December 27 – Get settled and welcome dinner, an intro to traditional regional Italian cuisine
Meet at Bologna airport or train station. Private transfer to your hotel, ideally situated in the heart of Bologna.
Welcome dinner at a typical restaurant in the countryside, serving traditional food of the region.

December 28 – Walking tour of Bologna center, wine tasting, ceramic shop and laboratory visit and cooking class on herbs
In the late morning your English speaking hosts can also provide a pleasant walk through historic Bologna, pointing out their favorite places in this lovely, medieval town.
Drive to visit a local winery, where they produce a very good Sangiovese red wine, the most important wine of the area. Wine tasting and lunch at the winery.
After lunch drive to Faenza, famous in Italy and worldwide for its ceramics; we will visit an artisan ceramic workshop and showroom. The artist and owner will show us how the ceramics are decorated.
Stop at a beautiful bar where we will have a wonderful gelato - ice cream -, one of the best of the region!!
In the late afternoon Italian cooking class demonstration at a restaurant. The owner and chef, Nicola, is a man very passionate about his work and will prepare a special dinner based on dishes featuring local herbs. You will learn a lot of little secrets to take home to your own kitchen! Our dinner will consist of what we have watched being prepared in the kitchen.

December 29 – Food shopping at the Bologna market and cooking class in preparing some regional specialties
In the morning visit and walk in the central market area, a couple of ancient narrow streets lined with colorful, irresistible Italian food shops, stands and delis, stunning to behold and delicious to taste. Here we will buy the ingredients for our afternoon cooking lesson. Leisure time for shopping or just strolling in the charming medieval town.
Lunch on your own. There are many fantastic cafes in the Bologna market area to choose from.
In the afternoon hands-on cooking class at a private home with an Italian family cook and Francesca, expert on hand-made pasta making. You will learn to make egg pasta from scratch rolled out with the rolling pin and other traditional dishes of the region and receive a recipe book to take home. Our farewell dinner will follow and consist of the fruits of your own afternoon labors.

Friday, December 30 –  Parmigiano reggiano --Parmesan cheese--, traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena and gourmet lunch
Early morning departure to visit a family-cooperative where you will watch all the stages in the production of parmigiano reggiano --parmesan cheese--, learn all about parmigiano and finish this excursion with a cheese tasting.
Transfer to Modena to visit another family-owned representative business, producer of traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena. The owner will explain where and how balsamico is made; we will have a tasting of the product at various ages and learn how and when to use these.
Drive to a beautiful restaurant in Modena where we will have an aperitif in the kitchen with the chef, Luigi, who is very creative and friendly. In the kitchen you will see how Luigi prepares our lunch, based on plates featuring parmigiano --parmesan-- and balsamico and accompained by Lambrusco, the red sparkling wine typical of the Modena area, wonderful accompainment to parmigiano. All his dishes are a feast for the eye as well as delectable.
Back to Bologna. Afternoon and dinner free, after a busy morning.

December 31 – Special farewell New Year's Eve dinner
Morning and lunch free. In this day you can walk in Bologna center, characterized in this period by Christmas illuminations. It is very nice walking, shopping and living this atmosphere.
In the late afternoon drive to the countryside and on the way stop at one of the most beautiful bars of the region to start our special evening with a great aperitif. Proceed to Monte del Re for your unforgettable New Year's eve farewell dinner, Italian style. This restaurant is an old building established in the 13th century and was born as a monastery. It has kept its charm through the ages and, still now, it is a unique place, surrounded by a magical atmosphere, that leads to harmony and peace of mind.

January 1 – Departure day
Departure to Bologna airport or train station after breakfast at the hotel.

PRICE PER PERSON
IN DOUBLE ROOM EUROS 2070
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT EUROS 180

Included:
• 5 nights in lovely four star hotel, breakfast included
• 2 Italian cooking lessons with English assistance
• 2 dinners after the cooking lesson with selected regional wines included
• 4 meals with selected regional wines, mineral water and coffee
• Walking tour of Bologna center, in English
• Wine tasting
• Visit to a ceramic studio in Faenza
• Bologna guided food market visit in English
• Visit to Parmigiano Reggiano --Parmesan cheese-- factory and tasting
• Visit to Balsamic Vinegar of Modena producer and tasting
• Our recipe book in English
• Traditional Italian hand printed apron
• Private transfers and assistance on arrival and at departure (from and to Bologna train station or airport)
• Private car (or minivan) with driver for all the excursions listed in the program
• Local tour director English speaking throughout (Marcello or Raffaella)
• All local taxes

Not included:
• Flight ticket;
• Personal expenses;
• Everything not written in the program
• Cancellation insurance

2011 DATE
27 DECEMBER 2011-01 JANUARY 2012

2012 DATE
27 DECEMBER 2012-01 JANUARY 2013