Sample the best of Italian cuisine on this mouth-watering adventure
So much more than pizza, pasta and gelato, Italy’s foodie credentials are hard to beat. This delectable adventure delves into the most celebrated gastronomy region in the country, Emilia-Romagna, where we discover the origins of culatello ham, Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, among other delights. We hit Bologna (named the World Capital of Food by Condé Nast Traveller in 2022) and head to lesser-known spots including the picturesque hilltop town of Brisighella. A train ride through rolling hills takes us to Florence, the beating heart of Tuscany, where our adventure culminates.
Highlights
Visit producers of culatello ham, Parmesan cheese, Modena balsamic vinegar and olive oil
Join a cooking class led by a local chef to make a traditional Bolognese menu
Discover Brisighella, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy
Take a train through rolling hills to Florence
Key Information
Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels)
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Travel by air-conditioned private minibus
Option to travel by train to your adventure
Countries visited: Italy
What's Included
All breakfasts, four lunches (including one cookery class), three dinners and one wine tasting
Two glasses of wine per person with each included dinner
All accommodation
Tour leader throughout
Guided walks in Parma, Modena, Bologna and Florence
All visits as listed on the itinerary
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Local city taxes
What's Not Included
Travel insurance
Single accommodation
Visas or vaccinations
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice hereand find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. Two hotels typically used on this trip are family-owned: Agriturismo La Razza and Hotel Silla in Florence.
We visit several small producers of local food and wine on this tour, which supports the local economies. Visits include Antica Corte Pallavicina and Leone Conti.
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
We visit locations off the usual tourist trail such as Faenza and Brisighella, helping to spread the economic support to places that don’t usually benefit.
With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.
Itinerary
Roncole Verdi, Parma
Florence
Fly to Milan Malpensa; transfer to Roncole Verdi, Parma
Fly to Milan Malpensa and transfer to the village of Roncole Verdi in the province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna.
Meals included: Dinner
Day
1
Start in Roncole Verdi, Parma
Our tour starts in the village of Roncole Verdi in the province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna. Nestled in the fertile heart of the agricultural Po Valley, the village is best known as the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi, one of the greatest Italian opera composers of the 19th century. This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner at the restaurant in our locanda (inn), a delicious introduction to the traditional cuisine of Emilia-Romagna.
Overnight in Roncole Verdi.
Meals included: Dinner
Day
2
The culinary traditions of the Po Valley, the bread basket of Italy
We take a 15-minute transfer to Antica Corte Pallavicina this morning, a farm and restaurant with a fascinating history. We learn about the traditional methods still used to cure the prized culatello ham and sample the produce, all washed down with a glass of wine. After a 45-minute transfer to Parma, we have lunch at a street food spot favoured by locals, the more adventurous foodies may wish to try the horsemeat panino. We follow lunch with a short walking tour of the historical centre.
Leaving Parma, we take a one-hour transfer to Castello di Canossa. Set on a hilltop overlooking the Po Valley to the north and the Apennines to the south, the castle harks back to medieval times and was testament to many events of historical importance, including the pardon of King Henry IV by Pope Gregory VII in 1077.
We end the day with a transfer to our agriturismo accommodation in the Reggio Emilia countryside, where there is time to relax in the farmhouse grounds before a traditional Emilia dinner at the on-site restaurant.
Overnight in the Reggio Emilia countryside.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
3
The secrets of Parmigiano-Reggiano and balsamic vinegar; Modena and Bologna
We start our gastronomic journey today with a visit to a celebrated producer of Parmesan cheese, enjoying a tasting along with explanations about what makes this protected cheese so special. We continue with a transfer (15 minutes) to Cavalli Balsamic Vinegar Mill and cellars, where we learn about the vinegar-making process and understand why Modena balsamic vinegar is considered the best of its kind.
After a tasting with a light lunch, we transfer to Modena for a guided walking tour of the historic centre. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Bologna (one hour), named as the 2022 World Capital of Food by Condé Nast Traveller, where there is time for independent exploration. Our tour leader can provide suitable restaurant recommendations for dinner.
Overnight in Bologna.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day
4
Cooking class and guided tour in Bologna
It’s time to put our own cooking credentials to the test as we embark on a full-morning cooking class led by a local chef. We prepare a complete Bolognese menu from scratch, which we eat together at lunch time. The menu will vary based on the season and availability of the produce, but we can look forward to creating authentic dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
In the afternoon, we take a guided walking tour of the picturesque historic centre of Bologna before enjoying free time.
Overnight in Bologna.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day
5
Discover the Romagna region – Faenza and Brisighella
We depart Bologna by train (40 minutes), heading to the small Romagna city of Faenza. Renowned for ceramics and neo-classical architecture, the city is well away from the tourist trail and gives us the opportunity to see a lesser-visited part of Italy. After a coffee stop in the central piazza, we visit a ceramic shop to learn about the tin-glazed earthenware (known as majolica) that is produced here, before our gastronomic journey continues as we head to a small, organic winery and olive oil press in the countryside.
After a tasting and light lunch at the winery, we visit the colourful medieval town of Brisighella, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. There’s time for a gelato while we stroll along the quiet streets, before we board a train* (approximately 2hr 30min) that takes us through the rolling countryside and into Tuscany, arriving at Florence in the evening.
Overnight in Florence.
*On the inaugural departure of our Parma to Florence: Italy’s Culinary Highlights tour in October 2023, we will board the heritage Treno di Dante. On subsequent departures (in 2024), we use a regular train service.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day
6
Florence, the Renaissance capital of Tuscany
On our final day of activities, we start with a guided walking tour led by a local guide. Starting from our hotel, we cross the Ponte Vecchio (a shop-lined medieval stone bridge over the Arno River) and enter the historic centre of Florence, discovering the highlights as well as the lesser-known sites of this architecturally magnificent city. After being regaled with stories of the history and culture of the city, we head to San Lorenzo Central Market for a guided visit. We can purchase lunch at the market (not included).
The afternoon is free for independent exploration of Florence, then we meet again in the evening for a farewell dinner.
Overnight in Florence.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to Pisa; fly to London
Our trip ends in the morning of Day 7 with a transfer to Pisa and flight to London.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
7
End in Florence
The tour ends in Florence after breakfast. If you wish to spend longer in this wonderful city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Otherwise, begin your return journey home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy), meaning it is suitable for everyone in good health and fitness. For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This trip is designed for you to sample the best of Italian gastronomy and hospitality in a relatively short space of time, so there is a fair amount of moving from place to place. It is a relatively relaxing week with the most walking required during the guided walking tours of Parma, Modena, Bologna and Florence. The walking isn’t too strenuous and can be done at a leisurely pace. The walking tours last one to two hours.
All transfers are by private air-conditioned vehicle and there are two train journeys (from Bologna to Faenza and from Brisighella to Florence). The longest drive is the arrival transfer (approximately two hours), and no transfers during the trip exceed one hour. Please note, due to traffic restrictions in some of the historic centres visited, you may have to carry your suitcase over cobbled pavements, although the bus will leave you as close to your hotel as possible. When this is not possible, a porterage service will be provided, which has been included in the cost of the trip. Please be aware that some hotels don’t have a lift (elevator).
Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Locanda Alle Roncole, Strada Processione, 179, 43011 Busseto PR, Italy Phone: +39 0524 930015 Recommended arrival time: 5pm. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening followed by an included dinner. If you miss the welcome briefing, the tour leader can update you separately. Airport: Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately two hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Due to the remote start location of this trip, we strongly recommend joining the Exodus group arrival transfer – extra nights can be added in Milan before the trip to facilitate this, if required. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
A taxi from the airport costs around €350-€400 and should take approximately two hours. Alternatively, you can catch a train or bus to Milano Centrale Railway Station then a direct train to Fidenza. You can then take a bus or taxi to Roncole Verdi. The total journey time is approximately 3hr 30min and full details will be provided in your Final Joining Instructions. On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
Italy
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.
Food & Drink
All breakfasts, four lunches (including one cooking class), three dinners and one wine tasting are included.
A selection of food inherent to the region includes:
Many types of ham, in particular prosciutto, culatello and mortadella
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (also known as Parmesan)
Balsamic vinegar of Modena
Olives and olive oil
Tagliatelle al ragù bolognese
Excellent wines
Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany are the perfect locations for gastronomy aficionados. On this trip, there will be many opportunities to taste local specialties, in particular during the produce and wine tastings, cooking class and the traditional lunches and dinners included in the itinerary.
Vegetarians and vegans may find the majority of cuisine in these regions is not created with dietary restrictions in mind; however, there is still plenty to enjoy, including lasagne verdi al forno (a lasagne dish typically created with spinach-infused pasta sheets) in Emilia-Romagna and panzanella (a delicious bread and tomato salad) in Tuscany.
Weather
Emilia-Romagna has a hot, dry climate during the summer (particularly from June to August), with this becoming more notable as we head south into Tuscany where temperatures can reach the high 30Cs (around 100F). You should feel comfortable in the heat. The presence of mosquitoes increases in summer, so we recommend you take mosquito repellent with you.
On departures in April-June and September-October, expect fairly warm days; rain is possible, but it rarely lasts long. Nights may still be rather cool. We strongly recommend a fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in these months.
Hotels
All hotels on this trip have been specially selected for their location, character and comfort. We stay in a mixture of renovated traditional buildings and city hotels, all to a three- or four-star standard and offering complimentary wifi.
List of hotels normally used:
Roncole Verdi: Locanda Alle Roncole is a charming property with a restaurant and classically styled rooms featuring 18th-century furniture.
Reggio Emilia countryside: Agriturismo La Razza has a peaceful location approximately 2mi (3.2km) outside the small city of Reggio Emilia. There is a swimming pool (open seasonally) and rooms have a contemporary finish.
Bologna: Zanhotel Regina or Hotel Touring Bologna. Both hotels are in the historic centre of Bologna, allowing easy access to the main attractions of the city, including the Two Towers.
Florence: Hotel Villa Royal or Hotel Silla. Hotel Villa Royal has a classic 18th-century style, a swimming pool (open seasonally) and gardens. Hotel Silla is a family-run property whose amenities include a rooftop terrace with views over the Arno River.
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Optional Single Supplement+456 € Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
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