Discover Emilia-Romagna, the Gastronomic Heart of Italy - 5 days

Overview

A short version of our just-updated cycling adventure through Italy's renowned foodie region! Wonderful riding through pretty countryside and farms, picturesque towns and great cities. This region offers amazing scenery and a number of UNESCO world heritage sites, renowned food and drink, art and history, and the legendary friendliness of its locals. Arrive in Bologna, Emilia Romagna's administrative capital and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, Bologna has a long tradition of studies, arts, and gastronomy. Speaking of gastronomy, Bologna gave birth to mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as "bologna," although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your 'must try' list! Lots to see and explore in this beautiful city. Come early and book a genuine cooking class at a renowned cooking school or enjoy dinner at a local trattoria! Leave Bologna on its city bike paths to get to the foot hills of the Apennine Mountains, where great views reward you as you approach Bazzano. A rails-to-trails bike path in the countryside will then take you all the way to Modena. Don't forget to visit the historic town center of this city with the marble covered cathedral and its Ghirlandina bell tower. Before heading out of Modena on your bike, we suggest a visit of the local covered market that has been selling local products since the Middle Ages: fruits and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffles, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar. With your senses alight by the sounds, sights and smells, you will visit the Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years. Continue on an easy ride along lovely back roads to the evening's destination, the charming city of Reggio Emilia. Optionally, you may choose to stay in an "agriturismo" outside the city - this country house hotel shows off its working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting (please note, on certain nights the farm restaurant is closed; Reggio Emilia is the closest option for a restaurant dinner, a 20min taxi drive away). We suggest you start your day with an optional visit of a parmesan cheese factory. This wonderful experience, in which you'll learn why Parmigiano-Reggiano is known as "the king of cheeses”, is one of the tour highlights. Your destination today is a city where your taste buds will not be disappointed, Parma! Famous for its culinary traditions, the arts also flourished outside of the kitchen in this lovely city: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of its most famous citizens, and their influence are present to this day. The city is still an important cultural and artistic center. Explore and enjoy the historic center, and delight your palate with Parma's signature cured ham (prosciutto crudo) and Parmesan cheese, eaten as an aperitivo or sprinkled on homemade pasta dishes. Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Now with a refined palate, shop well and take some recipes home to try in your own kitchen! Perfect for cyclists who prefer shorter distances and mostly flat riding. Best for enjoying visits and sightseeing of the cultural cities. Bike paths along rivers or rails-to-trails, and quiet country roads. Some of the bike paths are on hard packed dirt roads or levees. 4 nights in 2-,3- and 4-star hotels and B&Bs of similar quality. All breakfasts. All Casual self-guided tour inclusions. Luggage transfers are not included in the base price on our Casual Tours - please see the prices section for optional luggage transfers. This tour is available between March 1 and October 31. Starts every Sunday. Other start days available by request (extra fee applies). Please note that starting on certain days of the week will make some visits impossible (such as museums or tastings). The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. Bologna Aeroporto G.Marconi (BLQ) - MarconiExpress Monorail connecting Aeroporto Marconi Bologna Main Train Station or take a 10-minute taxi ride from Bologna Airport to your hotel. You can fly out from Bologna (BLQ), which is connected to Parma by train. The hotel is located about 1 km from the train station. Take a 5-minute taxi ride to the train station or take a bus (ask at the hotel front desk for help). There are several direct trains connecting Parma and Bologna and the ride takes about an hour, the cost varies depending on the type of train. From Bologna Centrale train station to the airport, you can catch the Marconi Express or a taxi (see “Starting point” for more info). Private airport transfers are available: please inquire for prices. Long-term Parking: if you choose to drive to Bologna and leave your car parked there (taking a direct return train Parma at tour end) a private, secure parking lot is available at the airport. Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included