Self-guided: Taste of Italy, Cycling Emilia-Romagna Culinary
Length
8 days
From
TBA
Style/Level
Self-Guided 1.0
Countries
Italy
Begin/End
Bologna / Parma
Overview
Hop on your bike and get ready for the time of your life as you pedal through Italy’s premier pasta–and foodie–region. Every day you’ll encounter unique experiences and behind-the-scenes visits, like a family-run parmesan cheese producer or a historical balsamic vinegar mill and cellar. Cycle through picturesque medieval towns, elegant cities and world heritage UNESCO sites, all with scenic landscapes that remind of nearby Tuscany (but without the crowds!). You’ll be charmed by Emilia-Romagna’s rich history, art, culture and traditions, all conspiring to make this an unforgettable tour!
Highlights
Balsamic vinegar cellar
Parma’s famous cured ham
Parmegiano-Reggiano cheese
Bologna’s cold cuts and colorful arches
Castle of Torrechiara
Modena
Gelato Museum and Tasting!
Extra meals & activities available: (please inquire for price and availability)
Cooking classes available in various locations! Organized by Le Cesarine, experts in Italian culinary experiences. You will be hosted by a local at their home – your “Cesarina” – in a class that lasts about three hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare three courses. In the fourth and final hour, you will enjoy the meal (lunch or dinner) which you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine for every 3 people are included.
Includes
7 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
All breakfasts
Luggage transfers
Guided visit of artisanal parmesan factory
Guided visit and tasting at family-run balsamic vinegar mill
We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.
Solo Traveler and Private Group departures available: please inquire.
Dates, prices & booking
START DAYS: This tour departs any Sunday between March 1 and October 31. Other start days of the weeks may available by request, for an extra fee. Please note that changing the start day could make some cultural visits and activities impossible.
HOLD A SPACE: Request a departure date by clicking the blue “Hold a space” form.
DATES LISTED BELOW: These are booked departures. Multiple parties can join any trip.
PRICING: Based on double occupancy. Solo departures may require supplemental fees.
HIGH SEASON SURCHARGE: $400 per person for bookings in May, June, September and early October.
Highlights: The Red City and its marvelous porticoes and alleways
Check in to the centrally located hotel in Bologna, enjoy the views of the old town from the charming rooftop terrace, and get yourself situated. Bologna today is Emilia-Romagna’s administrative capital and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, the city boasts its rich history and long tradition in the arts and gastronomy. Bologna gave birth to the mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as “bologna”, although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your ‘must try’ list!
After meeting our staff at the starting hotel for a tour briefing and bike fitting (normally in the early afternoon), you are ready to go! We recommend getting out to explore this afternoon and check out our suggested dinner locations!
Accommodation: Hotel Touring, or similar.
Highlights: Rails-to-trails bike paths, Bazzano, World Heritage Site of historic Modena
Leave Bologna on its city bike paths and next to the one-of-a-kind porticoes, to get to the first hills where great views reward you after a short climb. A rails-to-trails bike path leads you out to the fortress town of Bazzano, before heading to Modena. Don’t forget to visit the historic town center of this city with the marble covered cathedral and its Ghirlandina bell tower.
Daily distance: 63 km (39 miles)
Elevation gain: +212 m (695 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Canalgrande, or similar.
Meals : Breakfast
Highlights: Explore Modena; optional loop ride on the hills
Take time to explore Modena today by climbing up the bell tower or visiting the Palace of the Duchy. Alternatively, enjoy a ride to the foothills of the Apennines along quiet roads and bicycle lanes. Visit the picturesque town of Castelvetro with its fortified historical center and balsamic vinegar production. If you are a car fan, Modena is the home of Ferrari and other historical brands so there are museums and exhibitions you can indulge in!
Daily distance: 60 km (37 miles)
Elevation gain: +374 m (1227ft)
Highlights: Modena’s covered street market, Balsamic vinegar, stay in an agriturismo
Before heading out of Modena on your bike, we suggest a visit of the local covered market that has been selling local products since the Middle Ages: fruits and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffles, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar. With your senses alight by the sounds, sights and smells, you will visit the lovely Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years.
An easy ride today will lead you along back roads to tonight’s very special stay – an “agriturismo” country house estate with a working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting.
Daily distance: 47 km (29 miles)
Elevation gain: +219 m (720ft)
Highlights: Canossa Castle ruins or city of Reggio Emilia
Head for the hills today on a ride to Canossa Castle ruins, where the Holy Roman Empire Emperor Henry 4th had to show penance to the Pope, waiting in the snow barefoot at the gate of Matilda’s castle for three days before Matilda, countess of Canossa, convinced the Pope to open. Alternatively, for a shorter loop ride follow the bike path to Reggio Emilia for a visit of this bustling, pretty town.
Short option: 22 km (12 miles) with +102 m (330 ft) elevation gain.
Long option: 57km (35 miles) with +801 m (2650 ft) elevation gain.
You’ll start the morning with a guided visit of a parmesan cheese factory on the road to Parma. This wonderful experience, in which you’ll learn why Parmiggiano-Reggiano is known as “the king of cheeses”, is one of the tour highlights.
With your senses awakened, you are ready for today’s destination – yet another place where your taste buds will not be disappointed, Parma! Famous for its culinary traditions, the arts also flourished outside of the kitchen in this lovely, stately city: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of its most famous citizens, and their influence are present to this day. The city is still an important cultural and artistic center. Explore and enjoy the historic center, and delight your palate with Parma’s signature cured ham (prosciutto crudo) and Parmesan cheese, eaten as an aperitivo or sprinkled on homemade pasta dishes. No place better to do this than from a table in a piazza!
Daily distance: 63 km (39 miles)
Elevation gain: +291 m (955 ft)
Highlights: Lovely ride in the hills near Parma and the castle of Torrechiara and lunch with a view; explore Parma
Get ready for your last day of bicycling amidst ancient castles and local traditions! Today’s ride will loop to the breathtaking Torrechiara Castle. Dominating the Val Parma, the castle was constructed between 1448 and 1460, devised as an instrument of defense as well as a distinguished home for the count and his lover. This area is famous for its cured prosciutto and local salame—taste them in this historic setting!
Daily distance: 48 km (30 miles)
Elevation gain: +240 m (755 ft)
Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Enjoy this lovely city in the morning – with your newly refined palate, hit the shop or market and take some recipes home to try in your own kitchen!
PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.
Meals : Breakfast
Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.
Surcharge: for 6 to 8 day tours the fee is $250 and for tours that are 9-15 days the fee is $300.
Frame : Aluminum frame with front suspension
Type : E-Hybrid
Surcharge: for 6-8 day tours the fee is $300 and for tours that are 9-15 days the fee is $375.
Frame : Alloy with carbon fork
Type : E-Road
Arrival & departure
Starting point: Hotel Touring- Via De’ Mattuiani, 1/2 Bologna
We recommend flying into Bologna Aeroporto G.Marconi (BLQ).
– Marconi Express is the new monorail that connects the Bologna airport and train station. The trip is 7 minutes long and it runs every 7 minutes approximately.
– Alternatively, you can choose to take a taxi from Bologna Airport to your hotel in the center
The meeting time for our self-guided tours is typically set between 2pm and 4pm. We recommend travelers plan accordingly allowing plenty of time to arrive at the determined meeting place. Please note a late fee may be applied for late arrivals – please see our terms page for details
Private airport transfers available: if you prefer to be driven from airport to hotel in a private vehicle transfer, please inquire for cost – we will be happy to include this service in your tour package
Long-term Parking: if you choose to drive to Bologna and leave your car parked there (taking a direct return train Parma at tour end) a private, secure parking lot is available at the airport.
Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)
Ending point: Hotel Button – Borgo della Salina, 7 Parma You can fly out from Bologna (BLQ), which is connected to Parma by train. – The hotel is located about 1 km from the train station. Take a 5-minute taxi ride to the train station or take a bus (ask at the hotel front desk for help). There are several direct trains connecting Parma and Bologna and the ride takes about an hour, the cost varies depending on the type of train – From Bologna Centrale train station to the airport, you can catch the Marconi Express or a taxi (see “Starting point” for more info)