Tag: Italian food

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Where to Buy and Indulge in Mortadella in Bologna

Bologna, the culinary heart of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, is not only the birthplace of mortadella but also the best place to experience this iconic delicacy. Whether you’re looking to buy some of the finest mortadella or indulge in a unique mortadella experience, Bologna has you covered. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best spots to buy and enjoy mortadella in Bologna, as well as information on the must-visit Mortadella Please Festival in nearby Zola Predosa.

1. Salumeria Simoni

  • Address: Via Drapperie, 5/2a, Bologna
  • Description: Located in the bustling Quadrilatero market area, Salumeria Simoni is a historic deli known for its top-quality salumi, including mortadella. Established in 1960, it’s a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike. The shop also offers creative mortadella-based sandwiches like the “Tortellino di pane,” making it a delightful stop for both shopping and snacking​(Do Bianchi).

2. Tamburini

  • Address: Via Caprarie, 1, Bologna
  • Description: A historic name in Bologna’s food scene, Tamburini has been around since 1860. This deli offers a wide selection of cured meats, including some of the best mortadella in the city. Alongside its famous fresh pasta, Tamburini is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience traditional Bolognese flavors​(Do Bianchi).

3. Mò Mortadella Lab

  • Address: Via de’ Monari, 1C, Bologna
  • Description: A modern and trendy spot, Mò Mortadella Lab is famous for its gourmet mortadella sandwiches. Known for its innovative approach, this eatery is popular among locals and tourists looking for a contemporary twist on this classic delicacy​(Do Bianchi).

4. La Baita Vecchia Malga

  • Address: Via Pescherie Vecchie, 3a, Bologna
  • Description: Located in the historic Mercato di Mezzo, La Baita Vecchia Malga offers a wide range of local delicacies, including mortadella. This shop is perfect for those looking to pair their purchase with other regional specialties while enjoying the vibrant market atmosphere​(Do Bianchi).

5. Bruno e Franco – La Salumeria Bologna

  • Address: Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 16a, Bologna
  • Description: Established in 1985, Bruno e Franco is a beloved salumeria under the porticoes of Via Oberdan. It’s known for its wide selection of salumi, cheeses, and fresh pasta, making it a top choice for those looking to buy authentic mortadella and other traditional products​(Do Bianchi).

6. Mortadella Shop – Prodotti della Tradizione

  • Address: Viale Pietro Pietramellara, 61/E, Bologna
  • Description: Conveniently located near the train station, this shop offers a variety of traditional Bolognese products, with a focus on mortadella. It’s an excellent spot for a quick purchase or to grab a bite before exploring more of the city​(Do Bianchi).

7. ArtigianQuality

  • Address: Via Caduti di Cefalonia, 2b, Bologna
  • Description: Run by the Scapin family, ArtigianQuality is known for producing some of the best mortadella in Bologna. They offer two types: the traditional “Sette Chiese” and one made from Mora Romagnola pork. Their commitment to excellence makes this shop a top destination for mortadella connoisseurs​(bologna4you-english).

8. Ceccarelli Amedeo Gastronomia Bologna

  • Address: Via Pescherie Vecchie, 8a, Bologna
  • Description: Also located in the vibrant Mercato di Mezzo area, Ceccarelli Amedeo offers a variety of Italian food products with a strong emphasis on mortadella. It’s a great place to explore different flavors and pick up some gourmet treats​(Do Bianchi).

9. RoManzo (Zivieri)

  • Address: Mercato di Mezzo, Bologna
  • Description: Part of the famous Zivieri butcher’s group, RoManzo in Mercato di Mezzo offers some of the finest salumi, including mortadella. This shop is known for its high-quality meats and is a great place to buy or sample mortadella in a lively market setting​(Do Bianchi).

10. Mortadella Please Festival

  • Location: Zola Predosa, Bologna (about 12 km from Bologna city center)
  • Dates: October 11-13, 2024
  • Description: The Mortadella Please Festival is an annual celebration dedicated to mortadella, held in Zola Predosa, just outside Bologna. This three-day event features tastings, cooking demonstrations, and guided tours of mortadella production facilities like Alcisa and Felsineo. The festival is a must-visit for food enthusiasts, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy mortadella in its birthplace while participating in various culinary activities​(Mortadella Please,Emilia Romagna Turismo,Bologna Welcome).

How to Get to Zola Predosa for the Festival

  • By Train: Take a regional train from Bologna Centrale to Zola Predosa station (15-minute journey).
  • By Bus: Use the Line 94 bus from Bologna (approximately 30 minutes).
  • By Car: Zola Predosa is about a 20-minute drive from Bologna. Parking is typically available near the festival site, but arriving early is recommended​(Taste Bologna,Emilia Romagna Turismo).

This guide offers a complete look at where to buy, taste, and truly experience mortadella in Bologna, whether you’re browsing historic delis or attending the vibrant Mortadella Please Festival.

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Forget Parma Ham: In Bologna, Buy, Eat, and Visit Mortadella

When it comes to Italian cured meats, Parma ham often steals the spotlight with its international fame. Yet in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, another product tells a more local and deeply rooted story: Mortadella di Bologna. This iconic pink sausage, dotted with delicate cubes of fat, is more than a cold cut — it is a symbol of Bologna’s culinary identity.

If you are visiting Bologna and want to understand its food culture beyond stereotypes, mortadella deserves your full attention — from tasting and buying it to discovering how it is produced.

The Origin and Significance of Mortadella

Mortadella has origins dating back to the Renaissance. Once reserved for noble households, its name is believed to derive from the Latin mortarium, the mortar used to grind the meat.

Today, Mortadella di Bologna is protected by Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP) status, which guarantees that it is produced according to strict standards and within a defined geographic area (Bologna4You).

Where to Buy Mortadella in Bologna

Bologna’s historic centre is home to excellent delis and food markets where mortadella is sliced fresh and treated with respect. Notable stops include:

  • Salumeria Simoni — A Quadrilatero institution since 1960,
    known for high-quality cured meats and mortadella-filled focaccia.
  • Tamburini — Operating since 1860,
    this historic shop combines fresh pasta production with an outstanding salumi counter.
  • Mò Mortadella Lab — A modern interpretation,
    specialising in creative mortadella sandwiches popular with locals.

Where to Eat Mortadella in Bologna

Mortadella appears in many forms across Bologna — thinly sliced in sandwiches, cubed for antipasti, or incorporated into traditional dishes. A couple of reliable places to experience it include:

  • Mercato di Mezzo eateries — Ideal for pairing mortadella
    with other regional products and a glass of Lambrusco.
  • FICO Eataly World — Offers tastings and educational displays
    focused on Emilia-Romagna food traditions
    (Bologna Welcome).

Visiting Mortadella Production

For travellers curious about how mortadella is made, special events provide rare access to producers. The Mortadella, Please festival in nearby Zola Predosa celebrates the product with tastings, demonstrations, and producer visits (Bologna Welcome).

Experiences like these are often combined with wider explorations of local food culture. Visitors interested in discovering Bologna through its signature products can explore food tours from Bologna that place mortadella in the broader context of the region’s gastronomy.

Why Mortadella Deserves the Spotlight

While Parma ham is prized for elegance and delicacy, mortadella offers a richer, more expressive flavour profile. Its balance of savoury meat, aromatic spices, and creamy fat reflects Bologna’s culinary philosophy: simple ingredients, treated with care and tradition.

Conclusion

Mortadella is not merely something to taste in Bologna — it is something to understand. From historic delis to festivals and producers, this iconic sausage offers a direct connection to the city’s food culture. Choosing mortadella over more famous alternatives means tasting Bologna as locals have for centuries.

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Parmesan Cheese Tour Near Bologna or Modena

If you’re planning to immerse yourself in the world of Parmigiano Reggiano, the Parmigiano Reggiano Tour is a must-do experience, particularly if you’re visiting the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, near Modena or Bologna. This experience offers an in-depth look at how one of the world’s most famous cheeses is made, from the milking of cows to the aging of cheese wheels.

Important: while several dairies offer independent visits, many travelers staying in Bologna prefer a curated food experience that combines cheese with other iconic local products, removing logistical complexity and maximizing time.

View available Bologna food experiences →

Overview of the Tour Experience

parmesan cheese Bologna

The Parmigiano Reggiano experience is designed to give visitors a comprehensive understanding of the traditional cheese-making process. Typically, visits start early in the morning to coincide with production schedules. You’ll witness the transformation of milk into curds and the formation of the iconic Parmigiano Reggiano wheels, followed by time in the maturation rooms where the cheese ages for up to 36 months.

Several dairies around Modena and Bologna open their doors to visitors, offering different levels of access and tasting options.

Independent Dairy Visits vs Guided Food Experiences

Independent dairy visits can be rewarding, especially for travelers with their own transport and flexible schedules. However, many visitors underestimate early start times, limited public transport, language barriers, and tight timing windows.

For this reason, guided food experiences departing from Bologna remain the most popular option, as they combine Parmigiano Reggiano with balsamic vinegar, cured meats, and expert local guidance in a single, well-paced day.

Check curated food tours from Bologna →

San Pier Damiani

parmesan cheese near Modena

At San Pier Damiani, visitors can explore Parmigiano Reggiano production through guided visits. The Full Experience tour starts at 9 AM and lasts approximately 1.5 hours, covering all production stages. A shorter option begins at 11 AM and skips early processing stages. Selected days also include a visit to a nearby salumi producer. Tastings are included, and prices start from €25 per person.

Official dairy website available for independent visits.

Caseificio Saliceto

parmesan cheese tour Bologna

Caseificio Saliceto offers guided visits lasting around 1.5 hours, with an optional extension to visit the adjacent farm. Tastings include Parmigiano Reggiano of different ages, ricotta, and local accompaniments. Pricing varies depending on group size.

Official dairy website available for independent visits.

Caseificio Bio Reggiani

parmesan cheese near Modena or Bologna

Caseificio Bio Reggiani offers guided visits including stables, production areas, brine tanks, and aging warehouses, followed by tastings of multiple Parmigiano Reggiano maturations with local products and Lambrusco. Tours are available in multiple languages and require advance booking.

Official dairy website available for independent visits.

Why This Experience Is So Popular

parmesan cheese Modena and Parma

Often called the “King of Cheeses,” Parmigiano Reggiano is deeply rooted in Italian culinary culture. Visitors are drawn to the authenticity of a process that has remained unchanged for centuries and to the rare opportunity to taste the cheese at different stages of aging.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Joseph C. | July 2024
“We expected a group visit and instead enjoyed a private experience with time to ask questions and taste everything calmly. Expensive, but absolutely worth it.”

STANsTrips | May 2024
“Incredible tastings, great explanations, and a perfect way to understand local food culture in one day.”

Jake K. | May 2024
“A full culinary journey through cheese, balsamic vinegar, and cured meats. The highlight of our trip.”

Final Thoughts

If Parmigiano Reggiano is high on your Italy wish list, the key choice isn’t whether to visit, but how. Independent visits suit travelers with cars and flexible schedules, while guided food experiences offer the most efficient and immersive way to explore Emilia-Romagna’s culinary heritage from Bologna.

Most visitors choose a guided experience that combines cheese, balsamic vinegar, and cured meats into one unforgettable day.

Check availability and book your Bologna food experience →

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Best Pizzas in Modena.

Are you craving a mouthwatering pizza experience in Modena? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the best pizzerias in town, where you can indulge in delicious, authentic Italian pizza. From thin and crispy crusts to fresh and flavorful toppings, these establishments are sure to satisfy your pizza cravings. Whether you’re a fan of classic Margherita or adventurous combinations, Modena’s pizza scene has something for everyone. Join us as we explore the top pizzerias in Modena and discover the culinary delights that await you.

Pizzeria Ristorante Tramonti Modena.
Via Giardini, 333, 41124 Modena MO

If you are visiting Modena and want to try the best pizza in town, look no further than Pizzeria Ristorante Tramonti. The pizzas here are truly exceptional, and made with only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The crust is thin and crispy, and the toppings are flavorful and plentiful.

The Margherita pizza is a must-try, with its simple yet perfect combination of fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. The Quattro Stagioni is another favorite, topped with four different kinds of cheese, ham, mushrooms, and artichokes.

No matter what pizza you order, you will be absolutely amazed at the quality and flavor. Pizzeria Ristorante Tramonti is without a doubt the best pizza in Modena, and is an experience that you will not want to miss.

I DISSONANTI .. PIZZA E ALTRO.
Via Jacopo Berengario, 112, 41121 Modena MO

If you are looking for an amazing pizza experience in Modena, look no further than I Dissonanti. This pizzeria is located in the heart of the city, and offers a wide variety of delicious pizzas, as well as other Italian dishes.

The pizzas here are truly outstanding, and made with only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The crust is thin and crispy, and the toppings are flavorful and plentiful.

No matter what pizza you order, you will be absolutely amazed at the quality and flavor. I Dissonanti is without a doubt the best pizza in Modena, and is an experience that you will not want to miss.

Pizzeria del Viale 2.0.
 Viale A. Gramsci, 106, 41122 Modena MO

Pizzeria del Viale 2.0 is a great option for pizza in Modena. The restaurant is unassuming, but the pizzas are classic Neapolitan-style and really delicious. The calzones are also great, and the desserts are worth saving room for.

The service is friendly and efficient, and the prices are very reasonable. Pizzeria del Viale 2.0 is a great option for a casual meal, and is definitely one of the best pizzerias in Modena.

Giustospirito.
Via Bartolomeo Paganelli, 40, 41122 Modena MO

Pizza and burgers. Two words that, when combined, create culinary magic. And at Giustospirito in Modena, they do just that.

The pizzas here are some of the best I’ve ever had, with a thin and crispy crust that is loaded with flavor. The toppings are also incredibly fresh and tasty, and there is a great selection to choose from. The burgers are also mouth-wateringly good, and made with only the freshest ingredients.

In addition to the great food, Giustospirito also has a great ambiance. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal with friends. And with a wide selection of beers on tap, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re looking for the best pizza and burgers in Modena, look no further than Giustospirito.

Pinseria Tre Farine.
Piazza Roma, 5, 41121 Modena MO

Pinsa is a type of flatbread that is popular in Rome, and Pinseria Tre Farine is one of the best places to try it in Modena. The pinsas here are made with three different types of flour, and are truly unique and delicious. The toppings are also fresh and flavorful, and there is a great selection to choose from.

In addition to the great food, Pinseria Tre Farine also has a great ambiance. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal with friends. And with a wide selection of beers on tap, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re looking for a truly unique and delicious pizza experience in Modena, look no further than Pinseria Tre Farine.

Al Grottino.
Via Del Taglio, 26, 41121 Modena MO

The fried pizza is something different and definitely worth a try. The dough is light and fluffy, and the toppings are fresh and flavorful. Overall Al Grottino is a great option for pizza in Modena. Located in central Modena, it’s the perfect place to stop for a quick and delicious meal. It has a TV for football so you don’t miss out, and is a lively place. The weekends may get crowded, so reserving in advance will help. The prices are reasonable, but keep in mind that there is a EUR 2 coperto.

In conclusion, Modena is a pizza lover’s paradise, offering a wide range of exceptional pizzerias to tantalize your taste buds. From Pizzeria Ristorante Tramonti’s exceptional ingredients to I Dissonanti’s diverse menu, each establishment offers its own unique take on this beloved Italian dish. Pizzeria del Viale 2.0 provides a casual and affordable option, while Giustospirito combines pizza and burgers for a truly satisfying experience. Pinseria Tre Farine introduces you to the world of pinsa, and Al Grottino tempts you with their delicious fried pizza. Whichever pizzeria you choose, you’re in for a treat. So, why wait? Embark on a culinary journey through Modena and savor the best pizzas this charming Italian city has to offer. Buon appetito!