Highlights: The Red City and its marvelous porticoes and alleways

Check in to the centrally located hotel in Bologna, enjoy the views of the old town from the charming rooftop terrace, and get yourself situated. Bologna today is Emilia-Romagna's administrative capital and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, the city boasts its rich history and long tradition in the arts and gastronomy. Bologna gave birth to the mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as "bologna", although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your 'must try' list!

After meeting our staff at the starting hotel for a tour briefing and bike fitting (normally in the early afternoon), you are ready to go! We recommend getting out to explore this afternoon and check out our suggested dinner locations!

Accommodation: : Hotel Touring*** -Bologna (or similar)

Highlights: Rails-to-trails bike paths, Bazzano, World Heritage Site of historic Modena

Leave Bologna on its city bike paths and next to the one-of-a-kind porticoes, to get to the first hills where great views reward you after a short climb. A rails-to-trails bike path leads you out to the fortress town of Bazzano, before heading to Modena. Don't forget to visit the historic town center of this city with the marble covered cathedral and its Ghirlandina bell tower.

Daily distance: 39 miles
Elevation gain: +695 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Canalgrande**** - Modena (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Modena's covered street market, Balsamic vinegar, charming Reggio, optional farm stay

Before heading out of Modena on your bike, we suggest a visit of the local covered market that has been selling local products since the Middle Ages: fruits and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffles, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar. With your senses alight by the sounds, sights and smells, you will visit the Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years.
Continue on an easy ride along lovely back roads to the evening's destination, the charming city of Reggio Emilia. Optionally, you may choose to stay in an "agriturismo" outside the city - this country house hotel shows off its working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting (please note, on certain nights the farm restaurant is closed; Reggio Emilia is the closest option for a restaurant dinner, a 20min taxi drive away).

Daily distance: 34 miles
Elevation gain: 765 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Posta– Reggio Emilia (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Parma cured ham and parmesan cheese

You'll start the morning with a guided visit of a parmesan cheese factory on the road to Parma. This wonderful experience, in which you'll learn why Parmiggiano-Reggiano is known as "the king of cheeses”, is one of the tour highlights. With your senses awakened, you are ready for today's destination - yet another place where your taste buds will not be disappointed, Parma! Famous for its culinary traditions, the arts also flourished outside of the kitchen in this lovely, stately city: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of its most famous citizens, and their influence are present to this day. The city is still an important cultural and artistic center. Explore and enjoy the historic center, and delight your palate with Parma's signature cured ham (prosciutto crudo) and Parmesan cheese, eaten as an aperitivo or sprinkled on homemade pasta dishes. No place better to do this than from a table in a piazza!

Daily distance: 39 miles
Elevation gain: 954 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Button *** - Parma ( or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: World Heritage Site of Parma

Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Enjoy this lovely city in the morning - with your newly refined palate, hit the shop or market and take some recipes home to try in your own kitchen! If you have the time, we recommend visiting nearby Torrechiara Castle.

Meals: Breakfast