Bologna Gastronomy Experience

Bologna Gastronomy Experience
On our Bologna Gastronomy Tour, you will stay for 3 nights at the Art Hotel Novecento, with breakfast and Airport transfers and a enjoy a private Gastronomy tour as detailed

Bologna
Bologna is the lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. Its Piazza Maggiore is a sprawling plaza lined with arched colonnades, cafes and medieval and Renaissance structures such as City Hall, the Fountain of Neptune and the Basilica di San Petronio. Among the city’s many medieval towers are the Two Towers, leaning Asinelli and Garisenda.
Although Bologna is perhaps not as well-known as some other Italian cities, it is the Gastronomic capital of the country. If you love good Italian food and appreciate architecture, it’s a lovely city to visit as it has some unique historic features like the Porticoes (columns and arches).
The food of Bologna, Italy consists of fresh egg-based pasta such as tagliatelle, tortellini and mortadella often served in a ragú. Bologna is also known for producing fantastic Lasagna and sensational Gelato. Famous delicacies derive from a rich culinary tradition that has impacted the cuisine of greater Italy.

Hotel Art Novecento

The Art Hotel Novecento is a 4-star boutique hotel located in Piazza Galileo, in the historic centre of Bologna, a few steps from the splendid Piazza Maggiore. Thanks to the location of this hotel, guests can enjoy magnificent views of the city. The original building that houses the hotel dates back to the early twentieth century and was totally renovated and inaugurated in 2003.

Tour
Day 1
Arrival in Bologna airport and private transfer to the hotel (morning arrival)

Afternoon Bologna Food Walking Tour (to last approx. 3 hours)

Your local guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to take you on an authentic local gastronomic experience.
This gastronomic walking tour, lasting 3 hours, offers 5 authentic tastings in different places: the food market with its ancient family-run shops, a bakery, a chocolate factory, a pasta workshop and an ice cream parlor.
You will visit the oldest bakery in Bologna where you will taste their delicious “rice cake”, the oldest chocolate factory in the city where the first solid chocolate “black puff pastry” was invented and you will taste their specialty, a delicatessen shop where you will be served cold cuts and cheeses (Parmigiano Reggiano with balsamic vinegar, Mortadella, Salame di Felino, Caciotta, Prosciutto di Parma) with typical bread and local wine, a pasta workshop to taste home-made egg pasta and, finally, an ice cream!
At the end of the tour, you will be returned to the hotel by your guide.

Day 2
Cooking Class in Bologna (3 hours) – private lesson
Walk to the Cooking school (located a few minute’s walk from the hotel). This cooking class is designed to teach you the methods of Italian cooking and help you to uncover the secrets of Italian cuisine. The dishes are primarily focused on traditional Bolognese and regional cuisine composed of a starter, pasta, main course side dish and dessert followed by a tasting of the meal you prepared.
You will have the option to decide between two separate cooking lessons.

Option A) The lesson will be focused on the practices in the kitchen. This lesson is the slightly longer option, more individualized with the focus on the cooking techniques (e.g. how to prepare pasta, how to cut vegetables and meat, timings and ways of different cooking methods) while the food is eaten standing between the different work stations.

Option B) The lesson will be towards the convivial lunch. At the end of your cooking class everyone will sit down and eat together, enjoying the lunch
After lunch you will walk back to your hotel.
Rest of day at leisure.

Day 3

Elite Gastronomy in the heart of the Emilia Romagna region (10 hours)

This tour has been specially created for the gastronomical lovers allowing you to enjoy various tastings and also learn about the process of vinegar , Parmesan cheese and “Culatello Prosciuto” ham, all famous local products of the Emilia Romagna region. Your private driver will be picking you up at your hotel to enjoy an approximate 2 hr drive towards a small village located in the heart of Emilia Romagna where you will reach your first stop, a famous Parmesan Cheese producer where the entire Parmesan making process will be explained allowing you to visit the production area to later enjoy a Parmesan cheese tasting of 3 separate categories. The visit here will take approximate 1.5 hrs.
After the Parmesan tasting you will be driven for approximate 40 minutes on a scenic road towards a small local village to be met by one of the local producers of the famous high quality Culatello ham where you will enjoy a 1 .5 hour visit of the laboratory with explanation given to you on how the famous ham is produced, followed by a tasting.
You will continue towards a nearby local restaurant to enjoy an excellent 4 course typical lunch together with two different types/glasses of wines before heading towards your third and final visit at a small family run Balsamic vinegar producer who will give you a guided visit of their property and to see the barrels where the actual vinegar is being stored followed by a tasting of three different categories of vinegars: Linea Oro (Gold Line) 50 years old, Linea Argento (Silver Line) 25 years old and Linea Balsamico (Balsamic Line) 10 years old.
After this Elite gastronomic tour, you will be driven back (approximately 1 hour) to your hotel.

*Please note that the order of the visits might run in reverse based on availability in each location.*

Day 4
Private Transfer from Hotel to Bologna Airport

Price from £1400 per person
The price includes
 3 nights at Art Hotel Novecento 4* in BB (either Classic or Deluxe)
 Transfer by private car from Bologna airport to Hotel
 Private guide for the afternoon Food walking tour on Day 1
 5 different tastings of local specialties on Day 1 (the guide will stop in 5 different venues, depending on the time and day of the week. Most likely food market with family run shops, a bakery, a chocolate factory, pasta workshop and an ice cream parlor)
 Private cooking school on Day 2 ( 3 Hrs)
 Private Full day tour on Day 3 – Elite Gastronomy tour
 Private Visit at Parmisan Cheese producer and tasting
 Private visit at Culatello ham producer and tasting
 4 course lunch including 2 different wines, water and coffee
 Transfer by private car from the hotel to Bologna airport