Eight-Day Exclusive Journey of Heritage, Scenery, & Cuisine in Italy's Emilia-Romagna

Your cultural immersion begins as soon as you land at Bologna’s airport and step into your private transfer to Parma, the gateway to Emilia-Romagna’s artistic essence. You may find the aromas of lavender, citrus, and bergamot drifting from boutique shops before you check in to your classic accommodations. You can settle into the comforts of the city or enjoy a private tour of its historic center with your guide.

Wander Parma’s pink marble baptistery, an octagonal jewel crowning the Romanesque cathedral in the central piazza. Linger beneath the carved stone bas-reliefs to hear stories of Parma’s artistic legacy, which is rooted in Roman antiquity that resonates through to modern innovations in food and music. In the Romanesque Duomo, you can find hints of aromatic myrrh lingering beneath the dome painted by Correggio and depicting the Assumption of the Virgin.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Cremona, a town known for beautiful piazzas and rich musical heritage. Wander past medieval bell towers to glimpse artisans tapping delicate sound holes into maple plates. At Museo del Violino, examine molds and drawings used by Stradivari beside his perfectly preserved tools. Listen to recordings demonstrating the mastery of his 17th-century instruments as the sweet scent of varnish fills the galleries.

After lunch celebrating thyme and Parmesan, you can make a short stop in Busseto to glimpse the town of native son Giuseppe Verdi. You can explore his humble childhood home, which is filled with original scores once scrawled by candlelight late into countless nights when the maestro was just beginning to find his voice. Paintings provide a visual representation of Verdi’s artistic achievements by depicting scenes from his operas and life.

In the morning, you may find the sweet, nutty aroma of warming copper vats when welcomed inside a heritage dairy known for crafting wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano. The handcrafted traditions follow the foundations started by Benedictine monks in the area over 10 centuries ago. Watch milk curdle, then get scooped and pressed before aging on shelves stacked multiple stories high like edible architecture.

At a nearby family-run prosciutto farm, you can learn how the historic production produces melt-in-your-mouth meat with characteristics shaped by river mists and hill breezes. Over a long farmhouse lunch matched with Lambrusco known for its hints of melon, find hand-rolled pasta dressed in silky sauces. Continue to the watchful turrets of Torrechiara Castle, set high on a hillside overlooking honeybee gardens banked by medieval ramparts and terraces.

Your private driver will meet you at the hotel in the morning and escort you to Bologna, the capital city of Emilia-Romagna. Before arriving, you can embark on a thrilling journey of your choice for an exciting experience tailored to your interests.

Option 1:

Visit Maranello on the southern hills of Modena to find a haven for car enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the legacy of iconic Ferraris inside its museum, from vintage classics to cutting-edge models.

Treat yourself to the culinary delights of Cavallino restaurant, where the exquisite Italian cuisine of chef Massimo Bottura meets the elegance of the Ferrari world, celebrated in dishes like Tortellini del Tortellante, which features tortellini pasta filled with a creamy Bianca Modenese Parmigiano Reggiano sauce. In the Enzo Ferrari Museum, you can feel the exhilaration of the race by sitting in a simulated Formula One car and speeding against other visitors.

Option 2:

Enjoy an authentic culinary journey with a visit to a family-run balsamic vinegar estate, where tradition and passion intertwine. Immerse yourself in the intimate setting, where the family offers a warm welcome among the vines before sharing the artistry behind crafting their renowned product. During a tasting, you may find a gentle sweetness combined with complex wood notes from the aging barrels.  During lunch, you can savor the unique flavors of the estate’s balsamic vinegar paired with regional specialties, from pasta dishes to traditional cheeses.

Continue by unlocking the secrets of Modena's UNESCO monuments, where every cobblestone tells a story of timeless elegance and cultural significance. Wander through the historic city center with your expert guide to learn about the intricate details of the Romanesque Ghirlandina Tower, whose Verona marble may glint with pink and white in the afternoon sun.

After breakfast, you will meet a private chef in front of the famous fountain of Neptune in the eponymous piazza. Discover the essence of local cuisine among aromas of simmering ragu as you visit the chef’s home kitchen. Watch as the maestro swiftly kneads dough before guiding your hands in rolling and crimping delicate tortellini.

Embrace the beauty of Bologna after your private cooking class by exploring the narrow lanes beneath winding porticos and catching wisps of chocolate from boutique shops. At the world’s oldest university, you can climb a tall wooden spiral staircase to emerge inside the lush Teatro Anatomico, an elliptical arena where medical students once observed human dissections framed by statues of Hippocrates and Galen.

From Bologna, trace the shimmering Po River inland to the House of Este’s remarkable seat of power in Ferrara. Follow your expert guide through towering castle gates into the immaculately preserved Renaissance city and enjoy the scents of cinnamon and almonds wafting from traditional Jewish bakeries established centuries ago.

In the timber-beamed 16th-century pharmacy, you can find hand-labeled apothecary jars of roots and herbs. Stroll through the outdoor marketplace in the 14th-century Loggia dei Mercanti before ascending the striking Este Castle, whose walls and towers soar above the cobbled streets and defensive moat to protect the family from the city.

Today you can step back in time and travel 15 centuries when visiting Ravenna. The entire city stands as a UNESCO-protected time capsule of Ostrogoth and Byzantine rule. Beneath outwardly ordinary brick exteriors lies some of Christendom’s most spectacular mosaic art, glittering from every surface in golds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and ivory.

In the sixth-century Basilica of San Vitale, you can find plush silks delivered by ancient trade routes. Meticulously set tiles depict biblical scenes populated with historic figures like Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora. The reflected light brings them vibrantly to life. Each church reveals another breathtaking wonder frozen over the centuries and demonstrates some of Italy’s most enticing and overlooked artistic treasures.

On your last morning in Italy’s culinary capital, the scent of seasonal produce and local cheeses may lure you into the Mercato delle Erbe morning market. Wind through the medieval lanes peering into old-world salumerie displaying ropes of garlic sausages and bottles of balsamic vinegars aged patiently over decades.

Gather freshly baked focaccia, coiled like tiny bird’s nests, or sweet rice cakes for the journey home. You will meet your private transfer to the airport and carry with you the passion Emilia-Romagna’s craftspeople have that turns daily pleasures and historic gems into artistic masterpieces.