Day 1: MILAN – PIACENZA: Arrival at Milan airport and transfer to Bologna. On the way, you will head into the Ancient Roman wine making region of Piacenza, known for its sweet Malvasia and juicy Gutturnio red wines. The first visit will be to one of the emblematic wineries of Piacenza such as beautiful Torre Fornello. You will visit the estate and vineyards with a final tasting of the best wines. After the tour, you will enjoy lunch in a medieval village near Rivalta Castle in a historical trattoria. Enjoy various local dishes, paired wine from the Piacenza region. After lunch, take a walk around the pretty little hamlet to get some fresh air. You will then head to Bologna, one of Italy’s most fantastic cities with a real bohemian atmosphere. Accommodation at the hotel and free evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 2: PARMA – MARANELLO: After breakfast at the hotel, departure to Colorno in the Parma province, where you will taste a little slice of heaven: Culatello ham, the Crème de la Crème prosciutto of Italy. Visit a small and upmarket producer’s Culatello cellar and finish with an elegant lunch focusing on local specialities: artichoke soup, Culatello di Zibello d.o.p., selection of the best charcuterie and superb wines. After lunch, enjoy a walking tour in Parma, a small gourmet town that was also the home of Italy’s famed composers Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini. Before returning to Bologna, you will have a fun visit in store at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello, an actual museum dedicated to Ferrari (this is the birthplace of this mythical car!). Learn all about the “prancing horse” and visit the museum, where you can see over 40 real models such as Formula 1 race cars from many different decades. For Ferrari-philes, there is also a Ferrari shop! Return to your hotel and the evening is yours to explore Bologna on your own. It’s a fantastic city to just enjoy a stroll, it is small and easy to manoeuvre, with endless churches, palaces, and charming squares to find on your own. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 3: BOLOGNA – MODENA: After breakfast at the hotel, you will leave Bologna in the early morning in order to get to an authentic Parmigiano Reggiano producer by cheesemaking time (roughly 8:00 am). You’ll visit a dairy in Reggio Emilia, about one hour from Bologna. The visit is complete and you will be an expert by the end of the cheese tour. You’ll see all the phases of the Parmigiano production from the processing of milk in the vats, the moulding of the curd, the salting and then the ageing process of the photogenic cheese wheels. After this fascinating visit, you will head into the wealthy little town of Modena for a visit to the 11th century Unesco heritage preserved Duomo, and relax over an aperitif outside, if weather permits. Lunch at the restaurant, right in Modena. After lunch, before heading back to Bologna, you will visit a beautiful “Acetaia”, a real “Aceto Balsamico” cellar, where you’ll learn about the interesting history and production of this liquid gold and taste a few aged Balsamics. Arrive in Bologna in the early evening and enjoy free time on your own. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

 

Day 4: BOLOGNA: After breakfast at the hotel, around 11:00 am you’ll have your very own pasta making class right in Bologna. Learn how to make pasta such as the famed local specialty of Tagliatelle al ragù (this is an ancient Bolognese recipe). After this group cooking class, sit down and enjoy the results of your efforts! After some free time, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of Bologna with a local guide to take in some of the highlights such as the Two Towers, the Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno, the Jewish Ghetto, and the fascinating 16th-century Anatomical theatre of the ancient university. In the evening free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

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Day 5: After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and end of our services.

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HOTELS OR SIMILAR

Bologna: Art Hotel Novecento****; Art Hotel Commercianti****; Una Hotel Bologna****

 

 

PRICE INCLUDES

GT bus at disposal for the entire duration of the tour; Accommodation in 4-star hotels; 4 dinners; visit of a winery in Piacenza; lunch at restaurant in Piacenza; visit of a Culatello ham cellar in Parma area with tasting lunch; entrance ticket and guided visit of Galleria Ferrari in Maranello; visit of a diary in Reggio Emilia ; guided visit of Modena; lunch at restaurant in Modena; visit of a typical Acetaia with balsamic tasting; pasta cooking class in Bologna with final tasting lunch; guided walking tour of Bologna.

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PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Drinks at meals; Entrance tickets to museums/monuments; Tips and extras; City tax, compulsory to be paid on site; Bus ZTL and parking fees; Everything that is not mentioned at the voice “Price includes”.