November 15, 2017 is the day of the opening ceremony of FICO Eataly World Bologna, the world’s largest agri-food park. FICO, which stays for “Fabbrica Italiana Contadina” is an Expo dedicated to Italian biodiversity and culinary traditions, to see the processes behind the making of food, particularly for the Emilia-Romagna region. The protagonist is in fact the top-quality food that has turned “Made in Italy” a food brand renowned across the world and Italy a place where food means tourism.
Talking about tourism, this new attraction enhances Bologna’s fame as a Food City, the ultimate destination for foodies and food-trotters who arrive more and more numerous in the capital of the Emilia-Romagna, as shown by a sharp increase in tourist incoming in 2017.
Bologna deserve such popularity also for its many art and history attractions, almost 40 kilometers of Porticoes leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, the oldest University of Europe, a lively cultural centre with – allow us to say – one of the most fascinating squares of Europe, Piazza Maggiore.
We hope that FICO will drive tourism across the entire region of Emilia-Romagna and that it is a true opportunity of visibility for the several small and medium food artisans and producers that are not inside the FICO park.
As Emilia Storytellers, we promote our region in its more artisanal and genuine aspects. Our food and wine culture is so rich and variegated that it deserves to be explored on site, not only at a themepark.
Our Artisanal Food Tours take you right “inside” the most intimate nature of Emilia, to meet the food artisans, see the high-quality of their work, learn about their knowledge and traditions passed on from generation to generation, and taste the excellent food that has made Emilia-Romagna “Italy’s greatest gastronomic treasure” (David Rosengarten – The Forbes).
“EXPLORING LOCAL FOOD ARTISANS”, “DISCOVERING THE BEST OF EMILIA’S WINERIES”, “FOOD TREASURES AND MEDIEVAL CASTLE”, and “EMILIA FOR FOODIES” are some of the Full-day Tours we have designed for foodies and wine tourists, history and art lovers, and people passionate about local cuisine and food traditions.
Who are the culinary protagonists? Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Bologna’s and Modena’s autochthonous wines, Artisanal Pasta, food markets and cooking classes to make Tagliatelle Bolognese, to mention a few.
We constantly work to design new routes and itineraries on local food and wine culture, and we can create tailor-made Food Tours based on personal interests.
Our goal is to show a truthful representation of Emilia, through people’s stories, typical villages, and local food, by offering intense experiences -for small groups or individuals- that leave a good memory of our beloved Emilia.
