​Experience Truffle, Balsamic Vinegar and San Domenico Restaurant in Bologna Area
31 October - 05 November 2021
05 - 10 December 2021
​Euros €2540​

See full details below

​Visiting Emilia Romagna during the cold season will allow you to do activities and experiences not possible in other periods of the year. In October, the white truffle season starts, November is the month when we harvest olives and make the new extra virgin olive oil.

​Take the opportunity to hunt truffles with the truffle man and his special trained dog, to harvest the olives and taste the first drop of the new olive oil, drink the new wine together with the chestnuts (very traditional in this area), visit a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and a balsamic vinegar producer, end the tour with a fabulous gala dinner at the Michelin star restaurant San Domenico in Imola. Come and taste our Italy! 

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​Included in the price:
• 5 nights in lovely four star hotel, breakfast included
• 1 Italian cooking lesson with English assistance
• 1 dinner after the cooking lesson with selected regional wines included
• 5 meals with selected regional wines, mineral water and coffee 
• Truffle hunting experience with the truffle dog
• Guided visit in Ravenna
• 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
• Entrance fee in Ravenna
• 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)

Not included:
• Flight ticket
• Personal expenses
• Everything not written in the program
• Cancellation insurance
• Local taxes (city taxes)

plan your tour

2021 Dates:
31 October-05 November

​05-10 December

​​This tour is also available upon request in other dates from October to March.

Price Per Person
Euros € 2540
based on double occupancy.
​Single supplement - Euros 230
​Plan Your Tour Today!
​
​Minimum of 4 participants.

• 5 nights in four star hotel
• 1 Italian cooking 
• 5 meals
• Truffle hunting 
• Visit to Parmigiano Reggiano & Balsamic Vinegar
• And Much More! (see Itinerary)

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ITINERARY

Sunday – Get settled, an introduction to the region, and a welcome dinner
We will meet you at the Bologna train station or airport and provide private transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once you have settled into your room, we will meet with an English-speaking guide for an introduction to the city and the Emilia Romagna region. We will enjoy a welcome dinner together in Bologna at a traditional Italian restaurant where you will feast on typical regional dishes.
 
Monday – A truffle hunting adventure with scent dogs and a rustic truffle-based lunch
Your early morning wake-up call will be well worth our countryside excursion with expert truffle hunters and scent dogs. This is an unforgettable experience with excitement that comes with each truffle finding. After our adventure, we will feast on truffle-based dishes and seasonal products at the home of the truffle hunter and his family.

In the afternoon, on the way back to Bologna, stop at a winery for a wine tasting (Sangiovese, Albana, Trebbiano, Pagadebit and other indigenous wines, Back to Bologna where you will have free time to rest or explore the city, and we will meet together in the evening for dinner.
 
Tuesday – Explore the Bologna food market and a cooking class with regional specialties
Tuesday will begin with a visit to the Bologna central market. Your eyes and your taste buds will indulge on all of the colorful foods that overflow the narrow streets at stands, delis, and shops. We will buy ingredients at the market to use at our afternoon cooking lesson, and afterward you will have free time to shop and explore this historic town.
 
We will have a light lunch at a quaint osteria in Santo Stefano square along with a glass of wine and tastings of local cheeses and salumi.
 
Our afternoon will be filled with more delicious food at our hands-on cooking class with an Italian family cook. We will learn the art of making egg pasta by hand in a private family home as the experienced cook

teaches us how to create other traditional dishes of the Emilia Romagna region. We will feast on our creations for dinner and you will receive a collection of all of the recipes learned that day to take home with you.

​Wednesday – Learn about and taste Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar of Modena, plus a gourmet lunch
Our morning will include visits to two different family cooperatives. First, we will watch the production of Parmigiano Reggiano and finish our tour with a tasting of this world-famous cheese. Then we will transfer to Modena where we will learn about and taste traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena (balsamico) at each stage of its production.
 
While in Modena, we will visit the kitchen of Chef Luigi for aperitif and watch him prepare a beautiful gourmet lunch. We will feast on plates with pairings of Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamico along with Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine unique to the Modena region.
 
We will return to Bologna in the afternoon and you will have the rest of the day to stroll through the city on your own before we meet for dinner.
 
Thursday – Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna and a gourmet farewell dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Imola
On Thursday morning we will make the short trip to Ravenna, a historic coastal city famous for its architecture and Byzantine mosaics. We will take a walking tour of the mosaics of San Vitale and Galla Placidia, after which you will have free time to explore the streets and shops of this charming city. We will have light lunch together in the city center and then return to the hotel.
 
In the evening, we will have an unforgettable farewell gala dinner at San Domenico Restaurant in Imola. This two-star Michelin restaurant and its world-famous chef, Valentino Marcattilii, have received global attention throughout its more than 45 years in existence. Its cellars hold more than 25,000 bottles of wine, with some bottles dating all the way back to the time of Napoleon!
 
Friday – Departure day
​We will start the day and end our wonderful time together with a quick breakfast at the hotel, and then you will depart from the Bologna airport or train station.

plan your tour

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​Dear Marcello, Raffaella, and Francesca, what a delightful time Clara and I had in Bologna, thanks to you three! It's hard to believe we have been back home for two weeks! We are still savoring our experiences with you and also with Elena, Paola, Franco, the parmigiano cheese man, the balsamic vinegar couple, Luigi and Marco and his wines! Your introductions to the preparation of pasta and other Bolognese foods; parmigiano, balsamic vinegar, and wine making, truffle hunting, Faenza, food marketing and Dozza and Imola were fantastic! But the high point was the cooking lessons with you two ladies and with Elena! When we tell our friends that we were actually able to be in your own kitchens learning directly from you they are very envious!! Thank you again for making our Bologna stay so marvelous!! May you have a lovely spring and summer!

Julian & Kevin

August 2015

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 Good morning Marcello and Rafaella,
 
Finally I have sat down to write you a note and tell you what a wonderful time we had on our trip to Italy with you!! 
Our life is extremely hectic with three little children.  As Canadians we seem to not  enjoy life as Italians do!  We forget to appreciate all the simple good things in life like family, food and wine!  My time in Italy certainly reminded me how to sit and appreciate fabulous food and good conversation.
 
My experience with Bluone is one I have spoken of several times. Marcello, your character and knowledge of food and your region was very appreciated. Our trip was everything we hoped for. As we have been friends almost all of our lives we could have probably had fun anywhere but Italy superseded our expectations. This was truly a trip of a life time. The families we met, the restaurants we dined at and the truffle hunting were all highlights, especially the truffle hunting! Thank you for such a fabulous trip.Thank you for all the laughs and information and thank you for keeping us entertained!!

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Truffle Hunting in Italy - Never Stop Traveling - by Jim Ferri (February 12, 2014)