15/03/2023 / Last updated : 15/03/2023 wpamitaliatours Food and wine

The Via Emilia, The Valley of Wonders

The Via Emilia, The Valley of Wonders, 8 unforgettable days

The Via Emilia, the Road of Flavors par excellence, the ancient Roman road of communication between the Adriatic and northern Italy and then Europe, the road of products known throughout the world, food and non-food, because Emilia is the Food Valley but also the Welness Valley and the Motor Valley, the land of well-being and the land of Motors, and don’t be surprised by this juxtaposition, because here the territory is a harmonious whole with the passions and functional to the quality of life. A trip along this road is part of those things that you have to do once in a lifetime, even two, three, as many as you want, it will always be a pleasant surprise. The proposal is based on staying three nights in Parma and five nights in Bologna to leisurely savor the beauty from Parma to Bologna and beyond. Period: all year round

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrival in Parma

Meet at Milan Malpensa (or Bologna) airport with our escort, transfer by minivan to very well located 4* Hotel in the city center and settle in. Depending on arrival time, orienteering tour and dinner( included ) to start tasting the city’s products. Overnight stay in Parma

Day Two – Parma, Verdi and Culatello, timeless symphonies.

Today we head towards the Po’ River, specifically to Zibello, a small town that hides a thousand-year-old passion that has given us one of the most precious products of this region, precious and exclusive because only in these 5 square kilometers Culatello di Zibello is produced. We will visit the beautiful Borgo/Castle of Corte Pallavicina( including ), transformed into an agritourism and restaurant offering all local products.

After visiting the Borgo, we will move on to the Culatello Museum with product tasting (included ), before sitting down at the table and tasting the dishes that Michelin-starred chef Massimo Spigaroli will prepare for us at Corte Pallavicini or Cavallino Bianco Restaurant ( basic menu included).

In the afternoon, return to Parma via Torrebianca Castle and the splendid Reggia di Colorno, now home to ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine ( included) . In the evening walking tour in the center of Parma. Overnight stay in Parma

Day Three – The castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza

Day dedicated to the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure, first stop the beautiful Gropparello Castle, surrounded by the rolling hills of Piacenza and the Fairy Tale Park. More than a Castle, it is a Medieval Village where nothing is missing, not even ghosts. After the visit we take the road back to Parma to come across Borgo Castello d’Arquato, one of the most beautiful Italian villages, a harmonious blend of art and architecture.

We are in the middle of the Piacenza wine area, so a stop at a winery to taste local products and then stop for lunch (Included ) . In the afternoon we will visit the last village of the day, the wonderful Borgo di Vigoleno, a perfectly preserved village and castle, a dip into the brightest Middle Ages. Before returning to Parma, we will stop at a farm to taste tasty cheeses. Overnight stay in Parma

Day Four – From Parma to Bologna, a valley two thousand years long.

The day begins taken (7:30 a.m.) so that you can watch the “raising” of the wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese with tasting of the various ripenings (Including )

We will continue the day by taking the road to Langhirano, where we will visit the Castle of Torrechiara ( included ) and before arriving at the farmhouse with panoramic views of the city of Parma, to have lunch with the flavors of local products ( included )

In the afternoon, visit to the Parma Ham Museum with tasting ( included) and on to Bologna, passing through Reggio Emilia and Modena. Arrival in Bologna and accommodation in Hotel In the evening short orientation walk in the historic center. Overnight stay in Bologna

Day Five – Bologna, the learned, the fat, the wise.

After a busy day some relaxation. Today we will visit Bologna with a local guide who will show you all the secrets of the Italian capital of gastronomy, the places of age-old tradition, markets, magic, surprises and the oldest University in the World, tasting local products in the stores of the quadrilateral of taste (included ).

Free afternoon with suggestion to visit Eataly the Food and Wine Theme Park featuring all Italian regions and typical regional products. ( 65,00 €) . Overnight stay in Bologna

Day Six – Bologna/Modena where passion runs as slow as a fairy tale, as fast as an idea.

We are dedicating this day to the Strada dei Castelli e Ciliegi, in the hills between Bologna and Modena, two friendly and enemy cities that share the paternity of the invention of tortellini, about which we will tell you more on the way. Tastings, discoveries, ancient and modern agritourisms, breathtaking landscapes and a lunch of good food and the pleasure of experiencing it with those who prepare our dishes.

The day includes:

– Visit to the Road of Flavors between Bologna and Modena

-Visit of ancient vinegar factory producing Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena with tasting.

-Farm lunch

-Visit to Lambrusco production winery and tasting, Parmigiano Reggiano production dairy and tasting.

Overnight stay in Bologna

—Option to visit the Ferrari Museum ( 22,00 € )

Day Seven – Bologna/ Forlimpopoli where Italian gastronomy was born.

The Via Emilia today takes us to Forlimpopoli, a small town an hour from Bologna and half an hour from Ravenna, a few miles from the sea, in the last hills of the Apennines.

The city is famous for having given Christmases to Pellegrino Artusi, a merchant with a passion for travel and cooking. In 1891 he wrote “La Scienza in Cucina e l’Arte di Mangiar Bene,” the first book to chronicle united Italy from the perspective of local food cultures.

After visiting Casa Artusi we can participate in a coking clas s of two hours where we will learn how to make fresh pasta, which we will then enjoy for lunch ( including ).

In the afternoon, return to Bologna with a stop in beautiful Dozza, a unique medieval village dominated by the Rocca in whose dungeons is housed the Enoteca regionale dell’Emilia Romagna, where we can taste excellent wines accompanied by a sommelier and local products( including ). Overnight stay in Bologna

Day 8 – Bologna, our options.

Free day with many opportunities for sightseeing.

-Visit to Rocchetta Mattei and an excellent winery with lunch and wine tasting included €85.00

-Visit to Ravenna, the Mosaic Capital and the Comacchio Valleys with lunch ( and boat trip) €125.00

-Visit to Sogliano sul Rubicone with Fossa Cheese tasting, the Borgo di Verucchio and the Republic of San Marino. 105,00 €

Overnight stay in Bologna

Ninth Day – The Departure

At appropriate time transfer to the airport(Bologna or Milan).

Costs per person in standard double room and B&B service

8 people 2.525,00 €

10 people 2.235,00 €

14 people €1,980.00