Flavours of Bologna: Food & Wine Small Group Tour of Italy

26 May - 03 Jun 2025 (9 Days / 8 Nights)
AUD $6,840

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What can you expect?

The Flavours of Bologna and Tuscany Food and Wine tour highlights Italy’s rich cultural and culinary heritage. Experience specialty lunches, dinners and winery tours whilst visiting the areas of Bologna, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany.

Experience Authentic Food and Wine in Tuscany

Beginning in Bologna, the centre of some of the world’s most famous culinary delights, the tour combines the love of food with visits to the fascinating medieval and Renaissance towns of Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. The journey ends in Florence after an extended stay in a luxurious villa surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the heart of the Chianti Valley.

Your tour group will eat meals Italian style; It is all about sharing food and moments. It is a way of life, an expression of something simple, beautiful and pure.

A Vita Italian Tour is personally guided by experienced Italian speakers, allowing you to relax and enjoy your holiday in Italy. The family team, along with their team of local experts, will escort you throughout your stay to ensure you have a wonderful experience.

Tour highlights:

Travel through Italy and indulge your tastebuds in the glorious flavours from around the country.
Visit Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Panzano, Pienza, Radda, Castellina and Florence.
Visit a rural agriturismo in the UNESCO world-heritage area of the Val d’ Orcia. Experience a slow-food lunch of gourmet produce sourced on-site.
See famous landmarks and special spots only the locals know.
Learn how the delicious traditional bolognese tortellini is created.
Learn the origins and taste authentic Prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar of Modena, Parmigiano Reggiano, olive oil, wines, and other local delicacies – directly from local producers.
Leisurely stroll through gorgeous landscapes and towns less travelled.
Stay in a villa with a swimming pool, and private gardens.
Travel through some of the most beautiful countrysides in Tuscany.
Visit multiple wineries throughout the tour.

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Private Tour/ Independent Travel: If the tour dates do not fit with your travel plans or independent travel is more your style, why not let Vita Italian Tours plan a tailor-made self-drive or chauffeur driven private itinerary/tour for you. Contact us to enquire today.

What’s included?

All land travel in air-conditioned minibuses.
Accommodation for 4 nights in 4-Star boutique hotels centrally located in Bologna & Reggio Emilia.
Accommodation for 5 nights in Tuscan Villa with a swimming pool in Panzano.
8 Breakfasts / 5 Lunches / 2 Dinners (meals include special lunches and dinners in traditional local restaurants, osterie and private dining experiences as detailed in the itinerary).
Regional wines and mineral water served with meals.
Private cooking class preparing an authentic Tuscan meal.
Admission to all wineries and historical sites mentioned in the itinerary.
Tastings of local specialty produce as indicated in the itinerary.
Personally guided tours to all towns mentioned in the itinerary.
Services of the tour leaders throughout the tour.

Detailed itinerary

Meals Included: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 1: Bologna (D): Your tour leaders will meet you at the hotel in the centre of Bologna at 4.00pm, where there will be introductions and a small talk on the tour. We will then guide you on a leisurely afternoon stroll through some of the famous sites such Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronico as well as famous towers of Bologna. Along the way there will be time to explore specialty produce shops and boutiques tasting some of the delicacies of the region. The walk will end with an early dinner in a famous traditional Bolognese Trattoria to taste some of the local specialties.
Day 2: Bologna (BL): Today we spend the whole day in Bologna. The morning will consist of a visit to a pasta lab to view how traditional Bolognese tortellini are made followed by lunch in a local trattoria famous for its tortellini. The afternoon/evening is free to leisurely explore this wonderful city.
Day 3: Bologna, Modena & Reggio Emilia (BL): After breakfast we say goodbye to Bologna and make our way north-west to our home for the next two nights Reggio Emilia. On the way, there will be stops for gastronomic highlights just outside of Modena to a local dairy that producers Italy’s prized Parmigiano Reggiano as well as a world famous acetaia that produces aged balsamic vinegar. Travellers will get a guided tour of both these establishments learning the production process and traditions before finishing with a sampling of the produce. Lunch will be in a famous trattoria in the historical centre of Modena. After checking into the hotel located in the heart of Reggio Emilia there is an optional walking tour of the historical centre with an aperitivo. Free evening.
Day 4: Reggio Emilia & Parma (B): Today we continue to explore the culinary delights of the region of Emilia Romagna with a visit to beautiful Parma and its surrounding countryside. First stop will be south of Parma to Langhirano a town synonymous with the production of the world-famous Parma Ham. There will be a guided tour of a local Prosciutto producer learning about the century old techniques and traditions. The tour will finish with a prosciutto ham tasting. Upon arriving in Parma there will be a guided walking tour of the city. There will be some free time to explore the historical centre of Parma and its many boutiques before returning to Reggio Emilia in the late afternoon. Free evening in Reggio.
Day 5: Reggio Emilia, Florence & Panzano (BD): We say goodbye to Emilia Romagna as we make our way to Panzano in the heart of the Chianti wine region in Tuscany. Our stay for the next 5 nights will be in a villa complete with swimming pool and private gardens. Before reaching Panzano, there is an unforgettable stop in the renaissance city of Florence. We start our walking tour of the city in the famous markets of San Lorenzo for a tasting tour of some of the city’s and regions specialty produce. We will admire Florence’s many historically landmarks before some free time to independently explore this wonderful city, shopping in the famous markets and boutiques. Then it is on to Panzano to check-in at the Villa before dinner at a local trattoria.
Day 6: Panzano & Greve (BL): Today we continue to explore the Chianti region with a memorable drive experiencing the atmosphere of this part of Italy which is full of small villages and hundreds of vineyards and olive groves dotting the countryside. We will stop for morning tea in the beautiful town square of Greve in Chianti followed by a special wine tour and lunch at one of the oldest Estate wineries in the area. Free evening in Panzano at the Villa.
Day 7: Panzano & Pienza (BL): The group travel south this morning through some of the most beautiful countryside in Tuscany to the hilltop town of Pienza in the famed valley called Val d’Orcia. Pienza is famous for its beautiful town square surrounded by harmonious Renaissance style buildings. The town also boasts beautiful boutiques as well as stunning views of the surrounding Val d’Orcia. There will be a guided walking tour of the historical centre of the city with a stop for a coffee. After exploring the historical centre of Pienza, we visit a nearby winery and agriturismo that producers its own wine, olive oil and local cheese. We will have a special food and wine demonstration before sitting down to taste numerous dishes sourced from the produce made on the property. Free evening in Panzano at the Villa.
Day 8: Panzano, Cooking Class & Castellina (BL): This morning is a highlight of the tour, a private specialty Tuscan cooking demonstration at a traditional farmhouse. Using local ingredients travellers will learn some of the secrets of Tuscan cuisine with a hand on experience before sitting down together with the hosts for lunch paired with local wine. In the afternoon, there will be a stop at the Castellina in Chianti. Farewell aperitivo back in Panzano.
Day 9: Panzano & Florence (B): The group will enjoy the last views of the chianti wine road on our way to Florence. The tour will end at the Florence SMN train station in the morning.

Pricing

AUD $6,840 pp twin share

The cost of the tour, land content only, is AUD $6,840 per person in twin share accommodation. A deposit of AUD $500 is required to reserve a place on the tour which is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled. The full balance is due 90 days before departure. Single supplements are available at an additional cost of AUD $1,360.00 The tour is costed on a minimum of 6 people travelling on the tour with a maximum number of 14 people.

Download the full itinerary here. The program appears to be full; however, it is mixed with long restful lunches and leisure time for your enjoyment and comfort. If you need to, you can always take time off from the organised program.

We recommend that you carefully read the terms & conditions applying to Vita Italian Tours.

BOOK TOUR DOWNLOAD ITINERARY

Our guests say it all

A foodie tour around Tuscany and Bologna sounded right up our alley and it didn’t disappoint!! Thank you Gianni and Mario for your wonderful company and sharing your love of Italy with us. This has been an unforgettable holiday and we cannot wait to travel with you again next year.

— S & A Schorer (WA)
Flavours of Bologna & Tuscany

The tour provided a great opportunity to discover and experience traditional methods of producing cheese, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and tortellini. The tastings and restaurant meals were fantastic! A tour highlight! The positive, friendly environment you create on your small group tours makes the experience so enjoyable.

— T Dunn (VIC)
Flavours of Bologna & Tuscany

An extraordinary culinary adventure through a beautiful part of Italy. Each day offered a new treat and experience. I enjoyed the unhurried pace and the opportunity to gain knowledge of the Italian way of life and history. Gianni’s stories and knowledge was a delight.

— D Woodward (NSW)
Flavours of Bologna & Tuscany

Additional information

The Weather: It is the beginning of Summer. It can be cool in the mornings but can get to around 30 degrees Celsius during the day. We recommend light, comfortable clothing, a light jacket with your favourite walking shoes.

Physical Expectations: We do not place age limitations on the tour and welcome anyone with a moderate level of physical fitness. It is important to note that the countryside is undulating and hilly. Many hill towns have their historical centres closed to traffic and therefore lots of walking is required. Be expected to spend a few hours a day on your feet with breaks for sightseeing, coffee and a taste of the local produce.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us here.

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Items not included:

Airfares.
Travel insurance (every traveller must have taken out a travel insurance policy to partake in a Vita Italian Tour). If you require, we can assist in organising a policy for you.
Admission fees to places other than those specifically itemised in the itinerary.
Meals on tour except when specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
Drinks outside normal meal times or additional wine or other drinks in restaurants, including tea and coffee.
Personal transport costs, phone calls and other personal needs.
Accommodation tax.

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