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Small Group · Bologna

Fast Cars & Fine Food in Emilia Romagna Escorted Tour

7 Days Emilia-Romagna

The Overview

Overview

Explore northern Italy, arguably the land where speed was born, on this epic 8 day journey through Emilia Romagna. 

Indulge your passion for fast cars with visits to: 
  • Lamborghini Museum, Bologna
  • Maserati Showroom, Modena
  • Ferrari Museum, Maranello
  • Enzo Ferrari Museum, Modena

Taste the best of what this region offers in terms of food & wine. 

You will learn to cook and have the opportunity to taste the following specialties from Emilia Romagna:
  • fresh pasta including tortellini and lasagne
  • Parma ham
  • balsamic vinegar
  • real parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano)
  • local wines including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese blends

Duration

7 days

6 nights

Pricing

On request

Tailored to your dates and group.

Explore northern Italy and the land where speed was born on this 8 day epic journey through Emilia Romagna.

Regions
Emilia-Romagna
Tour Style
Small Group
Departs From
Bologna
Meeting Point
Central location in Bologna
Included Meals
3 breakfasts · 1 dinner · 1 cooking class · 1 wine tasting · 1 lunch
Day by day

Itinerary

Follow the route as you read. The map traces each day of the journey, moving with you from place to place.

Emilia-Romagna

Chapter 1 · Days 1–7

Welcome to Emilia-Romagna

Population: 3,983,346 Area: 22,123 km² Capital City: Bologna Provinces: Bologna, Ferrara, Forli-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio-Emilia, Rimini Official Website: Emilia Romagna Wikipedia: Emilia Romagna   The region of Emilia Romagna is located in northern Italy on the Adriatic coast just south of the Veneto region.  Foodies and gourmets the…

Explore Emilia-Romagna
Day 1

Emilia-Romagna, Bologna

Welcome to Bologna

  • Dinner
Welcome to Bologna — photo 1 Welcome to Bologna — photo 2 Welcome to Bologna — photo 3 Welcome to Bologna — photo 4 Welcome to Bologna — photo 5

Whether you are arriving at Bologna airport, or coming to the train station from elsewhere in Italy, a private driver will be waiting to meet you and accompany you to your hotel in the city center.

In the afternoon, the group will meet our bilingual escort over coffee on the terrace or in the lobby and have a chance to get to know your traveling companions and more details about what this fascinating week has in store for you.

After an orientation walk through the Medieval heart of Bologna, there will be a welcome dinner in a local restaurant, where you will get your first taste of the delicious homemade pasta that the region is so famous for.

Return to the hotel on foot for the night.

Where we meet Central location in Bologna
Day 2

Emilia-Romagna, Bologna

Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa!

  • Breakfast
  • Cooking Class
Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa! — photo 1 Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa! — photo 2 Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa! — photo 3 Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa! — photo 4 Bologna La Dotta, La Grassa e La Rossa! — photo 5

On the first full day in Bologna guests will be picked up after breakfast and taken on a private walking tour of Bologna’s historic center, where you will discover what Medieval Italy was like, visit some of the city's churches, the world's oldest university and of course, the local indoor and outdoor markets to learn more about the local food.

After the tour, you'll have some time to wander the streets at your leisure and enjoy a light lunch on your own (piadina, a popular choice here, can be found throughout the city), before meeting up again to test your culinary talents.  The afternoon's cooking class will focus on Bologna's famous pasta dishes, like the intricate tortellini and lasagne.

To end the class, you will enjoy everything you have made, along with a glass of the local wine.  You will then be free to return to the hotel and relax on the terrace, or, as the locals do, head to Piazza Maggiore to experience the city's lively nightlife.

Day 3

Emilia-Romagna, Modena

Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena

  • Breakfast
  • Wine Tasting
Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena — photo 1 Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena — photo 2 Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena — photo 3 Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena — photo 4 Wine Tasting in the hills of Modena — photo 5

After breakfast, guests will be picked up from their hotel and taken to Castelvetro, a beautiful hill

town just an hour’s drive away from Bologna. Here they will take a tour of a local winery and try

Lambrusco Grasparossa DOP wine. After learning about this fascinating wine-making process and

strolling through the gorgeous vineyards that surround the winery, guests can enjoy a lunch of local

cold cuts, cheeses and breads, as well as fantastic wine, of course!

 

Day 4

Emilia-Romagna, Modena

Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar — photo 1 Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar — photo 2 Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar — photo 3 Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar — photo 4 Foodie Day: Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar — photo 5

On the fourth day of the tour, guests will visit a local dairy and see how parmesan cheese is made

and why we must fight to call the real-deal Parmigiano Reggiano. I won’t spoil the secret…

After the tour there will be a tasting of this fine cheese in its various stages of maturation and the

chance to buy vacuum sealed products to take home with you.

In the afternoon another local speciality, balsamic vinegar, will become star of the show. Guests will

have the opportunity to visit an artisan producer and see how this ‘balsam of the gods’ is made and

slowly aged over decades before finally being bottled and sold. After the tour of the cellar, there will

be a tasting session with local cold cuts, cheeses, fruits and other fine food pairings.

Day 5

Modena's Historic Centre

This day will start with a walking tour of Modena and its Unesco World Heritage Site

historic centre. The first part of the tour will take in the best parts of this culturally rich town, the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti, and ends with a trip to the covered market that was made famous by US TV show Master of None. Lunch in the market with more fresh pasta, deli meats, local cheese and fine wine is the perfect way to

split up the day after all that sightseeing.

In the afternoon guests can enjoy a trip to both the Enzo Ferrari museum and the Maserati Showroom in

Modena and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, getting a sneak peak into the factory and how the

cars are made too. After the tours real petrolheads can take a test drive of an Italian luxury supercar

of their choosing on the original test track in Maranello.

After a busy day of sightseeing and fast cars, guests can enjoy dinner in a local Modenese fine-dining

restaurant.

Day 6

Lamborghini: Masterpieces of Engineering

On this day guests will go on a tour of the Lamborghini Factory and learn more about how these

masterpieces of engineering are built.

In the afternoon we will take a visit to a local winery in the hills between Bologna and Modena,

where a rich, full-bodied local red wine, Sangiovese DOP, is produced. Guests will also have the

chance to try carefully crafted Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends. Lunch in the winery and a

tour of its elegant estate will complete this unique experience.

Day 7

Parma: Romanesque architecture and world famous produce

On the last day of the gems of Emilia Romagna tour, guests will be picked up by their driver and

taken to Parma. This small city less than an hour north of Modena boasts what is probably the

world’s most famous ham: Prosciutto di Parma. On a walking tour of the town, we will take in the

National Gallery, with works by Da Vinci and Barbieri, and the stunning Romanesque Parma

Cathedral and Baptistery to name but a few glorious sights. After that guests will have built up and

appetite and so the foodie part of the day begins! There will be a visit to the famous Enoteca

Fontana, serving up excellent wines and meat and cheese platters. What else in Emilia Romagna?

The details

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

  • Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
  • Wine Estate Visit
  • Visit to Ferrari museums
  • Visit to Maserati showroom

What's Not Included

  • Gratuities of any type
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Optional excursions during your tour
  • Luxury car test drive
In their words

Traveler Reviews

Emily and David Davison Travelled with us

My husband and I just took a two week trip to Italy that was planned for us by Eleanor Kinchin-Smith. It was a fantastic trip and we could not have been more thrilled. We worked together with Ele to let her know about our interests and our style of travel. She planned the perfect trip with excellent private guides at all of our sites, professional drivers and lovely hotels. We arrived in Italy with all of our train and ferry reservations made by Ele, with tickets in hand. She was in touch with us daily throughout our trip to make sure that things were going smoothly. She was able to make a few changes to our itinerary as needed. We look forward to working with Ele again on our next trip and have put her in touch with another family member to help plan their trip as well.

Ron and Deb Crosby Travelled with us

Dear Guiseppe and Jesse,

We just returned from our most wonderful vacation to Italy and wanted to first thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip, and second to provide some feedback for the future.

Hotels

1. Hotel Sovestro in San Gimignano was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made the first portion of our journey very stress free. They made us feel like we were part of their family. I would recommend it to anyone and would specifically ask for it if we were to make a return visit.

2. Hotel La Baia in Monterosso was nice and it's location was very good especially for us older folks humping luggage from/to the train station.

3. Hotel Lucchesi in Florence- what can I say expect FANTASTIC. The rooftop view at sunset is well worth it. Again very friendly and helpful staff. Would recommend it to everyone.

Wine Tour

Money well spent. We had a great time overall. The driver Mario was OUTSTANDING. He had lots of local knowledge as well as about winemaking. USE HIM AGAIN!!!

The various wineries we visited on tour:

Altesino- fantastic and they were not cheap on their pouring. Great experience.

Azienda Agricola Patrizia Cencion Sloaria- Again a great tour by one of the owner's daughters. We felt like we were the only thing on their mind although there were other customers there. A great way to complete the day.

Again we had a fantastic time and are very appreciative of everything you booked for us. We wish you continued success and if our travels should bring us back to Italy, we know who to call.

Leon and Michele Travelled with us

The trip was great we appreciate all the hard work you and your team invested to make our experience a once in a lifetime trip. We appreciate all the attention to the details in particular Giuseppe spending the time and the focus with us on the road and as we were exploring your great country.

Bob & Sandy Travelled with us

Jesse & Giuseppe,

Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever.

Where you are

Location

Italy Bologna

Bologna and beyond

7 days through Italy, with every stop chosen by the people who live here.

Where we meet

Central location in Bologna

Where it starts

Bologna

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Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a private tour, or will we join a group?

Private. You travel with your own guide and driver, and the only people on the itinerary are the ones you bring with you. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace of each day is yours to set.

Can the itinerary be changed to suit us?

Yes. What you see here is a starting point, not a fixed departure. Tell us how long you have, what you love and what you would rather skip, and we will reshape it around you. A slower morning, an extra night somewhere you fell for, a different region entirely.

How do we start planning?

Send us a note using the form on this page, or call us on 1-866-779-2565. A travel specialist replies within one business day, usually with a few questions of their own. There is no cost and no obligation in asking.

When should we book?

The earlier the better, particularly for travel between May and September, when the best small hotels and the guides worth having are taken first. That said, we have put together beautiful trips at short notice, so ask and we will tell you honestly what is still possible for your dates.

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7 days · Pricing on request

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