Hi everyone! During our two week trip, we are stopping in Bologna for a night and Parma for a night.
We are interested in visiting at least one factory that makes on of the local specialities. However, I am unsure if we are able to try to visit a factory on our own without a tour group?
The tours I am finding online range from $100 to $182. I am not sure what it would cost to try this without a tour company but I wanted to see if any of you had. Thanks!
Posted by
seattle
2148 posts
Will you be traveling by rental car or by train? Would be very hard to get to the factories on your own. Of course you can just wander around the delis in Bologna and Parma for free and see and sample the great meats and cheeses that way. You get a feeling for how the Italians shop and it's very colorful. If you only have one day in each town, I'd skip the tour and see the other historrical sites. If you are traveling by car, let me know (by private message). We visited a great Modena vinegar estate in Modena and had a wonderful free tour.
Posted by
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
We did a tour of a parmasean place through the consortia (you either do an organized tour or go through the consortia - we were a group of 3 cousins) that was free and a separate balsamic vinegar through the manufacturer also free. I would not do a tour group, but rather organize it yourself. You do have to have your own transportation, but that's a lot cheaper than the tour prices and gives you a lot more flexibility.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You can go through the consortia, just don't show up unexpectedly. The pricier guided food tours usually include several tastings and/or a meal, from what friends tell me. I am more of a buy-the-cheese-eat-the-cheese kind of person, so no tour experience.
Posted by
Vignola, MO, IT
711 posts
We had an all day tour in March. It was fabulous. Laura picked us up in Parma and we visited a cheese, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar place. At the last moment she added a small winery. The tour included lunch and tastings at all of the places. This was the tour we had it was just my husband and myself. http://www.foodtours.it/ Highly recommend it.