HIGHLIGHTS: Private guide, visit to world famous artisanal food productions (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Culatello di Zibello), fusion of art and story-telling, full lunch, entries to 2 castles
SEL AVAILABLE: Wednesday to Sunday WHERE: Soragna (Fidenza), Fontanellato, Busseto (up to 40 km north of Parma) FROM: Parma, Bologna, Modena, Milan, Piacenza DURATION: 5 hours + transfer times TYPE OF TOUR: Private, educational, foodie, art, history TOUR TIME: 9:15 am in the Parma province (up to 18 km from Parma) MEETING: Directly at the dairy (if self-drive); Your hotel / train station (if car&driver selected) Besides being a UNESCO city for Creative Gastronomy and the administrative capital of the Food Valley, Parma also belongs to a touristic network comprising more than 30 ancient castles with peculiar architectural patterns according to where they were built one thousand years ago: come discover the magic combination of these two ingredients – art and food - in the charming lowlands of the Po-river! 9:15 am: Meet the guide at our PDO Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy and enjoy a thorough visit of the plant from the live production area to the drying and salting room and the ageing cellar, aka “the bank” or “the cathedral” for the thousands cheese wheels piled up to reach the ceiling. Tasting at the end. 10:30 am: Head on to the first castle. 10:45 am: Guided visit of the elegant Rocca Meli Lupi in Soragna, still inhabited by Prince Diofebo Meli Lupi (descendant of an aristocratic family of medieval origins directly linked to the Austrian emperors) and bearing perfect witness of the power, gentility and cultural awareness of the local signori who settled down in this very strategic strip of land between central and southern Europe. 12:45 pm: Head on to the second foodie stop. 01:00 pm: Guided visit of a small ageing cellar of PDO Culatello di Zibello nearby: you will be surprised to know that this utmost artisanal cured meat obtained from the same pork leg destined to the Prosciutto production is one of the top-notch gourmet foods selected by all Michelin guides and many famous chefs all over Europe! 02:30 pm: Head on to the second castle. 03:00 pm: Guided visit of the picturesque Rocca Sanvitale in Fontanellato: owned by the homonymous high-lineage Counts until 1948 and still surrounded by its original medieval moat, it is one of Italy’s most frequented touristic attractions thanks to local painter Parmigianino’s intriguing rendering of Diana and Acteon in one of the inner rooms. 04:00 pm: End of activities and back to hotel / head on to your next destination. Extra ingredient to your day? Try not to get lost at Labirinto della Masone, the biggest maze of the world, completely made of bamboo canes and bejeweled by a state-of-the-art contemporary building looking like a pyramid and housing one of Parma’s richest collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures and inestimable ancient prints.
Inclusions: Private guide full day (Ita/Eng, other languages on request) Visit & tasting at a PDO Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy Visit & full lunch at an aging cellar of PDO Culatello di Zibello (local wines included) Tickets and guided visits at the castles of Soragna and Fontanellato Exclusions: Everything not mentioned in the inclusions Cancellation policy: No fee up to 8 days before the starting day; From 7 days to 3 days before the tour starting date: 50% penalty; 48 hours' notice: 70% penalty; 24 hours' notice: 100% penalty. Please note: Program: the described program may undergo minor changes in timings and schedule; Pick-ups: If you choose the car+driver option the price is calculated considering a pick-up from your hotel town or immediate surroundings (max 15 Km). Pick-ups from other locations can be purchased with a surcharge to be agreed upon by email request. Our drivers are NOT driver-guides, since this kind of professional profile is forbidden by the Italian law. Guide: the guide joins you on board only with the car+driver grade and always according to the Covid-regulations valid at the moment of booking. In case you choose the own-car grade, the guide drives his/her own and you just follow with yours (with our itinerary instructions as emergency measure).
For different n° of participants, groups or more details: fill the form First name * Last name * E-Mail * Company Address City Province Phone / Mobile Fax Date Adults * Kids (4-10 anni) * Children (0-3 anni) * Tour takes place with * own carAgency's car and driver Additional requests I accept all the terms and conditions Send