Pasta, pizza, gelato—need we say more? For food enthusiasts, Italy offers an opportunity to study cooking in the cultural setting that shaped many of its regional cuisines. Choosing a culinary school in Italy can combine professional training with firsthand exposure to local ingredients, techniques, and food traditions.
Choosing the right culinary school is especially important for international students pursuing a culinary career. A suitable institution should offer programs that match your experience level and career goals, along with qualified instructors, practical facilities, and industry connections. It can help you refine your skills, explore different culinary traditions, and connect with other aspiring professionals.
This article introduces some of the best culinary schools in Italy and summarizes their current programs and distinguishing features. Let’s take a look at them!
Top Culinary Schools in Italy
1. Italian Culinary Institute
The Italian Culinary Institute offers short, full-immersion programs for professionals, culinary students, entrepreneurs, home cooks, and food enthusiasts. Its current offerings include the one-month Mastering Italian Cuisine: Tradition & Innovation course, two-week and one-week Italian cuisine courses, and specialized programs covering pasta, cheesemaking, charcuterie, pastry, gelato, and related subjects. These are professional culinary courses rather than academic master’s degree programs.
Lace Zhang and Hannah McKitrick are featured on the institute’s official alumni testimonials page. The institute’s FAQ also states that partial scholarships are available for some programs, although applicants must contact the school for course-specific eligibility and funding details.
2. Apicius International School of Hospitality
Located in Florence, Apicius International School of Hospitality offers undergraduate and career-focused programs related to food, wine, and hospitality. The four-year Bachelor of Arts in Food and Wine Studies currently offers concentrations in Culinary Arts, Enology, Baking and Pastry, and Wellness, Health, and Nutrition.
Apicius also lists one-year master-level career programs called the Master in Italian Cuisine and the Master in International Baking and Pastry. These are described by the school as master-level career programs rather than academic master’s degrees. Students can also participate in experiential learning connected with facilities such as the Ganzo restaurant and Fedora pastry shop.
3. Cordon Bleu Florence
Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Bleu is a Florence-based culinary school offering amateur, professional, laboratory, and academic programs. Its flagship academic offering is the three-year European Bachelor in Professional Studies with Specialization in Italian Culinary Arts. The English-language program carries 180 ECTS credits and is awarded by EABHES.
The bachelor’s program currently uses a blended format: theoretical courses are delivered online, while practical kitchen training takes place in Florence. It includes more than 1,500 hours of instruction and covers Italian and international cuisine, pastry, gelato, fresh pasta, food science, nutrition, marketing, and restaurant management.
Despite the similar name, the Florence school is not listed as a campus in Le Cordon Bleu International’s official directory, which currently lists no location in Italy. The Florence school’s official website identifies only its Florence address, not campuses in Milan or Rome. Its programs emphasize practical instruction, careful ingredient selection, and internship opportunities in professional kitchens and hospitality establishments.
4. ALMA – The School of Italian Culinary Arts
ALMA – The School of Italian Culinary Arts is located in the Reggia di Colorno, a few kilometers from Parma. It provides professional education in Italian cuisine, pastry, breadmaking, pasta, wine, restaurant service, hospitality, and food-and-beverage management.
Current international offerings include the 11.5-month Italian Culinary Program, the four-week Italian Pastry Program, the three-week Italian Pasta Program, and the two-week Like an Italian program, which has an optional one-month internship. ALMA also offers Italian-language programs, including an Advanced Course of Italian Cuisine comprising five months at the school and a five-month traineeship.
ALMA describes itself as a center for gastronomic study and research and participates in academic collaborations and European projects addressing sustainability, nutrition, health, and climate-aware culinary education.
If your goal is to train in Italian cuisine, studying in Italy can provide direct exposure to regional food traditions, ingredients, and professional culinary environments. Before choosing a program, compare its qualification type, duration, teaching language, practical-training requirements, tuition, and scholarship conditions.
We hope this information about culinary schools in Italy was helpful. You can also find information about studying in Italy and other European programs on our Italy Page and Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
