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Bologna

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From Bologna: Fine Food and Romantic Castles in the Lowlands of Parma

Group

What you’ll do

Besides being a UNESCO city for Creative Gastronomy and the administrative capital of the Food Valley, Parma also belongs to a touristic network comprising more than 30 ancient castles with peculiar architectural patterns according to where they were built one thousand years ago: come discover the magic combination of these two ingredients – art and food – in the charming lowlands of the Po-river!

Itinerary

Start Time: 9:00AM

Pick Up Time: 7:30AM

Duration: 5 HRS plus transfer time

Group Size: 2 - 7

Pick Up Point: At hotel downtown, Bologna

9:00 am – Meet the guide at our PDO Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy and enjoy a thorough visit of the plant from the live production area to the drying and salting room and the ageing cellar, aka “the bank” or “the cathedral” for the thousands cheese wheels piled up to reach the ceiling. Tasting at the end

10:30 am – Head on to the first castle

10:45 am – Guided visit of the elegant Rocca Meli Lupi in Soragna, still inhabited by Prince Diofebo Meli Lupi (descendant of an aristocratic family of medieval origins directly linked to the Austrian emperors) and bearing perfect witness of the power, gentility and cultural awareness of the local signori who settled down in this very strategic strip of land between central and southern Europe

12:45 pm – Head on to the second foodie stop

1:00 pm – Guided visit of a small ageing cellar of PDO Culatello di Zibello nearby: you will be surprised to know that this utmost artisanal cured meat obtained from the same pork leg destined to the Prosciutto production is one of the top-notch gourmet foods selected by all Michelin guides and many famous chefs all over Europe!

2:30 pm – Head on to the second castle

3:00 pm – Guided visit of the picturesque Rocca Sanvitale in Fontanellato: owned by the homonymous high-lineage Counts until 1948 and still surrounded by its original medieval moat, it is one of Italy’s most frequented touristic attractions thanks to local painter Parmigianino’s intriguing rendering of Diana and Acteon in one of the inner rooms

4:00 pm – End of activities and back to hotel / head on to your next destination.

The described program may undergo minor changes in the timings and schedule

What’s included

Private guide full day (English/other languages upon supplement)

Visit & tasting at a PDO Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy

Visit & full lunch at an aging cellar of PDO Culatello di Zibello (local wines included)

Tickets and guided visits at the castles of Soragna and Fontanellato

What’s not included

Everything not mentioned in inclusions

What’s not included

Everything not mentioned in inclusions

Notes

Program: the described program may undergo minor changes in the timings and schedule

Pick-ups: If you add the car + driver supplement from a specific town, you will be picked up at your hotel downtown. If out of town, you could be asked to pay a further supplement

Guide: the guide can decide whether to join you on board or drive her/his own car.

Live production: being artisanal and not industrial products, the working cycle is not repeated every day at the same time, so it is not guaranteed to see craftsmen at work at each site (for example: Wine and Vinegar making, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello)

Our drivers are NOT driver-guides, since this kind of professional profile is forbidden by the Italian law

Gallery

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Cancellation policy

A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 8 days before the activity start time.

No refund is possible if you cancel less than 8 days before the activity start time.

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Cancellation Policy
Flexible booking and cancellation options.