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Italy Sweet & Savory
Brief Itinerary
Our Base of Operations: Bologna
Bologna is an old university city with lavish porticoed walkways and squares, fine historic buildings, and an interesting medieval center. Bologna is known for its beauty, great cuisine, and its left-wing politics.
Attractions:
Bologna's compact medieval center has several beautiful churches, monuments, and civic buildings. Bologna's many porticoed sidewalks make for pleasant walking and window shopping.
Piazza Maggiore is one of Bologna's central squares, lined with arcades. It's a good place to sit at an outdoor cafe. Around the square are the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Notai, and the Archeological Museum.
Piazza del Nettuno, next to Piazza Maggiore, another of Bologna's main squares, has an ornate 16th-century fountain in the center and is surrounded by medieval civic buildings. Go inside the library and admire its beautiful interior.
Via Clavatura, east of the squares, has a number of small, interesting food stalls.
You can climb the steep staircase to the top of Torre degli Asinelli, one of only a few surviving medieval towers, for a great view of Bologna. Torre degli Asinelli and another leaning tower are in Piazza Porta Ravegnana where seven medieval streets converge.
In Piazza Santo Stefano you will find an unusual cluster of four interlocking Romanesque churches. The oldest, the church of SS. Vitale e Agricola, has parts of Roman temples and columns. There is also an interesting courtyard with a maze of little chapels.
The Pinacoteca Nazionale is one of Italy's best galleries with several important works of art.
The University, one of Europe's oldest, is worth a visit. Palazzo Poggi has two interesting museums. Sometimes you will see student demonstrations or lively graduation celebrations.
Bologna is an old university city with lavish porticoed walkways and squares, fine historic buildings, and an interesting medieval center. Bologna is known for its beauty, great cuisine, and its left-wing politics.
Attractions:
Bologna's compact medieval center has several beautiful churches, monuments, and civic buildings. Bologna's many porticoed sidewalks make for pleasant walking and window shopping.
Piazza Maggiore is one of Bologna's central squares, lined with arcades. It's a good place to sit at an outdoor cafe. Around the square are the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Notai, and the Archeological Museum.
Piazza del Nettuno, next to Piazza Maggiore, another of Bologna's main squares, has an ornate 16th-century fountain in the center and is surrounded by medieval civic buildings. Go inside the library and admire its beautiful interior.
Via Clavatura, east of the squares, has a number of small, interesting food stalls.
You can climb the steep staircase to the top of Torre degli Asinelli, one of only a few surviving medieval towers, for a great view of Bologna. Torre degli Asinelli and another leaning tower are in Piazza Porta Ravegnana where seven medieval streets converge.
In Piazza Santo Stefano you will find an unusual cluster of four interlocking Romanesque churches. The oldest, the church of SS. Vitale e Agricola, has parts of Roman temples and columns. There is also an interesting courtyard with a maze of little chapels.
The Pinacoteca Nazionale is one of Italy's best galleries with several important works of art.
The University, one of Europe's oldest, is worth a visit. Palazzo Poggi has two interesting museums. Sometimes you will see student demonstrations or lively graduation celebrations.
Day 1 Inflight New York to Milan
Day 2 Milan-Bologna
Arrive Milan, go through customs, meet our driver, and transfer to the Classic Town of Bologna. Our tour will be focused in the region of Emilia Romagna, where few people think to visit, but it is ideally suited for us to explore the cultural and gastronomic treasures of the country. This region produces Italy’s best and most famous food, starting with Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, endless varieties of salami, tortellini and many other pastas.
Once we have checked into our hotel we will no doubt want to stroll through the endlessly fascinating, Piazza Maggiore, where we will have a much better sense of what real life is like in Italy—much more than in the more popular Milan, Venice, Florence or Rome.
We will spend all 12 nights in the same hotel making great use of our time in Italy. We will have a nice mix of organized day trips and independent exploring.
Day 3
Bologna is a sensual paradise of fragrance, flavors, beautiful smiling people who frankly love life and all of the pleasures it offers. This city will shape your senses and tastes, and teach us about food, food culture, fashion, style, perspective and taste. Today we will visit outstanding old markets (some dating back to the middle ages) and begin to educate ourselves about the culinary delights of this region. One of the highlights of our day will be a visit to Tamburini, an emporium of cuisine. This store has been in the same family since 1932, but food has been sold at this site for centuries.
Day 4 Exploring Parma
Today we will train to Parma where it is nearly impossible to find a bad meal. Gourmets in Italy will tell you that Parma’s only rivals are nearby Bologna and Modena. The chief attractions of Parma are the markets, food stores and restaurants. Parma is best know for it’s Parma ham, prosciutto and Parmigian Reggiano, the king of cheeses.
Food is not the only reason to visit Parma. We will enjoy the Piazza del Duomo with the beautiful cathedral and world-famous octagonal bapitistery
Day 5 Wed. May 26 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to Verona or Venice.
Day 6 Exploring Brisighella
Olives and Olive Oils: Today we will visit Brisighella best known for the olive oils that are produced in the region. Brisighella is also a spa town that offers a variety of services including mud baths, inhalations, aesthetic cures, massage, and reflex therapy, so let’s take our suits along—just in case.
Day 7 Bologna to Modena
Castles, gourmet food and wine: Today we will take a driving tour from Bologna to Modena visiting castles.
Day 8
Ravenna mostly known for its 5th and 6th century mosaics however it is also recognized for great food. Today we will visit the Mercato Comunal, housed in a neo-classical 18th century building, Ovosfoglia that is best known for their handmade pasta and La Butega ad Giorgioni, one of the finest erboristeria (herbalist) in Italy. Here you can purchase herbs and spices for cooking or curing ills—much like they did decades ago. To understand the role of the herbalist in Italian life, there is no place better to go.
Ravennaalso has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day 9 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to venture down to Florence.
Day 10 Spilamberto
Balsamic Vinegar Museum—Despite the fact that every supermarket in the world seems to have its own cheap, unaged version of "aceto balsamico di Modena," traditional Balsamic vinegar, aceto balsamico tradizionale is a whole different condiment. That's why every foodie on the planet wants to: 1) Taste real balsamic vinegar (look for aceto balsamico tradizionale DOP*, and 2) Take a pilgrimage to the Balsamic Vinegar Museum in Spilamberto, Italy. This is what we will do today.
Day 11 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to Milan or the Lake District.
Day 12 Home
Private transfer will take us from our hotel to the airport for our return flight home.
Day 2 Milan-Bologna
Arrive Milan, go through customs, meet our driver, and transfer to the Classic Town of Bologna. Our tour will be focused in the region of Emilia Romagna, where few people think to visit, but it is ideally suited for us to explore the cultural and gastronomic treasures of the country. This region produces Italy’s best and most famous food, starting with Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, endless varieties of salami, tortellini and many other pastas.
Once we have checked into our hotel we will no doubt want to stroll through the endlessly fascinating, Piazza Maggiore, where we will have a much better sense of what real life is like in Italy—much more than in the more popular Milan, Venice, Florence or Rome.
We will spend all 12 nights in the same hotel making great use of our time in Italy. We will have a nice mix of organized day trips and independent exploring.
Day 3
Bologna is a sensual paradise of fragrance, flavors, beautiful smiling people who frankly love life and all of the pleasures it offers. This city will shape your senses and tastes, and teach us about food, food culture, fashion, style, perspective and taste. Today we will visit outstanding old markets (some dating back to the middle ages) and begin to educate ourselves about the culinary delights of this region. One of the highlights of our day will be a visit to Tamburini, an emporium of cuisine. This store has been in the same family since 1932, but food has been sold at this site for centuries.
Day 4 Exploring Parma
Today we will train to Parma where it is nearly impossible to find a bad meal. Gourmets in Italy will tell you that Parma’s only rivals are nearby Bologna and Modena. The chief attractions of Parma are the markets, food stores and restaurants. Parma is best know for it’s Parma ham, prosciutto and Parmigian Reggiano, the king of cheeses.
Food is not the only reason to visit Parma. We will enjoy the Piazza del Duomo with the beautiful cathedral and world-famous octagonal bapitistery
Day 5 Wed. May 26 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to Verona or Venice.
Day 6 Exploring Brisighella
Olives and Olive Oils: Today we will visit Brisighella best known for the olive oils that are produced in the region. Brisighella is also a spa town that offers a variety of services including mud baths, inhalations, aesthetic cures, massage, and reflex therapy, so let’s take our suits along—just in case.
Day 7 Bologna to Modena
Castles, gourmet food and wine: Today we will take a driving tour from Bologna to Modena visiting castles.
Day 8
Ravenna mostly known for its 5th and 6th century mosaics however it is also recognized for great food. Today we will visit the Mercato Comunal, housed in a neo-classical 18th century building, Ovosfoglia that is best known for their handmade pasta and La Butega ad Giorgioni, one of the finest erboristeria (herbalist) in Italy. Here you can purchase herbs and spices for cooking or curing ills—much like they did decades ago. To understand the role of the herbalist in Italian life, there is no place better to go.
Ravennaalso has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day 9 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to venture down to Florence.
Day 10 Spilamberto
Balsamic Vinegar Museum—Despite the fact that every supermarket in the world seems to have its own cheap, unaged version of "aceto balsamico di Modena," traditional Balsamic vinegar, aceto balsamico tradizionale is a whole different condiment. That's why every foodie on the planet wants to: 1) Taste real balsamic vinegar (look for aceto balsamico tradizionale DOP*, and 2) Take a pilgrimage to the Balsamic Vinegar Museum in Spilamberto, Italy. This is what we will do today.
Day 11 Freedom Day
Today you are free to explore this region at your leisure. You may want to take the train to Milan or the Lake District.
Day 12 Home
Private transfer will take us from our hotel to the airport for our return flight home.
Includes: RT International flight from New York to Milan,12 nights in
Bologna 4+ star hotel,6 gently organized daytrips, Full day castle
tour, Roundtrip transfer from Milan airport to Bologna hotel
Email annie@freedomtoursllc.com or call 877.384.4372 for a customized price quote!
Email annie@freedomtoursllc.com or call 877.384.4372 for a customized price quote!
Why Brisghella?
Brisighella is a spa center and an
interesting medieval town, known
for its good cuisine. The medieval
quarter has an unusual silhouette,
surrounded by three rocky pinnacles topped by the rocca, an unusual clock tower, and a sanctuary. Brisighella sits on the Lamone River in the Lamone Valley of the Emilia-Romagna region.
For a small town, there's a lot to see in Brisighella.
Historic Center: Piazza Carducci is the main square in the historic center and home of the 18th century collegiate church of Saints Michelle and Giovanni Battista with some interesting art work. Above the square in Piazza Marconi are the neoclassical Palazzo Maghinardo (now the town hall)and the information office. Descending Via Roma from the main square, one comes to the Church and Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli. There are several intersting buildings throughout the center and there's even a map of Brisighella by the fountain (see photo) on Europe Travel). At the edge of the town, across from the station, is Giuseppe Ugonia Park. The town holds a market on Wednesday mornings and an antique market on Friday evenings in summer.
Via degli Asini, or Antica Via del Borgo, with its porticos and lanterns, is the most unique part of the medieval center. This raised, covered passageway was built in the 12th century to protect the donkeys carrying chalk from the quarries. (see photo on Europe Travel)
La Rocca Manfrediana, the fortress, dominates the town from atop a chalky hill. It was originally built in 1310 and restored and completed by the Venetians in the early 16th century. You can walk up the hill to visit or there's a parking lot if you prefer to drive.
Torre dell'Orologio, the clocktower, on a pinnacle across the gorge from the fortress, was built in 1290 and restored in 1850. It has a six-hour clock that strikes every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Inside is the Museum of Time. There are stairs leading to the tower from town and a roadway connecting the tower (where there's also parking) to the fortress.
Sanctuary of the Madonna, atop the third hill known as Monticino, is a small 18th century church.
Civic Museum Giuseppe Ugonia has works of the lithographer as well as other 19th and 20th century prints. There's also a museum of traditional country occupations and life.
Pieve del Tho is a Romanesque church first recorded in 909 built on remains of a Roman building. It's just outside town and open only by appointment.
Carne' Park, also outside town, is a natural reserve with guided tours of the chalk veins and grotto.
Brisighella is a spa center and an
interesting medieval town, known
for its good cuisine. The medieval
quarter has an unusual silhouette,
surrounded by three rocky pinnacles topped by the rocca, an unusual clock tower, and a sanctuary. Brisighella sits on the Lamone River in the Lamone Valley of the Emilia-Romagna region.
For a small town, there's a lot to see in Brisighella.
Historic Center: Piazza Carducci is the main square in the historic center and home of the 18th century collegiate church of Saints Michelle and Giovanni Battista with some interesting art work. Above the square in Piazza Marconi are the neoclassical Palazzo Maghinardo (now the town hall)and the information office. Descending Via Roma from the main square, one comes to the Church and Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli. There are several intersting buildings throughout the center and there's even a map of Brisighella by the fountain (see photo) on Europe Travel). At the edge of the town, across from the station, is Giuseppe Ugonia Park. The town holds a market on Wednesday mornings and an antique market on Friday evenings in summer.
Via degli Asini, or Antica Via del Borgo, with its porticos and lanterns, is the most unique part of the medieval center. This raised, covered passageway was built in the 12th century to protect the donkeys carrying chalk from the quarries. (see photo on Europe Travel)
La Rocca Manfrediana, the fortress, dominates the town from atop a chalky hill. It was originally built in 1310 and restored and completed by the Venetians in the early 16th century. You can walk up the hill to visit or there's a parking lot if you prefer to drive.
Torre dell'Orologio, the clocktower, on a pinnacle across the gorge from the fortress, was built in 1290 and restored in 1850. It has a six-hour clock that strikes every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Inside is the Museum of Time. There are stairs leading to the tower from town and a roadway connecting the tower (where there's also parking) to the fortress.
Sanctuary of the Madonna, atop the third hill known as Monticino, is a small 18th century church.
Civic Museum Giuseppe Ugonia has works of the lithographer as well as other 19th and 20th century prints. There's also a museum of traditional country occupations and life.
Pieve del Tho is a Romanesque church first recorded in 909 built on remains of a Roman building. It's just outside town and open only by appointment.
Carne' Park, also outside town, is a natural reserve with guided tours of the chalk veins and grotto.
Email Annie at annie@freedomtoursllc.com or call 877-384-4372 for more
information!
A Customizable Itinerary