-
8 Days , 3 Cities
From$3,720
Italy – Best Sicily Wine Tasting Tour
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is known for its rich history, stunning landscapes,…
View Tour Details
Customizable Itinerary
This sample itinerary was created by our destination specialist to inspire you. It can be customized to your exact preferences and budget.
Explore the culinary delights of Northern Italy’s Tuscany and Emilia Romagna regions with our guide to the ultimate gourmet experience.
There’s no better place to indulge your taste buds than in Northern Italy’s Tuscany and Emilia Romagna regions. The blend of culinary traditions and ingredients creates a unique gourmet experience you won’t find anywhere else. From handmade pasta and world-renowned wines to aged balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, there’s something for every palate in this food lover’s paradise.
Italy is renowned for its food, but Northern Italy’s Tuscany and Emilia Romagna regions are particularly famous for their culinary creations. Both areas offer a unique gourmet experience that draws foodies worldwide. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the flat plains of Emilia Romagna, these regions are home to a vast array of delicious dishes, wines, and culinary traditions. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this region so special and why you should add it to your culinary bucket list.
Discovering Tuscany and Emilia Romagna’s Culinary Treasures
If you’re a food lover, visiting Tuscany and Emilia Romagna is a must-do experience. Additionally, these two regions boast a rich culinary heritage rooted in the area’s land and traditions. From the picturesque vineyards of Tuscany producing world-renowned wines to the rolling hills of Emilia Romagna, where Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto are lovingly crafted, you’ll find an incredible variety of foods and flavors to sample. Handmade pasta, mouthwatering cured meats, delectable cheeses, and exquisite wines await you on this gastronomic journey through the heart of Italy. Here are just a few of the culinary treasures you can expect to find:
Tuscany’s Mouth-Watering Delights
Tuscany is famous for its simple, rustic cuisine that’s based on fresh, local ingredients. Moreover, the region’s food philosophy is centered on the idea of using high-quality products that are prepared in a straightforward way to let their natural flavors shine through. Whether you’re savoring a classic bowl of ribollita, indulging in the rich flavors of Florentine steak, or enjoying the simplicity of freshly baked bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil, Tuscany’s culinary offerings celebrate the essence of Italian cooking at its finest. Some of the must-try dishes in Tuscany include:
- Ribollita: a hearty soup made with bread, beans, and vegetables
- Pappardelle al cinghiale: wide, flat noodles with a rich wild boar ragu
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina: a thick, juicy steak cooked over an open flame and served rare
- Cantucci: crunchy almond biscuits that are perfect for dipping in sweet Vin Santo wine
Emilia Romagna’s Flavorful Creations
Emilia Romagna is the birthplace of some of Italy’s most iconic foods, including Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto di Parma. Additionally, the region has rich, complex flavors and hearty, filling dishes that are perfect for a cold winter’s day. Whether you’re indulging in a warm bowl of pasta, savoring the tangy sweetness of balsamic vinegar, or enjoying the rich creaminess of Parmigiano Reggiano, Emilia Romagna offers a culinary journey that will delight your taste buds and leave you with unforgettable gastronomic experiences. Some of the must-try foods in Emilia Romagna include:
- Tortellini in brodo: delicate pasta dumplings filled with meat and served in a flavorful broth
- Tagliatelle al ragu: long, flat noodles with a rich meat sauce
- Prosciutto di Parma: thinly sliced cured ham that’s perfect for antipasti or as a sandwich filling
- Aceto balsamico di Modena: Word famous aged balsamic vinegar
Pairing Wine with Your Meal
No meal in Italy is complete without a glass of wine, and Tuscany and Emilia Romagna are no exceptions. These regions produce some of Italy’s most famous wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Sangiovese in Tuscany, and Lambrusco, Albana di Romagna, and Pignoletto in Emilia Romagna wines are being produced in the Tuscany region. The key to pairing wine with your meal is to match the intensity of the wine with the flavor of the food. For example, light-bodied wines such as Pinot Grigio or Vermentino pair well with seafood dishes. Or full-bodied red wines such as Chianti or Barolo pair well with red meat and hearty pasta dishes.
Exploring the Local Markets
One best way to experience the food culture of Tuscany and Emilia Romagna is to explore the local markets. Here you’ll find a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and other local specialties that you can sample and take home with you. Some of the best markets in the region include the Mercato Centrale in Florence, the Mercato di Mezzo in Bologna, and the Mercato delle Erbe in Modena.
A visit to Tuscany and Emilia Romagna is truly a gourmet experience. The culinary experiences in these regions are second to none. Whether you’re exploring the local markets or indulging in a multi-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re sure to find something that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more. Don’t miss out on the ultimate gourmet experience in Northern Italy.
Countries Visited
Italy
Places Visited
Bologna, Florence
Suggested Duration
8 days
Travel Styles
Cultural Tours, Wine Tours, Food Tours
ITINERARY
-
DAY 1
![Belvedere di San Michele in Bosco, Bologna, Italy]()
Belvedere di San Michele in Bosco, Bologna, ItalyWelcome to Bologna, Italy
Arrive at Bologna airport, meet with your assistant driver, and make a private transfer from Bologna Airport to your accomodating hotel in Bologna.
Overnight in Bologna.What's included?
-
Accommodation
-
Transfer
-
-
DAY 2
![The art of making pasta in Bologna, Italy]()
The art of making pasta in Bologna, ItalyBologna – Food Experiences in Bologna
In the morning, after the buffet breakfast at the hotel, you'll have a 3-hour guided food walking tour of Bologna, searching for its two souls - the Fat and The Learned in all art & food details of this quintessential town. Your Bologna expert guide will take you to the local's favorite spots in the Quadrilatero, the historical food market district full of irresistible temptations: Formaggio Bianco, tortellini, lasagne, parmesan, mortadella... all of which are ready to land in your mouth together with nice and long sips of local wine! And to make it a real treat and an all-around experience, you'll also get an insider view of the town's most iconic corners and monuments, from Piazza Maggiore to the Neptune Statue and the world-famous UNESCO-Porticoes.
In the afternoon, dive into the most authentic Italian culinary heritage and learn to reproduce a full course menu, including the famous bruschetta at home! Warm up with a typical aperitivo and then cook a traditional Italian meal with your Cesarina, the Emilian-style pasta maker! Cesarine (this is how the home cooks are known here) are welcoming ambassadors of the Italian culinary heritage, animated by an authentic passion for Italian cuisine.
This cooking class in Bologna local's home will include the Italian Aperitivo with prosecco and nibbles. The course will focus on authentic local dishes with local wines and Italian coffee.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Lunch
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 3
![The King of all cheeses Parmigiano Reggiano Italy]()
The King of all cheeses Parmigiano Reggiano ItalyBologna – Food tour in Emilia Romagna region
Today, meet your private driver and head on to visit an authentic producer of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. Guided visit & tasting at a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy. Here, you’ll discover how the King of all cheeses has been literally made by hand in the same way since the Benedictine monks invented it ten centuries ago! From the curdling into the typical copper heaters to the salting and the final aging in the so-called wheel cathedrals, you will be a privileged witness to almost all the production steps of this out-and-out food icon. You taste at the end. Then you will make a guided visit with a final tasting at one of the local family-run ham factories producing the mythical Prosciutto di Parma PDO: you will get to know why the best ham can only be made in the hills of Parma.
Typical lunch in a restaurant or Agriturismo in Parma hillside. Parmigiano, Prosciutto, another kind of local cold cuts, a typical stuffed pasta dish (Tortelli di Parma), and homemade cakes, all paired up with local wines like Lambrusco and Malvasia!
After lunch, you will reach Parma city center, and you will enjoy a 2-hour slow-paced sightseeing walking tour of the town among the most iconic deli boutiques, descriptions of the locals’ lifestyle, anecdotes about Parma’s legendary personalities, and precious suggestions for shopping in the arts and crafts district with your private local English-speaking guide. At the end of the tour, you will go back to Bologna.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Lunch
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 4
![Cathedral of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo, Italy]()
Cathedral of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo, ItalyFlorence - City Tour and Renaissance cooking class with private chef
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Private transfer with driver from hotel in Bologna to Hotel in Florence.
In the afternoon, meet your private guide at your Hotel and start a Private Renaissance Florence English Speaking Guided Walking Tour to admire the highlights of Florence's city center. After the walking tour, you will enjoy a Private Renaissance Cooking Class in the heart of Florence. This experience will complete your knowledge of the Renaissance culture, and once back home, you will be able to bring to the table the aromas and flavors of that mythical era. During the class, you will learn how easy it is to prepare the specialties served in a Renaissance banquet. The professional Chef, will you reveal the recipes Lorenzo il Magnifico sang in his sonnets and exported by Caterina de Medici, with her Chefs, to the Court of France? You will be able to prepare and enjoy fragrant and tasty dishes such as the vegetable millefeuille, the bread gnocchi with cheese and truffle, the chicken pie with saffron and porcini mushrooms, and the sweet "Panbriaco" with Alchermes liqueur and chocolate. A seductive sensory journey that will transport you into the Renaissance atmosphere, immersing you in authentic and unusual flavors and discovering the true roots of Florentine cuisine.
Overnight at the hotel in Florence.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Dinner
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 5
![Taste some typical product in the Renaissance city Florence]()
Taste some typical product in the Renaissance city FlorenceFlorence - Private Florence Market & Gourmet Food Tour
In the afternoon, meet your private English-speaking guide at the lobby of your hotel at your disposal for 3 hours, and you will reach Sant’Ambrogio District, one of the liveliest districts of Florence, full of characteristic shops, bars, and restaurants, to start your Florentine food tour. Through the narrow streets of Florence, you will discover lovely places where you can taste typical Tuscan products grown locally accompanied by local wine. You will enjoy the distinctive atmosphere of Sant’Ambrogio Market. This city market offers a characteristic insight into the everyday life of the Renaissance city, and you will taste some typical products.
Overnight at the Hotel in Florence.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 6
![Lucca is undoubtedly one of the most elegant cities in Tuscany]()
Lucca is undoubtedly one of the most elegant cities in TuscanyFlorence – Lucca Private Food Tour
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, meet with the driver at your hotel to depart one of the gem towns of Italy, Lucca.
Lucca is undoubtedly one of the most elegant cities in Tuscany; it will enchant us with its narrow streets of the historic center full of shops and old-time boutiques.
On your arrival in Lucca, you will meet your local private English Speaking guide for your 3 hours disposal for food and city tour: you will have the chance to discover another refinement of Lucca, the food. During your walk, you will find enchanting corners rich in history and make strategic stops to taste the local delicacies. How can you resist a taste of Buccellato or a few slices of Biroldo and Pecorino della Garfagnana? And what about the potato bread? And then the torta "co' becchi" (cake with beaks)? To close on a sweet note, you cannot miss a visit to one of the most famous chocolate shops in the city, which is well worth a group selfie. After the tour, free time for lunch and a visit.
In the afternoon, return to your Hotel in Florence with your private driver. Overnight at the Hotel in Florence.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Lunch
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 7
![Val D'Orcia - Pecorino Cacio di Pienza, Tuscany]()
Val D'Orcia - Pecorino Cacio di Pienza, TuscanyFlorence – Val d’Orcia: Cheese Making Experience
Today, meet the driver at your Hotel for an authentic Tuscan Experience. Your driver will be at your disposal for 9 hours.
You will reach a Farm near Pienza, a little village in Val d’Orcia Area, where you will learn how a traditional Pecorino di Pienza cheese is made. During the activity, you will be guided along the whole process: from the stable to the fermentation to the aging. During the first salt cheese demonstration on the spot, you can ask him all the questions that will come to you spontaneously during the discovery of this ancient art. After this activity, you will taste a typical Tuscan lunch at the farm with wine produced there.
Before returning to Florence, you have free to visit the village of Pienza. Overnight at the Hotel in Florence
What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Lunch
-
Accommodation
-
Tour
-
-
DAY 8
Bye Bye Florence, Italy!
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Private transfer with driver to Florence Airport.
If you are delighted with this tour, feel free to ask us to have more experience in Tuscany and Italy.What's included?
-
Breakfast
-
Transfer
-
PRICES
Starting from $3,600 per person
Price per person in double occupancy
The rate is based on First Class Hotel accommodation
Price excluding international flights
This trip is customizable for your private travel.
Please inquire to request a quote for your custom trip!
Request a quote for a trip fully customized to your preferences.
Request a quote
Free service - No credit card required
GALLERY
HIGHLIGHT
What’s Included?
- 3 nights in Bologna with buffet breakfast included in a first-class hotel
- 4 nights in Florence with buffet breakfast included in a first-class hotel
- The private driver, as in the program
- The private English-speaking guide, as in the program
- 3-hour guided walking tour of Bologna
- The cooking class in Bologna
- Visit & tasting a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy
- Guided Walking Tour in Florence
- A Private Renaissance Cooking Class in Florence
- Visit the Sant’Ambrogio District
- Explore the city of Lucca in Tuscany
- Cheese-Making Experience in Val D’Orcia
Sightseeing Highlights Included
- Guided food walking tour of Bologna
- The cooking class in Bologna, as a local
- Visit & tasting a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy in Bologna
- Guided Walking Tour in Florence
- Visit the Sant’Ambrogio District
- Walking tour visit one of the gem towns of Italy, Lucca
- Discover a farm near Pienza to learn how a traditional Pecorino di Pienza cheese is made