Daily Itinerary
Pricing

Highlights

• Often missed by most tours and tourists…visits to the beautiful Northern Italian cities and culinary wonders…Bologna, Modena and Parma
• Culinary tour and tasting of Italy’s food paradise…the Bologna market
• Visits and tastings at artisanal makers of Italian food classics: parmigiano reggiano, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and olive oil
• Wine tasting at Allegrini, a renowned Amarone winery in Verona
• Ferrari museum and factory tour
• The town of Ravenna…UNESCO World Heritage site…an absolute gem in the art world and famous for its exquisite mosaics
• Lunch on the banks of beautiful Lake Garda in Italy’s acclaimed lake region
• Cooking class and luncheon party showcasing the classic ingredients and culinary style of the Veneto region

Overview

Discover our newest tour this fall…the Northern Italian Food Celebration, where we’ll visit Italy’s most famous food centers…Bologna, Modena & Parma. Long known by Italians and overlooked by many foreigners, all three cities, with their richly displayed medieval and Renaissance art, history & architecture, are lauded for their exquisite cuisine. The best gastronomy the country offers in quintessential Italian ingredients and local restaurants. Bologna, with its picturesque miles of portico walkways in one of the best-preserved historic centers in Europe, is a gastronomical Mecca. Its iconic food market is the greatest in all of Italy. Putting our forks down just long enough to also visit the revered art town of Ravenna (renowned for its mosaics) and a spin around the Ferrari factory museum in Modena, we’ll pick them up again in countryside visits to artisanal producers of prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano and balsamic vinegar. Modena is an ancient town and the area around it is where balsamic vinegar had its origins. Parma, another ancient city, is synonymous with the world’s best cheese & ham, and is also loved by Italians for its incredible stuffed pasta dishes. The tour ends with us raising our glasses in Verona at the Allegrini Winery a top producer of Italy’s greatest Amarone wines. If you love food and especially Italian food, please reserve your place on the tour and at the table!

2022 Northern Italian Food Celebration Tour - Day by Day Itinerary

Departure from the United States

Thursday, October 13

Day 1 - Bologna

Friday, October 14

Afternoon: Arrive in Bologna and check-in for 3 nights to your four-star hotel in the heart of the city. Orientation walk of Bologna with local guide. Tour will include Piazza Maggiore, the city’s main square.

Evening: Welcome dinner at private residence.

Day 2 - Bologna

Saturday, October 15

Morning: Meet in hotel lobby with guide. Walking Tour of Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital, and its old markets. Learn about the city's culinary history and culture. Food Tasting at the Quadrilatero market area including a stop at A.F. Tamburini, one of the city’s most famous food stores.

Afternoon:

OPTION A: Enjoy the rest of the day shopping and relaxing and/or exploring Bologna on your own.

OPTION B: Bologna City Tour with guide. This is the perfect tour for those interested in learning more about the history of the city. Tour will include the Basilica of San Petronio, the Two Towers and Santo Stefano.

Evening: Dinner on your own.

Day 3 - Bologna–Ravenna–Bologna

Sunday, October 16

Morning: At leisure in Bologna.

Afternoon: Departure from Bologna to Ravenna. Walking Tour of Ravenna which was once the capitol of the Western Roman Empire, later the capitol of the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths and then one of the privileged provinces to the Byzantine Empire. Its buildings preserve superb mosaic works and they mark the glorious past of Ravenna, eight of them have been inscribed in the World Heritage List of UNESCO since December 1996. Tour will include visit to the Basilica of Sant’Appolinare Nuovo, the tomb of Italian poet Dante Alighieri, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galia Placidia.

Evening: Early Evening return to Bologna. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4 - Bologna–Modena

Monday, October 17

Morning: Departure from Bologna to Modena with en-route visit to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. Walking tour of the museum with Ferrari guide.

Afternoon: Lunch at restaurant near Ferrari's race track. At the restaurant you will enjoy a mixture of culinary art and motor car culture. Continue to Modena. Check-in for 3 nights at four-star hotel in Modena's city center - Walking tour of Modena with local guide.

Evening: Private Dinner at the residence of Giovanna's good friend.

Day 5 - Modena

Tuesday, October 18

Morning: Departure for Spilamberto. Visit to a local organic Parmigiano-Reggiano producer. Late morning departure for a local Acetaia, a top producer of balsamic vinegar.

Afternoon: Lunch at the acetaia.

Evening: Dinner on your own.

Day 6 - Modena–Parma–Modena

Wednesday, October 19

Morning: Departure from Modena to Polesine Parmense next to the Po' River. Visit the ancient 14th century farm house, a real gem and a place with a rich history. We will visit their farm and the famed cellars, where thousands of culatelli di Zibello (top quality prosciutto) are left to age.

Afternoon: Lunch, we will savour the delights produced at this farm. After lunch departure for Parma. Walking tour of Parma Center. Return to Modena.

Evening: Dinner on your own.

Day 7 - Modena–Verona

Thursday, October 20

Morning: Departure from Modena to Lake Garda. We will meet out local guide in the town of Peschiera del Garda.

Afternoon: Lunch in a restaurant located on the shore of Lake Garda. After lunch we will visit an olive oil tasting. Late afternoon check-in for 3 nights at luxury hotel in the heart of Verona.

Evening: Orientation Walk of Verona. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8 - Verona

Friday, October 21

Morning: Walking tour of Verona. Tour will include the main Verona sights as well as culinary attractions such as the town's antique bakeries. Optional visit to Giardino Giusti, Verona's beautiful historic garden.

Afternoon: Free time to shop, relax or explore Verona on your own.

Evening: Dinner on your own.

Day 9 - Verona

Saturday, October 22

Morning: Optional cooking class in an exclusive location in Verona.

Afternoon: The group will reunite for a wonderful lunch prepared by the class. Rest of the day of leisure.

Evening: Departure for Villa del Torre, top producer of Amarone wine. Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 10: Verona

Sunday, October 23

Morning: Private Transfer to the Verona, Venice or Milan airport

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Northern Italian Food Celebration Tour - Pricing

Your tour price includes:

• Hotel accommodations for 9 nights at 4-5 star hotels:

3 nights Bologna

3 nights Modena

3 nights Verona

• The service of your host, Giovanna Chiti, founder of Discover my Italy for entire event

• Meals as follows:

Breakfast daily

Private welcome dinner reception in Bologna

Food tasting at Bologna market

Dinner at local restaurant in Bologna

Lunch in Modena restaurant

Private dinner reception in Modena

Lunch in Acetaia (viegar producer) in the Modena area

Lunch in farm in the Parma countryside

Lunch on Lake Garda

Dinner at local restaurant in Verona

Lunch at cooking class in Verona

Farewell Dinner in Verona

• Special activities

Visit with tasting at an Artisanal Vinegar producer

Visit with tasting at a Parmigiano Reggiano Tasting

Visit to the Ferrari Factory with Ferrari guide

Visit with tasting at an Organic Olive Oil producer

Cooking class in Verona

Wine Tasting at Allegrini

• Private transportation as per itinerary

• Private walking tours with guides as follows: Bologna, Ravenna, Modena, Parma, Verona

• All Gratuities for guides, drivers and restaurants

• All museum entry fees

• All local taxes

Not Included:

• Flights

• Airport Transfers

• Meals unless listed and personal expenses such as telephone, laundry, etc.

• Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

 

Tour cost payable with credit card (Mastercard or Visa)

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Tour Cost based on double occupancy

       10 days/9 nights Culinary Tour................................$5,790

       Single Supplement...................................................+$1,500

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All aspects of the tour will be coordinated by Giovanna Chiti of Discover my Italy.

 

IMPORTANT!

Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date.

Discover my Italy's Food Celebration Tour