Bologna
This itinerary is available for private groups of 6 or more!
Ask me about a private group tour! Six is the magic number of participants needed to experience this adventure exclusively for your group of family and friends!
City Piazza in Bologna
Highlights
- Four star accommodations in centrally located hotel - no packing or unpacking during the entire week!
- Three private culinary classes with meals following
- Welcome dinner
- Private English speaking city tour led by certified city guide
- Private wine tasting excursion in Bologna's wine region
- Visit to Parmigiano Reggiano factory, Prosciutto Factory and Balsamic Vinegar Producer
- Farewell dinner
Overview
Our spring week in Bologna, in the Emilia Romagna region, promises to be a food lovers delight. A quiet city, when compared to most main cities in Italy, Bologna is ideal for anyone wanting to learn about real, authentic Bolognese cooking. Fondly known as "Bologna La Grassa" or Bologna the Fat, this city is Italy's culinary birthplace. Emilia Romagna is home to the King of Cheeses - Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Not to mention home to the original stuffed pastas such as Ravioli and Tortelloni. Arrive at your four star accommodations, settle in and unpack and prepare for our welcome celebration dinner. Our home for the week will be a centrally located four star hotel. The week will include private day trips to Bologna's wine region, with lunch on the winery, a visit to factories that produce products such as Parmigiano Cheese and Prosciutto, three private cooking classes, as well as a private walking culinary tour where we will visit some of the city's most beloved shops. A private culture walking tour will allow us to get to know our host city. Spend a memorable spring week in Bologna! Enjoy the seasonal meals, sure to be heart-warming and plentiful!
Our spring week in Bologna, in the Emilia Romagna region, promises to be a food lovers delight. A quiet city, when compared to most main cities in Italy, Bologna is ideal for anyone wanting to learn about real, authentic Bolognese cooking. Fondly known as "Bologna La Grassa" or Bologna the Fat, this city is Italy's culinary birthplace. Emilia Romagna is home to the King of Cheeses - Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Not to mention home to the original stuffed pastas such as Ravioli and Tortelloni. Arrive at your four star accommodations, settle in and unpack and prepare for our welcome celebration dinner. Our home for the week will be a centrally located four star hotel. The week will include private day trips to Bologna's wine region, with lunch on the winery, a visit to factories that produce products such as Parmigiano Cheese and Prosciutto, three private cooking classes, as well as a private walking culinary tour where we will visit some of the city's most beloved shops. A private culture walking tour will allow us to get to know our host city. Spend a memorable spring week in Bologna! Enjoy the seasonal meals, sure to be heart-warming and plentiful!
Neptune Fountain in Bologna
Day 1
Afternoon: Arrive at your four star accommodations. Settle in and unpack knowing you will not have to repack for the entire week. Ward off jet lag with a quick walk to a local specialty shop and perhaps grab your first gelato for the week.
Evening: In the evening, we will meet for our first group activity and have our first taste of real authentic Bolognese cuisine in a group dinner in a carefully selected location. Learn about the city and discuss the plan of the week ahead.
Afternoon: Arrive at your four star accommodations. Settle in and unpack knowing you will not have to repack for the entire week. Ward off jet lag with a quick walk to a local specialty shop and perhaps grab your first gelato for the week.
Evening: In the evening, we will meet for our first group activity and have our first taste of real authentic Bolognese cuisine in a group dinner in a carefully selected location. Learn about the city and discuss the plan of the week ahead.
Wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Day 2
Morning & Afternoon: Today's day-long trip will be a feast for all senses as we take on Italy's Food Valley. The day begins with a morning excursion to a cheese factory where you will experience the entire production process of Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. The tour continues to one of the region’s historic acetaia, a family-owned farmhouse where the famous Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena D.O.P. is made. From the acetaia we will take you off the beaten path to one of the best prosciutto factories in the region. At their factory in Modena, you will learn all about the strict regulations, the lengthy curing process, and the tremendous care that goes into ensuring that all D.O.P. prosciutto, including Prosciutto di Modena D.O.P. and Prosciutto di Parma D.O.P., meet exactly the same high standards. Generous samples will be provided throughout plus a memorable 6-course lunch on location.
Evening: The evening, and dinner, if required after our day's culinary excursion, will be on your own to enjoy at your own pleasure.
Bird's eye view of Bologna
Day 3
Morning: Today we head to the kitchen for our first cooking class. Our morning includes a market visit where we will shop for our ingredients for class. Our menu includes typical Bolognese dishes with preparation of the dough for pastas such as Tagliatelle or stuffed pasta, typical sauces will also be prepared. We will enjoy our efforts for lunch.
Afternoon: The afternoon will consist of a city walking tour led by a private, English speaking guide. This will allow us to get to know our city and our local main attractions. Walk off some of the calories from lunch while getting to know the history of Bologna. Some of the main attractions include Piazza Maggiore, Neptune Fountains, the Basilicata of St. Petronio, the Archiginnasio Palace and Bologna’s famous towers, and much
more. Not nearly as crowded as some of Italy’s other cities,
Bologna has so much to offer that it should be on everyone’s must-visit city list!
Evening: Evening on your own to enjoy at your leisure.
Shop at the local market
Day 4
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, we will explore one of Bologna oldest food markets with an insider, and visit the most traditional food shops. Learn about the history, culture and architecture, that make Bologna's medieval market so unique. Our tour will offer 5 authentic tastings at a diversity of places: the food market with its ancient family-run shops, a bakery, a chocolate factory, a pasta laboratory, a gelato shop.
Afternoon: After the 3.5 hour tour, take a short break in the afternoon before we had back to the kitchen for our second cooking class.
Evening: A group dinner at a historic Bolognese restaurant is scheduled for this evening.
Winery in Bologna
Day 5
Morning & Afternoon: Today, we step outside the city for our private day trip to the Bologna’s wine country. We will see and taste the best wines produced in the Bologna area as we visit one or two wineries and taste the wines produced in the estates. We will enjoy a delightful gourmet lunch and visit the small, medieval village of Dozza, with its frescoed walls and its majestic fortress. We will tour a winery, take in some extraordinary views, stroll through the vines, get a flavor of wine country history, hear stories and learn about wine making. This will be an amazing day filled with wine tastings and an unforgettable experience unlike any other!
Evening: The evening will be on your own to enjoy at your leisure.
Morning & Afternoon: Today, we step outside the city for our private day trip to the Bologna’s wine country. We will see and taste the best wines produced in the Bologna area as we visit one or two wineries and taste the wines produced in the estates. We will enjoy a delightful gourmet lunch and visit the small, medieval village of Dozza, with its frescoed walls and its majestic fortress. We will tour a winery, take in some extraordinary views, stroll through the vines, get a flavor of wine country history, hear stories and learn about wine making. This will be an amazing day filled with wine tastings and an unforgettable experience unlike any other!
Evening: The evening will be on your own to enjoy at your leisure.
Traditional filled pasta of Bologna
Day 6
Morning: Today, we head back to the kitchen for our final cooking class. By this point, you will be an expert in the kitchen! Today’s menu may include traditional savory and sweet dishes made popular by the Bologna region of Emilia Romagna. Roll up your sleeves and grab an apron as we dive in and show our instructors just what great students we have been! Enjoy a wonderful lunch afterwards.
Afternoon & Evening: After our cooking class and lunch, you will have time on your own to enjoy the city at your leisure.
Locals and visitors going about their way in Bologna
Day 7
Morning & Afternoon: Today you can enjoy the day on your own to walk about the city with freedom. Visit a museum we didn’t get a chance to see, return to a place where we’ve been that left an impression, pick up a few foodie gifts for your friends or simply enjoy Italy’s “Il Dolce Far Niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing!! Lunch will be on your own, and we will reconvene for our farewell Dinner in the evening.
Dinner: We meet for our final farewell dinner in Bologna. Get the opportunity to reconnect with fellow travelers, discuss the week and share the most memorable experiences.
Evening view of Bologna's piazza
Day 8
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel before checking out.
*Day to day specifics subject to change*
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel before checking out.
*Day to day specifics subject to change*
PRICE, INCLUSIONS, EXCLUSIONS
NOT INCLUDED:
- 7 Nights Accommodations in Four-Star Hotel in Central Location in Bologna
- Daily Breakfast at Your Hotel
- Private Luxury Transportation Throughout Tour for Day Trips
- Welcome Dinner Celebration
- Thank you Dinner Celebration
- Lunch on Winery
- Lunch in Modena
- Day trip & Factory visits
- Three Private Culinary Lessons with Bolognese Intructors with Meals Following
- Private City Tour Led by English Speaking Certified Guide
- Private Culinary Tour With Ample Samples Throughout Walk
- Market Visit
NOT INCLUDED:
- Airfare / Flights
- Personal purchases of any sort
- Hotel incidentals such as phone calls, mini bars, room service and other amenities
- Meals and wine not stated above
- Airport / Train transfers / Can be arranged
- Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is HIGHLY recommended in order to protect your investment. This is to ensure that you are covered in the event of loss due to cancellation by traveler or host, medical emergency, flight cancellation, lost luggage or other like event
- Hotel City Tax of 4.50 - 6.00 Euros per person / per night, to be paid directly to hotel by guest
Price & Details
8 Days / 7 Nights
Inquire Regarding Prince
$1,000 Deposit is required and it will be applied towards overall tour cost!
Francesca Montillo, Native Italian, Owner and Tour Leader Accompanies all Activities
Contact Francesca at francesca@thelazyitalian.com for booking/reservation and further details.
8 Days / 7 Nights
Inquire Regarding Prince
$1,000 Deposit is required and it will be applied towards overall tour cost!
Francesca Montillo, Native Italian, Owner and Tour Leader Accompanies all Activities
Contact Francesca at francesca@thelazyitalian.com for booking/reservation and further details.
If you would like to reserve a spot for this tour, or have any questions, please use the contact form below and we will send you the necessary booking instructions or additional information.
A deposit of $1,000 per person plus signed travel agreement is required to secure your spot.
