city: Italy

Nat Geo Day Tour: The History of Pasta

Discover the essence of Gragnano on this National Geographic-exclusive pasta tour, starting with a scenic bus ride along the Bay of Naples, under the watchful eye of Mount Vesuvius. Your National Geographic-trained guide will give you an insight into Campanian culture as you sit back and soak up the views. The first stop is the Valley of the Mills, a picturesque ravine on the slopes between Sorrento, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Here, a local volunteer historian and retired miller, dedicated to the restoration of the site, will reveal the fascinating engineering behind the series of mills, of which two will be exclusively opened for travelers on this tour. Enjoy a short walk before heading to Pasta Cuomo. Here, visit the factory and museum, then travel back in time to experience Gragnano's past through virtual reality. During your tour you will meet and learn about one of the oldest pasta making families of the area, a family ancestry that is partly responsible for pasta's transatlantic journey to the United States in the late 1800s. Then, it's time to roll up your sleeves and put your culinary skills to test at an interactive pasta-making session, with Nonna Giuseppina (grandma!) on hand to guide you as you knead and roll. Finally, indulge in a pasta lunch featuring ingredients sourced from the factory's garden, a true farm-to-table experience and a rewarding way to end the tour.