Food destinations within easy reach of Bologna, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Bologna. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, tortellini, Osteria Francescana
Modena, 25 minutes from Bologna by train, is the capital of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP, the Confraternita del Tortellino headquarters, and home to Massimo Bottura's three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana.
Famous for: Prosciutto di Parma DOP, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Culatello di Zibello
Parma, an hour from Bologna by train, is the capital of Prosciutto di Parma DOP and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, home to the Salumeria Garibaldi salumi shop and the famous Parmigiano-aging cellars.
Famous for: Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Lambrusco Reggiano
Reggio Emilia, 45 minutes from Bologna by train, is the second Parmigiano Reggiano stronghold with the working dairies at Caseificio La Battagliola, the Sunday Lambrusco lunch and the Romanesque cathedral.
Famous for: Cappellacci di zucca, salama da sugo, pasticcio ferrarese
Ferrara, 45 minutes from Bologna by train, is the Renaissance UNESCO city famous for cappellacci di zucca (pumpkin tortelli), salama da sugo (the cured-sausage Christmas dish) and the pasticcio ferrarese pasta bake.
Famous for: Tartufo bianco di Savigno, autumn truffle season
Savigno, an hour from Bologna by car, is the Apennine truffle village at the heart of the Bolognese white truffle harvest. The annual Tartufesta festival runs every weekend through October and November.
Famous for: Romagnola wines, Albana di Romagna DOCG, Sangiovese
Dozza, 45 minutes from Bologna by car, is the painted hilltop town housing the Enoteca Regionale dell'Emilia-Romagna in the 13th-century Rocca Sforzesca, with 800 regional wine labels under one roof.
Famous for: Casa Artusi cooking museum, 1891 Italian cuisine canon
Forlimpopoli, an hour from Bologna by train, is the birthplace of Pellegrino Artusi and home to Casa Artusi, the cooking museum and school documenting the 1891 La Scienza in Cucina cookbook canon.
Peak food season in Bologna is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Bologna rewards trust.