Connie Walsh

There are myriad reasons why Italy is one of the world’s most popular destinations: art, history, landscapes (dramatic coastlines and vineyard-dotted hills), and, of course, the food and wine. The Grand Italian Trio: Rome, Florence, and Venice are divine, delicious, and highly captivating, but Italy offers so much more to see, taste, and experience.

I’ve created several food-and-wine-focused tours for groups and individuals. Among my personal favorite regions? Emilia-Romagna – Italy’s culinary heart, where rolling hills and elegant cities pair with world-class cuisine, and Umbria, where food and wine are deeply tied to the land.

I recommend my clients to start in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna’s historic capital. Replete with porticoes and nicknamed La Grassa (“The Fat One”). Its culinary highlights include  – the iconic Bolognese pasta. Lasagne alla bolognese and Mortadella – Bologna’s signature sausage. All could be enjoyed with a glass of ruby-red Lambrusco.

An ideal itinerary would include a few days in Parma. This charming pastel-tinted city is the cradle of two global icons — Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma. Opera flows through Parma’s veins — this is Verdi country. Relax and enjoy.

Consider day trips to Modena and Ravenna. Modena is the birthplace of Balsamic vinegar, aged in family attics for generations. Michelin-starred restaurants are just steps from centuries-old trattorias. Ravenna’s mosaics are its true allure—eight UNESCO sites sparkle with millions of hand-cut tesserae.

Perugia, Umbria’s capital, has an ancient allure and is an ideal spot to base. It's nearby hill towns—Assisi, Spello, Montefalco—each with its own personality —are magical. Truffles, deep rustic wines, and distinctive olive oils are all on the menu, and the landscapes are stunning. If food and wine, and a sense of place matter to you, this is the Italy you don’t want to miss.

Can I help you plan an Emilia-Romagna and Umbria adventure?