Emilia-Romagna 2023
THE HEART OF ITALIAN CUISINE TOUR
Taste of Emilia-Romagna
SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 6, 2023
TRIP LENGTH
8 Days, 7 Nights
Departures
Sept. 29 - Oct. 6, 2023
BOOKING DEADLINE
June 20, 2023
Trip Overview
Named “Italy’s food valley” centuries ago by the Romans, the Emilia-Romagna region continues to be home to some of Italy’s most beloved cuisine today. On this eight-day tour for foodies, you’ll spend your days diving into the production, flavors, and culinary traditions with a local expert that make Emilia-Romagna one of Italy’s most celebrated regions.
You’ll meet with local producers, dine at top restaurants, and sample the products that make the region so famous including, tagliatelle al ragu, prosciutto, tortellini, and much, much more.
From truffle hunting in the countryside, to learning how to make pasta in a charming villa, this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.
Highlights
- Truffle hunting in the woods, plus a cooking class with truffles.
- Taste traditional balsamic vinegar in Modena with an expert.
- Learn about many local specialties, like Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma ham, and taste them straight from the producer.
Itinerary
Ciao Italia!
First things first, let’s check into our hotel, drop off our bags at our hotel in Parma, and freshen up from a day of travel.
Next, we will meet up with our local guide for a light city tour visiting the incredible duomo and baptistry. (You’ll literally be staying next door to these historic sites!) Afterwards, we will have a casual aperitivo before heading to a local restaurant for dinner. This is a perfect time to get to know the other people in our group, as well as our local host, and chat about our plans for the upcoming week.
Meals included: Dinner
Today we will discover Parma city center with our local guide! We’ll taste our way through the city at many local botteghe while learning about the history, art, and culture of the city.
Afterwards, we’ll buy some fresh products for our cooking class at the Villino di Porporano.
For dinner, we’ll drive to the Villino di Porporano to get to know villa’s owner and her family and enjoy a cooking class at their home.
We’ll eat dinner together and enjoy the fruits of our labor!
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today, we are going to visit the Parma flatland!
We will discover Culatello di Zibello PDO, one of the most unique cured meats made in Italy and then enjoy a tasting in the cellar.
After, we will make our way to a winery with a light lunch and wine pairing. You will meet the producer and learn about the wine-making process.
We’ll end our day with a stop at Fontanellato Castle to visit its amazing rooms and frescoes!
You’ll have the rest of the evening to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Today, we are meeting up with a wonderful local guide in Modena who will be taking you around the city to taste all of the local specialties!
You’ll also stop at the beautiful market in Modena and a few other historic sites.
After our city tour, we will make our way to a local Acetaia for a traditional balsamic vinegar tasting. You’ll learn about the process and dedication to this centuries old craft.
We will then return to Parma where you will have the rest of the evening on your own to explore.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Today, we will make our way to Bologna – the capital of Emilia-Romagna! This city is home to many incredible historic sites, including the oldest university in the Western hemisphere.
We will meet up with our local guide to go on a walking tour for a few hours learning about this beautiful city.
After our city tour, we will head to one of our favorite local restaurants for a memorable lunch.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Bologna and visit one of our favorite gelato shops in all of Italy.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Today, we will make our way out to the countryside for a truffle hunting experience!
We will go hunting for black truffles in the woods with Lola the dog and learn about this process.
After, we will have a cooking class based on truffles!
The rest of the afternoon will be yours to explore.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
No trip to Parma is complete without visiting a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese producer!
We will see every step of the cheese production, meet the cheese master, and then taste the cheese, of course.
After, we will make our way up into the Parma hills to learn about how Parma ham is made, a local specialty.
Then we will have lunch in the Parma hills with a lovely view before making our way to the Torrechiara castle for a photo stop.
For dinner, we will visit a historical villa, meet the family, and share our farewell dinner with them.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We’ll start the day off with breakfast at the hotel before saying our goodbyes to the group.
Time to return home or to your next destination!
Arrivederci!
Meals included: Breakfast
Ready to explore Emilia-Romagna?
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
September 29 – October 6, 2023 Parma, Italy
Where We Are Staying
Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati
Parma, Italy
Located in the historical center of Parma, the Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati is a palace from the 13th century. The palace was turned into a beautiful hotel that is close to many bakeries, restaurants and attractions, and will be a lovely spot to call home for 7 nights.
All rooms are based on double occupancy (2 people per room/apartment) with twin beds. Daily breakfast is included.
Please note, due to the historical nature of the palace, all rooms have different configurations and decor. Some people will be placed in rooms with two twin beds and some will have a small apartment with two separate bedrooms.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Accommodation (7 nights)
- All meals listed in itinerary
- Breakfast daily
- All activities listed in itinerary
- Trip leader
- A local guide throughout the trip
- A group of fellow Italian food lovers
- Transportation to activities
- Welcome gift
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to/from Italy
- Airport transfers
- Mandatory travel insurance
- Meals not listed in itinerary
- Visas (if necessary)
- Personal expenses
- Incidental expenses
Who Is This Tour For?
The Emilia-Romagna stay is for any Italian food lover (aren’t we all?) who wants a meaningful, educational, and delicious trip.
If the descriptions below sound like you, you’d be an excellent fit for this stay:
- You love Italian food.
- You plan your trips around where to eat.
- You want to learn about where food comes from and how it is made.
- You believe that food is the best way to understand a culture.
- You love visiting grocery stores in new countries.
- You want to make new friends with shared interests.
- You are kind, respectful, and open-minded to different ways of living.
The trip starts and ends in Parma, Italy. There are two airports nearby – the Milan airport and the Bologna airport. Both are within an hour from Parma by train.
You can also arrive via Venice or Rome if you plan to site-see before or after, as the train ride isn’t too long from either of these cities.
Yes, all rooms are priced at double occupancy. This means you will be sharing a room with another traveler. All beds are either separate twin size beds or double beds in a shared apartment.
If you are booking with a family member, partner, or friend, let us know so we can place you in the same room.
If you’d like to book a private room, please send us an email and we will try to accommodate your request.
Yes, the minimum age requirement is 21 years old for all of our stays.
Yes, after paying your deposit, if you’d like to break up your payments into multiple installments, please send us an email to arrange this.
All payments are due 120 days prior to the trip start date.
Yes, due to the frequently changing requirements of the Italian government, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated, which includes the most recent dose of the booster.
