E milia Delizia famous food tour can be taken from Florence, below you will find a guide about departing from Florence and participate at the 3 gourmet food tour.

2025 Updated suggestion.

1. Overnight Option (Our Top Pick):

• Travel to Bologna or Modena the evening before your tour—this is the easiest way to ensure you’re rested and ready.

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• Book a night at a hotel near the station (e.g., UNA Hotel, Star Excelsior in Bologna) so you’ll be just minutes away from the dairy.

• Wake up refreshed and enjoy a stress-free morning—no early alarm needed!

2. Same-Day Departure (via Bologna):

• For a day-trip option, take an early Frecciarossa train from Florence to Bologna. Check schedules on Trainline—they run frequently throughout the day.

• Trains arrive too late for dairies, so plan to be in Bologna early and get picked up directly from Bologna Centrale by our guide.

• From there, you’ll head straight to the Parmesan cheese production—on time and ready to witness every step.

While Tuscany produces wonderful wines, cheese and hams, a lot of people are attracted by Bologna, Modena and Parma because of the Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham and Lambrusco wines. In this brief guide we explain how to tour the 3 foods with us while your made your base in Florence.

Timing of Parmesan Cheese Production

Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) is crafted using traditional methods that begin very early each morning, as the milk must be processed while still fresh. This means production starts between 5:00 and 6:00 AM, and the most fascinating steps—such as the curd cutting, cooking, and the iconic wheel-forming—are usually finished by mid-morning. To witness the full process, participants must arrive on time. Departures from Bologna are scheduled around 7:15–7:30 AM and from Modena at 8:20 AM. Later visits miss the main stages, so private tours can be arranged upon request, although they may involve significantly higher costs for smaller groups.

How to Get to Bologna or Modena by Car

If you are planning to drive from Florence to join the Emilia Delizia gourmet food tour, the most direct route is via the A1 Autostrada (also known as Autostrada del Sole), which connects Florence to Bologna. This motorway is modern and efficient, but keep in mind that it is one of the busiest in Italy, especially during weekends, holidays, and peak commuter hours.

Driving times:

• Florence to Bologna: approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes under ideal traffic conditions.

• Florence to Modena: approx. 2 hours. Be sure to account for morning traffic and possible delays at toll booths.

Toll costs:
Expect to pay around €8–€12 one way in tolls, depending on your entry/exit points. Most toll booths accept cards, but it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand just in case.

Important planning notes:

• Our Parmesan cheese tour begins early, with dairies operating only in the morning. If you’re meeting us in Modena, plan to depart Florence no later than 6:00 AM to arrive on time.

• For Bologna, departure by 5:30–5:45 AM is ideal.

Meeting your guide:
Since you are using your own vehicle, our guide will meet you directly at the cheese dairy. The exact address and Google Maps link will be provided upon confirmation. These dairies are typically in rural areas outside the city, not easily reachable by public transport.

Navigation tips:

• Use a reliable GPS or smartphone navigation app like Google Maps or Waze. Set the destination in advance to avoid fumbling with directions on the road.

• Don’t rely solely on the dairy name—many dairies have similar names, and there could be more than one with a matching address in nearby towns.

• We strongly recommend printing out the location info and keeping a screenshot of the map in case of mobile signal loss in the countryside.

Additional driving tips:

• Italian drivers can be fast and assertive, particularly on the autostrada. Stay in the right-hand lane unless overtaking, and obey speed limits (usually 130 km/h on highways).

• Plan for one or two short stops for fuel, coffee, or restrooms—many Autogrill service stations along the route offer clean facilities and quick breakfast options.

🚫 Please note: Emilia Delizia cannot be held responsible if you arrive late or are unable to locate the meeting point. Refunds are not provided in cases of missed tours due to delays or navigational issues.

💡 Pro tip: If you are unsure about driving early in the morning, consider arriving in Bologna or Modena the evening before and spending the night locally. It will make your morning far more relaxed and enjoyable.

How to get to Bologna or Modena by train.

From Florence Bologna is served by frequent high speed trains at any time of the day till late at night. For more information about the train time table you can consult this page.
However in the morning the only option would be the Freccia Rossa 9500 that arrives in Bologna at 7.37. Rather than attempting this mad dash on the same morning, we always suggest to take a late train the evening before (even after a nice dinner in Florence) and stay at one of the the high quality hotels right in front of Bologna station. Namely the La UNA HOTEL, STAR EXCELSIOR, and MERCURE HOTEL. The following morning you will be ready to go to the Parmesan tour FRESH AND RELAXED.

Organising a private food tour from Florence.

A private tour is the perfect solution if you want a customised tour four family, friends or company activity. You can decide the timing, and other details of the day that suit the most. We can organise a car or minibus that comes to your hotel directly in Florence. The departure time in this case it is around 6.30 and the return time is around 5 pm. The tour from Florence can be substantially more expensive than starting from Bologna, however it would be recommended for larger groups as the cost of the transport can be shared between the participants.

Hidden Tips & Insider Info for the Gourmet Food Tour from Florence

Most travelers focus on the basics—train times, meeting points, and tasting experiences—but here are some lesser-known insights that will help you truly master the journey from Florence to the Food Valley of Italy.

1. The Best Day of the Week to Go

While the tours run most days, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days to witness a full production cycle at the Parmesan cheese dairies. Mondays are usually slower (less milk), and weekends may have fewer artisans working. Booking on a Tuesday gives you the highest chance to see every step in action.

2. Secret Spot: Breakfast with the Cheesemakers

If you arrive very early (around 7:00 am), some dairies may let you join the workers for a quick espresso and biscuit in their staff room before the tour starts. This is never advertised—just greet them warmly in Italian (“Buongiorno!”) and ask politely if you may wait inside. It’s an authentic local moment.

3. How to Bring Products Back Legally

Buying cheese, ham, or balsamic on the tour? These are vacuum-packed for travel. Most visitors don’t realize that you can bring back limited quantities into the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, but there are restrictions. Ask your guide to provide a printed label and receipt—this helps avoid issues with customs.

4. Where Locals Eat After the Tour

Most people leave the tour and go back to Florence or Bologna—but locals often stop for a rustic lunch nearby. Two hidden gems:

• Trattoria La Campagnola (near Modena) – tortellini in brodo and fried gnocco with culatello.

• Ristorante Da Gigi (near Parma) – a no-frills place famous for erbazzone and Lambrusco served in ceramic jugs.

Ask your guide if you can detour for a true countryside lunch—often it’s possible with a little flexibility.

5. Photographing the Production—When to Capture the Magic

The best moment to take pictures in the cheese dairy is when the curd is being lifted from the vat using the giant cloth—this happens just 20 minutes into the process. Make sure your camera or phone is ready early. After that, the pace slows down as the cheese is shaped and salted.

6. Avoid Motion Sickness

The countryside roads between producers are winding. If you’re prone to motion sickness, especially after tasting rich foods and wines, consider taking a ginger capsule or travel sickness pill before departure. Most guests overlook this and regret it after the second stop.

7. Off-the-Menu Balsamic Tasting

Some producers, if you ask nicely and show genuine interest, will let you try the 50-year-old traditional balsamic—this is not included in standard tastings. Just ask: “È possibile assaggiare l’aceto più vecchio?” (Is it possible to taste the oldest vinegar?). It’s like tasting edible time.

Alternative tours from Florence.

If you have other interest you can also plan to organise a fashion outlet tour from Florence, you can drive a Ferrari or you can to to the sea in Cinque Terre.