The Culture of Food in Parma with Erin O’Brien
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Parma
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March 7-13, 2027
Food has always been at the heart of my travels. When I go somewhere new, my first thought isn’t “what will we see?” but “what will we eat?” I want to try it all: from family-run trattorias to cozy spots serving silky prosciutto, fresh truffle, and tons of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Ideally with a glass of wine in hand.
Since 2022, my husband Andrew and I have been lucky enough to spend about a month each year in Italy, falling more in love with its food culture every time. My roots in the kitchen go back to cooking alongside my mom and grandma in Southern California, but Italy has become a place that inspires me again and again with its flavors, traditions, and endless hospitality.
I’m beyond excited to team up with Via Rosa to host a weeklong tour in Parma. We’ll explore charming towns, savor regional specialties, sip local wines, and enjoy the kind of meals that remind you why food and travel are such a perfect pair. I can’t wait to share this adventure (and all the bites along the way) with you! As someone who has participated in a Via Rosa tour in the past, I couldn’t be more honored to be doing this with them. I have long admired Elizabeth and Sophie and the way they share the true beauty of Italy through their one-of-a-kind experiences. Andiamo! – Erin
Day 1: Arrival & Introductions
Hotel
We’ll be based in one of Italy’s great culinary capitals: Parma. Our home for the week is Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, a charming, family-owned hotel in the center of town. You’ll have time to settle in and relax before meeting the group in the evening.
In your room, you’ll find a welcome package: a selection of local snacks and fresh fruit, a bottle of wine, a tote bag for treasures gathered during the week, and our guide to Parma, with recommendations for where to eat, shop, and explore during your free time.
Welcome Drinks & Dinner
At 6:30 pm, we’ll gather at the hotel for welcome drinks in a beautiful apartment overlooking the rose-colored Romanesque Baptistery. Over a glass of wine and chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano, you’ll meet with Erin who will share the plans for the week. You’ll also meet Alice, our local tour leader, who will accompany us throughout the week to provide historical context and share stories about her hometown.
We’ll then take a short walk to a trattoria run by three women where the menu changes daily. This will be our first shared meal of the week.
Day 2: Parma & Culatello
Parma
This morning, Alice will take us on a walk through the historic center of Parma, stopping at key landmarks and sharing stories along the way. We’ll pause for a mid-morning coffee before heading out of town.
Culatello
If you haven’t heard of Culatello, it’s because this precious little ham rarely makes its way outside of Italy. Today, we’ll see firsthand how it’s made. Produced in just eight small towns along the banks of the Po River, Culatello owes its unique texture and flavor to the area’s famously foggy climate, which helps transform it into something truly silky and special.
We’ll visit one of the few historic producers, whose stately villa has been home to Culatello-making for over 700 years. We’ll enjoy a delicious three-course lunch, beginning with the finest cured meats, including Culatello, followed by their famous lasagna, made from a family recipe.
After lunch, we’ll tour the aging cellar, where more than 4,000 hams hang from the rafters.
Dinner
Tonight is yours to relax or explore Parma. You’ll find our favorite restaurant recommendations in your room, and the hotel concierge is available to assist with reservations.
Day 3: Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano
Today, we’ll get an early start and head just outside Parma for a deep dive into one of the region’s most iconic ingredients: Parmigiano Reggiano. We’ll visit a local farm and learn what makes this cheese so special—the strict rules that govern its production, the animals that provide the milk, and the traditional methods used to make and age it.
After the visit, we’ll taste our way through three different ages of Parmigiano: 12, 24, and 36 months.
Lunch
For lunch, we are invited into the private home of Antonia, who was raised in Parma. Her free-standing house sits within a private park built by her grandfather. We’ll sip Prosecco and enjoy some nibbles before heading into the kitchen to prepare lunch: Pollo alla Duchessa her family’s version of a regional dishes.
Dinner
This evening, we’ll grab a casual bite at Tra L’Uss e L’Asa, a tiny spot beloved by locals. The food is among the best in Parma, and the natural wine list is equally exciting.
Day 4: Pasta & Balsamico
Modena
Today we’ll explore nearby Modena. Like Parma, it has a rich food history. Our first stop is one of the oldest bakeries in town, where we’ll enjoy a sweet treat to start the day.
Next, we’ll visit Mercato Albinelli. Considered one of Italy’s most beautiful markets, this turn-of-the-century wrought-iron building is filled with stalls offering produce, cheeses, cured meats, and pasta. You’ll have some free time to shop for goodies.
Making Pasta
Some of the market’s most famous stands are dedicated to pasta, and now it’s time for us to make our own. At a local cooking school, we’ll roll up our sleeves and learn to create tagliatelle, rosette, and tortellini. After the lesson, we’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor for lunch, followed by a decadent local chocolate cake, Torta Barozzi.
Balsamico di Modena
Next, we’ll learn about one of the region’s most iconic ingredients: Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. We’ll visit a local producer in his home, explore the aging attic, and taste balsamico at various stages of maturity, including 12- and 25-year-aged versions, each developed in different types of wooden barrels.
Dinner
This evening is free to relax and enjoy Parma at your own pace.
Day 5: Villages & Wine
Vigoleno
Today we head to the hills north of Parma, where time seems to stand still. Our first stop is Castello di Vigoleno, so perfectly preserved that it looks like a movie set. We’ll stroll through the medieval town and visit the Romanesque church, San Giorgio, and then enjoy a coffee at the local bar while soaking in the atmosphere.
Winery
Our next stop is a very special winery, one of the smallest in Italy to hold a DOC label, and the only one making this particular vin santo. We’ll learn how their award-winning passito dessert wine is made.
Lunch
Lunch is at one of the oldest restaurants in Castell’Arquato, owned by the same family for over 85 years. Here we will indulge in an extremely local dish: pisarei e fasò (a local version of pasta e fagioli), and enjoy their signature roast pork, a dish they’re famous for.
Castell’Arquato
We’ll walk off lunch in Castell’Arquato, another perfectly preserved medieval village with sweeping views of the surrounding valley.
Dinner
Evening at leisure in Parma.
Day 6: Castles & Prosciutto
Prosciutto
This morning, we’ll head south to visit one of the best prosciutto di Parma producers in the area. At this family-run business, we’ll learn what makes this ham so special, see how it’s made and aged, and enjoy a guided tasting of various ages of prosciutto.
Torrechiara
Next, we’ll visit the spectacular Castle of Torrechiara, built in the 15th century as a fort for Count de Rossi and home to his beloved mistress, Bianca. We’ll explore its Renaissance rooms and the remarkably preserved kitchen, one of the few of its kind remaining.
Lunch
Lunch is at Ai Due Platani, a historic trattoria located just outside Parma, which is beloved by locals and notoriously difficult to book. We’ll enjoy antipasti followed by their famous homemade tortelli, smothered in butter and Parmigiano. Dessert is their one-of-a-kind gelato. Churned in a vintage 1940’s gelato maker, and served from their rolling cart loaded with all the toppings, it’s a magnificent and delicious sight to behold..
Afternoon
Free time to relax, shop, or stroll the streets of Parma.
Dinner
Even though we had a big lunch, we have to meet for one final meal! Tonight we head around the corner. This innovative cozy spot specializes in its own version of pizza. We’ll order a variety to split, along with a lot of plates of vegetables to share. And wine, of course, to toast our week together.
Day 7: Departure
The tour has concluded, and you’ll be checking out of the hotel.
Is This Tour For You?
The Culture of Food
Our tours are designed around exploring places through the lens of food. Nearly all of our activities are food-related, and you can expect generous meals—often with tastings or snacks in between. If you don’t have a big appetite, have strong food preferences, or are hesitant to try unfamiliar ingredients, this may not be the right tour for you.
Food Intolerances
This tour takes place in Emilia Romagna, where the cuisine is rich and centered around local traditions. Most meals will include pasta, cheese, and cured meats. If you are vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or gluten-free, this tour may not be a good fit. (Other tours offer more flexibility with substitutions, but not this one.)
Activity Level
To fully enjoy our tours, it’s important that you feel confident in your mobility. Each day includes exploring a new town or village, with walking up to an hour or more—often on uneven ground, stairs, and getting in and out of vehicles multiple times. While not overly strenuous, you must be able to move comfortably with the group without assistance.
Travel Companions
Many of our guests find us through social media and know what to expect: a full week centered around food, with visits to farms, markets, and rustic kitchens. If you’re bringing a companion, make sure they’re equally enthusiastic. If they’re not interested in food or rural experiences, they likely won’t enjoy the trip—and that can affect everyone’s experience.
Pricing:
Pricing:
Double occupancy (2 people in 1 room): €5900 per person
Single occupancy (1 person in 1 room): €6900 per person
The fee includes:
- 6 nights at Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, Parma
- Daily Breakfast
- All of the meals, activities, and transportation outlined above
- Gratuities
Not included:
- Transportation to and from Italy
- Transportation to and from hotel
Itinerary:
Our tours focus on small, family-run businesses, so we reserve the right to adjust the itinerary as needed. Days may be switched, activities added or changed, and locations substituted. A final itinerary will be sent 30 days before the tour begins.
Group Size:
This tour is limited to 12 participants.
Concierge service:
The hotel can help you arrange restaurant reservations, taxis, and cars for your free time, airport, or train transfer. We also have a trusted tour agent if you would like to extend your stay in Italy before or after our week.
Thank you for making our dream trip come true! Every detail of every day was beautifully planned and executed beyond expectations.
Pierce & Amie
Your Hosts for the Week
Erin O’Brien
Erin O’Brien (@erinnobrienn) is a Southern California–based recipe developer, food creator, and cookbook author who shares simple, delicious recipes and a stress-free approach to cooking with her community of over 1.5 million on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. Inspired by time spent in the kitchen with her mom and grandma, who owned a Mexican restaurant in La Jolla, Erin sees food as the ultimate love language and a way to bring people together. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Andrew, and their dogs (and sous chefs), Izzy & Luna.
Alice Rossi
Born and raised in Parma, Alice has a natural warmth and an infectious enthusiasm for the food and traditions of her homeland. A graduate in Gastronomic Sciences, she has built her career around what she loves most: bringing people together through food and sharing the stories, flavours and people behind it.
After beginning her career with Academia Barilla, Alice became a licensed tour guide and tour leader, combining her knowledge of Italian food with her love of meeting people. She delights in introducing guests to the producers, traditions and flavours of her region, believing that the best way to understand a place is to experience it with curiosity, good company and, of course, something delicious to eat.