8-Day Foodie Tour of Northern Italy

After a delicious hotel breakfast, you will be met by your private guide for a special tour of Bologna, the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region. Bologna is also considered by many as the gastronomic capital of Europe, so is an excellent place to begin this food-focused tour of northern Italy.

The oldest university in the western world can be found in Bologna, along with a varied historical culture that was influenced by the Romans, the Etruscans and the Gauls. As part of your tour, you will explore both the quieter side streets of the city and visit some of its top attractions such as the Basilica di San Petronio and Piazza Maggiore.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy a local cooking class in a rustic Bologna building where you will learn to make either tortellini or tagliatelle al ragù. The class ends with a delicious bolognese dinner at an osteria; a traditional, informal Italian eatery.

After breakfast in the hills, a private driver will deliver you to Pavia. On the way, you will stop at one of the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factories, and experience a tasting session of the iconic product.

From here, you will journey to the 15th century Torrechiara Castle and its nearby village, where lunch will be served at a rustic farmhouse with views of the surrounding area. You will then travel to the beautiful city of Parma for a guided tour of the town, learning about its art and culture scene as well as its history.

You will arrive in Pavia in the late afternoon, where you will be staying on a wine estate. Here you will enjoy an exquisite dinner, and spend the night in a luxury room.

Your journey today will take you south to the Barolo region, home to spectacular countryside that is overflowing with vineyards. Whatever time of year you visit, the colours of the hills will be beautiful, along with the warm scent of the fields on the breeze.

Your morning will consist of truffle hunting with an experienced guide and dog, who will take you into the Roero woods and teach you some of the secrets of their profession. You will learn which trees truffles are most likely to grow beside, the best kind of soil truffles grow in, and most importantly how to spot them as you hunt, helped by the trained dog. Lunch will feature truffles, and the meal will be based around this signature ingredient.

After lunch, your driver will take you to Barolo Castle for a short visit, and then on to the Marchesi di Barolo Winery for a signature tasting session. You will return to Alba in the evening, travelling along one of the most scenic roads in Piedmont from La Morra to Vergne.

You will depart Alba independently, and either travel home or continue your holiday in Italy.