8 Day Foodie Walking Tour, Gelato Class, and Cooking Holiday in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

Your home base for the week is Bologna, and during your time in Emilia Romagna, you will be taking part in numerous day trips to expose you to this region in detail.

Learn the Parmigiano making process from the producers themselves, learn how the prized Prosciutto is prepared, visit an ancient balsamic acetaia where the barrels are hundreds of years old, and enjoy a delicious foodie walking tour in Bologna.

Learn all about the gelato making process, experience a full day on a renovated farmhouse foraging for our ingredients for a culinary feast of all senses, all while learning from culinary professionals along the way. By the end of the week, you will be fully educated on how these world-famous products are made and you will better able to appreciate the Italian culture and its products fully.

Day 1: Arrival and welcome dinner

Arrive at your accommodation in the afternoon. Settle in and unpack knowing you will not have to repack for the entire week. Ward off jet lag with a quick walk to the many specialty shops in Piazza Maggiore, which is steps away from our hotel, and perhaps grab your first gelato for the week.

In the evening, you will meet for your first group activity. After a wine tasting, you will enjoy your first taste of real authentic Bolognese cuisine during our group dinner at a carefully selected restaurant.

Day 2: The first taste of Emilia Romagna

The program kicks off your week in Emilia Romagna by introducing you to the indisputable king of cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano! In the morning, you will visit a dairy farm that produces cheeses to some of the local restaurants.

With a small production of only a few wheels a day, this producer is a true artisan. You will learn the entire process from production to aging to finally tasting. You will also taste some still-warm ricotta, as well as other cheese products.

After having your first taste of Emilia Romagna, you move on to its second-most prized product, balsamic vinegar of Modena. You will walk through the vineyards and learn the different types of grapes used to make this prestigious product. After an overview of its production process, you will sample the product, learning a special technique used by the pros.

But the day is not over yet, after learning all about Parmigiano and traditional balsamic, you move on to lunch on an agriturismo, where will enjoy some homemade local pasta. After lunch, you move on and visit a Lambrusco Winery. After a tour of the vineyards, you will spend the afternoon leisurely in the area.

Day 3: City tours and cooking class

In the morning, you will get to know your host city, Bologna, during a wonderful city tour of this often misunderstood and under-visited city. Your trusted native guide, whom we've had the pleasure of working with before, will show you around her beloved city and point out all the major attractions such as Piazza Maggiore, Basilica di San Petronio, Neptune Fountain, City Hall, and the Twin Towers, which were the inspiration for the fallen towers in NYC.

The afternoon is sure to please all senses as you head towards the hills of Bologna to a renovated farmhouse where you will learn to make local specialty dishes such as tagliatelle, tortelloni and other renowned pasta dishes which this region is known for. You will also learn to make Ragù alla Bolognese from a traditional recipe.

After your hands-on class, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor with a few glasses of local wine. The location of this class is just as special as what you will be preparing. Weather permitting, you can spend the afternoon in the beautiful garden, overlooking Bologna.

Day 4: Visit Prosciuttoficio

Now that you’ve sampled the Parmigiano and balsamic, and prepared and ate a few local dishes like tortelloni, it’s time to visit a prosciuttoficio, and learn all there is to learn about prosciutto, one of Emilia Romagna's staple products. You will learn a bit of its history, the breeding practices and how this iconic cured ham is prepared. Generous samples of Prosciutto and other cured products will be offered, so you can learn and compare flavors.

After the prosciuttoficio, you move on to tour an ancient grain mill. You will visit one of only three remaining water-powered grain mills in Italy. Step back in time as visit the mill that was built in 1698. Watch as they grind grains using original grinding stones. You will also sample products produced in their small bakery.

After all the bounty of samples, a light lunch will be served at a local trattoria. Enjoy the afternoon on your own in Bologna, walking off the day’s calories.

Day 5: Foodie walking tour of Bologna and gelato sensory experience

Today, grab your walking shoes and reserve some of the breakfast calories for what is sure to be a walk like none others. A ​walking foodie tour of Bologna is scheduled for this morning and you’re about to eat your way through Bologna’s historic center.

The day starts by visiting the only remaining fruit and vegetable market around. After visiting the stands, you move on to historic delicatessens, bakeries, and other specialty shops. Enjoy a Piadina, a local flatbread, filled with various cuts of deli and cheeses. Learn the history of tertellini in brodo and the famous Ragu', which you now know how to make yourself!

But no walking foodie tour would be complete without dessert. The area’s most iconic desserts will be sampled, such as a specialty rice cake and the addicting chocolate salami.

In the afternoon, you will have a rather "cool" experience Did you know that Bologna is known as the city of gelato? Well, if you have a passion for Italian gelato, then this afternoon’s activity might just be your favorite.

Ever wonder what makes for good gelato and what doesn’t? Or how to distinguish the gelato made from powder bases from those made with real ingredients? A sensory analyst and gelato taste judge will be your leader as she guides you along the history of gelato and how it came to be an Italian specialty.

Never be fooled again, even while in Italy, as you learn how to tell the difference just by looking behind the gelato case. During your walk, you will visit four of Bologna’s most iconic gelaterie, sampling your way through all the various flavors the city is known for.

Day 6: Farm to table cooking class

May is a beautiful month in Italy and the fields are bountiful with herbs, edible flowers and produce that’s going to be your base for the final cooking class. Today, you visit a dear friend in her private renovated farmhouse and you head in the fields in the hills of Bologna for a farm-to-table cooking class that is not only delicious but also educational. Learn how these herbs were once, and still today, used for medicinal purposes, prepare a delicious lunch with natural ingredients found in the yard, provided by mother earth. Get back in touch with nature, cook, enjoy quality time and appreciate the local natural beauty.

Day 7: Farewell dinner

Your time in Bologna is winding down and by this time, you've eaten your way through the food capital of Italy. Today, you'll enjoy some time on your own to shop, visit a museum or simply enjoy Italy's Dolce Vita by relaxing in Piazza Maggiore. A delicious final farewell dinner is planned for your last evening together.

Day 8: Check-out ​

The week in Bologna is winding down. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.

This holiday takes place in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

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Daily breakfast, lunch, and three dinners are included in the package. Additionally, there will be lots of samples and tastings during the week.

• Daily breakfast at the hotel
• Daily lunches on location
• Three dinners
• All transportation during the week
• Visit Parmigiano Reggiano producer
• Visit traditional Balsamic Acetaia
• Visit Prosciuttoficio
• Farm to table cooking class on agriturismo ​
• Bologna city walking tour
• Bologna culinary walking tour
• Two cooking classes
• One gelato class
• Foraging on a farm
• 7 nights in a four-star hotel in central location

• Airfare
• Transportation to the hotel
• Travel insurance
• Expenses of any personal nature
• Tips to local guides and instructors

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 24% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.