I'd love some ideas on touring production facilities, or similar experiences, around Bologna, Parma and Modena. Also, ideas on the where to make our base in the area.
Right now I'm thinking Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, Prosciutto, and Balsamic Vinegar production. Maybe one each over a several days? A cooking class would be nice as well.
I'm leaning toward basing in Bologna, because it seems like there is a lot to see and many good eating choices.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Brad
If you are looking for an all in one then the tour with https://www.italiandays.it/ is the way to go. Several forum members have done the tour. The venues are wonderful as are the tastings and the lunch at the end. Lovely to have a driver!! Well worth the cost of the tour.
And yes, Bologna is a good base. It’s not over touristed and food is great, plus lots of interesting sites to see.
EDIT: The price has gone up quite a bit since we took the tour. Ours was at the €180 each range: I see now it might be at €250 each. That would make me rethink it, but it is a good tour and you get all three: parmigiano, proscuitto and balsamic.
We had good luck with ToursByLocals --- our tour was 7 years ago and I don't see our guide's name on the website anymore, but he picked us up in his car and took us to a cheese factory (with tasting), balsamic "barn" (with vinegar tasting), a Lambrusco tasting at a wine cellar, and lunch in the hills. He also threw in a visit to a Reggio Emilia school because I was a teacher. It was $350 for the two of us and took 4 or 5 hours. He would have done prosciutto, too, but we chose not to.
My husband is the cook (definitely not me!) and has taken many cooking and pasta making classes in Italy, including one in Bologna. We will be in Bologna again this December for two weeks, and he will be taking more classes then, so I'll know more about that by January. Will have some restaurants to suggest by then, too --- our previous trips were too long ago for me to feel good about making any recommendations.
In 2016, we stayed in Parma, Modena, and Bologna for 5 nights each (and then elsewhere in Emilia-Romagna for a few weeks), and any one of them would be great, but Bologna is the most convenient for doing day trips by train, if that's what you are planning to do.
Thank you for the replies. The tours sound about what I had in mind. Price is pretty high so depends on whether my wife views it as a "must" or a "want to" (I'm thinking it's a must for her, but she is more cost-conscious than I am). I might break them up and drive myself, if that's an option.
It will be difficult to see Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese on your own, due to the production requirements, and I felt that the Italian Days tour was a good value, even though it appears to cost much more now, because you actually see the cheese being made and learn about the process. You need to allow a full day for this tour. And there will be plenty to eat! To me the prosciutto was the least interesting portion of the tour--it's basically just looking at a lot of hams.
We had a great experience with ExploraEmilia in 2019. It was a full day with cheese, wine, ham, and balsamic vinegar. I highly recommend their program and service.
We also did a half day cooking class with CIBO in Bologna. It looks like they now focus on longer experiences but could also do something shorter.
The food tour looks like exactly what I was looking for. Thanks,
