Private Tour: Gourmet Walking Tour of Bologna - Pasta, Mortadella and Chocolate

Bologna, Italy

Take a private guided walking tour through the medieval market of Bologna and explore the history, art and traditions of the city and its famous food. With only a few hours to spare, it's the ideal way to savor the history, art and traditions of Bologna. You'll enjoy personalized attention from your professional guide on this gourmet walking tour.

You'll visit a traditional bakery, followed by a pasta maker where you'll learn about the production of Tortellini and Tagliatelle. Continue to Beccari's salsamenteria to discover the history of mortadella, from the third century BC right up until modern times.

The highlight of the tour is perhaps your visit to a traditional chocolate maker, where solid chocolate was invented! Your tour also includes a visit to a typical Bolognese osteria (restaurant), to discover the fun-loving side of Italy's oldest university.

This in-depth, hassle-free private tour is hosted by an English-speaking guide. Please list any special interests you have (art, architecture, history, culture) at the time of booking to alert your guide, so they can prepare for your private tour.

USD $116.12

Traveler Reviews

Review by: JOHN P	March 2012
Monique our guide was exceedingly informative and knowedgeable! The lunch at the end of the tour was wonderful..as was the wine. We left loving Bologna

Review by: Patricia B	December 2011
Gloria met us at Neptune's Fountain and took us for a predominantly historic tour of Bologna which is what we had asked for. This, of course included food and we ended having a delicious gourmet tasting. She was friendly and informative and obviously loved her town. We do too and would visit again if we were in Italy._br/_ Patricia, 64, from Melbourne, Australia

Review by: Tony X	June 2011
Our guide Francesca was very focused on giving us the history of the city. If you read the tour description there were suppose to be visits to chocolate factory and bakery shops etc. We didn't go to any of them. Between history and food - this tour was 90% history, and 10% food. It was helpful to learn about the history for sure, but this tour package should not be named "Gourmet Walking Tour"; it should rather be called the History Walking Tour.

Review by: Karen Y	March 2011
Our guide, Mr Alberto, was fabulous and so knowledgeable. We arrived when it had just snowed and he took us on our local walk via the many porticos in Bologna. The library and university were so interesting and the local restaurant for lunch were great.

Review by: Chun Kau, Tim. L	February 2011
Except visting one chocolate shop, our tour was about historical places in the city. In fact, we found it more interesting to know more about Bologna history than pasta and mortadella.

Review by: Steven S	November 2010
We are very pleased with our tour in Bologna. Our guide, Massimo, is more than highly qualified to explain the history and architecture of the city as well as give detailed information about the foods peculiar to the region. It was a delightful tour!

Review by: Carrollanne L	October 2010
I booked the trip, hoping to be given a behind the scenes tour of how the food side of Bologna operated. I was very disappointed, as what we were given was a walk into various shops . The guide tried her best, but there appears to be very little to see that cannot be seen UNACCOMPANIED. It was certainly not worth paying over £150. The tasting of meats was very nice , but overall this was a disappointment. Nothing about the manufacture of any product- if the problem was caused by the tour being on a Sunday, I think that should have been forewarned and a change of day advised. If you are a foodie, I could not recommend the tour, though the guide would be excellent for a history or other tour. cal

Review by: Kheng Yaw T, United States of America	December 2009
It was great!

Review by: Ron E, United States of America	May 2009
A little hard to find but worth it. Excellent room and friendly staff.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	November 2008
Our guide began the day by guiding us through the city sites for the first hour. Afterwards, we cut off a side street from the Basicillica and found the market and deli area of town. The tour wraps up at a historic deli where we dined on a large plate of meats & cheeses from the area. The aged Balsamic Vinegar was incredible and the wine was also nice. If you are seeking more about pasta, or chocolate, then maybe you will want to indicate this to your guide. This wasn't part of our tour, although it was still great fun.

Review by: Bob S, United States of America	October 2008
Our guide was fantastic. She made Bologna come alive. Bologna, what a great place to explore.

Review by: James H, United States of America	July 2007
This was one of the best tours we have ever taken. The guide was very "tuned in" to what we wanted to do, but also interjected wonderful facts and took us to places that we may not have chosen on our own. We were impressed enough to make sure our guide was with us the next day for the car tour.

Review by: Jackie C	July 2007
This was one of the best tours we have ever taken. The guide was very "tuned in" to what we wanted to do, but also interjected wonderful facts and took us to places that we may not have chosen on our own. We were impressed enough to make sure our guide was with us the next day for the car tour.

Review by: Susan H, United States of America	June 2007
The tour was not as advertised. The guide was very knowledgeable but informed us our time would be split between history and a visit to one of two food shops. We were anticipating an entirely food-oriented tour, but she still made our time educational and enjoyable. Making arrangements for our time slot was difficult. We still found it worth our while and the best way to spend our limited time in Bologna.

Review by: Karen B, United States of America	April 2007
Our guide was a wonderful woman and was so knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a wonderful time with her and would recommend this tour to all.