Emilia-Romagna Foodie Adventure - 2024 Itinerary
Productivity Recharge Package:
Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Foodie Adventure
June 17 - 24, 2024
Optional add on of 3 nights
You most likely won’t recognize the name Emilia-Romagna. We weren’t familiar with it either. But we heard this area mentioned may times over while visiting Tuscany in 2022. We’d thought we were going to Tuscany to experience the most delicious Italian food, along with amazing Renaissance artwork. But while there, professionally trained chefs and nonnas alike told us that Emilia-Romagna is where we could find the best food anywhere.
What?!? All of these Tuscan pastas, sauces, breads, gelatos and vegetables (veggies with actual flavor!) we were indulging in weren’t the best of the best in all of Italy? Then we must seek out this land of Emilia-Romagna to experience true culinary ecstasy.
Pack your roomiest pants, skirts or dresses. We are going to truly savor the flavors of Emilia-Romagna, Italy!
Day 1, Monday, June 17: Bologna
Meet in Bologna at noon. After experiencing our first traditional meal, we’ll explore Piazza Maggiore, Piazza Nettuno and the longest portico in the world. After walking off our feast, we might have room for a light dinner or snack. And gelato.
(Lunch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Bologna
Day 2, Tuesday, June 18: Bologna adventures
After breakfast, we’ll head out for a Farm to Fork experience on a family estate. After getting a peek at their typical day, we’ll pick our vegetables, then head to the kitchen to learn how to cook our seasonal treats and homemade pasta. Of course, we’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor with wine. When we return to Bologna in the afternoon, we’ll visit the beautiful basilica.
(Breakfast, Luch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Bologna
Day 3, Wednesday, June 19: Bologna adventures
Did someone say truffles? In the morning we’ll watch expert truffle hunters (one two-legged and one four-legged) in action before enjoying a mid-day delight of a truffle-themed lunch. When we return to Bologna, we’ll visit the oldest university in the Western world.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Bologna
Day 4, Thursday, June 20: Bologna
After three days of savoring delectable culinary experiences, you’ll have today to venture out on your own to see sites we haven’t yet visited or cafes and restaurants that call out to you – since you’ll now know what to order! What else might there be to see in Bologna? Take your pick: Tamburini food emporium, Quadrilatero food district, basilicas, Torre degli Asinelli, sanctuary and portico of the Madonna di San Luca, Madonna & Child icon, Archiginnasio Anatomical Theater, St. Dominic Church, beautiful neighborhoods and streets…the day is yours to soak it all in.
(Breakfast) Accommodations: Bologna
Day 5, Friday, June 21: Bologna to Modena
After breakfast, we’ll jump on a 40-minute train to Modena. After dropping off our luggage, we’ll rev up our engines by visiting the museum dedicated to Enzo Ferrari. We’ll most likely be famished after dreaming about luxury vehicles, so we’ll need to partake in a sumptuous lunch. We’ll walk off our late lunch in the historic district before finding the best dessert in town.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Modena
Have you caught on to the pattern? We’ll be enjoying breakfasts in our accommodations as well as feasting on large, delicious lunches between adventures. In the evenings, we can sharpen our food-ordering skills at local markets to pick up evening picnic supplies, seek out apericena (aperitivo and Italian tapas), or nibble on stuzzichini (antipasto) or dessert or both. And there’s always the health benefit of a digestivo….
Day 6, Saturday, June 22: Modena adventures
Get a good night’s rest because today will be long and arduous. We’ll visit a dairy where some of the finest Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced from sacred white cows. Then we’ll enjoy a tortellino lunch at a Michelin Guide restaurant. Afterwards, we’ll experience the Black Gold of Modena - aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena. If you have the stamina to still stand upright after experiencing all of this culinary goodness in one day, we’ll wander around Modena to locate gelato.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Modena
Day 7, Sunday, June 23: Parma adventures
Did someone say Parma? We’ll spend the day driving through the Parma countryside to reach an exquisite culatello producer. We’ll taste their wonderful cured pork, then savor even more at our luncheon featuring traditional dishes from the Parma region. As will become our evening ritual, we will wander the streets in search of a nightcap – be it stuzzichini, sweets or a digestivo.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Nourishment) Accommodations: Modena
Optional: Ravenna Add On
Day 8, Monday, June 24: Bid farewell or go to Ravenna (optional add on)
After breakfast, you can head home or continue on your own adventure. Or, you can keep tasting your way through Emilia-Romagna as we head to Ravenna. We’ll catch the train to the eastern part of Emilia-Romagna and visit Byzantine mosaics from the fifth through seventh centuries. For dinner, we’ll experience what Ravenna is known for: seafood, pasta, grilled meats and cheeses.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Accommodations: Ravenna
Day 9, Tuesday, June 25: Ravenna
In Ravenna, there is so much to soak in – basilicas, baptistries, artwork, museums and Dante’s tomb! Since this is a foodie adventure, we’ll need to enjoy more culinary delights in between these visits.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Accommodations: Ravenna
Day 10, Wednesday, June 26, Ravenna
After nine days of experiencing the foodie capital of Italy, you’ll have today to revel in your last day of our adventure. Will you spend it at the beach? Or perhaps you’ll seek out sites we didn’t yet visit. At the end of your day, join us for our farewell dinner.
(Breakfast, Dinner) Accommodations: Ravenna
Day 11, Thursday, June 27
After breakfast, we’ll say, “Ci vediano” – “See you again.” Continue you on your own personal adventure or head home.
(Breakfast)
*Please note: this itinerary is subject to slight modifications due to hotel availability, weather, festivals and other occurrences.
Additionally, we’ll be visiting smaller producers whose schedules vary depending on the season. The activities will remain the same, but the days of our visits might change. As details are confirmed, updates will be posted.*
