Looking for Bologna Recommendations for late April Trip

We stayed in Modena in August and took this AirBNB experience for a parmiggiano reggiano tour: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/91363

It was wonderful; by far one of our favorite days of our month long trip! You'd have to train to Reggio Emilia, but that should be pretty simple from Bologna and Claudio picks you up at the train station.

For a pasta class, this is actually out of Rome but was our OTHER favorite day on our trip and since you described what you want as "Italian grandma type experience" ... it's literally called "handmade pasta with grandma" :) https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/55449

hey he JP
forbes.com
searching for italy: Stanley Tucci’s bologna episode
tastebologna.net
Stanley Tucci: searching for italy in bologna
lots of info with websites to check out
loved his series about traveling thru italy.
withlocals.com
check out all they have to offer
secretfoodtours.com
eatwith.com/ bologna
so much to see do and eat, some in residents home, out in the countryside, some food tours. Take your pick
aloha and enjoy

Thank you for the suggestions!

I've seen AirBnB experiences, but haven't tried any previously. I wasn't sure if they were all large commercialized operations that were taking advantage of AirBnB's platform or if they were run by locals and more authentic. I'd much rather get involved with local operations.

The Tucci show was great. I assume it's not hard to find Salumerie or Formaggerie with "the good stuff", as it were?

Any other unique Bologna or Emiglia Romagna experiences we should be aware of? Any local artisans or craftsmen in town worth a visit?

I spend a lot of time in Bologna. I highly recommend a day trip to Ravenna since you have some time in the area. The mosaics are amazing. Easy to reach Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Imola, Piacenza by train.

All of the AirBNB experiences that I've done have been local and authentic. I do think there are some larger companies that utilize the platform, but you should be able to tell which those are from reading reviews and I find them to be very much in the minority.

I stayed at a monastery in Bologna (monastery stays.com) and had a single room with balcony and en suite, breakfast included and lunch and dinner available with reservation. Easy walk to downtown. I ate dinner one night at the monastery — good, but not great, but only 12€ for four courses with wine, Also ate one night at a small local restaurant, Sette Tavoli, which was fabulous.

If you want a daylong tour there’s one available that includes a visit to a Parmesan cheese factory, a balsamic vinegar business, a prosciutto factory and either a winery or a visit to the Ferrara factory, plus a meal, as if all those factory samples hadn’t been enough.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

I've enjoyed looking at the AirBnB experiences so far and a day trip to Ravenna seems like a good idea too.

Any great places for wandering shops/markets? Mercato di Mezzo area is on our list. Any opinions on Eatly?

Likewise, for a bit of a walk, any opinions on the Portico di San Luca up to the Santuario?

Please take the hop on hop off in Bologna up to the church on the hill,, Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The church is beautiful and the view/scenery is just as beautiful. Check out the portico going up to the church.

I'm nearly certain regular buses (should be much cheaper) go up to the church. I remember walking down, but I don't remember a long slog uphill. Surely I wouldn't have forgotten that.