Parma

Tours

Learn the secrets of some Italian specialties on a tour of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto factories. Enjoy a hassle-free visit with pickup and drop-off from convinient pickup points in Parma. The tour begins at the scheduled time. Watch the masters at work as you hear an overview of Parmigiano Reggiano's history from your local guide. Next, visit the seasoning/storage rooms where the cheese is brought for its last stage of production. At the end of the tour, try some different aged Parmigiano Reggiano and browse the on-site shop where you can purchase local products. After, head to the to Prosciutto di Parma Ham producers. The tour begins with a brief history of the production, followed by a visit to the "cold stage," where fresh meats are processed. Learn how the best meat is chosen and see the salting machinery and refrigeration/resting cells. Take a look in the seasoning chambers and savor the traditional ham aromas in the air. Learn about the "spillatura" and how only the best hams pass the test and are branded as the famed "Crown of Parma." Finally, enjoy a degustation of Parma ham accompanied by a glass of local wine. After the tasting, your guide will bring you to your hotel or pickup point.

This new guided walking tour will allow you to get to know the main treasures of the city and the main food secrets that have made parma a creative city for gastronomy and capital of Italian culture 2020. Parma is also the city of Giuseppe Verdi, our guide will tell you about the great musician's anecdotes. Ancient capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, the city of Parma has been a university seat since the 11th century. The tour starts from Piazza Garibaldi, the heart of the city and continues among the main monuments, only outdoors, there are no entrances to the monuments. The tour takes place in Italian and English. On Saturdays afternoon in Italian and French.

Embark on an exclusive journey through the origins of Parmigiano-Reggiano, the legendary cheese protected by the EU and crafted using time-honored methods. During this unique visit to a Parma cheese factory, you'll learn the secrets behind its 900-year-old tradition, deeply rooted in the "Zona Tipica" of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantova. Witness cheese makers in action, pulling fresh curds from milk vats, and experience the fascinating process of cooking and separating the whey. You'll tour the shaping and salting rooms before entering the stagionatura, where thousands of wheels of cheese age to perfection. Here, the Consorzio performs stringent tests, hammering the wheels before the revered fire-branding ritual. End your tour with a tasting of this remarkable cheese, paired with local wine—a true celebration of Parma’s culinary excellence.

Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma & Balsamic Vinegar Experience Indulge in an unforgettable culinary journey through Parma’s finest products—Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. Begin with a visit to a family-owned Parmigiano Reggiano producer, where you’ll learn about the origins of this iconic cheese and the traditional methods used to create it. Taste the complex, nutty flavors of this legendary cheese, which has been crafted in the Zona Tipica of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantova for over 900 years. Next, visit a family-run prosciuttificio to discover the art of producing Prosciutto di Parma. Hear the history of this world-famous ham, watch the careful selection of the finest meats, and explore the salting machinery and aging chambers. Learn about the “spillatura” process and how only the best hams are branded with the prestigious "Crown of Parma." Enjoy a tasting of Prosciutto di Parma, paired with a glass of local wine, to savor its delicate flavors. Finally, delve into the world of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. Visit a family-owned producer in Modena and discover the intricate process of aging balsamic vinegar in wooden barrels. After the tour, enjoy a tasting of 12-year-old and 25-year-old Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, along with other balsamic condiments, and appreciate the depth of flavors that have made this product a hidden gem of the region.

Embark on a guided tour through the heart of Parma’s food heritage. Begin with an exploration of Parmigiano Reggiano at a traditional caseificio (cheese factory). Watch master cheese makers craft this iconic cheese, from separating the whey to shaping it into signature wheels. Visit the shaping and salting rooms, then step into the stagionatura where thousands of wheels age to perfection. Learn about the rigorous tests by the Consorzio, including the hammering process and iconic fire branding ritual. Enjoy a tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano paired with sparkling regional wine. Next, dive into the world of Parma Ham. Begin with an introduction to its history, followed by a visit to the cold phase where fresh meat is processed. Observe the selection of the finest cuts and the salting and refrigeration processes. Then, visit the aging rooms, filled with the distinct aromas of the ham, and learn about the "battitura" process that results in the coveted "crown" of Parma Ham. Complete your experience with a tasting of 24-month-aged Parma Ham, served with breadsticks and local wine from the hills of Parma.

This tour of Parmesan excellence starts from the Bologna train station where our staff will provide you with tickets for the train from Bologna to Parma and back. Once in Parma you will meet outside the Parma train station with our staff who will will welcome you and make you sit on our minibus or Van. The first stop will be the producer of Parmigiano Reggiano where it will be possible to directly witness the processing of Parmigiano Reggiano. The tour begins at the dairy, a room where the milk is cooked in the so-called "caldere" from which the wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano are then extracted. It will then be possible to visit the brine room and the maturing warehouse in which it will be possible to try to "beat" the Parmigiano Reggiano as the experts of the Consortium do. At the end of the tour there will be a tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano of different ages accompanied by typical mustards and local red wine. We then continue to the ham factory, where the famous Parma ham is born. The visit starts from the rooms where the fresh pork meat is processed and where only the best legs are selected for Parma ham. We then continue in the maturing cellars where the "sugnatura" will be explained and where the Parma hams will be "tapped" in the presence of visitors to discover their aromas and evaluate their goodness. At the end tasting of ham and wine from the hills and then return to the city.

Delve into the rich tradition and artistry behind Parmigiano Reggiano on this immersive guided tour near Parma. Steeped in history since 1895, the factory opens its doors to showcase the fascinating process of creating the world-famous cheese, lovingly known as the "King of Cheeses." Your journey begins in the production rooms, where skilled artisans demonstrate the traditional techniques that transform fresh milk into the iconic wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano. Please note that the production rooms are only accessible during the specific times of 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM. Witness the intricate process, from curdling and shaping to aging in the vast storage rooms, which are home to hundreds of carefully stacked wheels. The tour then will go on with a video-lesson, explaining the process of Parmigiano cheese-making, in different languages and it will conclude with a tasting session, where you will savor three distinct ages of Parmigiano Reggiano—15, 24 and 36 months—each with unique textures and flavors. Complementing this sensory experience is a serving of Parmigiano cream, a glass of regional wine (Lambrusco or Malvasia), and refreshing water. Beyond the tasting, this experience offers a deeper appreciation for sustainable farming and the harmonious relationship between the environment and food production. The farm operates with a focus on animal welfare, cultivating organic feed for its Friesian cows and ensuring every step aligns with traditional and eco-friendly practices. This experience is perfect for food enthusiasts, cultural explorers, and anyone seeking a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of Italy’s culinary treasures. Whether you’re a novice or a Parmigiano Reggiano aficionado, the tour promises an enriching experience that celebrates Italian heritage and innovation.

At the arrival I will offer you a welcome coffee break (cappuccino and sweet and savory cake), and I will give you a lab coat for access to the production area. We’ll go into the cheese factory during milk processing and we'll witness the cooking and making of cheese wheels. We’ll see then the process of salting and maturing up to enter the huge “caveau”, where thousands of cheese wheels are guarded and laid out in long rows in the silent maturation rooms and where the scent of cheese will smell so nice and exciting that we won’t be able to resist till the final tasting of cheese and local typical products. We’ll see where the cows are bred and where they are milked. We'll pet the calves of 1 day, because almost every day one is born. l'll bring you inside our Balsamic vinegar factory with 400-year-old barrels. The final tasting includes 3 cheese maturation 12/24/36 months, 1 glass of Lambrusco wine, parma ham, salami, tasting of 8/15/30-year-old balsamic vinegar, and balsamic vinegar with vanilla ice cream.

Get to know the delicious products of Parma on this guided half-day tour. See how they make Parmigiano Reggiano, discover the beautiful Parma countryside, and learn the secrets of balsamic vinegar. Leave from Parma in the morning and head toward the Highlands. Stop at a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese dairy and tour it with your guide. Learn every step of the natural process that leads to the “birth” of the king of all cheeses. Enter the impressive aging rooms and stand surrounded by 5000 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheels before tasting cheese of different ages and learning how it improves over time. Return to the bus and travel through the beautiful Parma countryside. Head inside a Parma ham factory and follow the journey of this prestigious ham, from careful meat selection to its meticulous aging. Taste the unique sweetness of Parma ham and other local cold cuts. Next, stop in a cozy trattoria and try the best of Parma cuisine. Dig into delicious starts, tortelli d’erbetta (homemade pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach), and a seasonal dessert paired with a glass of Lambrusco wine, water, and coffee. Finish your tour with a visit to a 300-year-old mansion dedicated to balsamic vinegar. Listen to the story of a family that considers vinegar its most precious gift in life and admire barrels filled with black gold, aged up to 25 years. Taste balsamic vinegar of different ages and discover unusual recipes before returning to Parma.

Our local guide will provide an overview of Parma, its history, art, cuisine and cultural traditions, by walking you through its old neighborhoods in the city center and old alleys, filled with local and artisanal shops and botteghe. Parma is a wonderful city, filled with local shops and hidden gems, that still truly captures Italian Authenticity at its finest. Of course, you’ll do all of this while eating and sampling the local flavours! You will start with coffee and sweet treats, either for a late morning breakfast or in the afternoon as a digestive after lunch, in the true Italian style. After this, you will continue towards more savoury tastings, from cured meats and cold cuts, to cheese bites and fresh bread bruschette with different toppings. You will be walking from place to place while our local guide will tell you stories and information about local food traditions, Parma’s history and main food influence and importance towards other Italian cities. You will learn about interesting activities that you can do, or places you can visit during your stay, and ask the guide questions about any curiosity you might have! Taking a walking tour with food tastings is a fun and original way to discover a new city without needing to dedicate your whole day to a city tour or a more serious food experience in a seated restaurant. You will learn what you need to keep exploring on your own and to gather more independence in the choice of the bars and restaurants to avoid the “tourist traps”. Here at Slow Travel, we care about your experience and we want to give you the knowledge and tools to learn to live and visit a city like a local, while valuing the quality of the products and the story of the people that produce them. Come hungry, thirsty, and excited to learn new things. Get ready to explore the flavors of Parma and Emilia-Romagna and to sightsee the true beauties of a real, traditional and historical Italian city in all their authenticity and traditions. s the delicate, savory flavors of Prosciutto di Parma. Accompanying the ham are slices of Parmigiano Reggiano drizzled with balsamic cream, showcasing a harmonious blend of regional flavors. Enjoy house-made desserts, fresh bread, and a selection of beverages including water, local wine, and coffee, all served in a warm and inviting setting. This tour is perfect for food enthusiasts, families, and groups of friends seeking an authentic Italian culinary experience. It offers a memorable opportunity to explore the heritage of Parma Ham and savor the rich, distinctive flavors that make it a beloved global delicacy.