This tour from Florence shows you how Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar of Modena, and prosciutto ham are produced. Visit regional factories and estates and taste products unique to the region of Emilia-Romagna. Enjoy a typical traditional lunch entirely made with fresh, 0 km ingredients. Start your trip by stepping back in time and learn how Parmigiano Reggiano is produced at a biological caseificio (cheese factory). Find out why the provinces of Parma, Modena, and Reggio Emilia are the only ones that can produce authentic Parmigiano Reggiano. Watch cheesemakers at work as they cook the milk to separate the whey and lift the Parmigiano Reggiano, then head to the aging room. Admire the rows upon rows of cheese wheels and inhale their sweet scent. Taste various types of Parmesan cheese and ricotta paired with local products. Next, head towards an acetaia (balsamic vinegar factory), where you will serve a multi-course lunch typical of the Emilia-Romagna region. You will learn about balsamic vinegar-food pairing. Every served dish is carefully paired with several varieties of balsamic vinegar. After lunch, join a private tour of the estate and its cellars. Receive a full introduction into the balsamic vinegar making process, from the pressing of the grapes and cooking the wort in the boiler to the filtration and mixing process. Taste different types of balsamic vinegar, such as “Tradizionale” and “Extravecchio." Then, head to a prosciuttificio (prosciutto factory). You will tour the factory, visit the production rooms, and understand how ham processing works. Conclude your tour at a tasting of their products: hams both raw and cooked, such as culatta, lardo, salami, prosciutto cotto, prosciutto al tartufo. The cold-cuts will be accompanied by a typical bread from Emilia-Romagna called crescentine, or tigelle. Head back to Florence.

Emilia-Romagna is famous for being Italy's Food Valley, offering a diverse range of gastronomy and culinary customs, and being the birthplace of unique products such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto, and Aceto Balsamico. From the eastern coastline to the Apennine Mountains, Emilia-Romagna is the largest food district in Italy, boasting over 40 traditional products that are protected by certifications verifying their quality and authenticity. The region's cuisine pays homage to its humble origins, preserving a farm-to-table ethos that has been passed down for generations. During this tour, you will have the opportunity to explore and sample the most iconic Emilian products that have remained true to their authenticity and quality throughout the centuries. Our meeting point is at 8:30 am at Reggio Emilia's central train station, located in Piazzale Guglielmo Marconi, in front of the main entrance. Reggio Emilia is easily accessible by train from other major cities in the area, such as Modena, Bologna, and Milan. If you need help finding the best options, please feel free to ask. Our first stop will be at the Parmigiano Reggiano dairy farm, where we will witness the production process and have a guided tasting of the famous cheese. During the visit, you will have the opportunity to observe the production of this cheese king and take some great photos with your friends and family surrounded by thousands of wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano. Our second stop will be at an "Acetaia" where you will learn about the production process of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and enjoy a guided tasting. The production process of Balsamic Vinegar is incredibly fascinating, and our local guides will help you understand how to use it to impress your friends and family at home. To complete your foodie experience in Emilia, you can choose the option that best suits you for the third and final stop in this tour. Cured Meats option: Visit a "Salumificio" to learn about the production of delicious cured meats such as salami, coppa, and prosciutto. The tasting will include different cured meats depending on the season's availability. Lambrusco & Spergola option: Visit a vineyard to learn about the production of delicious wines such as Lambrusco (red sparkling) and Spergola (white sparkling). The tasting includes three wines with nibbles. At the end of the tour, you can be dropped off at the train station close to the city centre of Reggio Emilia, where our expert tour leader can recommend some traditional restaurants for lunch or where you can go sightseeing. The tour typically lasts between 5 and 6 hours, and it will end between 1:00 and 1:30 pm.