Looking for the best Parma Ham Tour in Italy? You’re in the right place. Emilia Delizia has been running food tours in Emilia Romagna for over 15 years, and our signature Prosciutto di Parma Tour in Langhirano is the most authentic, educational, and delicious way to discover how Italy’s most famous cured ham is made.

This Parma ham factory tour takes you inside a real prosciuttificio in Langhirano—the birthplace of Prosciutto di Parma. Here, surrounded by hills, dry mountain air, and centuries of tradition, you’ll witness the full transformation from pork leg to world-renowned DOP Prosciutto di Parma.

If you want a genuine, behind-the-scenes Parma Ham Tour with tastings, guides, and optional gourmet lunch, this is the page you need.

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Why Choose a Parma Ham Tour in Langhirano?

Langhirano is not just an area that produces ham—it is the official and protected production zone for Prosciutto di Parma. If it doesn’t come from here, it cannot carry the prestigious five-point Ducal Crown.

A Parma Ham Tour here gives you:

• Access to real, working Parma ham factories (not tourist shops)
• A deep understanding of the DOP process
• Generous tastings of freshly sliced Prosciutto di Parma
• The chance to see hams aging from a few months to 36 months
• Optional gourmet lunch featuring regional specialties

For travellers who love food, craftsmanship, and Italian culture, this tour is a must.

What Makes Prosciutto di Parma Unique?

The secret behind Parma ham is simplicity + time + climate. Only four ingredients are permitted:

• Pork
• Sea salt
• The dry air of Langhirano
• Time—at least 12 months, often up to 36 months

No preservatives, no nitrates, no artificial additives—just tradition. Only the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma can certify the final product, ensuring absolute quality.

Ingredients and Origins

Every Parma Ham Tour begins with the story of the pigs. The animals are raised exclusively in central-northern Italy and fed a special diet—often including whey from Parmigiano Reggiano production. This creates a natural synergy between Italy’s two most famous DOP products.

The Salting Phase

The curing process begins with the maestri salatori—the salt masters. During your Parma ham factory tour, you’ll see how each leg is salted by hand:

1. First salting: 5 days of rest
2. Second salting: 15–18 days at a different temperature

This slow, artisanal process is essential for developing Prosciutto di Parma’s gentle, sweet flavor.

The Art of Aging

After salting, the legs rest for about 100 days. Then begins the long aging period—up to three years in carefully ventilated rooms that mimic the natural breeze of Langhirano.

Quality Testing and Certification

The final and most fascinating step you’ll see during our Parma Ham Tour is the official inspection. A trained expert uses a slender horse-bone needle to smell the aroma inside the ham. Only hams that pass all tests receive the Ducal Crown branding, marking them as authentic Prosciutto di Parma DOP.

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What You’ll Experience on Our Parma Ham Tour

Our Prosciutto di Parma Tour is a complete, immersive experience:

• Salting rooms – See the first stage of curing
• Aging cellars – Thousands of hams hanging in perfect natural conditions
• Pear shaping – Discover why Parma hams have their iconic form
• Inspector tools – Including the horse bone needle
• Fire branding – Watch the final certification step

 The Tasting

Every Parma Ham Tour includes a generous tasting of freshly sliced Prosciutto di Parma, paired with a glass of local wine. You’ll taste hams aged for different lengths—12, 24, and sometimes 36 months—so you can learn the differences in sweetness, texture, and aroma.

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Optional Gourmet Lunch – A Celebration of Emilia Romagna

To turn your Parma ham experience into a full culinary day, we offer a beautiful 3-course lunch at a local trattoria:

• Antipasto – Selection of cured meats including Parma ham
• Handmade pasta – Tortelli di Erbetta with Parmigiano Reggiano
• Dessert – Seasonal homemade dolce
• Wine, espresso, and digestivo included

This is the most delicious way to complete your Parma Ham Tour.

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Pickup Options & Flexibility

We offer transportation from:

• Parma
• Modena
• Bologna

You can also choose a self-drive Parma Ham Tour if you prefer to arrive by your own car.

Private tours, small groups, and custom itineraries are available on request.

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Why Book Your Parma Ham Tour with Emilia Delizia?

• ✔ 15+ years specialising in food tours
• ✔ We work only with certified Prosciutto di Parma factories
• ✔ English-speaking expert guides
• ✔ Flexible start times & pickups
• ✔ Small groups—never crowded, never rushed

Your Parma Ham Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We make sure it’s perfect.

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Book Your Parma Ham Tour Today

Parma Ham Tours sell out quickly—especially in spring and autumn when ham production is at its peak. Early booking is strongly recommended.

Click here to reserve your Parma Ham Tour

For private groups, lunch upgrades, or same-day availability, contact us directly.

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