There is a place in Zungri where time has stopped rushing by to make way for the slow pace of nature. Here, in the heart of the Stone City, a community guards the most precious secret of rural Calabria: the cult of handmade bread. Don't expect a sterile cooking class; prepare for total immersion guided by the charismatic Signora Franca. Her language is broad Calabrian, but her gestures and warmth are universal: she will make herself understood by every soul willing to listen.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m., transforming you into true farmers of the past: you will put on “maccaturi e faddali” (headscarf and apron) and plunge your hands into the “madhja,” working a sourdough starter that has been breathing for over 95 years. Between kneading sessions, the air will be filled with “cunti” (ancient tales) and the beat of the tarantella, which will sweep you away in liberating dances.

While the bread is rising, you can lose yourself among the Rock Caves of Zungri or the painted doorways of the village. The highlight of the experience is the Rustic Flavours Feast: a generous banquet, set up in an old 'o pagghiaru, where you will savour only what the land has to offer. The finale is pure magic: the scent of the wood-fired oven heralding the “pitta avanti fornu,” the warm bread that smells of home, history and love.

One important thing: the experience is held in Calabrian (not Italian!). And don't worry if you don't speak either language – Mrs. Franca manages to make herself understood by everyone!