Selected as one of the Seven Best Food and Wine Adventure trips by away.com.
On this popular tour, you'll bicycle through Italy's premier pasta region. Every meal will include extraordinary local dishes made according to tradition. Every day of pedaling will not only take you behind-the-scenes visits of Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and wine makers, but also to ancient castles and world heritage UNESCO sites. Here, history, art, culture, and tradition conspire to make this tour unforgettable!
Starting in the city of Cremona, famous for its nougat and age-old violin-making tradition, our bicycle tour weaves along the Po River, Italy's largest, to the castle and noble summer residences of Sabbioneta and Colorno before spending two nights in Parma. This city abounds in Parma ham, Parmesan cheese, and homemade pasta! Our route then takes us Reggio Emilia, another famous art city, and then into the hills of Modena to a local agriturismo complete with a pool, balsamic maker, and plenty of views.
***If this sounds great, but you'd like a longer tour check out our Cycling Italy's Culinary Delights: Emilia Romagna Plus! the Farm tour, which adds 3 days to this itinerary.***
Day 1: Welcome to Cremona
Highlights: Cremona, home to creamy Italian nougat, handcrafted Stradivari violins, and an impressive plaza
Arrive in Cremona, home of the noble tradition of violin making. Visit a workshop to learn how Antonio Stradivarius raised violin-making to an art form. We meet in the afternoon for our bike fitting at the hotel. After enjoying an aperitivo together, we will walk to a restaurant in the beautiful medieval center to sample local delicacies such as mostarda and torrone, the creamy nougat made from honey, nuts, and egg white. Dinner is together tonight.Lodging: Locanda Torriani
Day 2: Royal Court of Sabbioneta
Highlights: Bicycling on bike paths along the Po River, Gonzaga summer residence of Sabbioneta, guided tour of town.
Today we cycle along quaint bike paths along the Po River to the town of Sabbioneta, a UNESCO world heritage site. Sabbioneta was named the "Little Athens of the Gonzaga" after the local ruling family for its importance as an artistic center in the Renaissance. Inside the well-preserved walls, we will have a guided tour to see the architectural jewels of the town such as the Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo del Giardino, and Teatro Olimpico as a group. If you get the chance to enjoy a slice of sbrisolona cake, an almond crumble cake of ancient origins, do it! Dinner is together. Daily Mileage: 60 km (37 miles)Lodging: Albergo Giulia Gonzaga
Day 3: Bike to Parma
Highlights: Regal residence of Colorno, quiet country roads, Parma cured ham and Parmesan cheese, World Heritage Site of Parma
We head south to Parma today, one of the undisputed culinary capitals of Italy, through pleasant country roads where you can catch a glimpse of our local farm life. Our journey takes us to the ducal palace of Colorno. While it passed through the hands of many rulers, today, it houses the headquarters of ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine. We continue on to Parma, a city where your taste buds will not be disappointed. It is, however, a city where the arts flourished also outside of the kitchen: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of the most famous citizens. We will organize a tasting of parmesan cheese and ham for an aperitif before dinner on your own tonight. Daily Mileage: Approximately 45 km (28 miles)Lodging: Hotel Button
Day 4: Loop ride into hills to the castle of Torrechiara
Highlights: Rest day in Parma: culinary visit and tasting, loop ride into the Parma hills to a castle and a picnic with a view
Get ready for another day of bicycling amidst ancient castles and local traditions! Today's ride will loop to the breath-taking castle of Torrechiara. Dominating the Val Parma, the castle was constructed between 1448 and 1460, devised as an instrument of defense as well as a distinguished home for the count and his lover. This area is famous for its cured prosciutto and local salame--we will have a picnic lunch in this historic setting to taste them! We return to Parma, where, if you are still hungry, our tour leaders will suggest places to try for dinner. Daily Mileage: Approximately 55 km (34 miles).Lodging: Hotel Button
Day 5: Ride to Reggio nell'Emilia
Highlights: Parmesan cheese making visit, stay in an agriturismo
We have an early start this morning to observe the artistry of a working Parmesan cheese maker on our way out of Parma. A guided tour by the proud Consorzio will explain the inticacies of this poignant but delicate cheese. We'll continue on our way along back roads and bike paths to reach our agriturismo , a country house hotel with a working farm, where we stay tonight. Dinner is together at the agriturismo. Daily Mileage: 50 km (31 miles).Lodging: Agriturismo la Razza
Day 6: Ride to Modena
Highlights: Balsamic vinegar visit in historical vinegar cellar, World Heritage Site of historic Modena
Another culinary mystery is unveiled today as we stop at an acetaia, a traditional balsamic vinegar factory to learn how leftover grapes are transformed into the sweet rich vinegar that can sometimes be worth hundreds of dollars. Tradition is beautifully preserved here as the historic methods of production are still in use. A picnic lunch will follow the visit to the acetaia before continuing on to Modena. Don't miss a visit to the historic center of town on your way to dinner on your own. Daily Mileage: 45 km (28 miles).Lodging: Hotel Canalgrande
Day 7: Ride to Bologna
Highlights: Modena's covered street market, enjoy Bologna, Italy's culinary capital, guided visit of Bologna, see the oldest university in the world
Before heading out of Modena with your bicycle, we suggest a visit to the local covered market that's been selling local products: fruit and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffle, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar since the middle ages. A rail to trail bikepath will lead us to the fortress town of Vignola, a great spot for a morning snack before enjoying great views along the hills on our way to Bologna, our destination for the next two nights. We'll complete the day with a guided visit of this great city before dinner together. Daily Mileage: 63 km (39 mi)Lodging: Hotel Touring
Day 8: Bologna - Tour End
Highlights: Cooking school and lunch
We invite you to stick around this morning as we have a special cooking demonstration and lunch planned for this morning. After that we'll send you on your way to begin your own culinary explorations.***If this sounds great, but you'd like a longer tour check out our Cycling Italy's Culinary Delights: Emilia Romagna Plus! the Farm tour, which adds 3 days to this itinerary.***
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HighlightsCremona - home to torrone or Italian nougat, Balsamic vinegar cellar, Parma famous cured ham, Parmesan cheese, Castle of Montechiarugolo
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Includes"The Usual" plus... Use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; 8 days, 7 nights' accommodation; all breakfasts, 3 dinners, one aperitivo, 2 picnic lunches; special culinary highlights and tastings listed in itinerary
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CountriesItaly
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Begin/EndCremona / Castelvetro
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Arrive/DepartIn and out of Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)
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Total DistanceApproximately 245 km (152 miles)
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Daily Distance48 km (30 miles)
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What to ExpectFabulous food experiences and great bicycle rides through the heart of Italy's culinary capital.
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Rating101
Perfect for cyclists who prefer shorter distances and non-hilly terrain. Bicycle paths allows us to share the region with other non-car tourists. -
NotesIf this sounds great but you'd like a longer tour check out our Plus! Bologna tour, which extends this itinerary by 3 days.
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Terms
| Dates | Price | Single Supplement* |
Notes | Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16 - 23, 2013 | $3495 | $500 | Confirmed Departure | Book It |
| *We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour. | ||||
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Here on ExperiencePlus.com
- Italy Trip Planner
Read up on country customs, transportation information, culinary specialites, and more! - Ragu Pasta Sauce
A hallmark of Italian pasta sauces, Ragu, is sure to transform your pasta - Risotto with Pear, Gorgonzola, & Walnuts
A recipe from tour leader Enrico Dal Monte - The Artist, the Philosopher & the Warrior
ExperiencePlus! traveler Bill Giovinazzo reviews the latest book from Paul Strathren.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Authentic Italian Food
Lonely Planet writes about expectations on meals in Italy: it may be different than you make at home, but you will be impressed nevertheless! - Choosing Artisan Gelato
The Travel Belles have an article to help find the tastiest gelato in Italy - Gelato Museum
Did you know that there is a gelato museum in Bologna? Make sure you stop by its tasting room! - Italian Recipes from Paola
University of Oregon's Alumni Magazine highlights three of Paola's recipes - Italy's Emilia-Romagna becomes a (wine) contender
Nice article on our home region in Italy where our headquarters are nestled among vineyards - Pasta for Dinner
A simple and tasty pasta for an Italian-themed meal as you plan your trip to ride bikes in Italy. - Traditional Italian Food Fallacies
An article from The Travel Belles blog covering interesting aspects of Italian culture and food traditions
Click on the "pins" for details about each day's highlights.
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