Top Experiences in Bologna

Relish the tastes and flavors of authentic Italian cuisine as you explore Food Valley, the delicious region surrounding Parma and Modena. You’ll make several stops to taste Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, prosciutto ham, Aceto Balsamico (balsamic vinegar), and local wine. Then, learn how farmers, ranchers, and artisans make these unique products and enjoy a delicious 6-course lunch at a family-run restaurant.You'll start with a visit to a local Parmigiano‐Reggiano DOP producer. The secret to such delicious cheese comes from its origin, natural feed, and high-quality milk with no additives. During the long aging process, biological fermenting agents in the milk give the cheese its particular flavor and texture. As a result, Parmigiano‐Reggiano is not manufactured but instead made today as it was eight centuries ago! Artisans use precious milk from its origin, fire, rennet, the expertise of old methods, and the skill and knowledge of cheese masters. At the end of your visit, you’ll enjoy a cheese tasting.Next, make your way to a prosciutto DOP producer. One of the earliest references to ham production in this region appeared around 100 BCE in the writings of Cato, who described the practice of burying pork legs in barrels filled with salt. Learn about the long process of creating prosciutto and enjoy a delicious tasting.Continue to discover Italy’s “black gold,” the traditional balsamic vinegar produced only in the areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The families of the region...

Discover the city of Bologna with your taste buds on a food tour. Enjoy some of the best coffee in Italy, explore a vibrant food market, meet food masters at work, and indulge in the classic Italian tastes and flavors like a local! Your guide will carefully select each stopping point, focusing on the historical significance and exceptional gastronomy beloved by locals and specialists.You’ll start your day with a gourmet espresso made by Alessandro, known as the best barista in Bologna.​ Relax with your java and learn why Italy is so famous for its coffee. Continue to Quadrilatero and Mercato delle Erbe, the foodie heart of the city. ​You’ll shop as the locals do, wandering through different stalls and family stores. Stop to chat with the old ladies, masters of pasta, and watch how they make their famous tortellini, tortelloni, and tagliatelle.Tutti a tavola! “Let’s sit all at the table!” It’s time to enjoy the delicious flavors of Bologna with lunch at the oldest osteria in Italy. Taste dishes like pasta with bolognese ragù and traditional cured meats, such as mortadella and salame rosa. Pair your bites with Parmigiano Reggiano and other local cheeses, plus the famous balsamic vinegar of Modena. As you eat, relax and chat with fellow foodies, discuss the tastes of the day, and sip a glass of Pignoletto, Sangiovese, or Lambrusco wine.No lunch in Italy ends without a sweet treat! Aside from its savory delicacies, Bologna is also the city of gelato. You’ll make your way to a...

Explore the region around Bologna through its music, culture, stories, motors, and famous cuisine. Get an extensive introduction of the area by discovering the production of the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, visiting the House Museum of Pavarotti, perusing the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, and tasting the local food with a typical lunch in an authentic trattoria.This tour takes place in the heart of Italy’s Food Valley, perfect for anyone who wants to discover Italian cuisine's history and millenary tradition. You’ll start with a visit to a historic vinegar factory, learning about Modena’s famous balsamic vinegar and tasting its “black gold.” Next, follow the footsteps of the great maestro Luciano Pavarotti by visiting his House Museum and experiencing the emotion of “living” with the Grand Master. For lunch, you’ll relax in the countryside and taste the local food in a typical trattoria. Then, end the tour by discovering the prancing horse myth in the Ferrari Museum rooms. Learn how each aspect worked together to make history as the original “Made in Italy” heritage.Read more about unique and interesting cultural experiences in Italy.

If you’ve ever wanted to drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini on a racetrack, this bucket-list experience is for you! You’ll become a real racecar driver at the Autodromo di Modena. Experience the speed and exhilaration as you curve around the track in the region where Ferrari and Lamborghini originated. While enjoying a coffee, you’ll start with a technical briefing and introduction. Meet your instructor, learn more about the cars and racetrack, and watch a video demonstration. After selecting your vehicle, you’ll join your guide in the front seat and get a feel for the engine. You can choose among the most powerful engines, including the Ferrari 488 Challenge, the Ferrari 430 Challenge, the Ferrari 458 Challenge, the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo, and the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo. Specific engine details include: FERRARI 488 CHALLENGE: The most powerful engine! Engine: V 8, 3.9L Power: 670 bhp at 8.000 rpm/min. Torque: 760 NM @ 3000 rpm Gearbox: 7 speed F1 Dual Clutch Max speed 341 km/h Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h 2,9 seconds FERRARI 430 CHALLENGE Engine: 4.3 Liter V8. Power: 510 bhp at 8,500 rpm / min. Gearbox: 6-speed sequential F1. Max speed: 320 km/h. Acceleration: from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds FERRARI 458 CHALLENGE Engine: 4.5-liter V8. Power: 570 bhp at 9,000 rpm / min. Gearbox: F1 electronic. Max speed: 330 km/h. Weight: 1.245 kg. Acceleration:0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds. LAMBORGHINI HURACAN SUPER TROFEO Engine: Longitudinal – V10 IDS...

Enjoy an evening full of Bologna’s famed food and wine culture as you stroll through its historic center. A guide will lead you to off-the-beaten-path spots to savor local delicacies. Start with a pick-me-up and try some of Italy’s renowned espresso. You’ll join the locals and stand at the counter as you sip your java. Now that you have a bolt of energy, head out into the streets to start tasting the regional goods!You’ll try several products particular to Bologna and its surrounding region, including cured meat, Parmigiano cheese, and balsamic vinegar. While you savor your bites, you’ll sip on wine at a historic enoteca. Don't miss trying a slice of traditional Roman pizza! Then enjoy three famous homemade pasta dishes at a typical trattoria and polish it all off with artisanal Italian gelato.Although food is the focus of this tour, you’ll also enjoy wandering through the charming streets and squares of Bologna. Your guide will help you discover some hidden places that would be hard to find by yourself. As you stroll, listen to entertaining stories about the culture and traditions of Bologna.Read more about unique culinary experiences in Italy.

Enjoy a tour of Bologna’s famed International Music Museum and Library, established in 2004. Set in the historical center of Bologna inside the prestigious Palazzo Sanguinetti, the museum houses an extremely varied exhibition. Enjoy the exquisitely frescoed rooms and browse one of the most prestigious music collections (in terms of printed music repertoire) ranging from the 16th to 18th century. As you stroll through the museum, you’ll observe incunabula, precious manuscripts, opera librettos, and the special collection of autographs and letters. You can thank the correspondence between Father Martini (the spiritual father of the museum) and prominent characters, scholars, and musicians for this impressive collection. Next, visit the library inside the convent of San Giacomo Maggiore, which is also home to the G.B. Martini music conservatory. It safeguards extraordinary and rare incunables, manuscripts, librettos, autographs, and letters dating back to the 1500s.Another highlight is thanks to the heirs of the famous Bolognese luthier Otello Bignami. They donated a faithful reconstruction of his workshop, plus a vast collection of musical instruments. You’ll peruse an 1844 Pleyel grand piano, once the property of Gioachino Rossini, harpsichords, spinets, oboes, English horns, flutes, and vertical and grand pianos all made between the 17th and 20th centuries. To complete your tour, you can choose from three different themes: The first option is a guided visit to the halls...

Explore slow food and fast cars in the Emilia Romagna region! On this tour, you’ll start slow by visiting boutique producers of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, and local prosciutto. Then go fast at the world-famous Ferrari Museum in Maranello. Finally, slow back down and savor the region’s traditional flavors with wine pairings and a delicious five-course Italian lunch at a family-run restaurant. At your first stop, you’ll discover the “king” of Italian cheeses, Parmigiano-Reggiano. Enjoy a rare opportunity to watch how experts create and age this savory delicacy. While in a live production facility, stand side by side with cheese artisans as they prepare and work with special milk. Watch as they fill iconic molds and age the cheese to perfection. Finally, enjoy a generous tasting featuring a variety of ages. Along with local Lambrusco wine, you’ll understand why this cheese always lives up to its divine reputation.Next, visit a multi-generation, family-owned artisanal prosciutto production facility. Enjoy a tour of the facilities and watch the entire meticulous and time-consuming feat required to produce this one-of-a-kind product. Next, you’ll visit different seasonal simulation storage rooms, so bring a light jacket or sweater for the “autumn” room. Finally, the visit concludes with some of the highest quality and freshest tastings you’ll enjoy of this classic Italian staple.Continue to another local production site, where you can taste 15- or 30-year-old...

Discover the secrets behind homemade pasta Bolognese and immerse yourself in Italian cuisine. You'll be in the capable hands of a professional chef, teaching you traditional Italian cooking and authentic pasta-making.In this cooking class, you’ll prepare three traditional recipes in the charming city center of Bologna. Learn how to make tagliatelle with ragù, tortellini en brodo (broth), and tortellini with butter and sage. Once you've mastered these authentic dishes, you’ll sit down to enjoy lunch, guaranteed to be delicious! Finally, pair your creations with a local wine tasting.Read more about unique and interesting culinary experiences in Italy.

Explore the picturesque and historic city of Bologna with a walking tour. You’ll start in the main square, Piazza Maggiore, located in the city’s ancient center. Its medieval buildings have witnessed Bologna’s vibrant public life and intense economic activity. Besides its rich history, the square also houses the Sala Borsa Public Library and municipal offices, plus dozens of shops, bars, and cafés. Next, you’ll head out into the city, following its famed network of streets filled with unique porticos. While walking under the porticos, you’ll stay protected from the sun and rain as you pass important museums, galleries, and religious buildings—all holding various relics and exceptional works of art. You’ll stop to visit the Basilica of San Petronio, the two “leaning” towers of Bologna, the Anatomic Theater, the University of Bologna, and the Archiginnasio with its unique frescoes.Before ending the tour, your guide will take you to explore the popular Quadrilatero area, meandering its maze of small streets. You’ll also visit the city’s historical market, enjoying its various colors, flavors, and nods to the past.Read more about unique and interesting cultural experiences in Italy.