• Private Tour
• Carbon Neutral

Once you have started your trip to Italy, you will probably be surprised by the unexpected heritage of the unknown sites out of the main routes. Parma is the perfect combination for a dive into history: monuments, music and old delicious culinary recipes.

Destination

Bologna, Italy

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

8 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Română, Italiano

Included

• Entrance tickets
• Private guide

Excluded

• Lunch in typical Trattoria

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Riccardo.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Parma - Bologna to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Farnese Wooden Theatre

   a visit to the extraordinary temple of music, art and performances of Farnese family, built at the end of 16th century. What will welcome you, is something absolutely unique in the world, the coreography, the statues, the arches and the wooden stands, everything still like at the time when baroque meant oddness and fusion of arts and techniques...

4. National Gallery

   Difficult to mention and quote all treasures of this temple of painting; for sure the eyes of the Scapigliata by Leonardo Da Vinci and those of the "Turkish Bride" by Parmigianino will be left impressed in your mind for quite a long time...

5. Lunch in typical Trattoria

   Parma is a synonym of food: its culinary traditions are various and rich, ranging from the homemade pasta, stuffed with pumpkin and wild herbs, until the many possible tastings of local salume and Parmesan. Do not be afraid to risk breaking the magic of a real renaissance court: the tradition, the gastronomy is still nowadays very similar to that.

6. Santa Maria della Steccata

   Parmigianino painted here its masterpiece, rapresenting the "Silly and Wise Virgins", carving gold to enrich the whole decoration.

7. Baptistery and Cathedral

   explore the Domne of the Cathedral, the first baroque painting in history of art, and the many miedieval sculptures of the Baptistery, considered a book made of stone and marble.

8. Camera di -san Paolo

   visit the secret room of the Nun, Giovanna da Piacenza, and her painted dreams of an external world, where trees, birds, pagan gods and goddesses abide

9. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

MarieAnne🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 October 2024

I have worked with many guides over the years and Riccardo was one of the very best. His knowledge is expansive and he drew so many sociocultural connections for my group in such an engaging way. Few guides are so knowledgeable about both history and art history. My group absolutely adored him.Superb guide

Nishit🇺🇸 United States

2 July 2024

Riccardo provided a fantastic tour and highlighted the most amazing parts of the city! The theatre in the Pillota was breathtaking along with the art hidden within. Thanks so much Riccardo! Much knowledge. Listen carefully!

pieng🇮🇪 Ireland

3 May 2022

Riccardo tailor planned a day in Parma for two around a late booking. His knowledge of the art & history of every venue brought so much more to appreciate in the little town than famed ham & cheese. The trip was followed by visit to a castle in the countryside and recommendation to eat in a fantastic trattoria. Highly recommend to spend time with Riccardo when in Bologna & the region.Fantastic full day at Parma

Lei🇺🇸 United States

13 December 2021

The tour was informative, enlightening and immensely enjoyable. The knowledge Riccardo shared with me on history, art, architecture, local flavor, etc… are not something one can get from tour books. Like the presbytery of San Giovanni Evangelista - I would never dare to enter myself through a half closed door. And the lunch place we went - again without his guidance I would never dare to sit down at a super local place and have a conversation with total strangers about food (even though he hates Ferrara). His enthusiasm influenced my feeling for the city, the people and the culture there. I wish we had more guides like Riccardo to show us the hidden treasure of Italy, beyond the crowded canals of Venice and over-toured towns of Tuscany. Keep up the good work!Passionate, knowlegeable and fun

Edward🇺🇸 United States

16 February 2025

Riccardo's academic knowledge of the architecture, history and art of Bologna was astounding. I hardly felt worthy being tutored by him with his profound breadth of expertise in all things cultural in magnificent Bologna. He is a professor and personally helped to identify hundreds of things that are now protected as a world heritage items. His enthusiasm and love of his city is infectious and it deepened our appreciation of it profoundly. We are so thankful to have had Riccardo make our visit so educational and unforgettable.Incredible Ambassador of Bologna

Thomas E🇺🇸 United States

23 October 2024

The depth and breadth of Riccardo's knowledge is remarkable. Combine that with his passion and friendly personality and you've got an amazing introduction to Bologna. If you want to begin to understand the wonders of this city, he's your guy. Astonishingly good guide

Lina🇺🇸 United States

17 October 2024

Riccardo had a lot to say about everything and every place we visited from Bologna to Modena to the Acetaia for a balsamic vinegar tour and back to Bologna! He brought us to the market in Modena, the church and a great restaurant, UVA D’Oro where we had the best Tagliolini with truffles in a butter Parmesan sauce- over the top. He is knowledgeable and full of facts and details- he doesn’t skip a beat. Then we set out for Villa San Donnino where they make and process balsamic vinegar for a tasting. What a great day. If you are going to Bologna, be sure you book Riccardo for any day trip - you will love him!Great Day!

Norman🇺🇸 United States

16 October 2024

Riccardo is full of passion and knowledge about the complex history and evolution of Bologna. A fun and interesting experience!Passion for Bologna

Zoe🇺🇸 United States

18 September 2024

Riccardo was an amazing tour guide. One of the most knowledgeable and experienced guides we've ever had. He is a treasure trove of knowledge and taught us so much about the rich history of Bologna. His passion for the city is inspiring and I highly recommend a tour with him. He showed us so many "hidden gems" that we would have just walked past obliviously without a second thought. Our visit to the city would just have not been the same without him. He accommodated our request and catered the tour to our interests and we have such great conversations with him. Thank you Riccardo for such a great tour and an amazing experience! Can't wait to come back to Bologna to visit again!We learned so much on this amazing tour!

Kathy🇺🇸 United States

15 June 2024

We’ve done several tours during our time here in Italy, but this ranks the highest. Ricardo has an incredible wealth of knowledge and is passionate about his city and the rich history it contains. We had been in the city a couple of days before the tour and saw Bologna with new eyes after. I feel like I could have stayed a month and done a tour each week with him and never been bored!Walking tour of Bologna

Brendan🇺🇸 United States

8 May 2024

My wife and I have traveled the world and have had many guides help us, but Riccardo is one of the best we have ever had. His passion and love for the city is unmatched. His in-depth knowledge of the history, locations and details was phenomenal. He is open to customizing the tours to what you want to see or do. I would also add that he goes above and beyond the help and assistance I have ever experienced with any guide. You will be thrilled you had him for a guide and would enlist his services again in a heartbeat. We would give more than 10 Stars if we could!Stop!! Look no further!!

Francisco

29 April 2024

From the beginning of the tour, it was clear that Riccardo knew the subject matter (architecture, art history and history). What made him stand out was his enthusiasm! He has fun on his tours, and so do his clients. Unfortunatley, Withlocals management leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily, Riccardo called me, explained some administrative glitches beyond his control, including a double booking by Withlocals, and offered alternative arrangements. Although not the private tour expected, the tour was still excellent. Thank you, Riccardo! Riccardo: knowledgeable enthusiastic fun!

Phyllis🇺🇸 United States

3 November 2023

We met Riccardo at the Bologna train station (we were day tripping from Florence) and he led us on a fast-paced, three hour walk exploring the architecture, art, and history of Bologna. Three hours was not nearly enough time, but we saw a lot and learned tons. Riccardo knows art and architecture and explained the numerous styles, periods, churches, colonnades, towers, and piazzas. He was able to answer every question we asked -- and then some . He is also flexible. When we were discussing a certain sundial and I asked very specific questions, he said, "Oh, we could have done a science tour"; he could have and would have altered his usual itinerary had we asked (actually he did; a major piazza was recently closed because one of the medieval towers is tilting). He has the knowledge, the attitude, and the flexibility one hopes to find in a private guide. I can recommend him without qualification.His knowledge is encyclopediac

Cheryl🇺🇸 United States

29 September 2023

Riccardo was energetic, passionate , incredibly knowledgeable and just a pleasure to spend three hours with on our first morning in Bologna . He is a “gem” in the world of tour guides . If we had more time here we would have booked other trips with him - hopefully we will be back . Perfect tour of Bologna !

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

22 September 2023

Riccardo gave us a fact-filled tour of Bologna’s historic centre. He was clearly passionate about the city’s Medieval and Renaissance past and we learnt a lot. It was great to get such insight into the layers of Bologna’s history, as well as to have exclusive entry to some of the buildings. He adapted to the interests and pace of our small group, and was happy to stop for coffee and questions (and rice cake!). It was a great start to our trip. Grazie mille Riccardo!Really informative guide

Karen🇺🇸 United States

22 September 2023

The private tour was magnificent and I feel we got more that what we paid for! We were lucky enough to have Riccardo guide us on a visit to Modena. If you want to get visit and see the real historical and artistic side of Modena I would go with Riccardo. Riccardo has a lot of passion and education about the ER region and he shares it with you. Riccardo picked us up in his private car from Bologna and drove us to Modena and we walked the beautiful city of Modena. We also had an opportunity to visit a monastery and church and went behind the scenes were very few people were allowed. I would highly recommend Riccardo to any history buff and lover of Italy. For the true lovers of art and history!

Kenneth🇵🇭 Philippines

19 May 2023

Ricardo showed us beautiful artworks (paintings & sculptures) including architecture in relation to the history of Bologna He really knows what he is talking about. A recommend!Art & culture in relation to history

Malvika 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

17 April 2023

We spent a wonderful day with Riccardo who had a lot of knowledge about the history of Ravenna . He is very friendly and helpful and we look forward to meeting him and touring around with him on our next visit. He also took us to a great restaurant for lunch . I highly recommend him .Beautiful Ravenna

Lesley🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 October 2022

We timed our ‘hidden gems’ tour to take place a few hours after we arrived in Bologna. It was a great way to immerse ourselves in the city, to get our bearings and to consider what else we might want to see during our visit to the area. Our guide, Riccardo, introduced us to the treasures of the main square and beyond, put Bologna and it’s history in perspective and showed us some of the great art and architecture in the city. We were blown away! With an easy manner and great knowledge of the art in Bologna and how it related to other works across Italy, we would definitely consider booking Riccardo again. Culture in the City

James🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 October 2022

Great experience and a fantastic way to see the beautiful and historic city. Riccardo was so knowledgeable and passionate. Highly recommended and not to miss!

Caroline🇦🇺 Australia

2 September 2022

Somehow I got the date wrong but Riccardo was accomodating and waited for us. I do not know how someone can remember so much detail and present it in such an interesting way. The places he took us to were incredible and so much more interesting when the context is explained. He took us to an excellent fish cafe for lunch. Despite us being late he did not rush us nor shorten our visit. Apart from telling us about Ravenna he gave lots of other info and tips for the rest of our stay. Grazie Riccardo per il giro. La prossima volta vedrò i fenicotteriAmazing day out in Ravenna

Jim🇺🇸 United States

13 August 2022

We had a fabulous time with Riccardo visiting Modena. Riccardo was able to take us to an abbey that produces traditional balsamic vinegar and has done so for centuries. We learned so much about Modena from Riccardo and had the privilege of tasting the balsamic vinegar at the abbey. This was an excellent day trip from Bologna.

Jim🇺🇸 United States

11 August 2022

We had a wonderful time with Riccardo, learning about Bologna. Riccardo was extremely knowledgeable and gave us unique insights into and history of this wonderful city.

Gerda🇳🇱 Netherlands

30 July 2022

Riccardo heeft ons een geweldige rondleiding gegeven door Bologna. Hij heeft ontzettend veel kennis van historie, kunst en architectuur maar wist zich prima aan te passen naar het niveau van onze groep. De tour was een goede mix van serieuze en wat luchtigere elementen die ook onze tienerzonen kon boeien. Zijn Engels is zeer goed te volgen.Rondleiding door Bologna

Michiel en Agnes🇳🇱 Netherlands

25 June 2022

Riccardo gave us a perfect tour. Showed also the hidden pearls of Bologna, has a lot of knowledge about the history of art, was very friendly and stoot open for all kind of questions and interests. His English is very good.👍🏻Perfect

Jim🇺🇸 United States

2 June 2022

Riccardo is very knowledgable about the history of his city, as well as famous artists of Italy. He was sensitive to our needs. I would absolutely hire him again.Outstanding

Unknown

25 April 2022

Riccardo was great! We had a wonderful day Ravenna. He was knowledgeable, friendly, a safe driver, and spoke English very well. I would highly recommend a day with him if you were planning to go to Ravenna.Wonderful day in Ravenna

Kathleen🇺🇸 United States

20 April 2022

We had a wonderful, educational day with Riccardo. He met us at the train station in Bologna and drove us in his car to Ravenna. He gave us a thorough but focused tour of the ancient sites—both in the center of the city and one on the outskirts of town. The tile work was beautiful and amazing. Riccardo helped us to focus on the most pertinent and interesting items. It would have been hard to do that on our own. We stopped with him for a small lunch of piadine on the square. All in all it was a wonderful day!! Busy day visiting Byzantium—in Ravenna!

Susan🇺🇸 United States

16 April 2022

We went to Ravenna with Riccardo to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site churches. It was a wonderful day, made so much more meaningful (and easy) by having Riccardo as our guide. This was our second tour with Riccardo and we were again impressed by his depth of knowledge and feeling for these glorious art works. He is also a very good companion to spend several hours with. I highly recommend this tour and Riccardo!Fabulous tour to Ravenna

Susan🇺🇸 United States

13 April 2022

We took a 3-hour city tour with Riccardo, and we are so happy we did! Riccardo is a wonderful guide and so knowledgable and passionate about his lovely city. We managed to go to many sights without ever feeling rushed or that things were being skimmed over. And we saw things and places we might never have found on our own. We learned so much and it will make the rest of our time here that much more meaningful. I cannot recommend this tour or Riccardo highly enough !Wonderful Day

Arianne🇪🇸 Spain

8 December 2021

Dear Riccardo, I want to thank you for a wonderful day trip to Parma today. It was informative, enlightening and immensely enjoyable! When I told friends I am going to Parma, even my Italian friends were skeptical of my selection of destination, given so many other options nearby to spend a day. But you have given me a chance to prove that I made a good decision. The knowledge you shared with me on history, art, architecture, local flavor, etc… are not something one can get from tour books. Like the presbytery of San Giovanni Evangelista - I would never dare to enter myself through a half closed door. And the lunch place we went - again without your guidance I would never dare to sit down at a super local place and have a conversation with total strangers about food (even though he hates Ferrara). Your enthusiasm influenced my feeling for the city, the people and the culture there. And I thank you for that. We need more guides like you to show us the hidden treasure of Italy, beyond the crowded canals of Venice and over-toured towns of Tuscany. Keep up the good work!wonderful day trip to Parma

Marjolein🇳🇱 Netherlands

16 October 2021

Yesterday we did a tour with Riccardo to Modena and a balsamic tasting and we really enjoyed it. Modena has a beautiful cathedral and Riccardo was very knowledgeable of its history. Then we had a lovely lunch and had the best pasta ever (where Riccardo explained the difference between tortellini and tortelloni, amongst other things). We also loved the balsamic tour and tasting, it was very authentic and delicious. Finally we should mention that we were traveling with our six week old daughter and that it was great that Riccardo was willing to take that into account when organizing the trip and made sure we had time to feed her. All in all we had a great day and would definitely recommend Riccardo as a guide!Great Modena tour and balsamic tasting

David🇺🇸 United States

25 September 2021

First, Riccardo had a time conflict, but was able to get Isidore to fill in for him. She turned out to be a delight by helping us appreciate Bologna as only a native born could. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and beaming with pride for her native Bologna. Displaying a wonderful knack of relating the past to the present in this historic city, she helped us appreciate the continuity and function of the center of Bologna. The towers apparent and hidden along with the miles of covered porticos left an indelible impression on us. Thank you Isidore.Bologna towering from past to present

Dana🇮🇹 Italy

24 June 2021

It was a real pleasure to be guided by someone who’s so knowledgeable and passionate about his city. I loved being able to access “hidden” parts of the basilica and see some masterpieces closer Thank you Riccardo Discover hidden parts of the city

Sebastian

7 August 2020

Our guide Riccardo gave us a very nice tour a little off the beaten track. We have seen several little jewels in the backstreets of Bologna. Anytime again! Anytime again!

Daniela

20 March 2020

ancora complimenti per il giro di oggi. bravissimo. come d'accordo ti lascio la mia mail così da poterci tenere informati per i prossimi giri che hai in programma. poi ad avvisare gli altri miei amici, anche loro presenti oggi, ci penserò io. grazie ancora.Ravenna's Heritage Highlights Day Trip

Aaron🇺🇸 United States

20 March 2020

Riccardo Bacchi è una guida molto esperta. A volte abbiamo avuto problemi a capirlo, ma, ha fatto del suo meglio per ribadire in tutti i modi possibili. Dovevano essere tre ore a piedi nella storia di Bologna, ha continuato per oltre un'ora per noi, abbiamo visto e imparato molto Bologna, grazie al suo entusiasmo per la sua città e la sua cultura.Guida molto esperta

Sarah

20 March 2020

It was scheduled to be a 3 hour tour, but you were kind enough make suggestions to incorporate small additions into the agenda which added so much to our morning in your beautiful city. Your knowledge of the history of the city and region was impressive, as well as the Art History which we enjoyed as you pointed out frescoes, architectural features and interesting items on display. You highlighted items of interest which might be more meaningful to some in the group depending upon their background - which was thoughtful and made it more meaningful for us. Thanks again for your encyclopaedic knowledge and patience with our questions - we were all very impressed. Keep up your excellent work.Excellent work

Cristina

20 March 2020

Sorpresa inaspettata! Riccardo ci ha mostrato, con passione coinvolgente per l'arte e per la sua città, diverse sfaccettature del volto di una Bologna sempre in grado di stupire anche il turista più esigente. Dai focus sulla storia dell'Università, del Mercato e della gastronomia locale, alla visita incantevole del complesso delle Sette Chiese, dell'Oratorio di Santa Cecilia e dell'adiacente basilica di San Giacomo Maggiore! Meraviglioso!Sorpresa inaspettata!

Andrea

20 March 2020

Pittori e architetti tra Rinascimento e Barocco, chiese, sagrestie, cortili, capitelli, storie, Storia ... e poi la folla del mercato antico, vero cuore di Bologna, quella di un tempo e di sempre, la sua cultura e la sua umanità. Riccardo Bacchi con affabilità mette assieme i diversi piani della città. Il suo discorrere va oltre il nozionismo e il dettaglio curioso. Disvela preziose connessioni tra le epoche regalando chiavi di lettura anche per il nostro presente. Un consiglio, se posso: la visita a Palazzo Magnani può essere benissimo ridotta, anche di un terzo. Mi era risultata un po' pesante e sproporzionata rispetto al tempo poi riservato al resto, fatto forse un po' di corsa. Magari, poi, come anche ti avevo già scritto, seguendo un percorso storico crescente nel salire al primo piano e poi scendendolo. Nessun problema se ripassi dalle stesse sale. Creare un filo temporale tra le varie opere aiuta a comprenderle meglio e dà più soddisfazione. Best of Bologna Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems

Marcin

20 March 2020

It was a pleasure you guided tour of Bologna. Keep o doing! Grazie milePleasure

Corinne

20 March 2020

Grazie ancora per la tua guida animata di una passione che tutti i guidi dovrebbero avere. Ci sarebbe un tour che potrebbe essere interessante per me di fare ancora a Bologna? E se lo fai tu, ancora meglio. Grazie!

Andrew

20 March 2020

Riccardo took my son and I on a tour of a very small parmesan producer in the mountains, then we went back to Bologna for the many of the important food and cultural sites of Bologna, He is a great guide.Great guide

Sarah

15 November 2019

Last Friday (15th Nov 2019) I signed up for the tour of Bologna leaving Bologna Welcome Office at approx 10.30am.It was scheduled to be a 2 hour tour, but you were kind enough make suggestions to incorporate small additions into the agenda which added so much to our morning in your beautiful city.Your knowledge of the history of the city and region was impressive, as well as the Art History which we enjoyed as you pointed out frescoes, architectural features and interesting items on display. You highlighted items of interest which might be more meaningful to some in the group depending upon their background - which was thoughtful and made it more meaningful for us.Please feel free to pass this note on as a reference or to put it onto Trip Adviser (without publishing my contact details of course)Thanks again for your encyclopedic knowledge and patience with our questions - we were all very impressed. Keep up your excellent work.Keep up your excellent work