Pizza Courses Naples: Learn from the Masters

Neapolitan Cooking Classes: Learn to Make Pizza in Naples

What better place than Naples to learn the art of pizza? During yourvacation in Naples, turning a day into a cooking class is an immersive experience that will bring you home not just a memory, but a real skill. From professional schools recognized by the AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) to home experiences with local “Cesarine,” Naples offers dozens of opportunities to get hands-on, learn the secrets of fermentation, and enjoy freshly baked pizza. This guide helps you choose the right course based on your budget, available time, and the level of depth you desire.

Why Learn to Make Pizza Right in Naples

Neapolitan pizza is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art of the Neapolitan pizzaiolo is a craft passed down through generations, with precise rules: long fermentation dough, manual stretching, and cooking in a wood-fired oven at over 400°C. Learning in Naples means immersing yourself in this tradition, guided by masters who live pizza every day. Additionally, many courses are held in picturesque locations: terraces with views of Vesuvius, ancient palaces in the historic center, or even at the AVPN headquarters in Capodimonte.

Types of Courses: Amateur vs Professional

Before choosing, it's helpful to understand what you're looking for.

Courses for amateurs (tourists and enthusiasts)

• Duration:2-4 hours

• Cost:49-102€ per person

• What you learn:preparation of the dough, manual stretching, seasoning, cooking. In the end, you taste your own pizza.

• Certificate:simple participation certificate

• Suitable for:couples, families, small groups, including children

Professional courses for pizza makers

• Duration:2-5 days (16-40 hours)

• Cost:250-350€ + VAT

• What you learn:advanced dough techniques, controlled fermentation, wood-fired oven management, preparation of fried pizza and rotisserie

• Certificate:AVPN certificate recognized in the industry

• Suitable for:aspiring pizza makers, restaurateurs, those who want to open a pizzeria

The Best Pizza Courses in Naples for Tourists

Cesarine – Neapolitan Pizza Lesson with a View of the Gulf

The Cesarine are a network of local cooks who open their kitchens to travelers. The experience takes place on a terrace overlooking the Gulf of Naples.

• What you prepare:Pizza Margherita, Marinara, and fried/montanara pizza

• Duration:about 3 hours

• Cost:102€ adults, 51€ children

• Included:tasting of the three types of pizza, Italian wine, typical sweets

• Languages:Italian, English, Spanish

• Reservation:mandatory, address provided after booking

Cesarine – Pizza Margherita and Tiramisu with a View of Vesuvius

Another Cesarine experience that combines pizza with the most famous Italian dessert in the world.

• What will be prepared:montanarine (small fried pizzas), Pizza Margherita, Pizza Marinara, Tiramisu

• Duration:about 3 hours

• Cost:€92 adults, €46 children

• Location:terrace with a view of Vesuvius

• Included:tasting, wood-fired oven for cooking

Neapolitan Pizza Course in the Historic Center

An economical and central solution, perfect for those with little time.

• Where:Via delle Zite, 19 (historic center)

• What will be prepared:dough, tomato sauce, 1 Pizza Margherita

• Duration:not specified (about 2 hours)

• Cost:from €49 per person

• Included:beverage, participation certificate, Italian-speaking tour guide

AVPN Professional Courses for Aspiring Pizzaioli

The Verace Pizza Napoletana Association (AVPN) based in Naples at Via Capodimonte 19/A is the body that certifies true Neapolitan pizza worldwide. It offers advanced courses for those who want to turn their passion into a profession.

Fried Pizza and Neapolitan Frying Course

An intensive 2-day course (16 hours) dedicated to the Neapolitan fried tradition.

• Contents:fried pizza in various variants, montanare, scugnizielli, potato croquettes, Neapolitan arancini, pasta frittata, fried vegetables, zucchini flowers

• Duration:2 days (16 total hours)

• Cost:350€ + VAT (250€ + VAT for AVPN affiliated pizzerias or former students)

• Dates 2026:April 23, May 14, June 18, July 16, October 8, October 29

• Provided equipment:2 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 cap, 1 apron

• Participants:minimum 4, maximum 10

Web Course of Fried Pizza (Online)

For those who cannot travel to Naples but want to learn from AVPN masters in live streaming.

• Duration:2 consecutive days (2 hours per day)

• Cost:300€

• Participants:maximum 4 students to ensure interaction

• Certificate:sent at the end

Online Lesson “The True Neapolitan Fried Pizza”

A shorter and more accessible interactive lesson.

• Duration:2 hours in live streaming

• Cost:74€ per person

• Participants:maximum 10

• Instructor:Enzo Esposito (AVPN instructor)

• Included:membership in the “Friends of True Neapolitan Pizza” Club and a certificate of participation

What You Will Learn in a Neapolitan Pizza Course (Typical Program)

The theory of dough

• Choice of flours (protein strength, W)

• Hydration (percentage of water)

• Leavening and maturation (temperatures and times)

• Poolish and biga (pre-ferments)

The rolling technique

• The pirlatura (forming the dough balls)

• Hand rolling: from the center to the edges, without flattening the crust

• How to create the typical high and airy crust

The topping

• San Marzano DOP tomatoes

• Campania buffalo mozzarella or fior di latte

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Fresh basil

The cooking

• Ideal temperature: over 400°C

• Wood-fired oven vs electric oven vs home oven

• Cooking times: 60-90 seconds in a professional oven

Neapolitan Cooking Courses Beyond Pizza

Many schools also offer courses dedicated to other specialties:

• Fresh pasta:gnocchi, ravioli, scialatielli

• Desserts:sfogliatella, babà, pastiera, tiramisù

• Seafood cuisine:fish soup, fried fish

• Street food:cuoppo, arancini, pasta frittata

How Much Does a Pizza Course Cost in Naples

Tips for Choosing the Right Course

• If you have little time (2-3 hours) and want a fun experience:choose a Cesarine course or a tourist course in the city center. You will learn the basics and eat your pizza.

• If you are a cooking enthusiast and want to deepen your knowledge:opt for a 1-2 day course with a professional pizza maker.

• If you dream of opening a pizzeria:the AVPN course is mandatory to obtain certification. Invest 2-5 days and prepare for a high technical level.

• If you are traveling with children:check that the course accepts minors. Many Cesarine experiences offer reduced prices for children.

• If you want to take home a certificate:all courses provide one, but the AVPN one has professional value.

Where the Courses Take Place

• AVPN headquarters:Via Capodimonte 19/A, 80131 Naples 

• Cesarine:private addresses provided after booking (various areas of Naples) 

• Schools in the historic center:Via delle Zite, 19 (near Piazza Garibaldi) 

• Other locations:terraces with a view of Vesuvius, ancient buildings, artisan workshops

How to Book

• For AVPN courses:official websitepizzanapoletana.org 

• For Cesarine:platformcesarine.com 

• For tourist courses:platforms likereserving.comor GetYourGuide 

• Advice:book at least 1-2 weeks in advance, especially in high season (April-October)

FAQ

How long does a pizza course in Naples last?

From 2 hours (basic tourist courses) to 5 days (AVPN professional courses).

Do I need to know how to knead already?

No, tourist courses start from scratch. Professional courses require basic knowledge.

Can I take home the certificate?

Yes, all courses provide a certificate of participation. The AVPN one has professional validity.

Are the courses in Italian or English?

Most offer lessons in English upon request. The Cesarine speak Italian, English, and Spanish.

How much does a pizza course in Naples cost for a family of 4?

For a Cesarine course: about €92-102 per adult, €46-51 per child. Total about €250-300 for the family.

Can I learn to make fried pizza?

Yes, AVPN offers specific courses on fried pizza and Neapolitan street food.

Do the courses include lunch?

Yes, you usually taste what you prepare. Many also include wine and desserts.

A global symbol

Learning to make pizza in Naples is much more than just a cooking class: it is an immersion into the culture, history, and passion of a city that has made pizza a global symbol. During yourvacation in Naples, dedicating a few hours to a workshop with a local pizza maker will give you practical skills (that you can replicate at home), an unforgettable memory, and the satisfaction of eating the pizza you made with your own hands. Whether you choose the social experience of a Cesarina with a view of Vesuvius or the professional AVPN course to become a true pizza maker, you will leave the kitchen with a smile and dough in your heart.

For a complete planning of your trip – from recommended neighborhoods to must-see itineraries – consult the reference guide to organize a vacation in Naples among pizza, history, and traditions.

Revision date:April 19, 2026