Food and wine tour between Umbria, Tuscany and Emilia, where sublime taste meets art and history.

This is a tour that requires at least a week of time to enjoy food, wine and art in complete relaxation. For each destination I will suggest a hotel but if you prefer other accommodations you can choose alternatives. The transfers can be organized with a private driver but can also be done with a rental car or own vehicle.

It starts from Norcia a beautiful old village in Umbria, which was already an important municipality under the Romans. In the Middle Ages it became a free municipality and when it passed to the Papal States in the 1400s, it obtained a significant autonomy. The founder of the Benedictine Order, San Benedetto, was born here around 480 AD and still you can find many works of art and historical memories related to his life. The undisputed king of the table, in Norcia, is the pig. The link between the city and this animal is so close that it gives its name to a real profession, that of the "butcher" or "Norcino". The excellences in this field are raw ham and sausages, fresh or dried. Another inimitable protagonist of the local food and wine is “His Majesty“ the black truffle, to which an event was also dedicated, "Nero Norcia". Then there are the cheeses, in particular the ricotta, fresh or salted, and the caciotte. You can spend a pleasant day in the countryside living the experience of the classic search for truffles, and learning the art of cheese thanks to a nice cheesemaker who will show and reveal the secrets on how to prepare the cheese. There will be a picnic in the woods pampered by the good flavors of typical local products.

Suggested hotel: Palazzo Seneca 5* A charming hotel housed in a historic building, a fusion of design and tradition, where the touch of the best Umbrian craftsmanship is present. Palazzo Seneca is a place of harmony with a well-defined identity.

From Norcia we move to Tuscany to visit two of the most beautiful hill towns of Tuscany, Montalcino and Montepulciano, and the splendid Abbey of Sant'Antimo. The first stop will be Montalcino, famous for the production of Brunello wine and its imposing fortress. It is an enchanting city in which to stroll and, of course, to taste its legendary wines. Tuscany boasts many magnificent abbeys, but that of Sant’Antimo is certainly at the top of the list. In an isolated position, it lies among hills covered with olive trees, with breathtaking views. From here, with a short drive you reach Montepulciano, the highest of the Tuscan hill towns, at 665 meters. It is an extraordinarily beautiful city, surrounded by walls built in 1511, with fascinating squares and panoramas. Beside its art and its history, Montepulciano is also linked to the "Vino Nobile", among the most appreciated in the world. I suggest having an experience that you will not forget: a bike ride in the renowned Chianti countryside. You will be provided with professional mountain bikes, and you will be accompanied on this excursion by an expert guide. The route is 20 km long with moderate difficulty. You will be able to pass through magnificent sceneries, visit small medieval villages and stop in a cellar for tastings. Finally, before leaving Tuscany, you cannot miss a cooking lesson, two hours with the chef who will illustrate the secrets of some dishes starting from the very first phase, the selection of raw materials from the kitchen garden. You will then have the satisfaction of tasting the dishes you have prepared under the expert guidance of the chef.

Suggested Hotel: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco 5*. A magnificent country estate, 12 km from Montalcino, with a golf club available for those who love this sport. Inside there is an ancient village, medieval ruins, and a cellar where an excellent Brunello di Montalcino is produced.

The next stop will be Parma, European City of Culture until 2021, which combines art and architecture with a particularly rich food culture. It is no coincidence that it is considered the capital of Prosciutto and Parmigiano. In this elegant city you can immerse yourself in the lifestyle of its inhabitants by visiting the places frequented by the locals. You will taste and discover the secrets of the world famous typical products of this Emilia area of ​​the Po Valley, directly in the places of production: Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Ham, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Culatello di Zibello, Lambrusco. All the producers are small and family-run, no industrial production, they will be able to fascinate you by telling you about the passion, the effort and the skilful artisan culture behind these products that have been able to conquer the tables all over the world. To conclude this tour you cannot miss a demonstration of fresh pasta with subsequent tasting and an excursion to visit the capital of Emilia: Bologna, nicknamed the "Learned", the "Fat" and the "Red". A guided walking tour awaits you, a combination of art and food and wine traditions. You will visit Piazza Maggiore, the main meeting place of the city, which was built in the 13th century with its famous statue of Neptune, the basilica of San Petronio, the medieval market, the Two Towers and the Archiginnasio, the first permanent seat of the Oldest university in the world. You will stop by Majani (in July and August the chocolate shop being closed, you will go to Venchi, famous for its artisan ice creams), a traditional chocolate maker in which solid chocolate was invented, and then to Atti where you will listen to the history of tortellini and tagliatelle. The tour will end at Tamburini, where, while listening to the history of mortadella, you will taste some delicious local products such as mortadella, Parmesan cheese and salami, all accompanied by local wine.

Suggested hotels: Antica Corte Pallavicina This relais with an intimate atmosphere, with a simple elegance based on the attention to every detail, has only 6 rooms. The large windows on the meadows and the coffered ceilings of the 16th century deserve a special mention.

Are you curious to spend a week immersing yourself in the culture of food and wine in Italian villages and cities of art? If you are interested in this tour, which can also be extended to the Langhe (Plemond), contact me without delay, I will also be able to assist you in choosing other accommodations, in addition to those suggested in this article.

michela@mikrotour.it