Emilia Romagna 2024

In Bologna, you will be awaited by the Art Hotel Commercianti****, located in a small alley and only a few minutes’ walk away from the Piazza del Nettuno with the famous Neptune fountain. We will meet up in the hotel lobby at around 5:30pm for a city round tour through the old town, which is worth seeing. You will then have the evening to your own disposal.

In the morning, we will travel by bus for approx. an hour to Guiglia. We will familiarize ourselves with our bikes and will begin our cycling trip. Our route leads on small roads away from the foothills of the Apennin to Vignola. We will enjoy our midday break in the shade of the imposing Rocca di Vignola, before we continue to follow the cycle path to Modena, the city of balsamic vinegar. Shortly before the daily destination, a known Acetaia awaits us, where we will be introduced to the secrets of vinegar production. We will then be welcomed by the city hotel Central Park Hotel**** in Modena, directly in front of the gates of the historic old city. There is enough time to explore the Piazza Grande and for an appetiser, before one of the best restaurants in the city awaits us for dinner.

In the morning, we will catch a glimpse of the lovely cathedral, before we leave Modena. We will bridge numerous metres in height up to the castle ruins of Canossa by bus. Here, where Henry IV once bowed down to the Pope, we will enjoy the view as we gaze over the Po plain. We will then cycle northwards and will reach Reggio Emilia, the capital city of Parmesan cheese, in the early evening, where we will be welcomed by the Hotel Posta****, in the former palace of the town rulers, in the midst of the main square, and a hotel with five hundred years of tradition. An excellent restaurant awaits us for dinner.

In the morning, we will embark on a journey of Parmesan cheese. We will learn of the production of this fine cheese, from the milk to the complete wheel of cheese. We will then cycle on small side-streets and cycle paths to the large river. The Po has left a distinctive mark on the plain. After lunch, our route leads along the water or through nature reserves to Brescello. At the film location of the famous films about Don Camillo and Peppone, the figures of both the main actors cast in bronze greet us from the known main square. One can also visit the lovingly designed museum in honour of both the film heroes, which contains numerous exhibits from the popular films. We will then travel by bus for approx. 1 hour to Cremona. The Delle Arti Design Hotel**** awaits us a few metres away from the main square, a sight worth seeing. As you are invited for lunch on Thursday, you will have the evening to your own disposal.

In the morning, during a city round tour, we will visit Cremona, famous for its violins and violin maker families, including Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri. We will then leave the city by bike and will travel via the Verdi cycle path to Busetto, the birthplace of this great composer. A lovely theatre was built in Verdi’s honour here, which we will visit after our midday break. Our cycling route then leads us via Fidenza into the centre of Salsomaggiore. Here we will be welcomed by the elaborately renovated Grand Hotel Salsomaggiore***** (Doppelübernachtung). (2 overnight stays). There is enough time before dinner in the known hotel’s restaurant to admire the Art déco-Facade of the famous Terme Berzieri and to stroll through the small alleys.

We will leave Salsomaggiore and will reach Castell‘Arquato in the early morning. This small town is one of the „borghi più belli d‘Italia“, the loveliest places in Italy and is nevertheless largely unknown to tourists. The city’s impressive Romanesque church awaits us, with elements from the Gothic and Renaissance periods, as well as the imposing fortress of the Visconti. We will then enjoy lunch in a restaurant popular with the locals (included in the travel price). We will then travel by bus high up into the foothills of the Apennin, from where we will enjoy the views during the descent, before we are greeted once again by the Grand Hotel Salsomaggiore***** . We will meet up for dinner in an excellent restaurant in the heart of Salsomaggiore.

We will travel our last journey by bus high up into the Apennin, this time to Fragnolo, into the truffle area of Emilia Romagna. We will reach Langhirano via a panorama road. This small town to the south of Parma is the main area of the famous Parma ham production. We will not miss out on the opportunity to have the production process of this speciality explained to us, and there will also be a tasting. After travelling through well-kept vineyards and small villages, we will reach Parma in the early evening. Here we are welcomed by the Grand Hotel de la Ville*****, a peaceful haven, only a short walk away from the lively old town. We will be dining in one of the most traditional restaurants in the city.

After a hearty breakfast, we will depart on a guided round tour through the historic centre of this fascinating city. Every visitor is captivated by the sights worth seeing such as the octagonal baptistery, the Romanesque cathedral and the buildings of the Farnese family. The city tour ends at noon at the hotel. From Parma, you can reach Bologna with interchanges to the airport and to international rail traffic.

We gladly assist you on booking additional nights. All prices are on request. Please note, that it can be cheaper, when you book additional nights by yourself.