Day 1: Parma

Arrival in Parma in the late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 2: Parma and the Places of Giuseppe Verdi

Full-day guided tour beginning in Parma, including the Baptistery, Cathedral, and Piazza Garibaldi, today the heart of the city.

Small tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano. Lunch.

Afternoon dedicated to exploring Giuseppe Verdi’s homeland: Roncole, with a visit to Verdi’s birthplace; Busseto, with its central square housing the Verdi Theatre; and the Casa Barezzi, which contains memorabilia of the Maestro. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 3: Surroundings of Parma

Morning visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese producer with tasting. Then, visit a factory producing the famous “Parma Ham,” with tasting. Typical lunch near Torrechiara Castle. Visit the castle, located atop a rocky hill. Return to Parma, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 4: Modena and the Ferrari Museum

After breakfast, depart for Modena, the birthplace of the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Guided tour of Piazza Grande (UNESCO World Heritage), the Romanesque cathedral, the Ghirlandina Tower, and the Ducal Palace (exterior). Typical lunch, then depart for Maranello to visit the Ferrari Museum. Final stop of the day at a traditional producer of the famous “Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.” Return to Parma, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 5: Bologna

Full-day guided tour of Bologna, including Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo del Podestà topped by the Arengo Tower, the Palazzo Comunale, Piazza di Nettuno and the Neptune Fountain, Piazza di Porta Ravegnana with its two leaning towers, and the famous anatomical theater of the Archiginnasio. Lunch at a restaurant during the visits. Free time in the late afternoon in Bologna city center. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 6: Piacenza and Castell’Arquato

Visit Piacenza, a beautiful art city near Milan. Its charming pink marble Romanesque monuments and ancient palaces add to its appeal. Lunch and continue to Castell’Arquato, a carefully restored and picturesque town with roots dating back to Roman times, also listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 7:

End of services after breakfast.