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4 day trip to Bologna

London, United...
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4 day trip to Bologna
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Every year we fly to Bologna and then get in a bus to Cervia. Ten days later, after flying kites on the most wonderful beach, we reverse this exercise.

This year we are doing things differently and plan to spend 4 days in Bologna.

I am so excited and have spent hours planning. At the moment the plan is:

Day 1 - Food tour of Bolgna and then general wandering to see the city

Day 2 - Tour to Parmesan, Balsamic and Prosciutto

Day 3 - Trip to Ferrara

Day 4 - Trip to some of the car factories.

So here are my questions:

We like doing rather than watching. We could do a cookery class but is there anything else we can do where we can gets our hand dirty! As an example I have found the Stamperia Pascucci in Gambettola which we might goto from Cervia. We like these small slightly eccentric places away from the tourist route. Is there anything similar in Bologna or out on the food trip.

When we goto Ferrari is there anyone that takes you out for a drive. I am frankly not a good enough driver to warrant taking one of these cars round the track but I think it would be amazing to be driven round. Is that possible?

When we do the food trip we are keen not to goto huge factories but want to meet producers and see the real work being undertaken. Are there any tours that anyone can recommend?

Thanks so much for your help.

Paul

Watertown, MA
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1. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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Hello Paul,

Bologna is an amazing city! I can recommend a great tour for your day 2, Italian Food Days, you will visit smaller producers and have a "light" lunch. It was a highlight of our trip.

https://www.italiandays.it/tour-item/italian-days-food-experience-bologna-day-tour/

Alessandro also offers many other types of tours and experiences, including a Ferrari experiences, don't see why you couldn't have someone drive you if you don't feel comfortable.

You also might want to spend more time in Bologna proper, there is much to see/do

Bologna tourist board info, lots of good info

https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/

Menlo Park...
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2. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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Yes, fabulous city.

http://travelphotodiscovery.com/bologna-highlights-outdoor-markets-and-street-food-of-bologna/

Day trip to Parma the big attraction is lunch at La Forchetta [look up the menu] and gelato at the little shop behind the Duomo where the nuns who run it will fashion you a cone in the shape of a rose; in Modena lunch at Da Danilo, our favorite restaurant in Italy.

New Orleans...
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3. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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Another strong recommendation for Alessandro and his Italian Food Days tour. One of my most memorable, interesting and fun days in Italy.

Vignola, Italy
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4. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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There are several activities you could like doable in Bologna or nearby cities and towns. For example why not a leathery lesson in Modena, building something you can bring home? Is even possible do a Gelato lesson, to learn more about this Italian product. Cooking lessons are easy to be done in Bologna (about fresh pasta are the most required). Is even possible di a ceramic lesson and create a piece of ceramic.

The point is always the available budget.

About food tour you are lucky, because about Parmigiano-Reggiano and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar there are only small producers: are two very local products. For Parmigiano a big producer makes 100 wheels per day and for us is a lot! The most do between 10 to 25 wheels. And the production method is the same, because for the law you cannot do a Parmigiano in an industrial way. For prosciutto is a little different and in my opinion is the less interesting of the visits usually required.

About test drive yes: is possible being only a passenger on a Ferrari or Lamborghini. The cheaper solution is do the test drive on normal roads, but in Modena is possible do even a racetrack test drive. On racetrack is safer, even if you can go much faster. the point is that the circuit test drive is much more expensive. Of course the visit of a factory is easier: usually I recommend Lamborghini or Ducati or Maserati or Pagani (the Ferrari factory visit is less interesting...).

If you want a quotation for a tour send me some more details in a private message.

Long Beach...
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5. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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I am interested in feedback on this topic as well.....the only request my husband has for our trip in July is to visit Ferrari. We will also have my parents with us who are less interested in that, but would be interested in the parmigiana tour and possibly prosciutto as well. There are options on TA to book this itinerary as a one day trip, just wondering if anyone has a preference in companies ?

London, United...
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6. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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After looking at all the companies we have decided to use a company called Yummy Italy.

You essentially have a choice, do a lot of things or do fewer things better. We prefer the later. So, Yummy Italy is making a day for us to visit a small parmigiana factory and a place to see balsamic being made. You could do parmigiana and prosciutto if you wished.

We are going to see one car factory and then go onto Ferrari. I haven’t yet decided between Lamborghini and Maserati. They both do tours of the factory. Any views on which one is best would be appreciated. One thing for sure we will not go to Ferrari- unless you own one of their cars you drive past the factory in a bus! Not our thing.

London, United...
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7. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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Just make sure it's not a factory that makes "parmigiana", because that would be oven-cooked aubergines, while I assume you are looking for cheese :)

Canada
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8. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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Paul, will you have a car? We actually found it to be more fun, relaxed and cheaper to do the factory tours independently. We also did a cooking class at Salotto de Penelope, which was a lot of fun...can't come to Italy and not learn how to make fresh pasta!!

Edited: 5 years ago
London, United...
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9. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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We are going to hire a car to go to see Maserati or Lamborghini and then travel onto the coast. It is always Fun to do things independently, the challenge is finding the boutique producer where you actually see what is going on. We don’t want to end up in a tourist trap!

California
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10. Re: 4 day trip to Bologna
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DRIVING: there are driving restrictions in Italy and ZTL zones to be aware of.... One can not drive into any historic city or village center, bus lanes are prohibited and parking is highly regulated. Cameras enforce infractions and if you are not careful and attentive, there will be large fines. These fines can take up to a year or more to reach you but reach you they will.....cars are ill-advised in urban destinations, as well as some coastal areas such as the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast.

Do read: http://driventoit.blogspot.com/

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