5 Star Flavors of Italy: The Very Best of Emilia-Romagna Tour Reviews — 1 to 6 of 6

How could I ride a bicycle across this wonderful region and gain two pounds over the course of the week?

The food is a star attraction, of course -- from the lasagna Bolognese, to the fried gnocchi (with the region's famous prosciutto), to the parmigiano reggiano and true balsamic vinegars (both tasted on brilliant tours included!), and to the culatello and other delicacies of Parma. (I even took a pasta-making class in Parma with an excellent teacher in her centuries-old home.)

But the cities and the people are stars too. I'm not a super-big fan of churches, but the cathedrals in Bologna, Modena, and Parma are stunning, as are the surrounding neighborhoods -- clean, safe, good shopping. Italians are known for friendliness, but I've visited large parts of the country and I think it's fair to say the people of the Emilia region are the friendliest. Go into any place, offer a warm greeting ("Bongiorno" or "Salve"), show a little curiosity, and people will shower you with affection. I visited a pub in Modena famous for its beer selection, and other customers wouldn't let me pay.

I did the "self-guided" version of the trip, which worked out well because the GPS tracks were excellent, but my selection of dates (over which I didn't have much control) could have been better. The first week of August is always hot, and temps during my ride reached 100-104 F (39-40 C) each day. I still had a blast because I paced myself, hugged shady trees, and drank lots of water. More importantly, the design of this tour is excellent -- with two nights at each stop. That allowed "optional rides" on off-days, but for me, it offered days of rest and rehydration (and chances to try more foods).

This is a very good trip, arranged by an excellent company with good staff, good bicycles and good communications (in case of emergency). A group ride in cooler temperatures would have been good, but I still had a great time.

Loved the Balsamic and Parmesan tours! The rides were lovely, peaceful and scenic and the food and wines were fabulous. We loved our ride and accommodations. The Agriturismo La Razza was especially special. Not to be missed was the Ristorante La Grattugia. The fillet of beef with balsamic was to die for.

This is a great culinary tour where you learn how parmesan cheese, wines, and balsamic vinegar are made. The cycling was easy, but caution needed when entering busy cities. We recommend opting for the guided and really enjoyed this tour.

The guides were great with their inside knowledge and fun stories. The food was outstanding.

It was a great trip. Everything went smoothly. Sophie from TripSite was very responsive. The hotels were all located in central locations, clean and had great breakfast buffets. The Art Hotel Commercianti in Bologna and the Agriturismo La Razza were fabulous. The food in this region is top notch and the people are so friendly.

Don't let hills deter you from doing a bike trip - I used an e-bike and it was so easy to do the hills. Bike is such a great way to travel!

The cataclysmic flooding event was memorable. We appreciated Javier’s support and direction when our route was blocked.
Unfortunately we were unable to remove one of our spd pedals at the end of the trip in Parma because the staff person in Bologna over tightened it. We are beginning the Mur river trip on June 4 and would appreciate your delivering it to us for that trip.