Private Half Day Parma Food Tour: Parmesan Cheese, Parma Ham, Lunch

Great experience. Elena was very knowledgeable and friendly. Her choices of places to visit were first class. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Absolutely amazing experience. Our tour guide Elisa was so nice and knowledgeable. She made what was a great experience even more enjoyable. Took us to two non commercial family operated places and walked us through every step of parmeggiano and prosciutto di Parma process. And we had an amazing lunch next to an old castle. Amazing!! Thank you Elisa. Highly recommended!

Elena was a fantastic host and guide for our half day parmigiana cheese and prosciutto experience. This was a great opportunity to learn about the specific production processes and deepen our appreciation for these products. The tastings topped off a really fun trip. Highly recommend!

Our tour guide Marika was the best. She was very knowledgeable and passionate. She went the extra mile and helped us to get an earlier train and made sure we knew where to go. If you can request a guide request her.

The tour was great, however the company operator was rude and very unhelpful. There was a few couples travelling from Bologna and we got in contact with the operator letting them know that the trains were delayed by 1 hour and we will arrive at 9:30 exactly but the bus had already left. We had to find our own way out to the first place. For a tour this expensive where more than half of the group is delayed by trains it's a little unbelievable that they would leave without us all.

Our tour guide, Stefania Bertaccini, was a blast! We were late due to an accident on the highway and she made sure we got to see everything on our tour. She is very energetic and knows her subject matter inside and out! We went on a Parma Cheese, and Parma Ham tour and then she was kind enough to take us to her In Laws Estate to visit and see her Family Balsamic Vinegar collection! She teaches cooking classes so she shares a lot of information with you about how she uses the products in her own preperation.

We had a wonderful experience! Our private tour with Lisa provided so much in depth gastronomic information about Parma and its food treasures, prosciutto di Parma and Parmesano Reggiano.

While Monica was an excellent guide, the tour description included lunch in a farmhouse overlooking the valley. We had the lunch in a small shop instead. Food was great, but I booked the tour expecting what was stated.

Cheese, Ham, Wine - what could be better. This was a great way to see how all of this amazing food is made, and the tastings were sooooooo good. Giacomo was great, knowledgeable (is an Italian history and Geography teacher in his day job), so brought the region and processes to life.

A fascinating inside view of the history and dedication behind making of Parmeseano Reggiano cheese and Proscuitto di Parma ham. Our group left with a new appreciation for the skill and artistry behind both and are now cheese and ham snobs. Lisa was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the Parma region and was excited to share it with us.

Lisa was an excellent host. She knows the entire process from beginning to end. You would think she works there. Also the owners and staff of the parmesan operation, prosciutto operation and restaurant were very courteous. Arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes early so you can be sure to arrive at the Parmesan operation in time.

Lisa was an amazing tour guide. The tour was informative and delicious. I highly recommend it. It was the highlight of our trip to Parma.

Monica provided wonderful information in an interesting engaging manner. I will never look at Parma ham or parmasian cheese in the same way.

Our tour guide Monica took us on a private tour and then lunch. This was a great experience! She also gave us the name of a local traditional balsamic maker to stop at in the ride back to Bologna for a free one hour tour and tasting as his home. Acetacia Picci was the most amazing! It is a must do to top off your day!

Our guide Monica did a fantastic job. Her English was great and she was very knowledgeable. She was fun to be with.

Awesome from beginning to end. Our guide Giacometti was super helpful and very knowledgeable. We loved the food and the entire experience.

This was one of the highlights of our trip! Elisa was amazing! Our tour consisted of just the 3 of us. Elisa was so informative and friendly! I wish I remembered the name of the restaurant we went to for lunch. It was one of our favorites!

Was a great day to learn about parmigiano regiano and prosciutto di parma and visit the different production facilities around Parma. Our guide was Lisa, a foodie, great energy, very knowledgabe of the production processes and made the day pass by seemlessly. Thanks again Lisa for a great day !!

Lisa did a wonderful job teaching us about the cheese and ham. The tour was fun and a highlight of our trip to Italy. Would recommend this tour to anyone and Lisa was a fabulous guide.

I thoroughly enjoyed my half day tour at the Parma cheese and prosciutto production centers. Our guide Elena was excellent, and she also pointed out local landmarks as we traveled. Such a beautiful part of the world and I very enjoyed the small and personal experience, and of course the tastings! Wonderful way to spend a half day. I wish we weren’t leaving so that I could have done the full day inclusive of lunch and balsamic vinegar tour.

Thanks again to Anna and the Maestro team for arranging the cheese and prosciutto tours. We booked last minute, literally the evening before for a private tour, and we were accommodated. It was delightful and the kids enjoyed and got a lot out of it as well. Lorenzo the cheese maker was wonderful. Special thanks to Silvia our guide who really made our day. So knowledgeable, passionate and lovely. Thanks again

This was well worth it. The bus was cool, comfy and secure. Our guide was knowledgeable and relaxed, answering our questions as we had them. The tour of the Parmesan producer was great. It was clearly craft and artisan and I left with great respect for the family and farm. The prosciutto production was no less amazing. It seems silly, but watching the production staff spread the fat/salt mix on the exposed parts of the muscle was poetic. This also was a Family operation despite being quite large. Our tour finished with delicious samples as the family’s toddlers played with guests. CHARMING!

The tour was ok nothing terribly special as we had done a tour in Modena the day before which was really special. Maybe Maestro could offer smaller groups and slow down the pace of the day. Lunch was pretty much the same cold cuts as we had the day before and I was expecting just a little more of an offer. It seemed middle of the range package tour which on balance is just about ok for the money.

I did the half day tour with Elisa to the Parmesan and prosciutto factories. It was absolutely wonderful! We had a small group and Elisa was so sweet and knowledgeable. The information was fascinating and the food at both locations was delicious. Highly recommend!

Our tour guide Chiara was exceptional!! Her knowledge of the area and products were great. Lastly the lunch and wine was also quite delicious.

Took a half-day tour with Elisa as our guide. It was the most pleasant of days. She is friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. The experience at the small cheese factory she works with was beyond expectation. The prosciutto factory was less personal, but that is the nature of the beast. A great experience nevertheless. A wonderful lunch topped off the day. Highly, highly recommended.

I would highly recommend the Tastybus tour. It was very comprehensive and informative. Rossella was an excellent guide and provide great stories and information in between stops. Best of luck as you continue to grow your business!

I wanted to visit a cheese and ham factory in Parma and found Tastybus as a great choice as they have a very reasonable price, they organize these two tours in a one 4-hour-long session (not too short, not too long) and the tour started not early in the morning as many other tours but at 9:30 only which is a high plus for those like me who are not staying in Parma itself or not even in the very close neighborhood. The bus arrived on time and our guide spoke wonderful English, had a great sense of humor and was really enthusiastic to tell everything we need to know. She was very knowledgeable, too and could answer all of our questions. The factories were interesting and great places to take some funny pictures. The tastings at the end of the tours were also great, we got more type and more amount of food/drink we expected.

Lisa from Maestro Travel was a knowledgeable and fun tour guide! We enjoyed learning the processes for making parmigiano-reggiano cheese and Parma ham. The restaurant for lunch had a lovely view.

Our family eats a lot of Parmesan cheese, so we really enjoyed seeing how it was actually made and the pride that goes into it. Also, at the company gift shop, we purchased blocks of Parmesan to take home to the States. Our family and friends said it was the best Parmesan they had ever tasted.

I picked this tour for 3 reasons. (1) It is affordable as compared to other similar tours. (2) The meetup location is convenient, right outside the Parma tourist office. (3) Small group size. Our TastyBus tour guide was very knowledgeable with both of the ham and cheese production processes. He could answer any questions we had. Because the tour took place on a Sunday, there were only staff working at the smaller family-run cheese factory but not the much bigger family-run parma ham factory. Unfortunately, i had to visualize what the ham production would have looked like based on the tour guide's explanations. I wished the tour company had disclosed on their website that i might not be able to see the ham production process if i took the tour on a Sunday, otherwise, i would have joined the tour on another day. On the other hand, i still enjoyed the samplings with wine pairing at the end of each factory tour, and would recommend this tour to anyone visit the region and appreciates food.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Eliza on the Tasty Bus! She was incredibly knowledgeable with both the Parmigiano Reggiano and the Prosciutto, as well as with the traditions and culture of Parma. Her rapport with the owners of the factories added to our experience. Of course, the tastings were delicious. And the drive through the countryside was magnificent! Highly recommend Maestro Travel Experience and the Tasty Bus!

I toured two small operations, a cheese maker and a prosciutto maker, that were run by the same family for multiple generations. At the cheese maker in particular, I walked around with Paulo and Paula as they went through their routines, and I chatted with their lovely daughter as we tasted their creations. My tour guide, Silvia, gave a thorough and personal tour, but also patiently answered all my questions and helped me interact with the artists (more than just workers!). I tend to have lots of questions. Our driver, Singh, was also friendly and informative. I had to change my plans at the last minute, and Rossella in the front office was friendly and accomodating. I wish I had time for the whole day tour! You HAVE to do a food tour in Parma. This is a great one.

<p>Our guide, Lisa, was marvelous. We had our 16 year old granddaughter with us and they bonded - that made it even more special. I highly recommend this tour aand the company. Lianda Taylor</p>

Well you can't visit Emilia-Romagna without trying the ham and cheese of the region! The tastybus tour lived up to its name, with samplings of local products and some great photo opportunities in the countryside too. First we visited a dairy and observed the process of making real parmesan cheese, from start to finish. Then we visited a parma ham factory and learned how the meats were cured in the traditional way as well. I’m just a fan of good chow, but there were some serious foodies on the tour who appreciated it as well. Best to go around the time of the annual Gola Gola festival, so you can try even more local flavours!

<p>Our expert guide Monica Vanin was amazing! We met at our hotel and began the journey! First we went to a small dairy where Parmigiano Reggiano is made, the real stuff! She went into great detail about the process and we saw every step and ended with a tasting of the delicious cheese....I will never balk at paying the high cost for this cheese again!<br/> Next on to Conti another small family owned producer of Parma Ham and Culatello. Again seeing the care and process of this wonderful food production will always make this food special to us. Then we went to a restaurant high in the hills for an amazing lunch! Tasting lunch with wine and glorious location. The food was one of the best we enjoyed during our 3 week trip to Italy!<br/> I cannot say enough about our guide Monica, she truly loves sharing her knowledge of her region and we felt her genuine interest in us!<br/> Thank you Monica!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>If you are thinking of a tour while in Parma, then look no further. Monica, our guide was fantastic as we were taken on a private tour of a Parmesan chee</p>

<p>Excellent tour. Detailed explanations of the entire process of making the cheese and ham that make Parma famous. All while walking through the production facilities of both and seeing the various steps being performed. Extremely knowledgable and friendly guide who spoke great English. The lunch at the end, a sampling or Parma regional cuisine in a restaurant on a hilltop, was fantastic!</p> <p>Very professional tour company.</p>

<p>The tour was great, Kasia was TERRIFIC!!! She was very knowledgeable and enjoyable to hand out with. And very patient with our picture taking!! Lol! We highly recommend her and the tour!!! :-</p>

<p>Out half day tour of Parma included a Cheese farm, Prosciutto factory and lunch at a local restaurant. Rosella was excellent, she explained every step in the processes at each site and was knowledgeable of the region but more important was extremely personable as was our tour bus driver. The tour couldn't have been any better.</p>

<p>Our first Viatour in Italy was one of the best. Our guide Michelle and driver Carlo were friendly and right on time. We traveled into the countryside to visit a working Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese plant. Michelle is very knowledgeable about the area farms and the food produced. It was exciting to see the workers engaged and how they care for the quality of the product.<br/> We then went to a Parma ham production house one of dozens in the area to see how the prosciutto that we love is made. Again Michelle was very proud of the quality and happily answered all of our questions.<br/> We stopped at a terrific roadside trattoria where we had a 3 course lunch with wine! Carlo got us home safely with our appetites happily satisfied. This is a great tour to actually see how are some of our favorite foods are carefully prepared.<br/> Jim and Donna Ferraro<br/> Connecticut</p>

<p>Performing Parma Food Tour was a dream to us. Thanks to our tour guide for her patient. She demonstrated passion and high knowledge about Parma's food industry. We recommend this tour for those enjoy gourmet food. Great food and wine at the winery we had visited.</p>

<p>My wife and I had been planning a pilgrimage to Parma for a couple of years, and when I found this excursion through Viator, it was exactly what we had been looking to do. We're both foodies, and love prosciutto and parmesan reggiano, so this was tailor-made. I'm happy to report it did not disappoint. We both thoroughly enjoyed the tour. <br/> It started with a visit to a local producer of the king of cheeses, parmesan reggiano. The cheese maker had been plying his trade for 50 years and was happy to show us the process and vault where they age the cheese. They are clearly very proud of the product they make, and after tasting it, rightly so. If you have a chance to try the Vache Rosso variety, which is the parmesan that has been aged the longest, do so. It's the priciest, but the best and you have to try it at least once. <br/> From there, we then travelled into the hills west of the city, to a producer of the Prosciutto di Parma. Again, it is a very strictly controlled process that must be followed to be able to call it a Parma ham. Salted and dry aged in the cool mountain breezes coming off of the Apennines, we learned the difference between Prosciutto di Parma, Prosciutto Crudo and Culatello. After leaving there, we briefly visited the castle of Torrechiare and it's medieval village before stopping for lunch at a local osteria where we got to sample some of the fine local produce, including the wine. The region is best known for it's Lambrusco, a dry sparkling red wine.<br/> Our local hosts and guides from Maestro Travel Experience, Rosella and Elisa, were very kind, knowledgeable and fluent in English. Unless you're comfortable driving in Italy, I would recommend having them drive, especially with the libations at lunch.</p>

Jenny was our fabulous tour guide who picked us and one other couple up at our B&B in Parma at about 8:30 A.M. and she drove us to the hill country outside the city. Our first stop was at a family-operated farm and producer of fine Parmesan cheeses. The owner spent over an hour and a half with us explaining how they grow the crops that feed their cattle that produce the milk that is used in their cheese production. Then we had a chance to taste the various cheeses they produce. We then went to a local Parma Ham plant and learned about how Parma certified hams are produced from raising to procesing to curing. At midday, we enjoyed a fine luncheon in a local winery/restaurant with foods and wines of the region. After lunch we travelled to and toured a botique winery producing balsamic vinegar with the owner as our guide. We returned to our B&B around 5:00 P.M.. This was a great tour - highly recommended for an interesting, fun-filled day.