Flavors of Italy: The Very Best of Emilia-Romagna

Day 1: Arrival in Parma
Day 2: Loop ride to Torrechiara Castle, 30 mi. (49 km)
Day 3: Parma - Reggio Emilia, 31 mi. (50 km) 
Day 4: Reggio Emilia - Maranello - Castelvetro di Modena, 39 mi. (63 km) 
Day 5: Loop ride to Modena, 32 mi. (51 km) 
Day 6: Castelvetro di Modena - Bologna, 31 mi. (49 km) 
Day 7: Departure from Bologna

Day 1: Arrival in Parma
Begin your journey in Parma, a city equally renowned for its culinary heritage and artistic treasures. Stroll through the elegant historic center to admire masterpieces by Parmigianino and Correggio, or simply sit in a lively piazza and enjoy the local way of life. With a plate of Prosciutto di Parma and a few shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano, paired with a crisp aperitivo, you’ll immediately understand why Parma is considered one of Italy’s gastronomic capitals. In the evening, meet your guides and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner after your bike fitting and orientation. (D)

Sample accommodations: Hotel Du Parc

Day 2: Loop ride to Torrechiara Castle, 30 mi. (49 km)  Elevation gain: 1166 ft / 355 m
Your first ride takes you into the rolling hills of the Val Parma, where castles dot the landscape. The highlight is Torrechiara Castle, a 15th-century fortress built both for defense and as a noble residence, with sweeping views across the valley. After exploring the grounds and enjoying a taste of local cured meats such as prosciutto and salami, coast downhill back into Parma. Your guides will recommend a favorite trattoria for your last evening in the city. (B)

Sample accommodations: Hotel Du Parc

Day 3: Parma - Reggio Emilia, 31 mi. (50 km) | Elevation gain: 985 ft / 300 m
The route from Parma to Reggio Emilia follows quiet back roads and bike paths through farmland and traditional villages in the fertile Po River Valley. Along the way, a visit to a local artisanal producer reveals the centuries-old methods behind the region’s famed Parma ham, with an opportunity to sample this iconic delicacy.

Reggio Emilia, the regional capital, offers lively squares and, when open, a bustling farmers’ market worth exploring. The day concludes at an agriturismo, a working farm and estate that highlights rural life in Emilia-Romagna. Here, guests can relax and discover on-site specialties such as Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, alongside other authentic surprises. (B)

Sample accommodations: Agriturismo La Razza

Day 4: Reggio Emilia - Maranello - Castelvetro di Modena, 39 mi. (63 km) | Elevation gain: 1775 ft / 541 m
The day begins with an early visit to a traditional dairy, where Parmesan cheese is crafted using time-honored methods. During a guided tour of the factory, representatives of the Consorzio explain the delicate process behind this celebrated cheese, culminating in a tasting that highlights its rich, complex flavors.

From here, the ride continues toward Maranello, home to the Ferrari factory, testing track, and the renowned Ferrari Museum (optional visit). The stage concludes in the medieval hilltop town of Castelvetro di Modena, a charming base for the next two nights. Evening invites a stroll through cobbled lanes and alleys, followed by dinner near the piazza with sweeping views of the countryside and the Apennine mountains beyond. (B)

Sample accommodations: Hotel Guerro

Day 5: Loop ride to Modena, 32 mi. (51 km) | Elevation gain: 1205 ft / 367 m
An optional loop ride leads down to Modena, a historic art city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, there is time to explore the elegant town center, the magnificent Duomo, and the medieval Ghirlandina Tower. A visit to the bustling covered market and a pause for gelato are highly recommended. Modena also claims fame as the birthplace of Dino and Enzo Ferrari, founders of the legendary marque, and of the world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

In the afternoon, the ride returns to Castelvetro, with a stop at a traditional acetaia (balsamic vinegar mill). The visit unveils the centuries-old process that transforms the remnants of grapes into the sweet, complex vinegar prized around the world, sometimes valued at hundreds of dollars for a single small bottle. Overnight in Castelvetro; dinner at leisure. (B)

Sample accommodations: Hotel Guerro

Day 6: Castelvetro di Modena - Bologna, 31 mi. (49 km) | Elevation gain: 667 ft / 203 m
Cycle past farms and Lambrusco vineyards as the route follows the Apennine foothills toward Bologna. Known as 'La Grassa' for its unmatched food culture, Bologna also boasts nearly 40 km of covered porticoes, medieval towers, and one of Italy’s most atmospheric historic centers. Recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Bologna is also famed for its intellectual and cultural heritage. This evening, celebrate with a hands-on cooking class led by a local chef, preparing traditional recipes before sitting down to a festive farewell dinner. (B, D) 

Sample accommodations: Hotel II Guercino

Day 7: Departure from Bologna
Enjoy a final breakfast in Bologna before departing, or consider extending your stay to explore more of this lively city. Transportation to Bologna Airport can be arranged for those heading home. (B)
 

The self-guided tour can be shortened to 5 days or lengthened to 15 days. Ask us for a customized itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival in Bologna
Day 2: Bologna - Modena, 40 mi. (64 km)
Day 3: Modena to Castelvetro loop ride, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 4: Cycle the Reggio Emilia countryside, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 5: Reggio Emilia loop ride on the hills, 21 to 35 mi. (35 to 56 km)
Day 6: Reggio Emilia - Parma, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 7: Torrechiara Castle loop ride, 30 mi. (49 km)
Day 8: Departure from Parma


Day 1: Arrival in Bologna
Settle into Bologna, a city often called La Grassa for its culinary reputation. Famous for its endless porticoes (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the medieval Two Towers, Bologna is also home to the world’s oldest university. After checking in, enjoy a tour briefing and bike fitting, then head out for your first taste of local specialties such as mortadella or fresh pasta topped with ragù alla bolognese.

Sample accommodations: Hotel Touring

Day 2: Bologna - Modena, 40 mi. (64 km) | Elevation gain: 830 ft / 253 m
Leave the bustle of Bologna via city bike paths and ride toward the foothills of the Apennines. Pass through Bazzano, where the Rocca dei Bentivoglio fortress has stood since the 14th century. From there, follow a converted railway path into Modena, a city whose cathedral and Ghirlandina Tower are UNESCO-recognized masterpieces of Romanesque architecture.

Sample accommodations: Hotel Canalgrande
 
Day 3: Modena to Castelvetro loop ride, 37 mi. (60 km) | Elevation gain: 1289 ft / 393 m
Spend the day exploring Modena, home to the Este family’s Palazzo Ducale and one of Italy’s most famous bell towers. Or cycle out to Castelvetro, a medieval town surrounded by vineyards where traditional balsamic vinegar has been produced for centuries. Modena is also the birthplace of Ferrari, making it a mecca for car enthusiasts.

Sample accommodations: Hotel Canalgrande
 
Day 4: Cycle the Reggio Emilia countryside, 30 mi. (48 km) | Elevation gain: 702 ft / 214 m
Before leaving Modena, visit the lively Albinelli Market, which has been feeding the city since 1931. Then cycle to a family-run vinegar estate, where barrels of oak, chestnut, and cherry wood are used to age balsamic vinegar for decades. Tonight’s stay is at a countryside agriturismo, where you can see how Parmesan cheese, wine, and cured meats are still made on working farms.

Sample accommodations: Agriturismo La Razza
 
Day 5: Reggio Emilia loop ride on the hills, 21 to 35 mi. (35 to 56 km) | Elevation gain: 774 ft / 236 m to 2972 ft / 906 m
Choose between a challenging hill ride to Canossa Castle, where Emperor Henry IV performed his famous penance in 1077, or a gentler ride into Reggio Emilia, a town known for neoclassical architecture and as the birthplace of the Italian tricolore flag.

Sample accommodations: Agriturismo La Razza
 
Day 6: Reggio Emilia - Parma, 32 mi. (52 km) | Elevation gain: 850 ft / 259 m
Begin with a visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy, watching cheesemakers stir massive copper cauldrons of milk before wheels are left to age for years. After tastings, ride toward Parma, a city of music, art, and food. Parma’s Teatro Regio is one of Italy’s premier opera houses, and the historic center is the perfect setting to enjoy prosciutto di Parma with a glass of local wine.

 Sample accommodations: Hotel Button 
 
Day 7: Torrechiara Castle loop ride, 30 mi. (49 km) | Elevation gain: 788 ft / 240 m
Cycle through the Parma countryside to Torrechiara Castle, a Renaissance fortress built both as a defense and as a love retreat. Inside, admire frescoes like the “Chamber of Gold,” while outside the hills are dotted with vineyards and ham producers. Sample local cured meats along the way for a true taste of Parma’s heritage.

 Sample accommodations: Hotel Button 
 
Day 8: Departure from Parma
Your tour concludes in Parma. Before departing, visit the pink marble Baptistery, one of Italy’s most important Romanesque-Gothic monuments, or shop at traditional food markets to bring Emilia-Romagna’s flavors back home.

Cooking classes are available in more than one location along the way. Contact us for more details!