Grand tour of Emilia-Romagna from Ravenna to Parma

Highlights: Byzantine mosaics, 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Arrive in Ravenna today, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Your centrally located hotel allows you to walk to Dante's Tomb and the UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon. Don't miss these early Byzantine churches with their colorful mosaics that draw travelers from around the world, as well as the beautiful Renaissance historical center of Ravenna.

Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square

Meet our staff in the early morning to fit bikes and get ready for your tour ahead. Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit orchards and arrive at Faenza. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand-decorated ceramics; we recommend a visit to the International Ceramics Museum as well as several of the local artists' studios specialized in this colorful pottery.

Daily distance: 53 km (33 miles)
Elevation gain: +164 m (538 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Castrocaro Castle, Terra del Sole Medicean Fortress, Romagna farms

A lovely, gentle loop ride out and back to Faenza. After exiting Faenza, you will pedal past farms and fruit orchards, mostly on quiet backroads, with the nearby Apennines in view. Cycle through Terra del Sole and its impressive fortress - once an outpost of the Medici Family when Tuscany bordered with Romagna in late Medieval times - to Castrocaro Terme, a picturesque medieval city on the lower hills below the Apennines. We recommend a visit of the castle at Castrocaro if open! On your return ride to Faenza, you may choose to pick up supplies for an outdoors picnic in any of the countless farms along the way!

You have two options for your ride today:

Option 1: Daily Distance: 40 km (25.3 miles) - Elevation gain:  + 202 m (665 ft) - Terrain type: rolling hills
Option 2: Daily Distance: 38 km (24.1 miles) - Elevation gain: + 277 m (909 ft) - Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details

Highlights: Medieval Brisighella; Via degli Asini

Enjoy a quiet ride through vineyards and kiwi orchards on your way to the enchanting Medieval town of Brisighella. You should certainly plan to explore the historic town center and to see the unique Via degli Asini, one of the best preserved medieval artisan streets anywhere in Italy. The homemade pasta in Brisighella is worth a lunch stop (and the gelato is not bad, either)! Your ride continues through lovely scenery on to Riolo Terme, a picturesque town on the Romagna hills, with its medieval castle and moat still intact.

You have two options for your ride today:
Short option: Daily distance 28 km (17 miles), with + 421 m (1381 ft) Elevation gain - Terrain type hilly
Long option: Daily distance 55 km (35 miles), with + 854 m (2804 ft) Elevation gain - Terrain type hilly

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Riolo Terme, or similar.

Highlights: Wine village of Dozza; beautiful views across the Po Valley; historic Imola

Your ride today takes you through more vineyards and orchards to the medieval hill town of Dozza, famous for its wall murals. The castle in Dozza houses the Emilia-Romagna Regional Enoteca, or wine, museum. Regional specialties include the red Sangiovese (father grape of Chianti) which is gaining more and more worldwide recognition as an important wine in and of itself, the light and fizzy Lambrusco from the hills of Modena and Bologna (excellent accompaniment to the regional cold cuts like prosciutto and salame), or the sweet Albana di Romagna. Tonight's destination is Imola, famous for its Formula 1 racetrack. Originally built as a Roman town along the Via Emilia, the historical center is definitely worth exploring this evening.

Daily distance: 51 km (31 miles)
Elevation gain: +520 m (1706 ft)
Terrain type: hilly

Accommodation: B&B Callegherie 21, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Bologna - Italy's Culinary Capital

We'll leave Imola to ride to Bologna today, Emilia Romagna's administrative capital, and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, Bologna has a long tradition of studies, arts, and gastronomy. Speaking of gastronomy, Bologna gave birth to the mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as "bologna," although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your 'must try' list!

Option 1: Daily distance 66 km (41 miles) - Elevation gain + 324 m (1063 ft) - Terrain type: mostly flat
Option 2: Daily distance 63 Km (39 miles) - Elevation gain + 771 m (2529 ft) - Terrain type hilly

Accommodation: Hotel Touring, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Rails-to-trails bike paths, Bazzano, World Heritage Site of historic Modena

Leave Bologna on its city bike paths to get to the foot hills of the Apennine Mountains, where great views reward you as you approach Bazzano. A rails-to-trails bike path in the countryside will then take you all the way to Modena. Don't forget to visit the historic town center of this city with the marble covered cathedral and its Ghirlandina bell tower.

Daily distance: 64 km (40 miles) 
Elevation gain: +253 m (830 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat

Accommodation: Hotel Canalgrande, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Explore Modena; optional loop ride on the hills

Take time to explore Modena today by climbing up the bell tower or visiting the Palace of the Duchy. Alternatively, enjoy a ride to the foothills of the Apennines along quiet roads and bicycle lanes. Visit the picturesque town of Castelvetro with its fortified historical center and balsamic vinegar production. If you are a car fan, Modena is the home of Ferrari and other historical brands so there are museums and exhibitions you can indulge in!

Daily distance: 60 km (38 miles) 
Elevation gain: +393 m (1289 ft)
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accomodation: Hotel Canalgrande or similar.

Highlights: Modena's covered street market, Balsamic vinegar, stay in an agriturismo

Before heading out of Modena on your bike, we suggest a visit of the local covered market that has been selling local products since the Middle Ages: fruits and vegetables, but also gourmet selections of Lambrusco wine, Amaretti cookies, truffles, cheese and Prosciutto, and of course traditional balsamic vinegar. With your senses alight by the sounds, sights and smells, you will visit the lovely Acetaia Cavalli estate, where the family has been producing the highest quality balsamic for over a hundred years. An easy ride today will lead you along back roads to tonight’s very special stay - an "agriturismo" country house estate with a working farm, parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar production, vineyards and winery, and more, within a wonderful natural setting.

Daily distance: 48 km (30 miles) 
Elevation gain: +214 m (702 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat

Accommodation: Agriturismo La Razza, or similar.

Highlights: Canossa Castle ruins or city of Reggio Emilia

Head for the hills today on a ride to Canossa Castle ruins, where the Holy Roman Empire Emperor Henry 4th had to show penance to the Pope, waiting in the snow barefoot at the gate of Matilda's castle for three days before Matilda, countess of Canossa, convinced the Pope to open. Alternatively, for a shorter loop ride follow the bike path to Reggio Emilia for a visit of this bustling, pretty town.

Short option: Daily distance 35 km (21 miles) with +236 m (774 ft) Elevation gain - Terrain type mostly flat
Long option: Daily distance 56 km (35 miles) with +906 m (2972 ft) Elevation gain - Terrain type hilly

Accommodation: Agriturismo La Razza, or similar.

Highlights: Parma cured ham and parmesan cheese

You'll start the morning with a guided visit of a parmesan cheese factory on the road to Parma. This wonderful experience, in which you'll learn why Parmiggiano-Reggiano is known as "the king of cheeses”, is one of the tour highlights. With your senses awakened, you are ready for today's destination - yet another place where your taste buds will not be disappointed, Parma! Famous for its culinary traditions, the arts also flourished outside of the kitchen in this lovely, stately city: Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of its most famous citizens, and their influence are present to this day. The city is still an important cultural and artistic center. Explore and enjoy the historic center, and delight your palate with Parma's signature cured ham (prosciutto crudo) and Parmesan cheese, eaten as an aperitivo or sprinkled on homemade pasta dishes. No place better to do this than from a table in a piazza!

Daily distance: 52 km (32 miles) 
Elevation gain: +259 m (954 ft)
Terrain type: mostly flat

Accomodation: Hotel Button or similar.

Highlights: Lovely ride in the hills near Parma and the castle of Torrechiara and lunch with a view; explore Parma 

Get ready for your last day of bicycling amidst ancient castles and local traditions! Today's ride will loop to the breathtaking Torrechiara Castle. Dominating the Val Parma, the castle was constructed between 1448 and 1460, devised as an instrument of defense as well as a distinguished home for the count and his lover. This area is famous for its cured prosciutto and local salame—taste them in this historic setting! 

Daily distance: 49 km (30 miles) 
Elevation gain: +355 m (1164 ft)
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Hotel Button, or similar.

Highlights: World Heritage Site of Parma

Your cycling tour ends in Parma. Enjoy this lovely city in the morning - with your newly refined palate, hit the shop or market and take some recipes home to try in your own kitchen!

PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. 

Starting point: Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi - Via Di Roma, 140 - Ravenna
- We recommend flying into Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)
- Take the monorail from Bologna airport to Bologna main train station, then a train to Ravenna.

The meeting time on this self-guided tour is typically set at 8:30am on day 2. We recommend travelers plan accordingly allowing plenty of time to arrive at the determined meeting place. Please note a late fee may be applied for late arrivals - please see our terms page for details.

Ending point: Hotel Button – Borgo della Salina, 7 Parma
You can fly out from Bologna (BLQ), which is connected to Parma by train.
- The hotel is located about 1 km from the train station. Take a 5-minute taxi ride to the train station or take a bus (ask at the hotel front desk for help). There are several direct trains connecting Parma and Bologna and the ride takes about an hour, the cost varies depending on the type of train
- From Bologna Centrale train station to the airport, you can catch the Marconi Express or a taxi (see “Starting point” for more info)

Private airport transfers available: if you prefer to be driven from airport to hotel in a private vehicle transfer, please inquire for cost - we will be happy to include this service in your tour package

Long-term Parking: if you choose to drive to Bologna and leave your car parked there (taking a direct return train Parma at tour end) a private, secure parking lot is available at the airport.

Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)