Super Car tour in Modena with visits to Automobili Pagani
Emilia Delizia is not just about gourmet food. As we are based in Modena, Italy we would like to introduce to the pleasures of super cars. Pagani Automobili, just minutes from the centre of the town but also reachable from Bologna, is the company behind the Pagani Zonda and the new Pagani Huayra which are truly dream cars totally made in carbon fiber with over 700 horse power and weighting less than 1500 kg. The price tag might not be for everyone one but with our tours you will be able to see the show room and most importantly tour the workshop where the cars are being made. Visitors will be introduced to the remarkable life of Horatio Pagani who came from Argentina with a dream: build his super car in Modena. Only 40 cars build every year the Huayra the wind inspired successor of the Zonda, with price tag of around 1 million euros, raising to 1.5 to the race track only or customised versions. The details are remarkable the body is entirely made of carbon fiber, the core of the car is made in carbon titanium for safety reasons, the gear handle, and brake are carved out single pieces of aluminium like works of art. Each Mercedes engine is hand assembled by a single engineer who sign his work at the end of the production. The exhausts are made from titanium alloy and laser soldered for perfection. All parts are custom made for Pagani including each bolt that it is actually signed by the company.
Here at Emilia Delizia we will able to combine the Pagani factory tour with other super car tours, such as Lamborghini, the Panini museum with many vintage Maserati cars, Galleria Ferrari in Maranello, and the new Casa Natale Enzo Ferrari in Modena. We can made a day out for the whole family with visits to Parmesan production, Parma ham and balsamic vinegar.
The price for the museum and workshop visit is set at 25 euros per person and it will include a tour in English. This price does not include our fees.
Embark on an authentic gastronomic adventure with our comprehensive guide to the heart of Parmesan cheese production – Emilia Romagna. From the rolling pastures of Modena, Parma, and Reggio Emilia to the bustling dairies in the provinces of Bologna and Mantua, discover the art of Parmigiano Reggiano, the ‘King of Cheeses.’ Produced just once a day in these historic regions of northern Italy, Parmesan is not just cheese; it’s a symbol of Italian heritage and a global ambassador of Italian cuisine. Journey with us through family-owned businesses and organic cooperatives, where tradition meets passion, and the raw milk of local cows transforms into golden wheels of Parmesan. Witness the cheese-making process firsthand, from the curdling of the milk to the meticulous aging in cellars, a practice rooted deep in time. Experience the robust, complex flavors of a cheese that’s been expertly aged for a minimum of 12 months, earning its DOP certification and the honor of being called Parmigiano Reggiano. Whether you prefer a guided tour complete with English-speaking guides and convenient hotel pickups or wish to embark on a self-guided exploration of Parmesan dairies, we’ve got you covered. As you journey through the picturesque landscapes of Emilia Romagna, savor the exquisite pleasure of Parmesan cheese savored in its homeland. Let’s start your Italian cheese journey today.
How to see the Parmesan Production at a Dairy in Italy, Find Your Cheese Tour Now.
Parmesan cheese is produced only once a day and you will find it only in a small area in northern Italy. In fact it is mainly produced in Modena, Parma and Reggio Emilila however there are some producers in the Bologna and Mantua provinces. To see the production it is recommended to arrive at the dairy between 8.15 am and 9.30 in case there is a possibility to see larger producers where the cheese making process ends later. The visit lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Guests will be able to see with their eyes the whole process, from raw milk, the making of the curds, the brine process and the ageing cellars. There are about 300 dairies in the DOP production areas and Emilia Delizia has selected some of the best places to see the cheese making. We visit family owned businesses or organic cooperatives where the Parmean or Parmigiano Reggiano as we call it in Italy. The milks come from cows owned by the producers in the area, and this milk must reach the dairy within 2 hours as it is specified by the consortium. Parmesan cheese is then aged for a minimum of 12 months before receiving an inspection and only then if it is approved it become a DOP product and it can be sold as Parmigiano Reggiano. Emilia Delizia can organise a tour of the facility that produce the cheese, normally we can pick up the client from their hotel from Bologna at 7.15 am, or from Modena and Parma at 8.15 am. We can organise a car with driver to pick you up and an English speaking guide, however if you have your own car we can set you an itinerary that you can follow and save money on the chauffeur fees.
Parmesan Dairies To Visit On Your Own Around Modena
One of the pleasures of travelling through Italy most definitely lays in its food, especially when enjoyed in unique and picturesque settings. Emilia Romagna has a lot to offer in the way of traditional cuisine, most local dishes have made it worldwide and their success now graces the dining tables of all food enthusiasts around the world.
When enjoying local cuisine with simple or complex dishes – be it at a restaurant, a trattoria or in other such places that celebrate foodies’ needs with great food from the tradition of Emilia Romagna cooking – keep in mind that some of the ingredients you’re tasting are locally sourced and belong to the very history and culture of the Italian region. This is the case for the fames Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, for several kinds of ham and cold cuts made in the area, and is also true for Parmesan cheese.
While it is also employed in several dishes throughout Italy and abroad, and is enjoyed as a topping for pasta and other foods everywhere in the world, Parmesan is notably known in Emilia Romagna as a traditional cheese that can be tasted on its own. As it’s true for many different kinds of dairy products that can be found on a cheese platter, Parmesan can (and should – at least once in one’s life) be eaten as a standalone experience, but not many tourists think about doing this during their trip to Italy. Foodies are more likely to know about this, but everyone should experience Parmesan in its pure form, and going to visit a dairy where the cheese is produced is the perfect way to sample the goods and marvel at the production process and cutting method employed for this Emilia Romagna treasure.
Here are some dairies in the province of Modena that you can visit for tastings, guided tours of the facility, and to shop Parmesan, local products and souvenirs.
Società Agricola Montorsi, Book your Parmigiano Reggiano Tour with them.
This dairy is located just outside Modena and as such can be easily reached if you’re already visiting the city proper. Founded in 1949, this dairy has perfected the production of Parmigiano cheese and the raw materials are all locally sourced, to achieve Parmesan aged for up to 36 months where the milk employed hasn’t suffered any losses in quality through the supply chain. The dairy, opened every day from 8:30 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 19:30 (open only from 8:30 to 9:30 on Sundays for a brief stop to shop for Parmesan and more), offers a variety of guided tours and tastings for locals and tourists (also in English and with audio guides available). Tourists will be able to choose from breakfast tours, a daily tour (with a visit of the Parmesan dairy factory, a vinegar place and lunch at a local restaurant) or other events such as a workshop weekend where visitors will take part to the production of the cheese and learn more about local culture. Please see antica latteria ducale for info.
Caseificio Rosola, Parmesan Guided visits.
Located near the city of Zocca, in the province of Modena, this dairy factory can be visited throughout the week (it’s closed on Mondays and on Friday afternoons, opening hours are 9:00-12:30 and 16:00-19:00). Since the location varies from other dairies closer to the city of Modena, in here you’ll be able to find products related to the mountain territory. Here you’ll be able to sample and purchase a type of Parmesan made from the milk of a white- coated breed of cow from the territory of Modena.
Caseificio San Pietro
The dairy is located near the city of Sassuolo and you can book guided tours of the entire production line of Parmesan, or experience the single phases of the process such as the preparation of the milk and the cheese, the storing area and learn about the aging process. In the dairy’s shop you’ll be able to sample and purchase Parmigiano cheese. Please see their site.
Caseificio 4 Madonne
Through booking, it’s possible to take part to guided tours every day, and they will last 1-1 and a half hours. depending on the type of tasting experience you choose, which will include sampling Parmesan with different aging periods, local cold cuts, balsamic vinegar, wines and more. You’ll have a chance to explore the history and production process of the cheese through the dairy, and you’ll witness the incredible storage for the Parmesan cheese wheels. More info here.
Caseificio Belvedere
This dairy is located further from Modena, but still retains those aspects of the city’s culture and tradition, with a different spin. Near the towns of Maserno and Montese, the Caseificio Belvedere offers the usual tours and tastings of Parmesan along with other peculiar culinary experiences of the Apennines. In the dairy’s shop, you’ll find local produce, Parmesan cheese and more.
The Parma ham tour – Prosciutto di Parma – producer tour Emilia Romagna.
Emilia Delizia as part our our culinary tours will take you to Langhirano to visit one of the Parma ham producers. Prosciutto di Parma is traditionally cured on the bone, and the ingredients are, pork leg, salt, the right climate conditions and the patience and the ability of the master salter. We will visit the production facility in details and we will learn about each step of the production.
Our clients learn how Parma ham is made during the tours.
To make Parma ham only the back leg of Italian born and risen heavy pigs are used. The animal are fed according the strict diet of the consortium that is aslo supplemented with cheese whey coming for the production of ParmigianoReggiano. The legs are sent to Langhirano in the province of Parma to become the famous Parma ham. The curing process starts immediately and the meat is salted once and stored in refrigerated cells for 5 days. Here the meat will lose water and absorb the salt. Then the meat is washed and salted again for a second time and placed in a even colder cell, at this stage the temperature is just above the freezing point. The ham makers use as little salt as possible to obtain a sweet cure that makes the Parma ham famous worldwide.
The pre-ageing phase will last for about 100 days, then the legs will be «manicured» to turn them into the classic pear shaped Parma hams, in other words all excess meat, fat and bone are trimmed off. From here onwards the hams will stay in the curing cellars until they are 12 months old. Each ham will be inspected by the consortium for approval by using a needle of horse bone. The probe is inserted in the 5 critical points where the meat might go wrong. The inspector probe each point and as he extract the needle he smells the tip. If they are approved they will receive the five star crown emblem of the Duchy of Parma, and then they become the world wide famous cured meat that we all know.
Emilia Delizia and Prosciutto factory tour in Parma.
Emilia Delizia will be pleased to take you to the producers in Parma, this tour can be part of our full day 3 gourmet food tour in Italy. Guests normally start their journey in Parma, Modena or Bologna. We can organise a self drive tour or a chauffeured one with English speaking guide and gourmet lunch. Our lunch is a sumptuous one, a 3 course meal that includes generous tasting of cured meats including Parma ham form the factory we just visited. The meal will continue with Tortelli alla Parmigiana (stuffed egg pasta), home made desserts. Coffee and digestive liquors.
