26 The Essentials: Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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[Summary here]

Key Takeaways

  • How to structure a 4–7 night Emilia-Romagna itinerary around Food Valley, Motor Valley, and Bologna’s historic center

  • Which culinary experiences to prioritize, from Parmigiano Reggiano dairies to traditional balsamic vinegar producers

  • When to include cooking classes, market visits, and food tours to deepen clients’ understanding of regional cuisine

  • How to position Ravenna, San Marino, and Rimini as compelling add-ons for art, history, or coastal relaxation

  • Why Emilia-Romagna works best for repeat Italy travelers seeking authentic, less-touristed cultural experiences

About the guest: 

Marilena Barberi is the founder of Italy with Class, a boutique destination management company specializing in tailor-made luxury travel across Italy. Based in Italy, she works closely with Travel Advisors to design deeply immersive itineraries that highlight authentic culture, gastronomy, and local expertise. Through her work, Marilena helps advisors introduce clients to regions beyond the classic Italian circuit while maintaining seamless logistics and insider access.

Links and Resources:

Learn more about Italy with Class
Follow Italy with Class in Instagram

Whitney Shindelar

Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.

I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.

I look forward to designing your next adventure!

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