Adriatic Symphony — A Week in Emilia-Romagna
An author's program along the Adriatic — Rimini, Ravenna, Bologna, San Marino and Urbino, with the finest tastings of Emilia-Romagna.
An overview
A small-group signature program (15–18 guests) curated by Stella Latuta in partnership with the region's best local guides. Six nights on the Adriatic coast in a 4★ hotel in Rimini, with daily excursions through the most celebrated towns of Emilia-Romagna and Marche — and tastings of Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, pit-aged cheese and traditional balsamic vinegar along the way.
- 6 nights at a 4★ seafront hotel in Rimini
- Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano tastings on family farms
- Guided walks in Rimini, Bologna, Ravenna and Urbino
- Day trip to the Republic of San Marino
- Gradara fortress and Mondaino 'formaggio di fossa' tasting
- Traditional balsamic vinegar visit in Modena
A sense of place
A suggested itinerary
Milan Malpensa → Emilia-Romagna tastings → Rimini
Meet at Milan Malpensa airport at 12:00. We drive toward Rimini and stop along the way for the most delicious specialities of Emilia-Romagna. First, a family farm near Langhirano producing authentic Parma ham — where the Ligurian wind sweeps through the valley four days a week and cures the legs to perfection. We see the production and taste. A short 30-minute drive brings us to a family Parmigiano Reggiano dairy that has swept the gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in recent years — a tour and tasting of the 'king of cheeses'. We then continue to our seafront hotel in Rimini for check-in and free time.
Historic Rimini & the Republic of San Marino
After breakfast, a walking tour of historic Rimini — the Arch of Augustus, the Tiberius Bridge, Piazza Tre Martiri, Piazza Cavour and the Malatesta Temple with its Giotto crucifix and Piero della Francesca fresco. We discover the story of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta and the mysterious 'SI' monogram repeated 500 times in the cathedral. Free time, then a 45-minute drive to the Republic of San Marino — Europe's oldest and most independent republic, a UNESCO World Heritage site of breathtaking viewpoints, ramparts and curious civic traditions.
Bologna — the learned and the delicious
A short drive to Bologna, the city of the world's oldest university and one of Italy's finest gastronomic capitals. We walk the famous porticoes, the leaning towers of Asinelli and Garisenda, and the lively medieval squares. Free time for lunch and shopping — Bologna's culinary fame is global, and we recommend doing it justice. Return to Rimini in the late afternoon.
Ravenna — a symphony in gold
An easy drive to Ravenna, the last capital of the Western Roman Empire — eight UNESCO World Heritage monuments tucked into a few quiet streets. We visit the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Baptistery, with their dazzling 5th–6th-century Byzantine mosaics that Dante (buried here) called 'a symphony of colour'. Free time in the historic centre.
Urbino — Raphael's birthplace
We travel to Urbino, the Renaissance jewel of the Marche, home of Federico da Montefeltro. A morning walk through the UNESCO-protected old town leads to the house where Raphael was born on 6 April 1483 — preserved in its 15th-century atmosphere. After free time for lunch, we visit the Ducal Palace with its painting gallery, frescoes and Federico's perfectly intact private study. Return to Rimini.
Gradara fortress & Mondaino's pit-aged cheese
Morning excursion to the fortress of Gradara — the 'warm, almost lived-in castle' that witnessed the love story of Francesca da Polenta and Paolo Malatesta, immortalised by Dante and Tchaikovsky. After free time we move on to Mondaino, a quiet borgo straddling Emilia-Romagna and Marche. Two young families here continue the rare tradition of 'formaggio di fossa' — cheese aged in stone pits, a DOP product made in only three places in Italy. We meet the makers and taste the cheese with local wines.
Modena balsamic vinegar → Milan Malpensa
Breakfast and 08:00 transfer toward the airport, stopping in Modena for a visit to a traditional balsamic vinegar producer — a product first created by the Romans, made with extraordinary patience and devotion to tradition. Continue to Milan Malpensa for arrival around 18:00–19:00. Please confirm flights with your agent before booking.
In your journey
- 6 nights at Hotel Diplomat Palace 4★ in Rimini (or similar), breakfast daily
- City tax
- Full excursion program with Russian/English-speaking guides and audio headsets
- Tour leader throughout the program
- Private transport for all excursions
- Group transfers Milan Malpensa ↔ Rimini (Malpensa departure 12:00, return arrival 18:00–19:00)
- Entrance tickets: University of Bologna, Capella Bolognini and Santa Maria della Vita; Basilica of San Vitale, Galla Placidia Mausoleum and Baptistery in Ravenna; Raphael's house-museum and Ducal Palace in Urbino; Gradara fortress
- Tastings: Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, formaggio di fossa, traditional balsamic vinegar
- Single supplement available on request (+€360)
Worth knowing
- International and domestic flights
- Lunches and dinners not specified
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities for the guide and drivers
- Travel insurance
Questions, answered
Anything else on your mind? Speak to a concierge directly.
+1 210 303 9960Fixed small-group departures in May and September: 04.05–10.05, 12.05–18.05 and 10.09–16.09. Private departures on other dates can be arranged on request.
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