – Pick-up from La Spezia
9:30 AM – Arrival in Pontremoli and tasting of Amor, the town’s iconic layered pastry
10:15 AM – Cooking demonstration with Nicoletta or Giuseppe using traditional testi cookware
12:30 PM – Farmhouse lunch with dishes like testaroli, wild herb pies, and more
Optional stop: Scenic viewpoint, small village visit, or local product tasting
3:00 PM – Return to La Spezia
What’s included:
Private transport
Hands-on cooking class
Amor pastry tasting
Full lunch with wine
English-speaking assistant or translator
How to book: Contact Emilia Delizia to reserve your spot with our trusted local hosts. The experience is totally flexible and customisable.
Tuscany is known around the world for its rolling hills, historic villages, and world-class wine, but beyond its postcards and polished vineyards lies a rugged, flavorful tradition that few travelers experience: cooking with fire using testi, the cast-iron cookware of Lunigiana. From the nearby port of La Spezia, you can embark on a journey that’s more than culinary—it’s cultural, elemental, and profoundly human. This is the story of the Testi Experience, where food meets fire in one of Italy’s most authentic corners.
What is a Testo?
Before delving into the experience itself, it’s important to understand the tool at the heart of this tradition. A testo (plural testi) is a heavy, dome-shaped cast-iron lid, traditionally used to cook foods directly over an open fire or on a bed of coals.
In Lunigiana—an overlooked region in northern Tuscany that borders Liguria and Emilia-Romagna—testi are still used to make one of Italy’s oldest pasta forms: testaroli.
Visiting La Spezia or the Cinque Terre?
Escape the crowds with our truffle hunt & vineyard tasting in Lunigiana — a perfect shore excursion from La Spezia.
The Journey from La Spezia
If you’re arriving in La Spezia by cruise ship or staying nearby, you’re perfectly positioned for a half-day or full-day escape into the hills of Lunigiana. You can explore this experience alongside other day trips and shore excursions from La Spezia cruise port, all planned around port schedules.
Booking the experience through a trusted provider like Emilia Delizia ensures transport, translation, and seamless logistics.
Meet the Maestra
One of the most renowned practitioners of this art is Nicoletta, a passionate cook, writer, and teacher who has made it her mission to preserve Lunigiana’s culinary heritage.
Even if Nicoletta isn’t your host that day, many locals in Pontremoli, Filattiera, or Licciana Nardi continue this tradition.
The Experience Begins
The testi are pre-heated directly in the flames. Once hot, they’re moved aside to cook your dish.
- Torta d’erbi
- Pattona
- Lardo-roasted potatoes
- Wood-fired polenta
- Stuffed zucchini blossoms
Final Thoughts
Cooking with fire in Tuscany is not about gimmicks—it’s about touching something elemental. You’ll leave not only full but transformed.
Book your Testi Experience now
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