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Covering the fertile hills that lie between the wetlands of the Veneto and Tuscany’s golden pastures, the region of Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy's most fascinating—especially for foodies and fans of Formula 1. As the birthplace of tortellini, Prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano—as well as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati—Emilia-Romagna is known as both the "Food Valley" and the "Motor Valley" of Italy. This October, our Insider Journeys group trips program will be heading to Modena, one of the region's largest cities (alongside Bologna and Parma), in the company of Modena native and world-famous master chef Massimo Bottura and his wife and business partner, Lara Gilmore. While based at their luxe guest house Casa Maria Luigia (offering an Ett Hem-like experience in an idyllic Italian countryside setting), guests of our upcoming trip will dive into Bottura’s philosophy of "Slow Food, Fast Cars," with private access to the Lamborghini museums, a look at one of the best Maserati race car collections in the world and behind-the-scenes tours of three of Massimo’s restaurants. Plus: You’ll get a first look at Casa Maria Luigia’s new annex—and the latest restaurant from Massimo.
Learn more about the highlights of the trip, Modena’s unique role in Italian cuisine—and why it should be on your travel wish list—and other tips and news from Massimo and Lara in an exclusive interview below.
Click here to join our Insider Journey to Modena with Massimo Bottura, taking place October 24 – 28, 2023. To learn more, listen to this interview with Massimo and Melissa Biggs Bradley for the Indagare Passport to Everywhere Podcast on SiriusXM.
"A few years ago, we found a country home for weekends, a place where we could go to get away from it all—but not too far away. It became a place to welcome guests to the breadbasket of Italy, a 15-minute drive from downtown Modena. At Casa Maria Luigia, we invite guests to discover the incredible treasures of the area, from the gastronomy to the landscape—the local wines, cheeses and cultural attractions. There is so much natural beauty in this corner of the world, and it is a pleasure to share all that we love about Modena through Casa Maria Luigia. Emilia-Romagna has such diverse landscapes, from the Adriatic Sea to the Apennine Mountains heading over to Tuscany. In the middle, large, flat agricultural plains are divided by the Po River. The region offers an astounding quantity and quality of culinary and enological ingredients. Modena is a friendly place with earnest and hard-working people. Modena is also the center of car culture, and in fact it is called 'Motor Valley,' for the production of luxury cars and race cars such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, and Dalara (from Parma). The unusual combination of Slow Food and Fast Cars is the heart and soul of Modena."
“Being in the market with Massimo, and just being on his ride in general, was surreal. Also being able to eat at Osteria Francescana with a private group was a “pinch me” moment… Oh, and breakfast…” — A Traveler on our 2022 Insider Journey to Modena
“It was life-changing. I loved the intimacy and quality time with Massimo and Lara.” — A Traveler on our 2022 Insider Journey to Modena
“This was a special trip and exceeded expectations. The capsule of those few days was filled with spectacular food, fun people, exciting locations and a contagious energy. It was a gift to be with Massimo and Lara so much.” — A Traveler on our 2022 Insider Journey to Modena
“The highlight was the time with Massimo and Lara—visiting the market with Massimo and visiting Tortellante with Lara. I could never have experienced this without Indagare.” — A Traveler on our 2022 Insider Journey to ModenaClick here to join our Insider Journey to Modena with Massimo Bottura, taking place October 24 – 28, 2023.
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