Taste of Parma & Bologna
April 25 - May 2, 2027
Our curated journey through the region of Emilia-Romagna invites you to step off the beaten path and into the sophisticated heart of Northern Italy. Following the path of the ancient Roman Via Emilia, our tour balances the quiet elegance of Parma with the vibrant, medieval energy of Bologna as our two homebases, offering an immersive look at a region where history and heritage are woven into every meal and cobblestone.
While Italy’s gastronomic treasures hail from every corner of the country, the culinary landscape of Emilia-Romagna is arguably the richest. This region is the birthplace of some of Italy's most iconic dishes - tortellini, tagliatelle, lasagna - and most celebrated ingredients, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and traditional balsamic vinegar. With the highest number of DOP and IGP protected foods in Italy, the region’s commitment to quality and tradition is unparalleled.
Beyond its world-class pantry, Emilia-Romagna offers a profound cultural legacy. Stretching along the ancient Via Emilia, the region is home to medieval and Renaissance cities, beautifully preserved villages, and a remarkable collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
About
As Italy’s premier gastronomic destination, the "Food Valley" of Emilia-Romagna serves as our constant inspiration. Our tour provides exclusive access to the artisans behind Italy's most lauded culinary treasures:
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Private visits to a caseificio to witness the morning production of Parmigiano Reggiano, to a prosciuttificio in the foothills of Parma and to an acetaia for a tasting of decades-old traditional balsamic vinegar
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Locally-led market and street food tours, including Bologna’s Quadrilatero and Modena's Mercato Albinelli
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Private hands-on cooking class taught by a talented local chef in her home in Parma
Our itinerary also dives into the region’s artistic and architectural treasures including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
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Guided tour of Ravenna's mind-blowing Byzantine mosaics from the 5th & 6th centuries
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Free time to stroll under Bologna's porticoes, the world’s longest network of covered walkways
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Experience centuries of Italian history come to life at Parma's Renaissance Baptistry, Modena's stunning Romanesque Cathedral, and the medieval villages of Vigoleno & Castel'Arquato
Trip Highlights
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Benvenuti in Emilia-Romagna!
Benvenuti!
We meet at our 4-star hotel located right in the centro storico of Parma, our home base for the first half of our journey through Emilia-Romagna. Our superstar local guide, Alice, will lead us on a walking tour of Parma, including visits to the Duomo and Baptistry, and regale us with ancedotes of Parma's "posh" reputation.
After our tour, we'll get to know one another over a group dinner at a nearby historic restaurant, setting the stage for an unforgettable week of eating!
Day 2
Parmigiano, Prosciutto & Aceto Balsamico
Today, we embark on a sensory journey through Italy’s "Food Valley." After breakfast at the hotel, we meet our private driver and head to a local caseificio (dairy) to witness the reverential craftsmanship behind the production of Parmigiano Reggiano. We then drive to a family-run acetaia to discover the secrets of aging "black gold"- Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. (Did I mention there are tastings at every stop?!)
We'll take a break at a local roadside trattoria for a multicourse lunch featuring handmade pasta dishes as well as the artisanal ingredients we've just seen. After lunch, we travel to a prosciuttificio in the hills of Langhirano, where the unique sea breeze creates the perfect microclimate for Prosciutto di Parma.
Return to Parma to relax and enjoy dinner on your own tonight (we'll suggest some of our favorite spots!)
Day 3
Medieval Villages & Vin Santo
Today, we journey into the hills north of Parma where time seems to have stood still. Our morning begins in Vigoleno, a village so flawlessly preserved it feels like a movie set. After exploring the Romanesque church of San Giorgio, we visit a boutique winery - one of Italy’s smallest - to discover the secrets of their rare, award-winning Vin Santo.
Lunch is a family affair at a historic restaurant, where we’ll savor traditional pisarei e fasò and other local specialties. We spend the afternoon soaking in the medieval lanes and panoramic valley views of Castell’Arquato and stop for a slice of crumbly almond sbrisolona at the friendly bar in piazza.
Return to Parma for an evening at your leisure.
Day 4
Cooking Class in a Private Villa
Today, we visit the home of local chef, Maria Antonia, a lovely villa just a few minutes outside of Parma's historic center, for a hands-on cooking class. We prepare Parma's signature stuffed pasta, tortelli alle erbette, and then feast on a multicourse lunch together.
After lunch, you have the afternoon free to shop, wander and relax in Parma. We will share a final group dinner at favorite local restaurant owned and helmed by a team of women chefs.
Day 5
Modena Market Tour
This morning, we bid arrivederci to Parma. After an early breakfast and checkout, we head to Modena to meet local guide Caterina in Piazza Grande, the city’s beating heart for nearly a millennium. First stop: cappuccino and gnocco fritto at a local bar. We then take a leisurely walk around the city, stopping at the Duomo, a Romanesque masterpiece, as well as elegant Piazza Roma, home to the Ducal Palace. Our morning in Modena culminates with a market tour of Mercato Albinelli, a stunning Art Nouveau structure that serves as the gastronomic soul of the city. Here, we join locals doing their daily shopping at traditional family-owned stalls and stop for tastings along the way.
On the road to Bologna, we stop at a biodynamic winery that produces the region's signature sparkling red wine, Lambrusco. After a tour and tasting, we arrive in vibrant Bologna. A pleasant 10-minute walk under the porticoes takes us to our hotel located right off Piazza Maggiore where our luggage awaits us. Settle in and join me for an optional stroll before we meet for a decadant group dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.
Day 6
Bologna's Soul & Spirit
Our day in Bologna begins at Neptune’s Fountain, where local guide Sacha peels back the layers of the city’s history to reveal hidden symbolism and Renaissance power plays. We then shift to the cerebral at the Archiginnasio, home to the ornate Anatomical Theatre, where 16th-century students studied the human form. We then plunge into the Quadrilatero, Bologna’s ancient and atmospheric market district, a busy maze of narrow streets! (Yes, we will taste mortadella!) Our day finds its soul at the Basilica di Santo Stefano, a mystical labyrinth of interconnected chapels and cloisters that offers a retreat from the city’s bustle.
Finally, we step into a traditional pasta lab to meet a Sfoglina - a master pasta maker skilled in the art of using a wooden mattarello to transform dough into a translucent sfoglia. After she demonstrates the lightning-fast finger work required to fold tiny tortellini (inspired, legend says, by Venus’s belly button), we’ll sample her artistry for lunch! The rest of the day is yours to shop, wander, or work off the pasta with a porticoed urban hike up to the Sanctuary of San Luca. Dinner is at your leisure tonight.
Day 7
Ravenna's Mosaics
On our final day, we drive to the "Romagna" area of the region to visit Ravenna, a "City of Mosaics," where eight UNESCO World Heritage sites preserve the world’s most breathtaking Byzantine art. We step into the octagonal Basilica of San Vitale to marvel at the vivid portraits of Emperor Justinian and the glittering, starry vault of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. After tracing the golden processions of saints in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and paying respects at Dante’s Tomb, the morning concludes with a classic Romagnolo lunch. There is no better way to refuel than with a piadina, the region's iconic griddled flatbread, traditionally folded over creamy squacquerone cheese, savory prosciutto, and fresh arugula for a perfectly rustic end to a morning of imperial grandeur. After lunch, we have free time to explore Ravenna before we return to Bologna.
Let's share a final farewell dinner this evening at a lovely neighborhood osteria!
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Arrivederci!
Day 8
After breakfast, we'll bid Emilia-Romagna arrivederci!
WHERE WE’LL STAY
We'll divide our time between two gems: elegant Parma and lively Bologna.
Parma is the genteel, aristocratic soul of Emilia-Romagna. Known as the "Little Paris" of Italy, it feels sophisticated and refined, yet it remains incredibly welcoming and easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. The city exudes understated luxury with its high-end shops, operatic history and ochre-colored facades. For the first four nights of our tour, we'll stay at the Palazzo dalla Rosa Prati, a boutique hotel housed in a historic 18th-century palace located on Parma's Piazza Duomo, directly adjacent to the Baptistery.
If Parma is the "Food Valley's" boutique, Bologna is its grand, boistrous kitchen. Perhaps Italy’s ultimate "insider" city, Bologna is a vibrant, terracotta-hued masterpiece that balances medieval grit with pulsating energy. Known by three nicknames - La Grassa (The Fat, for its decadent cuisine), La Dotta (The Learned, as the home of Europe's oldest university) and La Rossa (The Red, for its red-tile roofs) - it is a city that captures the heart through the stomach and the soul. For our three nights in Bologna, we'll stay at Art Hotel Commercianti, a historic boutique hotel located right in the medieval center, in a pedestrian area just steps from Piazza Maggiore.
With our passionate local guides leading the way, you’ll uncover the unique culture and character of these two cities, but you'll have plenty of time to go "off-map" on your own, too. When the sun starts to dip, it’s time to live like a local: join the evening passeggiata among the well-heeled of Parma and grab a front-row seat under Bologna’s porticoes for an aperitivo.
Taste of Parma & Bologna Tour
DATES: April 25 - May 2, 2027
RATE: $5990.00 per person, in double occupancy room**
RATE INCLUDES:
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Double room with private bath for seven (7) nights at two centrally located 4-star hotels
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Breakfast and lunch daily
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Three dinners
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Wine included (with sit-down lunches & dinners)
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All ground transportation
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Any entrance fees, tours and local guides
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Taxes and service charges
**Single supplement of $1200.00 applies
NOT INCLUDED IN RATE:
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Airfare
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Trip insurance
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Meals not outlined above
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Optional activities during free time
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Gratuities for drivers, guides and hotel staff
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Gifts and personal purchases including snacks and refreshments not included in, or in excess of, what is included on the guided tours and planned meals/activities or purchased during “free time” or during spontaneous stops along the way
Our tour begins in Parma Sunday, April 25th at 4 pm. Our tour concludes in Bologna after breakfast on Sunday, May 2nd. Please inquire if you need advice planning transfers or the next leg of your journey.
Number of Participants: A minimum of six (6) participants is required for the program to occur. The maximum number of participants for the program is 12.
Activity Level: Please note that this trip involves extensive walking and is not suitable for travelers with mobility issues. The ability to walk at a comfortable pace, over uneven surfaces, and to navigate stairs is a must. It's also worth noting that a number of our visits and activities are in cities - some areas might be crowded so it's important that the group is able to move together at the same pace. Our hotels in Parma and Bologna are located in car-free zones, and as such, on the days when we leave the city for excursions, we will need to walk a bit to meet our driver. (Not to worry though! When you arrive in Parma, your taxi will be able to transport you and your luggage directly to the hotel, and when we transfer from Parma to Bologna, our luggage will be transported.)
Food Intolerances: This tour takes place in Emilia-Romagna, a region known for its rich and hearty cuisine. Many of our meals and activities are centered around local food traditions and will include meat (pork, in particular), cheese, and pasta. If you are vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or gluten-free, this particular tour may not be the right fit. (While we’re often able to offer substitutions on our other tours, it won’t be possible on this one - but don't hesitate to inquire about our other trips!)
Deposit & Terms & Conditions: A $1000 non-refundable deposit (for administrative fees) per person payable by check to Three Little Guys LLC (D/B/A Majella Tours), is required at the time of the reservation of the tour for each participant. Final payment of the balance must be received no later than 120 days prior to the first day of the tour. Upon payment of the deposit, the tour registrants expressly agree to be bound by the Terms & Conditions set forth in the Tour Agreement.
