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In the heart of Emilia
Price per person from 842 €

In the heart of Emilia

price starting from
842 €
Calculated on 2 persons
price starting from
842 €
>

Description

Three days in Bologna and one in Parma in 4-star hotels, with accommodation in a double room and breakfast included.

A journey into a land that can get into your heart, famous throughout the world for its flavours, cars, art, music and the industriousness of its inhabitants.

Bologna is an anthem to the zest for good living, the hub between Northern and Central Italy that unites the best of the country: cuisine, art, culture.

The entire centre can be visited under the shelter of the porticos, which stretch for more than 40 kilometres: since the Middle Ages, they have been the place for community life, which also welcomes tourists with a centuries-old tradition of hospitality.

Piazza Maggiore has a magnificent view, surrounded by the Palazzo del Podestà, the Palazzo Comunale and the Basilica di San Petronio, which tell a story of wealth and pride.

Not far away is the 97-metre-high Torre degli Asinelli, with a breathtaking view of the city and the network of canals that moved the wheels of the craftsmen's workshops

All around, in the maze of ancient alleyways, are fabulous shops and restaurants: the sanctuaries of legendary cuisine, including tortellini, mortadella and salumi, with unforgettable wines.

Parma is the joyful face of Emilia, with an atmosphere as lyrical as the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, the composer born in this land.

We are in the most beautiful corner of Emilia, with the Po Valley stretching as far as the Apennine mountains.

And the city centre offers a journey through art history spanning the centuries.

The Duomo and Baptistery, imposing in the Romanesque style with Benedetto Antelami's incredible statues that look like miniatures from a medieval codex.

There is also the Baroque Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, with paintings by Correggio and Parmigianino.

After that, you can admire the 19th-century architecture of the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Teatro Regio.

The shops have the refined look of a tradition of beauty.

And the city is also a hotspot for world-famous delicacies: Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Lambrusco wine, balsamic vinegar.

The magical ingredients of dishes that will enchant any diner are offered here for sale directly from the producers.

Visiting

Day 1: Discovering the capital of Emilia
Day 1: Discovering the capital of Emilia

Arrive at your leisure in Bologna with accommodation in a 4-star hotel in the historic centre, in a double room. Thanks to its central location, it is possible to visit the city's most famous sights on your own, venturing through the arcades, markets and ancient alleys. Starting, for example, from Piazza Porta Ravegnana, under the Two Towers, the symbol of the city, go to Piazza Maggiore, the 'big square' of the singers, then enter the Basilica of San Petronio, patron saint of Bologna, with the longest sundial in the world and the Chapel of the Magi inside. Don't miss the Church of Santa Maria della Vita, with the 'Lamentation of the Dead Christ' by Niccolò dell'Arca, and the abbey complex of the seven churches of Santo Stefano. To delight the palate, stop in Piazza Maggiore or in one of the many clubs between Via del Pratello and Via Zamboni, where the nightlife is concentrated.

Day 2: The secrets of Bolognese cuisine
Day 2: The secrets of Bolognese cuisine

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then a day to fall in love with the most authentic Bologna, home of mortadella, tortellini and numerous traditional dishes that have become famous throughout the world, from lasagne al forno to tagliatelle al ragù. Thanks to the hotel's central location, it is easy to stroll around the osterias and shops of the Quadrilatero, a temple of good food, where you can buy local products and typical wines. To learn the secrets of a sweet and mouth-watering Bologna, also visit Palazzo della Mercanzia, the ancient commercial heart of the city, where the original recipes of local dishes and the measure of the 'perfect tagliatella' are kept.

Included experience: Cooking class in Bologna amid traditions and flavours

Depending on your agreed time, meet with a private guide for a food and wine walk in the heart of the Food Valley.

Venture into the market and guild area and meet a 'sfoglina', the traditional Bolognese housewife, to try your hand at an Emilian-style cooking class.

Work flour and eggs and arm yourself with a cutting board, rolling pin and wheel to create the perfect fresh pasta, no more than half a millimetre thick.

After enjoying a plate of pasta paired with local wine, head to a salumi shop for a lesson on salumi cutting techniques.

This is followed by a tasting of typical cheeses paired with mustards and wine.

Day 3: Arcades and museums
Day 3: Arcades and museums

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and, thanks to its central location, it is an easy walk to visit the city's most important museums: the Museo Civico Archeologico, one of Italy's most famous archaeological collections, the Pinacoteca and the Museo d'Arte Moderna MAMbo. Also worth seeing is the Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio, with its amphitheatre-shaped wooden hall, designed in 1637.

Included experience: Trekking in Bologna: sport and taste

Depending on your agreed time, meet with an expert guide and walk along the record-breaking portico from the historic centre of Bologna to the Sanctuary of San Luca: a 3.7-kilometre route through 666 arches and 15 chapels.

Walk under the imposing arches erected to protect the faithful and climb step by step up to the shrine, a place of pilgrimage and Sunday walks.

Enjoy a breathtaking view of the city, then treat yourself to a well-deserved refreshment of local delicacies.

At the end of the day, travel at your leisure to the countryside near Parma with an overnight stay in a 4-star hotel, in a double room.

Day 4: A bike ride through tradition and taste
Day 4: A bike ride through tradition and taste

Enjoy breakfast at the 4-star hotel and walk on your own to visit Parma's most iconic sites: the Cathedral and Baptistery, with statues by Benedetto Antelami, the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, with paintings by Correggio and Parmigianino, the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Regio Theatre, one of the most important in Italy.

Included experience: Tour of Parma by bike to discover taste and flavour

According to your agreed timetable, meet up with an expert cyclist in the city centre and bike along the rolling hills of Parma, on the trail of its authentic flavours.

Enter a cheese factory to learn about the taste and secrets of Parmigiano Reggiano, then continue on to an acetaia, where Traditional Balsamic Vinegar is produced.

Finally, delight yourself with a typical lunch in a local trattoria, embraced by the inimitable Emilian hospitality.

A journey of authentic flavours in a perfect setting before departure.

Guide languages

English
Italian
Day 1: Bologna
Day 2: Bologna
Day 3: Bologna, Parma (Province)
Day 4: Parma (Province), Parma

DAY 1

  • Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the historic centre of Bologna, in a double room


DAY 2

  • Breakfast at the hotel

Experience: Cooking class in Bologna amid traditions and flavours

  • Private tour guide in Italian - English - German
  • Cooking class and tasting of a pasta course with a glass of wine
  • Practical demonstration on cutting salumi and cheeses
  • Cheese tasting with mustards and wine
  • Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the historic centre of Bologna, in a double room

 

DAY 3

  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Parking at the hotel

Experience: Trekking in Bologna: sport and taste

  • Private tour guide in Italian, English or German
  • Ticket to climb the Dome of San Luca
  • Tasting with typical products
  • Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in the Parma countryside, in a double room

 

DAY 4

  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Parking at the hotel

Experience: Tour of Parma by bike to discover taste and flavour

  • Private licensed bike guide in Italian and English
  • 2 tastings (Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar)
  • Lunch (2 courses, water and coffee)
  • Mountain bike hire
  • Insurance
  • Helmet
  • Anything not specified in the 'Included' section
  • Tips
  • Meals except where expressly provided for in the programme
  • Tourist tax for the hotel
  • Medical and luggage insurance
  • Any personal extras

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Experiences

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