8 Day Food and Wine Holiday in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Italy Culinary Holiday
Experience an escorted tour featuring the food and wine of Emilia-Romagna. This is an 8-day-tour perfectly paced for you to enjoy the many flavors this region has to offer. The tour will begin in Milan and proceed through Emilia-Romagna region before returning to Milan for your departure. They have planned this itinerary for travelers who love Italian food and who want to learn and experience this culture though the region of Italy’s most popular and high-quality food. During this tour you will learn and experience what make this food so special by visiting the cheese and prosciutto factory, the acetaia cellar (balsamic vinegar), the FICO Eataly World and take few cooking classes. Also, you will enjoy tours by professional local guides to discover the historical treasures of Parma, Bologna, Modena and many picturesque small villages.
Highlights
- Cooking classes and wine tastings
- Guided and walking tours around the city centers
- Visit FICO Eataly and the Acetaia - Balsamic Vinegar cellar
- Visit the Parmesan Cheese Factory and a prosciutto factory
- Accompanied by licensed local guides, drivers, and with wireless headsets
- Visit the Sforza’s Castle and see the Teatro Farnese
- Private transfer from the airport to the hotel
- 7 nights accommodation and 14 meals
Accommodation
You will stay in first-class hotels or four class hotels. In Parma, you will stay 6 nights in NH Parma, Hotel City Parma or similar. On the last night, in Milan, you will stay one night in Hotel dei Cavalieri, Mirage or similar. Accommodation is not fixed as it may change or vary depending on availability. For more information, please send an inquiry.
Program
The Emilia-Romagna region and Parma, “the capital of the Food Valley,” are known worldwide for the largest number of certified traditional Italian products (made in Italy). These include products such as prosciutto, parmigiano, mortadella, salami, balsamic vinegar, wines, olive oils, tortellini, pasta alla bolognese and many more. The entire food and wine production is still valued by the institution with Food Museums: The Museum of Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Museum of Ham and Salami of Parma, and the Salami Museum, dedicated to the most famous of Italian salami.
Groups are normally no more than 8 participants. Small group typically of 8 passengers means an intimate and personalized experience, enjoy authentic local restaurants, learning more with a peace of mind.
Tour guide and tour driver
Your tour will be conducted by the tour guide/tour driver. They will take the worry out of foreign travel as they manage the intricate details of your tour, keeping you entertained with anecdotes and stories to make sure your vacation is educational, entertaining, fun and safe!
You will never feel alone. Your tour director and tour driver who will be ready to fulfill your needs with the utmost professionalism and safety.
Licensed local guides
Experts in Parma, the Cheese and Prosciutto factories, Acetaia (Balsamic vinegar), Bologna, Modena
Your local expert guides are native citizens of the cities they represent, offering a fascinating insight into local history, customs and tradition while entertaining you with stories only a local would know!
Travel and connect with locals, “traveling in Italian style.”
Equipment
You will have wireless headsets to hear the guide clearly and distinctly in public places by utilizing the personal audio system for groups of 9+ allowing you to roam and explore sites (within 60 feet) without missing any insight from your local guides.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Milan – Emilia Romagna Region
Welcome to Milano! Your driver will greet you at 3:00 pm at Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) to transfer you to your beautiful agriturismo-hotel in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. In the late afternoon you will meet your tour guide and then enjoy a welcome dinner.
- Hotel: NH Parma, Hotel City Parma or similar (6 nights)
Day 2 – Cooking class at a local farmhouse
Your first day in Italy starts with a leisurely breakfast. Next enjoy a cooking class at a local farmhouse and learn how to prepare some typical Italian dishes followed by lunch with some delicious Lambrusco wine. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time for sightseeing in the local villages of the area.
Day 3 – Parma – Prosciutto factory
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Parma with your local guide. Visit the Romanesque Cathedral and its Baptistery and observe the differences between the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture. See the amazing Baroque Farnese theater, “Teatro Farnese.” Then go on to visit a Prosciutto factory. In the late afternoon, enjoy some free time and conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4 – Parmesan cheese factory – cooking class – Lambrusco winery
This morning, visit the Parmesan Cheese Factory (Parmigiano-Reggiano) with a local cheese expert. In the afternoon experience a 3/4-hour cooking class with an Italian chef and learn how to make traditional dishes from Parma such as Tortelli, Tagliatelle, and more. Following the cooking class, enjoy a wine tasting with a local wine expert. For dinner, enjoy your own “expertly prepared” dish!
Day 5 – Fico Eataly
Today enjoy the largest food park in the world: “FICO Eataly World” at your own pace. There will be time to join some food tours, food courses, or food events as you please (not included). In the evening, dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
Day 6 – Bologna – Dozza
Begin the day with a walking tour with a local guided tour through the capital of the region of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, followed by time to explore on your own. In the afternoon, drive to the small village of Dozza, known for its festival of the painted wall. Visit the Sforza’s Castle (a local landmark), whose cellars host Enoteca Regionale Emilia Romagna, the wine shop and wine bar dedicated to enology products of Emilia-Romagna (such as Lambrusco, Gutturnio, Albana and Pignoletto). Conclude the day with an amazing dinner.
Day 7 – Modena, Balsamic Vinegar Cellar, Milan
This morning, take a ride to Modena to visit the city center, experience its fascinating food market, and see the beautiful cathedral (a Unesco Heritage site). Later, go to a local Acetaia to visit the cellar where the traditional Aceto Balsamico (balsamic vinegar) is made. A lunch to celebrate the success of your vacation will then be served with a menu featuring balsamic vinegar. In the late afternoon, you’ll enjoy a ride out to your hotel in Milan.
- Hotel: Hotel dei Cavalieri, Mirage or similar (1 night)
Day 8 – Leaving for home
Arrivederci! Your airport transfer bus arrives at Milano Malpensa International Airport (MXP) at 7:00 am and 9:00 am.
Included excursions
All excursions are included at no additional cost, which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime (skip the line for tickets, restaurants, venues, local guides, transportation, excursions and more). There will be no surprises along the way.
All the excursions have been planned with comfortable morning departure times. Never leave your hotel before 8:00 am.
Location
Emilia-Romagna is a region in north-central Italy. Its capital is Bologna, famous for its university and the medieval architecture. A big portion of the region consists in a great plain extending from the Po river southeast to Ravenna and Rimini. With its broad lowland and adequate water supply (from both rainfall and irrigation), Emilia-Romagna is one of the leading agricultural regions of Italy. This region is also famous for products known all over the world such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma.
Food
The price is inclusive of 14 meals:
- 7 American inspired breakfast buffets
- 2 lunches/cooking classes to include two main courses, mineral water, fine local wine (1/4) and dessert
- 5 dinners to include two main courses, mineral water, local wine (1/4) and dessert
Included every day you will have a minimum of two meals; the selected family owned restaurants will certainly be unforgettable!
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- All program activities and excursions as described in the itinerary
- All service charges, taxes, each tourist's overnight city tax
- Credit card fees, currency exchange
- Baggage handling included when not in airports
- All standard gratuities for restaurant personnel
- Accompanied by tour director and tour driver
- Licensed local guides
- Wireless headsets
- One umbrella for each person in case of rain
- Private airport transfer from Milan Int. Airport (MXP) to your hotel in Emilia Romagna Region as scheduled on the itinerary in luxury air-conditioned private mini-coach
- 7 nights accommodation in first-class hotels or four class hotels (4-star and 5-star)
- 14 meals
What's not included
- Air transportation
- Tips for local guides, tour leaders and driver
- Personal expenses
- Transfers from the hotel to the airport
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Milan–Malpensa Airport
155 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 24% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.