Things to do in Emilia-Romagna
1. Discovering Bologna
Bologna La Grassa (the fat one) is a nickname that this historic city has earned thanks to its perpetually burgeoning food scene. Foodstuffs, however, are not Bologna’s only claimed to fame (although you have to admit that a place where Bolognese sauce and tortellini were created sounds like foodie paradise!).
2. The Giuseppe Verdi Experience with Academia Barilla
Giuseppe Verdi, one of the most prominent composers of the 19th century and the mastermind behind the beloved operas of Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Il Trovatore, was born in the Italian town of Le Roncole in Emilia Romagna. This full day excursion from the Academia Barilla in Parma allows you to explore Verdi’s world in and around Parma before enjoying the experience of Barilla and Emilia Romagna’s cuisine.
3. Ham & Cheese: Parma for Foodies
Are you a foodie? Does the sight of rosy-pink prosciutto make your mouth water? Does Parmigiano-Reggiano increase your heartbeat? Does sweet, thick balsamic vinegar occupy a position of honor in your personal culinary Pantheon? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this is the tour for you!
4. Parmigiano, Culatello and… Cooking!
Parma is the undisputed capital city of the Italian Food Valley, and this tour gives participants the chance to learn about the local gastronomy by visiting selected producers to taste their wares. A hands-on cooking class in a Michelin-star kitchen follows where you’ll learn the secrets to making the region’s traditional pastas.
5. Passionate About Pasta: A Small Group Cooking Class in Bologna
Il Salotto di Penelope is located in a picturesque courtyard in the heart of Bologna where, since the 1960’s, a bakery once stood. Barbara Zaccagni and Valeria Hensemberger, two gourmets coming from different cooking realities, but with a common passion for teaching, founded their cooking school in February 2012. Today, they welcome individuals and groups interested in learning the techniques of the Italian cuisine and, in particular, the culture and flavors of traditional Bolognese and Northern Italian cooking.
6. Private Cooking Class at Academia Barilla
Known as one of the world’s premier Italian culinary brands, Barilla calls the foodie town of Parma its home, and it is here at the Academia Barilla where the company opens its doors to those who share their love of the Italian cuisine. With a purpose of educating and bringing together both professional chefs and amateur aficionados with a passion for all things Italian, this Italian foodie paradise will be your classroom for a one-of-a-kind cooking course on the regional cuisine.
