Gelato Making Class in Italy (2026)

💰 €40-80/person ⏱ 2 hours
📅 Year-round (book 1-2 weeks ahead)
💡 The science of Italian gelato — why it's different from ice cream and how to make it yourself.

Gelato vs ice cream

Less fat (4-8% vs 14-25%), less air (25-30% vs 50-90%), more flavor (denser = more taste per spoonful), served warmer (-10°C vs -18°C), and made fresh daily with seasonal ingredients. A gelato class explains the science and then lets you make 2-3 flavors — typically a fruit sorbetto, a cream-based gelato, and something creative.

Where

Rome: Classes near the Pantheon and Trastevere. €50-80. The city has the most options. Florence: Birthplace of gelato (the Medici court, 1500s). €50-90. More history, fewer options. Bologna: Home to Carpigiani (the world's leading gelato machine manufacturer). The Carpigiani Gelato University offers classes from amateur (€60-80, 2h) to professional certification (multi-day, €1000+). Sicily: Granita + brioche is the Sicilian version. Some classes teach both gelato and granita.

💡 Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna is where the world's top gelato makers train. Their amateur "Gelato Experience" (€60-80, 2 hours) lets you use professional equipment and learn from instructors who train professionals. It's the most serious gelato class available to tourists — and the most fun.

Related experiences

Gelato Rome Gelato Florence Good Gelato

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