VIA EMILIA DAYS – The Food Route of Italy (4 nights)

AVAILABLE: Monday to Saturday (not during fair periods)

WHERE: Parma, Modena, Bologna 

FROM: Parma, Bologna, Milano 

DURATION: 5 days – 4 nights 

TYPE OF TOUR: Private, slow-pace, gourmet, educational, top-notch 

Parma (capital of the Food Valley and UNESCO site for Creative Gastronomy), Modena (headquarters of the Motor valley) and Bologna (true quintessence of the Emilian culture): add Parmigiano, Prosciutto, Balsamico, Lambrusco and Sangiovese and you’ll have a winning all-in!

Day 1

Afternoon: Arrival in Parma and check-in at the selected hotel.

  To follow:  Meet our qualified guide and enjoy a 2-hour ½ slow-paced sightseeing walking tour of the town among the most iconic deli boutiques, pieces of general information, descriptions of the locals’ lifestyle, anecdotes about Parma’s legendary personalities and precious suggestions for shopping in the arts and crafts district. 

 And yes – you will also hear about the historical and artistic heritage of the petite Capitale: with its 1.000-year-old ensemble of Cathedral and Baptistery, its gracious Renaissance frescoes on the cupolas, the stunning wooden architecture of Teatro Farnese and the neoclassic Teatro Regio wrapped in the unmistakable yellow nuance called Giallo Parma, the town is a miniature summary of all the epochs and styles that have made Italy the fundamental stop of the European Grand Tour.

  Dinner: Welcome dinner with typical 3-course menu (wine included, walking distance).

Night: Overnight in Parma.

Day 2

  08.30 am: Meet our guide in Parma and head on to visit an authentic producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO: you’ll discover how the King of all cheeses has been literally made by hand in the same way since the Benedictine monks invented it 10 centuries ago! From the curdling into the typical copper heaters to the salting and the final ageing in the so-called wheel cathedrals, you will be a privileged witness of almost all the steps of production of this out-and-out food icon. Tasting at the end.

  To follow: Picture-stop at the medieval fortified village of Torrechiara dominated by its breathtaking castle: one of the most spectacular among the manors included in the Italian network called Castles of the Duchy, it dates back to the early Renaissance time and – with its gentle lines and the golden frescoes housed in the highest tower – it still represents the switch from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

  11.45 am: Guided visit with final tasting at one of the local family-run ham factories producing the mythical Prosciutto di Parma PDO: you will get to know why the best ham can only be made in the hills of Parma, where the marino wind blows from the Ligurian Sea through the river valley.

  12.30/45 pm: Full lunch based on the typical products of the area: Parmigiano, Prosciutto as well as other kind of local cold cuts, a typical stuffed pasta dish (tortelli di Parma), homemade cakes, all paired up with local wines like Lambrusco and Malvasia!

  02:30 pm: End of morning activities and back to Parma.

Afternoon: Free time for independent visits or shopping.

  Dinner: You will be welcomed at Antica Corte Pallavicina, a country-chic Relais housed in the only castle of Italy able to survive the disastrous floods of the mighty river Po and boasting a long list of charming added values: a Michelin restaurant, an own farming estate with its outlet as well as a deli shop, a black pig breeding activity and therefore a glorious production & ageing of top-notch cured meats, a food museum, a small osteria for the most genuine farm-to-table tastings in full Italian style.

 The river flows nearby, the peacocks run free in the courtyard, life is slow-paced and tranquility prevails: it’s like going back in time, immersed in the true Emilian countryside.

  To follow: Guided visit to the picturesque medieval cellars where Culatello di Zibello PDO, the King of all artisanal cured meats, rests for years before landing to the most renowned Michelin restaurants and the best deli shops of Europe.

Dinner: Farm-to-table dinner at the annexed Hosteria del Maiale.

Night: Overnight in Parma.

Day 3

  Morning: Checkout and head on to Bologna with a quintessential stop in the province of Modena, the heart of the Italian motor valley, which is rich both in engineering and gastronomic heritage at the same time.

  To follow: Visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello (on own) to dive into the past, present and future of the glorious Prancing Horse.

  Lunch: Guided visit and tasting lunch at a traditional Acetaia to catch the secrets of PDO Traditional Balsamic Vinegar: in particular, you will get to know why the balsamico made upon the traditional method is the one and only “black gold”, not to be confused with the imitations available in most of the delis and stores around the world.

  04:30 pm: Check-in at the selected hotel in Bologna.

  Free time: Free time for a stroll downtown.

  Dinner: Welcome dinner with typical 3-course menu and wine included (walking distance).

Night: Overnight l in Bologna.

Day 4

  Tba: 3-hour guided food walking tour of Bologna, searching for its two souls - the Fat and The Learned in all art&food details of this quintessential town.

 After a quick look at the sfogline rolling out pasta stripes in their shops, our Bologna expert guide will take you to the locals’ favorite spots in the Quadrilatero, the historical food market district full of irresistible temptations: formaggio bianco, tortellinis, lasagne, parmesan, mortadella… all of which ready to land in your mouth together with nice and long sips of local wine!

 And to make it a real treat and an all-round experience, you’ll also get an insider-view of the most iconic corners and monuments of the town, from Piazza Maggiore, to the Neptune Statue and the world-famous UNESCO-Porticoes.

 Gelato or of a piece of typical pastry and a real Italian espresso at the end will be the cherry on top of your foodie day.

Dinner: On own.

Night: Overnight in Bologna.

Day 5

  10:00 am: Visit Dozza (on own), a charming little village that looks like the perfect fusion between Middle Ages and Pop Art: a real open-air museum with more than 100 graffiti by several prestigious contemporary artists painted on walls, vaults and arcades.

 And if you decide to step into the Fortress of Dozza (on own), you’ll have the chance to sip a last wine glass in the ancient cellars that host Enoteca Regionale dell’Emilia Romagna (at your charge).   

  11:30 am: Head back to Bologna with a stop by Castel San Pietro Terme for a top-notch wine tasting.

  12:00 pm: At this incredibly competitive family-run company, long established in the area and  known for combining a traditional and innovative method at the same time, you will get stunned at how noticeable the level of the Bologna hills wines can be: 3 individual and distinctive interpretations of Sangiovese di Romagna, revealed through a guided tour of the winery, will be paired to top quality, locally-produced gourmet foods such as mortadella, salame, caciotta (soft cheese) and/or pecorino, thus making an unforgettable tasting lunch!

02:30 pm: End of activities and head on your next destination.