Bologna, Parma & Ravenna Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 

You should arrive at the airport for your flight to Bologna or Venice where you will be met and transferred to the excellent quality four-star Hotel Internazionale, for four nights with breakfast. The hotel is centrally located on one of Bologna’s main shopping streets at the edge of its medieval centre, approximately a 15 minute walk away. It is extremely comfortable, featuring an impressive marble reception area, adorned with large plants and classically styled. The rooms themselves are modern, but with homely touches utilising tasteful fabrics, wood and marble, with all of the facilities you would expect including TV, air conditioning, safe and minibar. Upstairs is the homely ‘Il Portico’ bar and lounge featuring extensive use of tropical hardwoods and a variety of comfortable seating with leather armchairs and relaxing sofas. The atmosphere here is very convivial and is the ideal place to relax after a hard day of sightseeing. Bologna really is a food paradise so we have designed this holiday as bed and breakfast, leaving you free to enjoy a lovely evening meal in one of the many excellent restaurants – you will truly be spoilt for choice! The other massive advantage is that Bologna is a real hidden gem as far as tourism is concerned - overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbours, Venice and Florence this is real, genuine Italy, so everyday prices for the quality experienced are extremely reasonable.

Day 2

This morning we have a sightseeing tour of Bologna where you will come to fully admire this wonderfully attractive city. Beautifully maintained over the centuries, its original Roman street plan is still discernible. Twelve medieval gates encircled the historic centre and at Bologna’s heart is the majestic main square - the Piazza Maggiore. Surrounded by splendid Renaissance “palaces” and home to the enormous San Petronio, the world’s fifth largest Basilica, yet unfinished, its sponsors never achieving their ambitious goal of exceeding that of Rome’s St Peter’s! Adjacent is another beautiful square, Piazza del Nettuno, with a splendid statue and fountain dedicated to Neptune and surrounded by grandiose medieval civic buildings. One of Bologna’s many surprises is that it can ‘outdo’ Pisa, boasting not one but two medieval “leaning towers”! Of course one of Bologna’s ‘must sees’ is Europe’s oldest University – founded in 1068 its illustrious alumni include Dante, Copernicus and Marconi. Perched on a hilltop with splendid views across the city and the surrounding region, Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca is renowned for its extraordinary claim to fame, the world’s longest portico supported by no less than 666 arches leading to the edge of the historic city itself!

After the tour why not explore the maze of tiny alleys and streets lined by atmospheric food shops of every description, joining locals in sampling the world’s finest produce and soaking up some of the ambience yourself. Remember you are off the tourist trail here, so this enthusiasm is heartfelt and refreshing in its authenticity. This afternoon, you can choose to explore Bologna further or to visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, dedicated to the brand synonymous with luxury, glamour and speed. ‘Live the dream’ and discover the history of legendary F1 cars and some of the most coveted supercars today. Have your photo taken in a Ferrari or try out a semi-professional F1 simulator (pre-booking advised).

Day 3 

After breakfast we visit another of Emilia- Romagna’s underrated and enticing cities: Parma, a name synonymous the world over with wonderful prosciutto hams and parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) cheese, yet a city almost untouched by tourism despite its immense charms. We enjoy a guided tour after which you can truly appreciate Parma’s historic buildings plus its culinary heritage. Pride of place is the impressive 12th century cathedral one of Italy’s finest Romanesque buildings – a wonder in its own right with stunning frescoes. Other highlights include the adjacent Baptistery, the magnificent Ducal Palace and the massive Piazza della Pace – “peace square” – backed by the grandiose Palazzo della Pilotta, a fitting location for the Academy of Fine Arts. This afternoon we take the short drive into the Apennine foothills where in bucolic villages set in rolling countryside, the ancient art of preparing the finest prosciutto (Parma ham) is practised. Our destination is Langhirano, “capital of prosciutto”, visiting the Lanfranchi family who have been meticulously and lovingly preparing and maturing their hams for three generations. Learn and witness how the joints are selected, prepared, treated and stored to produce a delicacy of the highest quality for us all to enjoy – it’s a truly fascinating experience, after which we sample their handiwork of course!

Another treat awaits just outside Modena at the Acetaia Villa San Donnino, where the art of producing traditional balsamic vinegar, a craft as scientific as winemaking and noted across the globe, is still undertaken by local artisans. Here too, the passion of present day masters displaying great pride in upholding this magnificent tradition is enthralling and a tasting of the vinegar at the end of the visit is without doubt superb! Today after some wonderful adventures you will really feel as though you have been truly under Italy’s skin.

Day 4 

Today we take the short drive, almost to the Adriatic coast, exploring little visited yet amazingly historic Ravenna – city of mosaics. An important Roman settlement, Julius Caesar gathered his forces here before famously “crossing the Rubicon” and in 402AD, after Rome’s fall it became the last capital of the Western Roman Empire then capital of Ostrogothic and Byzantine Italy. Thus by 700AD Ravenna became one of Europe’s most important cities of the era.

During the Middle Ages it was a Papal State, with the poet Dante spending his final years here. His tomb is here and as an act of penance for exiling him, Florence his home city still supplies the oil illuminating it. Despite its turbulent history, Ravenna’s compact centre retains unique buildings spanning a period of 1500 years with no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. To understand what makes Ravenna so special, we have a guided walking tour bringing these amazing buildings, their stunning mosaics and stories to life. The earliest UNESCO sight is the huge octagonal brick-built Baptistry of Neon, which staggeringly dates from 500 AD, its shape symbolizing the seven days of the week plus the day of resurrection and eternal life. Thought to have started life as a Roman Bathhouse, this is the finest surviving example of its genre and is famed for its astonishing roof mosaic.

More magnificent mosaics can be seen in the breathtaking interior of the 5th century Mausoleum of Galla Placida - a larger than life late-Roman era woman, who was at various times the Emperor’s daughter, wife, sister and mother! Arguably the pinnacle is displayed in the great Basilica of San Vitale, possibly the world’s most important early Christian art and architecture. Combining aspects of Roman and Byzantine design, highlights include its glorious cupola which is sure to impress as you gaze upwards and endeavour to appreciate its complex construction so many centuries ago. Dating from more “recent times” the 17th century Museo Arcivescovile (Archbishop’s museum) is endowed with a real treasure trove of artefacts including two world famous pieces from the 6th century: the silver cross of Bishop Agnellus and the spectacular Byzantine throne of Archbishop Maximian carved from ivory.

Staggering is an understatement for Ravenna’s colossal cultural legacy. Elsewhere in Europe similar quality art was created about 1,000 years later, so these wondrous treasures are all the more astonishing. After immersing yourself in the glories in this historic past, we return to Bologna for some free time and this evening choose a venue for your final dinner, when you can ponder the feast of delights sampled in this almost undiscovered region of Italy.

Day 5 

Today at the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight.

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