Gastronomic Highlights of Emilia Romagna Small Group Escorted Tour

Book our six day Gastronomic Highlights of Emilia Romagna Escorted Tour for an insight into one of Italy’s most famous foodie regions. Relax and enjoy the tour as knowledgeable guides show you around the area and take you to see charming towns to taste some of the best food the region has to offer, from Parma ham to balsamic vinegar.

Get to know the stunning city of Bologna, the beating heart of Emilia Romagna. Marvel at its elegant Baroque architecture and cobbled alleys full of shops and restaurants. Enjoy a tour of Bologna and sample some of the city’s delicacies while you explore, then visit some of the most important towns that put Emilia Romagna on the map for its food, Parma and Modena. This is the ideal trip for couples who want to get to know this beautiful and iconic region of Italy.

Please be advised that our escorted tours are dependent on minimum numbers. The minimum numbers on all tours is 6. Please speak to our Italy Experts for more information.

Due to the amount of walking and steps involved with this tour, it is not suitable for people with walking difficulties.

 

2025 Tour Departure Dates

  • 19 May 2025
  • 08 September 2025

 

 


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At a glance

  • Enjoy tastings of local delicacies
  • Exclusive to Citalia
  • Explore the towns of Bologna, Modena and Parma
  • Maximum group size: 18
  • Take part in a cooking class at Grand Tour Italia
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Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.
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Suggested Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : UK to Bologna

Arrive in Bologna and transfer to the 4* Hotel Porta San Mamolo, your hotel for the duration of the tour.  Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening to start your culinary journey.

Meals included:

  • Dinner
Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden
Day 2 : Bologna

Meet your English-speaking guide for a half day walking tour of the city starting at the famous Neptune’s Fountain and the Basilica of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore. Then, stroll through the Quadrilateral Market to discover important historical facts, explore the Herbal Market, and visit a typical food shop. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure exploring this amazing city. In the evening, dinner will be at a typical trattoria in the city centre.

Meals included:

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
     
Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden
Day 3 : Grand Tour Italia


Depart by private bus to Grand Tour Italia, the Italian Food Theme Park. You will then take part in the pasta cooking class, making some typical pasta of the area, tagliatelle. At the end of the lesson, enjoy a light lunch after all your hard work. In the afternoon you will be transferred back to your hotel where you can enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

Meals included:

  • Breakfast
  • Light Lunch

 

Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden
Day 4 : Parma

Today you will explore the stunning city of Parma, starting the day with a guided walking tour of the city. It’s hard not to be fascinated by the elegance of its churches, squares, and buildings, which evoke its ancient splendour, and the innate passion for food, wine, music, and opera which the city is famous for. At the end of the guided tour, depart by private coach to the Parma Ham Museum to enjoy a guided tour of the museum with a tasting/light lunch of Parma ham, cold cuts, typical fried bread, giardiniera and local wine from the Parma hills.

The next stop of the day will be a visit to a prestigious dairy/cheese factory in the Parma area to discover the art of Parmigiano Reggiano. You will be shown all the stages of the cheese making process and an expert will be on hand to answer any questions. You will enjoy a tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in 3 maturation stages (15-24-36 months) and crostino with special Parmigiano Reggiano cream, complemented with a glass of Lambrusco or Malvasia. At the end of the experience return back to the hotel in Bologna.

Meals included:

  • Breakfast

 

Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden
Day 5 : Modena

On your final day, there is one last place which is a must visit when in Emilia Romagna. The city of Modena! Meet with your guide for a tour of Modena, starting in the historic centre you will visit the Palazzo Ducale. The palace was built on the remains of a medieval fortress by the Este family as soon as Modena became the new capital of the Duchy in the early seventeenth century. Pass through the Jewish ghetto created by Francesco I d’Este in 1638 to arrive in Piazza Grande, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. At the end of the tour continue to Acetaia for a visit and tasting of the famous Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. At the end of the day, transfer back to the hotel for your farewell dinner.

Meals included:

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner


 

Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden
Day 6 : Bologna to UK

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before being transferred to the airport for your return flight to the UK, or onto your next destination in Italy!

Meals included:

  • Breakfast


 

Accommodation
Italian Cities, Bologna
Porta San Mamolo
  • Historic location within Bologna’s medieval city walls and close to main attractions
  • Charming boutique hotel with a contemporary Italian design
  • Relaxing orangery and courtyard garden

6 days from £2,639 per person

What's included:

  • 5 nights accommodation in Bologna at 4* Hotel Porta San Mamolo
  • 5 breakfasts and 3 dinners (including farewell dinner)
  • English speaking guide
  • Excursions to the Parma Ham museum, Parmigiano Reggiano factory, Grand Tour Italia, Acetaia (balsamic vinegar)
  • 3 food tastings (Parma Ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic Vinegars)
  • Cooking class at Grand Tour Italia
  • Private airport transfers for arrival and departure are included in the price shown, however, these can be discussed and tailored at the point of booking

What's not included: 

  • Tourist tax
  • Meals and beverages not mentioned in the programme
  • Tips
  • Entrance fees to any museums or monuments

Practical Information

Flight Information

Direct flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) are available from London Gatwick and London Heathrow and take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up. 
 
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
 
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.
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