We visited this factory during a Bologna day long tour and were amazed.A surprisingly small amount…read moreof people crank out tons of cheese wheels each day and allow them to age in a giant room. We were also able to sample a few types of various ages. Worth the time to see.

This was one of my most memorable part of my Italian trip. You MUST make a trip here to learn about…read morebalsamic vinegar, get complimentary tastings, and buy authentic balsamic vinegar! I ended up buying the twin pack of the balsamic and white vinegar, the 25 year old balsamic vinegar, and a walnut liquor (they happen to have a lot of walnuts and they make it into alcohol. it's very strong). I totally regret not buying the bigger bottle of their condiment balsamic vinegar though. Getting here from the main station via public transportation was quite stressful because I don't speak Italian and couldn't ask for help. BUT the people super helpful and nice. The bus driver actually got out of her bus to point to where I should stand and was extremely helpful. This doesn't happen in Los Angeles! In my experience, the people of Modena were extremely kind and friendly. Before your trip, contact them and book a reservation. The tour is free. How to get there via bus: From the main station, I took Bus 9, transferred at Modena Autostazione and took Bus 2A to San Donnino. You MUST take Bus 2A, not Bus 2 because Bus 2A goes a little further to your final destination. The cost is only €1.50 and you pay ON THE BUS. I thought I had to buy tickets before boarding like in Rome. The bus driver doesn't check to see if you have a ticket but there are officers who get on the bus at random stops to do a check. And I can tell you from experience that one old lady got in soooo much trouble because she didn't tap her card. She must have been a local trying to get a free ride.

Absolutely charming, family-run restaurant serving traditional Bolognese cuisine. Our group loved…read morethis restaurant with its cozy decor and friendly, professional service. Classic dishes of the region are served here and were at the highest level of quality and flavor. One person in our group was celiac and the chef, Tiziana, makes gluten free versions of 90% of the items on her menu. They were better than any gluten free dish we've ever eaten anywhere. Everyone in the party thought they were as good as the traditional version with gluten. Tiziana is obsessed with making gluten free versions of her dishes to the point that she has a boutique mill make her specially formulated gluten free flour. We went for dinner three times and plan to go anytime we visit the Bologna area again. But don't think of this as a gluten free restaurant, it's an excellent restaurant that happens to offer unparalleled gluten free versions of its dishes.

I always love going to all the different markets when I travel and this one didn't disappoint…read more Fresh fruits, meats, cheese, fish, pastas, bakery items, side dishes, this market has it all plus many restaurants to try. It's always a pleasure to walk around and soak in the local experience. There are a number of places to eat and I would recommend 2 restaurants to try in the market. Balsamico e Cucina - Monari Federzoni & Da Sergio "Abruzzo e le sue meraviglie " both are good for lunch or an afternoon snack. Great place to purchase gifts for the people back home.

Hahaha - somehow the overall rating for this market is four and a half stars?! That's like giving…read moreheaven a 4.5 star rating! In my fantasies, I bicycle to this market every day for provisions, which I then cook in my beautiful apartment overlooking the square. In reality, we circled the market several times, wishing we each had three stomachs so we could try everything in sight. We did a tasting of balsamic vinegars at Monari Federzoni, led by a lovely and knowledgeable young lady who spoke excellent English. Then we ate delicious little meatballs glazed in balsamic with sweet and sour onions, and tortellini with parmesan cream, washed down with Lambrusco - a five star experience if I ever had one!

Food! Service…read more Ambiance Location Deserts Steaks Wine Great find, Interior was great and comfortable A/C worked Did I say Deserts

This meal was, by far, our favorite pasta in Italy! The handmade tortelloni pasta with pumpkin,…read morebalsamic vinegar, and Parmesan is an absolute must when dining here. We arrived around 10 minutes before the doors opened for lunch, and our party of 7 was seated immediately. We ordered and most of our plates arrived quickly. For some reason, one plate of lasagna arrived 15 minutes after the other dishes. Everything we tried was delicious, and the outdoor seating in the plaza was lovely!

This was our first stop for Massimo botturo in Modena…read moreAbsolutely the Emilia burger is the best hamburger known to man The aged Negroni was absolutely delightful and delicious and instilled a sense of peace The pasta with clams was luxurious sauce and only the completion allowed satisfaction beyond compare The dessert was constructed perfectly Service as always is attentive and constant and. The restaurant is cozy and comfortable A must visit to Modena before his classic three star restaurant Francescana at casa Maria luigia

It was an amazing meal from a visual and sensory perspective. Each dish is a painting that is…read moreserved and evolves on your plate through color and space. The staff nicely explains each dish and the background of its story. You receive a printed card showcasing the story and theme before the meal (in our case misery and nobility), then a copy of the printed menu, and a separate menu with the substitution if you have a dietary restriction. I didn't know they had an extensive kitchen and staff of 65 that works on the preparations and execution behind the scenes. It was definitely the most expensive fine dining experience in Europe, possibly the most expensive restaurant in Italy. But it was worth trying it. Very different from the Paul Bocuse experience, and different from Japanese fine dining too.