FOOD VALLEY – MOTOR VALLEY – MUSIC VALLEY – UNESCO ART
A journey through Italian flavours and heritage along one of the oldest Italian routes built by the Romans in 187 B.C. through the districts of Rimini, Ravenna, Bologna, Modena and Parma. A real discovery of the hidden Italy: worldwide famous products such as “Parmigiano-Reggiano”, “Prosciutto di Parma”, “Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena” and much more …
Day 1 – landing in BOLOGNA Arrival at Bologna Airport in the morning. Meeting with local Buddy and Private Bus Transfer to Bologna city centre. Bologna has been for centuries one of the most culturally, artistically and politically influential cities in Italy and Europe. The same can be said about gastronomical traditions which have been carefully and lovingly passed from generation to generation!! Your guided walking tour starts from the Piazza with Neptune’s Fountain and walk beside the Basilica of San Petronio where you can see the world largest sun dial, then onto cobbled streets of the historical centre, the famous 2 Towers, and finally in the FOOD QUARTER where your taste buds will be put to the taste with the Aperitif with delicious Mortadella di Bologna with a nice glass of Pignoletto wine. Transfer to the charming Resort on the hills of Bologna. Check in and free time to relax. Welcome Dinner served at Resort Restaurant with Traditional menu.
Day 2 – MODENA Buffet style breakfast at hotel. Depart by private bus and your BUDDY towards Modena, north of Bologna. First Stop will be for the visit to the King of cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano made exactly in the same way as the monks who invented the recipe centuries ago. You will see all the different stages in the production line, from the “Salt Pools” to the “Wheel Cathedral” where 20.000 wheels of cheese age and mature for not less than 24 months and up to 36 months and more (The Gran Riserva). At the end of it, of course, the sublime tasting experience. Modena is also the capital of what is known as the “Black Gold” the famous “Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale”, obtained through a long and careful evolution inside different size barrels arranged in decreasing order. For centuries these barrels, called batteries, have traditionally been preserved and placed in the attics of the houses. The production and refinement go hand in hand and only after 12 years the vinegar drawn from the smaller casks can be labelled as “Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena” and after 25 years becomes “Aceto Balsamico di Modena Extra Vecchio”. The tasting will be a unique and unforgettable experience. You will have a lunch tasting in the “Acetaia” dedicated to the “Balsamic vinegar” served with a selection of cold cuts and cheeses accompanied with Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham) and the traditional “Tigelle”. From 3.30pm onwards Possibility to visit (at your choice): Ferrari Museum in Maranello: with its permanent exhibition of F1 Cars and World Championship Winners; Pavarotti House Museum: Luciano Pavarotti, one of the world greatest Tenors of all time! Inside his house it’s now available a suggestive Museum; Modena City Centre: is a UNESCO HERITAGE SITE and has one of Italy’s most beautiful Romanesque style Cathedrals with its Ghirlandina Tower in Piazza Grande; Late afternoon transfer back to the Resort. Evening at your disposal.
Day 3 – RAVENNA Buffet style breakfast. Check out (new Resort for the next 2 nights!) Arrival at Ravenna. It is said that the people who see Ravenna fall in love with it. It happened to Gustav Klimt who clearly drew inspiration from it, to Hermann Hesse who visited and dedicated some verses to it. Ravenna is Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Medieval, Venetian and finally Contemporary. Guided visit (entrance ticket included) to the Byzantine mosaics UNESCO World Heritage sites: Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistery, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. An interesting walk from the grave of Dante Alighieri (the worldwide famous Father of Italian language) to the places in the historical centre who saw Lord Byron’s loves. (possibility to visit a mosaic studio workshop and make a “Mosaic Course”) Lunch will be at your disposal in the many restaurants of the centre In the afternoon guided visit of the small fisherman village of CESENATICO with the colourful harbour draw by Leonardo Da Vinci and the amazing coloured Floating Maritime Museum who will tell you about the fisherman’ life. Cesenatico is a vibrant village with a genuine and relaxing atmosphere, very famous among the local people, very fancy for the “Aperitif” with white local wine and Fritto Misto (mixed shrimps, calamari and seafood!!) You’ll enjoy the rich Italian Aperitif by one of the restaurants overlooking the harbour .. you’ll love it!!! New accommodation at charming Resort in the area of Romagna (Countryside of Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini). Welcome Dinner served at Resort Restaurant with Traditional menu & wine tasting.
Day 4 – Medieval Villages & Castles of ROMAGNA Buffet style breakfast. Your GRAND FOOD TOUR journey will end in amazing style as the south part of our Via Emilia will surprise you with its many jewels in the crown: – the Piadina IGP – Extra Virgin Olive Oil “Colli di Rimini” and “Colli di Romagna” DOP – Pecorino di Fossa DOP (sheep milk cheese aged in underground pits) – Black & White Truffle In the morning transfer to Mondaino a picturesque medieval village where the Formaggio di Fossa is still produced following the strict rules dating back to the 14th century. Enjoy the tasting whilst listening to the poetic verses of Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy”. Your journey will then take you to the nearby Montegridolfo whose castle and its historic centre have all been elegantly restored and it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. As well as the castle people come to Montegridolfo because of the production of the delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil DOP and you will meet the producer and learn all the secrets on how to recognise the difference between a good and a bad olive oil with the “EVO Oil Tasting Course”. You will have lunch in a beautiful farmhouse with a fun Piadina COOKING CLASS. Piadina, made with flour/water/salt and NO YEAST, is certainly the most traditional speciality of Romagna, it was considered the bread of the poor in particular amongst rural communities who couldn’t afford more expensive ingredients. Nowadays it is the most popular Street Food of the Region and it’s eaten by everybody from home to snack shops and fine restaurants. Piadina will be served with other traditional products such as the creamy cheese “Squacquerone di Romagna” DOP and more in an amazing Traditional Lunch with wine matching. In the afternoon visit the medieval village of Sant’Agata Feltria famous for the National White Truffle Fair held throughout the month of October each Sunday. AVAILABLE ALSO THE EXPERIENCE “TRUFFLE HUNT” a nice adventure (light trekking) with expert Truffle Hunter and his dog in the woods ! (on request) All year round you can taste different product with truffle (black and white) in the Truffle Workshop in the main square, today we have organized for you a tasty Truffle Aperitif in the Osteria of the village. You’ll visit also the Mariani Theatre, a tiny wooden Italian theatre, completely painted by hand, a real hidden jewel! Late afternoon transfer back to the Resort. Evening at your disposal.
Day 5 – Departure Buffet style breakfast. Check out and departure to Bologna Airport in time for your flight. Possibility to add a stop to FICO Eataly World in Bologna, a Food Park interesting for your “Food Shopping” before departure, there you’ll find available various products from all over Italy !!
PRICE PER PERSON (sharing double room):
MIN 5 pax starting from Euro 1.050,00 per person
MIN 10 pax starting from Euro 930,00 per person
Single supplement on request
AVAILABILITY ON REQUEST!
