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Itinerary
Day 1 Bologna
Arrival at the hotel and check-in. Time to relax, followed by a traditional dinner based on local seasonal produce from Emilia-Romagna.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 2 Bologna
In the morning, cookery lesson dedicated to traditional Bolognese cuisine, followed by lunch.
In the afternoon explore some of the city's picturesque squares and beautiful buildings on a 2-hour guided tour. You'll see the two towers, the Asinelli and the Garisenda, towering over the city, and you'll explore the ancient Quadrilatero Market to see the historic shops and fill your nostrils with the scents of local food.
Finally, discover the Palazzo del Re Enzo, now the seat of the City Hall, overlooking the beautiful Piazza Maggiore. And after a whole day around the city it’s time to relax and to taste one of the specialties Bologna is known for: the Aperitivo. You may hardly still be hungry after a large cured meats and cheese “tagliere” and delicious “bruschette”.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 3 Bologna Modena Bologna
Departure to Modena for an old “Acetaia”, vinegar factory visit. accompanied by expert guides, can visit ancient Acetaie and discover the production techniques for the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP and its motherland: it is here that this sensory experience begins, int these magic places that,thanks to a microclimate that is hot in summer and cold in winter, house the barrels, made of the most precious woods, where the product slowly ripens. At the end of the visit, you can start tasting the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP. Tasting is made “vertically” to gradually accustom the palate to the many different flavours of the Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, passing from the youngest Vinegar to the oldest one.
Then travel through the beautiful Modena countryside where the sea breeze crosses the hills and makes this area ideal for Modena ham making. Inside a Modena ham factory, follow the journey of this prestigious ham from careful meat selection until its meticulous aging. Taste the unique sweetness of Parma ham and other local cold cuts, as the “culatta”.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 4 Bologna Modena Lambrusco Bologna
After breakfast we suggest you a stroll around Modena’s historical centre. Modena is pleasurable in every season and offers tourists extraordinary beauties, all concentrated in its graceful historic centre, that narrate the splendour of a city that for a long time was the capital of a duchy under the Este lords, who resided here from 1598.
UNESCO has acknowledged the universal value of the city's monumental treasures by declaring the Cathedral, Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina Tower a Unesco world heritage. The day continues with a visit to one of the most important Lambrusco wine producers, where you can appreciate all the characteristics and the real taste of this wine paired with farm-to-table delicatessen.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 5 Bologna Parma area Bologna
After breakfast we suggest to visit Parma. Its center, full of art masterpieces, wide green spaces, little and big treasures from different ages, welcoming visitors and citizens all in the refined atmosphere of a petite capital. The presence of music in the history of the city is varied and recognized worldwide; the spirit of initiative and everyone’s passion give the city a deserved relevant position among the capitals of music. The gastronomic tradition is also very remarkable, offering, besides cold cuts and cheese which are famous all over the world, first courses of homemade pasta cooked in different ways.
Parma in 2015 has been designated a Creative City of Gastronomy Unesco. Therefore, we cannot leave Parma without a lunch of Parma specialties. Free afternoon followed by a short visit of the wonderful Torrechiara Castle (optional). In the afternoon, stop at local “Cantina/Winery”, situated in one of the most beautiful spots in the Parma hills. Tasting of four wines accompanied by local produce.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 6 Bologna Ferrara Bologna
This day is dedicated to visiting Ferrara with a licensed guide. Situated on the great plain of Emilia, Ferrara stands a few kilometres south of the Po River, and about 50km from the sea. Ferrara is a splendid city of art, to be enjoyed by walking its streets, its character - this magnificent Renaissance capital - revealed on every corner. Through its glorious past, you can understand the roots of its present. The Este family governed here for three centuries and gave the city the appearance it has today: a uniquely planned city, harmoniously fusing
Mediaeval and Renaissance architecture, Europe's first modern city. It is precisely these characteristics that secured its UNESCO World Heritage status. It's a peaceful city to wander on foot or by bike, every step reliving the magical atmospheres of the past.
Visit the Estense Castle, former residence of the Este dukes. Lunch in a Typical Osteria.
Overnight stay in Bologna at Art Hotel dei Commercianti - 4* or similar.
Day 7 Bologna
Your itinerary has come to an end! After breakfast, check-out of your hotel.
Accommodation
Art Hotel dei Commercianti
Bologna
The Art hotel Commercianti has been recently renovated maintaining all the characteristics of the original building: the frescoed ceilings, the wooden beams, the elegant terraces overlooking the gothic windows of the monumental basilica of San Petronio. This 4-star hotel located in a quiet pedestrian area, has a private parking in the center of Bologna next to the Basilica of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore. The building boasts an unbeatable location, a few steps from the main attractions of the city: the Archiginnasio, the Palazzo del Podestà, the Fountain of Neptune, the Two Towers and, why not, also from the most famous shopping streets of Bologna and the best restaurants.
