Bologna is a great off-the-beaten- track destination, and well worth a visit. The city itself is culturally rich, and the food is magnificent. Its great variety of gourmet food has secured Bologna's reputation as the food capital of Italy and moreover the whole County countryside, called the Food Valley, is dotted with small artesan factories and little farms producing some of the world’s finest and most famous foods, still produced in the traditional manner which has been carried on from time immorial.
When visiting Bologna, you can explore one of the city oldest food markets and drop into the old, traditional, family run food shops – You will see and feel the history and culture, that make Bologna medieval market so unique. Walking down any of the many alleyways and side streets, you’ll find smaller, more local restaurants, which serve authentic Bolognese cuisine and will sample the culinary heritage of County Emilia-Romagna and its Food Valley where you can find family run businesses producing wine, parmesan, prosciutto, mortadella and balsamic vinegar.