Bologna

I stayed in a monastery in Bologna, which I found on monasterystays.com. I had a lovely, if sparse, room with a balcony and breakfast included, within walking distance of the city center. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

There’s a tour from Bologna that goes to the Parma cheese factory, a prosciutto factory, a balsamic vinegar manufacturer, and closes with either a winery or a Ferrari factory tour. (The Ferrari takes more money). Then the actual end of the tour includes a several course meal at a restaurant. You can find a link to this I’m sure on TripAdvisor or through the Bologna Tourist information Center, as the two released from there on a minibus

On a solo trip 3 years ago, I stayed both in Bologna and Parma. I took a food tour from Parma. Based on this trip, I decided that Bologna was the better place to stay.

This past September, I came back with my husband, and we stayed in Bologna the whole time. We also took a Bologna-based food tour, https://www.italiandays.it/tour-item/italian-days-food-experience-bologna-day-tour/ , that included a prosciutto plant in Emilia-Romagna. Because the ham there isn’t exposed to Parma air, it’s not legally or technically Parma Ham. But it was fabulous, and still included an official Parmesano Reggiano factory and Balsamic Vinegar facility. Be sure to try (then buy!) some Saba - another product of the vinegar producers.

The Italian Days Food Experience was also described by Elizabeth in another Bologna question on this forum that got posted about the same time as yours, and is run by the affable Alessandro. Transportation is in Mercedes vans.

Thank you so much for the information. There’s nothing better than a good referral. Take care