Emilia-Romagna

Arrive in Bologna and transfer to the charming city of Reggio Emilia to check in to our centrally located hotel, which will serve as our base for exploring the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy this week.

Depart on a walking tour of Reggio’s historic center, stopping at Piazza Prampolini, home to a stately Romanesque cathedral, and Piazza San Prospero, where the Basilica of St. Prospero resides. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, then reconvene for a welcome dinner featuring handmade pastas, artisan meats, and local cheeses.

Today we explore the cultural capital of Emilia-Romagna, nicknamed “La Grassa” (“The Fat”) for its amazing rich cuisine. Take a leisurely walking tour through the porticoed streets to visit San Petronio church, the Archiginnasio palace, and the Fountain of Neptune. The owners of one of Bologna’s most spectacular private Renaissance homes invite us for a traditional Bolognese lunch today. Afterward, enjoy free time in Bologna before returning to Reggio. Gather this evening for a musical performance at one of Reggio’s delightful performance venues.

Travel into Lombardy today to Mantua, one of the main artistic, cultural, and musical hubs of Northern Italy. Take an in-depth tour of the Palazzo Ducale, a 500-room palace built for the Gonzaga family between the 14th and the 17th centuries. We have special permission to visit the beautiful apartment of Isabella d’Este, perhaps the greatest art patron of the Renaissance. Enjoy lunch today in one of the most charming restaurants in Mantua. Then step inside the Bibiena Theater, a beautiful early Rococo building where Mozart performed, and continue to the sumptuous Palazzo Te, covered in exquisite early 16th-century paintings.

Early this morning visit a family-owned traditional caseificio, or dairy farm, for a demonstration of the production of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Watch as the milk is heated and the whey is added, then visit the immense storage room where wheels are aged under precise conditions. Return to Reggio for a walking tour of the historic center, including a behind-the-scenes visit to the awe-inspiring Teatro Municipale “Valli.” After lunch, venture into the hills just south of Reggio to visit the farmstead that is owned by the proprietors of our hotel. Visit with the family in their rustic country home, tour the family’s balsamic vinegar distillery, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner prepared by our gracious hosts.

Travel northwest through Italy’s fertile plains to Cremona, a major agricultural market that is also famous for its vast history of musical legends like violin maker Antonio Stradivari and composer Claudio Monteverdi. Take a walking tour through town, taking in its Duomo, the famed medieval bell tower, the 12th-century baptistery, and the 13th-century Loggia dei Militi. Step inside a violinmaker’s studio to learn the secrets to producing a world-class violin by hand. Then, after a special tour of the city’s newly established “Museum of the Violin” with a private recital featuring one of the museum’s instruments, join the museum’s director for lunch. Afterward, return to Cremona’s cathedral for a private recital and an exclusive look at the cathedral’s incredible organ. On our return drive to Reggio, stop at the church of San Sigismondo with its largely unaltered interior that is covered in dramatic mannerist paintings.

Today we explore the city of Parma, famous for its prosciutto, architecture, and music, and home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Visit the Palazzo della Pilotta, home to the National Gallery and the Teatro Farnese, a gorgeous restored Baroque theater. During our walking tour of the city’s historic center, marvel at the stunning Renaissance frescoes of Correggio, hidden inside the Chamber of Saint Paul. After lunch on our own, travel to the nearby fairytale village of Fontanellato to see the town’s one-of-a-kind moated medieval castle and the Masone Labyrinth, designed by a local publisher and art collector, and Europe’s largest labyrinth.

Spend the morning at a cooking class with a local chef learning how to make traditional regional fare, including handmade pasta. In the afternoon, stroll through the lovely provincial capital of Modena, one of Italy’s wealthiest cities before venturing into the nearby countryside for a visit to Maranello, a name legendary amongst “motorheads” as the home of Ferrari. Tour the Museo Ferrari, seeing cars being made and learning about the design and engineering processes behind these amazing machines. This evening, toast our journey at one of the region’s very finest Michelin-starred restaurants, where the chef prepares a special tasting menu exclusively for us and walks us around his beautiful organic garden.

Transfer to the Bologna airport this morning for flights returning home.