Parmesan and Balsamic Food Tour with Ferrari Museum
Description
Embark on a one-day Emilia-Romagna adventure! Start with a pick-up from your hotel in Bologna city center or central train station, if you arrive by train, or a meeting point in the city center (please select a correct option), then journey to a dairy farm to learn something new about the production processes of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, from cows to wheels. The visit will be held directly by the producer's staff, so none of your questions will remain unanswered. After the tour, you will have a tasting of different ages of Organic Parmigiano Reggiano. Next, explore a family-run farm delving into Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena's secrets, followed by a tasting of various ages of locally made balsamic vinegar. After, you will have a free visit to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello to discover the storied supercar brand. The day concludes with a return trip to Bologna.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The pickup will be from your hotel in Bologna or the nearest point, when it is not possible to reach the place you stay in by car, or from Bologna train station, if you arrive by train, or a meeting point in Bologna city center. The exact pickup time will be communicated after the tour confirmation. Bologna has a good connection with Florence, Padua, Verona, but we highly recommend contacting us before booking your train tickets, since we can advise on the most appropriate train to take. Please be on time for your scheduled pickup, as we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. No refunds will be possible in such instances.
DAIRY FARM / After leaving Bologna and an approximately 1-hour drive, we will visit a dairy farm to learn something new about the production processes of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, from cows to wheels. The visit will be held directly by the producer's staff, so none of your questions will remain unanswered. After the tour, you will have a tasting of different ages of Organic Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta and Caciotta cheese, Balsamic Vinegar and Jam, a glass of local wine and water.
BALSAMIC VINEGAR / Our second stop is a farm where the family produces Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena for generations. They will show the production process to you and explain all the peculiarities of the Balsamic Vinegar and why it is so highly appreciated even in haute cuisine. After the visit, you will be able to taste various ages of locally made balsamic vinegar.
Being in the area, your experience wouldn't be complete without visiting Ferrari Museum in Maranello, so to see the most famous supercar brand of all time, Ferrari, and to learn something new about its history during your free visit to the museum.
At the end of the day, the driver will take you back to Bologna.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The pickup will be from your hotel in Bologna city center or the nearest point, when it is not possible to reach the place you stay in by car. The exact pickup time will be communicated after the tour confirmation. If you arrive by train, please contact us before booking your train, as we could advise on the best suitable arrival time. It could take 15 to 20 minutes to exit the underground train station where most of the high speed trains arrive. It means that you should arrive in Bologna no later than 08:30 am for the pickup at 08:50 am. Please check strikes or any changes in train schedules in advance. In case of a strike, cancellations or other changes in trains schedule, you assume full responsibility, the reservation cannot be moved to another day last minute. Please be on time for your scheduled pickup, as we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. No refunds will be possible in such instances, even in case of a strike or if your train is late.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining time is required for transportation between the visits' locations
- The visits will be held in the countryside farms, make sure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. Inside the cellar / storage / etc. the temperature could be low even during summer period.
- All visits and tastings will be conducted by the producers' team and might involve other guests, no private guide will be with you during the day
- If you arrive by train, please be sure that your train arrives not later than 08:30 am, as it could take up to 15-20 minutes to find the correct exit from the undeground train station where most of high speed trains arrive. Pickup time from the train station is not later than 08:50 am.
- No lunch or extra time for it is included in the tour
- Pickup from a meeting point will be from P.za XX Settembre, the square in front of NH De La Gare hotel, just a 5-minute walk from Bologna central train station. The van leaves at 08:55 am, and will not wait for late comers. If you arrive late to the meeting point because of train or other transportation delays, we won’t be able to accommodate you, to send a refund or to reschedule the tour to another day. We kindly suggest planning extra time for your journey to avoid any issues.
- Please communicate any food allergies or intolerances in advance, we will not be able to accommodate any last minute requests.
Reviews(29)
Excellent day touring Parmesan balsamic, and Ferrari museum
This was a super fun experience. Learning about the parmesan making process was quite interesting and sampling it was even better. I believe our tour guide was Mariana and she was great. We even got to see some of their white cows. Learning about the balsamic vinegar making process was also enlightening. There's a lot more that goes into it than what may think and the property was beautiful. For those that enjoy cars, specifically ferraris, they'll find the museum fascinating.
The experience made it possible to have a good idea of how the production of parmeggianno reggiano and balsamic acetate is processed. I highlight the deep knowledge and also the passion with which the two ladies (Mary and Monica, respectively) described it. Afterwards, the visit to the Ferrari Museum, excites. I also inform that the driver (Kevin), was very efficient.
Muito obrigada pelo seu comentário! Ficamos felizes que tenha apreciado a visita e aprendido mais sobre o Parmigiano Reggiano e o aceto balsâmico. Mary e Monica ficarão contentes com as suas palavras. Também agradecemos o reconhecimento ao Kevin. Esperamos recebê-la novamente em breve!
I like the experience of learning how things are made, but I also grew up in the country. My wife, on the other hand, did not, so the cows and farm were not a big deal, but the Parmesan-making factory was an issue for her. The smell was powerful and unpleasant to her. lol The Balsamic Food Tour with Ferrari Museum made it better for her, but she wasn't feeling well from the first part. Just be aware that if you are sensitive to smells, this tour is not for you.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're glad you enjoyed learning how these traditional products are made, and that the balsamic and Ferrari portions helped balance out the day. We understand that farm environment can be intense, and always appreciate honest feedback like yours—it helps future guests make informed choices.
Loved seeing how the cheese from this region is made. The small producers of these family businesses like the Modena balsamic vinegar tour was very interesting. More complicated to produce these items than we knew before. Ferrari museum was cool too!
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed learning about the traditions behind Parmigiano Reggiano and Modena balsamic—there’s definitely more to them than meets the eye. Happy to hear you also enjoyed the Ferrari Museum. We’d love to welcome you again!
Communication from the booking personnel was very good. Pick up and travel were also very good. Although it was a little difficult for passengers from the back seat to hop out, we have travelled in mini vans which are easier to enter and exit. The visit to the Ferrari museum was also very good as the museum is well set up and is great to visit especially for Ferrari fans. The visit to the balsamic vinegar venue was excellent, setting was spectacular, welcome very cordial with refreshments and access to toilets offered. The explanation of the vinegar making process was excellent as the guide spoke English clearly and she was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the process. All members of the group thoroughly enjoyed this part of the tour. Products on sale were clearly explained and there is an opportunity to have items sent home. The farm and parmigiano making part of the tour was the disappointing part of the day. We were not ‘welcomed’, we stood around for a bit not knowing what to do or what was happening, we were given protective caps and jackets, then stood around for a bit more. When the tour did start this was not made clear to us and a few members of the group had to catch up and missed the first bit of information given. As the tour progressed it was difficult to hear the guide as there was still work going on in the different rooms. At least a third of the group missed 50% of the information. It would be worth the farm investing in a guided tour head set system to ensure that all participants hear particularly as the venue is a working farm. The cheese tasting was ok, unfortunately the bread offered was stale and wine warm. We were not aware that we would not have time for lunch until the final info email. The balsamic vinegar tasting venue would have been great for lunch and participants could have had the opportunity to taste how the vinegar is used. Please consider including this. I would only recommend this tour if the farm and cheese visit was improved.
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review. We're glad to hear you appreciated the communication before the tour, the Ferrari Museum visit, and especially the warm hospitality at the balsamic vinegar estate. Gabriele will also be pleased to hear your kind words regarding the transportation. We’re sorry to hear that the experience at the dairy farm didn’t fully meet your expectations. We’re in constant contact with our producers to ensure that all guests feel welcomed and well-informed throughout their visit, and we’ll pass along your helpful feedback—especially regarding the guide's audibility and group coordination. Regarding your comments about lunch: we’d like to clarify that lunch is clearly listed as excluded in the first line of the “What’s Excluded” section of the tour description, and this is also reiterated in the “Additional Info” you could find on your ticket. We also offer a separate full-day tour that does include lunch and a winery stop, but due to the difference in experience and cost, it is priced accordingly. We always reach out to guests once the booking is received, and we’re happy to clarify any details or offer alternative options at that stage—please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. We truly value all feedback as it helps us refine and improve our experiences.
The individual tours to the cheese farm, balsamic villa and Ferrari were interesting and definitely what we expected. Learned a few new things about Parmesan and Balsamic Vinegar. I only gave the tour a 4/5 though because 3 of the 6 hours were spent in the van going from place to place. This by itself wasn’t bad, but I had expected that like all the other tours we had been on that there would be some information given by our driver/guide as we went through the country side of Reggio Emilia and Modena - info about the area or even the places we were visiting. Our driver was courteous and on time, but only a driver. The 3 hours in the car seemed like wasted time- except for making new friends in the van.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the visits and tastings at the dairy, balsamic villa, and Ferrari Museum—and that you discovered something new about these iconic Italian products! We understand your comments about the time spent in the van. While our drivers are licensed professionals and not authorized guides (in line with Italian regulations), we always aim to make the journey as comfortable and efficient as possible. For guests looking for more in-depth commentary during transfers, we also offer private tours with a licensed guide upon request. We truly appreciate your input—it helps us continue to improve and better set expectations. We hope to welcome you again for another experience in Emilia-Romagna!
Well-organized tour with a great mix of food and local culture. The Parmesano and balsamico visits were very interesting, with plenty to taste and learn. The Ferrari Museum was a nice change of pace and really worth seeing. Comfortable transport and friendly driver made the day easy and enjoyable
Thank you for the great review! We're glad you enjoyed the mix of food, culture, and cars—plus the comfort of the ride and the friendly driver. It’s wonderful to hear the day was both enjoyable and enriching. Hope to see you again soon!
Well done tour, all carefully organized, great tastings and also free time to visit Ferrari museum, advice
Grazie per la sua recensione! Siamo felici che abbia apprezzato l'organizzazione, le degustazioni e il tempo libero al Museo Ferrari. Grazie anche per il consiglio: speriamo di rivederla presto per un'altra esperienza con noi!
This tour was a highlight of our time in Emilio-Romano region. Visits to Parmesan cheese and balsamic were impressive, guides very friendly and knowledgeable, tastings good. And, of course, Ferrari Museum is a must
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad the tour was a highlight of your time in Emilia-Romagna. Happy to hear you enjoyed the visits, tastings, and the Ferrari Museum experience. Hope to welcome you back again soon!
