A Journey Called Pasta

Become immersed in the world of pasta through a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Italy's oldest pasta factories, followed by a delightful pasta lunch. The venue for this enlightening experience will be Gragnano, an ancient city where durum wheat and semolina have been cultivated for thousands of years. It also has the ideal climate for air-drying pasta, a practice that is still observed to ensure quality. As you will learn while browsing an ancient mill and museum, pasta-making is a complex process that can't be rushed. In fact, to achieve its Protected Designation of Origin status, Gragnano pasta must dry gradually for as many as four days and be extruded through a bronze die that imparts a rough texture that helps the pasta sauce cling to the noodle. The results are well worth the effort as you will discover while savoring a lunch of Gragnano pasta and locally made accompaniments.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Learn more than you ever imagined about pasta in Gragnano, a city synonymous with it.
• See how Gragnano pasta must be made to retain a Protected Designation of Origin status.
• Savor lunch that includes a Gragnano pasta dish and other Italian specialties.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.