Culatello of Zibello Private Tour: Farm, Fortress & Tasting

The cured meat is aged in cellars built into a 14th-century fortress.

A private tour of Zibello and the Parma Lowlands visiting a working farm, a restored medieval fortress, and tasting PDO Culatello of Zibello alongside other regional cured meats and wines. The tour includes a guide in English or Italian, traditional pasta and focaccia, and a full lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available within 15 kilometres of central Parma, or you can drive yourself and follow the guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Parma Lowlands and Farm Visit

• Cross Parma Morta Reserve
• Visit Maria Luigia’s Woods in Torricella
• See San Secondo Parmense and Roccabianca
• View Roccabianca Castle exterior
• Visit Zibello main square and Palazzo Pallavicino
• Tour farm with ancient local races
• Observe vegetable gardens and vineyards
• Explore ancient fortress cellars
• Enjoy tasting or lunch of local cured meats

The Experience

The tour starts in the Parma Lowlands, a flat agricultural region north of the city where traditions have held for centuries. You'll cross through the Parma Morta Reserve and Maria Luigia's Woods near the Taro river, passing through villages like San Secondo Parmense and Roccabianca where the pace of life has barely changed. Along the way you'll see Roccabianca Castle from the outside (a 15th-century fortress built by Pier Maria Rossi for his wife Bianca, with restored frescoes and heraldic emblems now visible in the portico), and the main square of Zibello with Palazzo Pallavicino.

The heart of the tour is a working farm devoted to recovering ancient local livestock breeds: white-mantled cows and the Nera Parmigiana pig breed. You'll walk through the vegetable gardens and vineyards, then descend into the cellars of a 14th-century fortress, perfectly restored and now housing a restaurant. This is where the PDO Culatello of Zibello is cured, the region's most prized cured meat, alongside Coppa, Pancetta, Salami, and Strolghino. The guide explains how this small area produces the greatest variety of cured meat products in the world and what sets each one apart.

Lunch is served in the fortress restaurant: traditional homemade pasta and focaccia, a large selection of the cured meats you've just seen being made, local wine, dessert, and coffee or tea. The whole experience runs about five hours. You can arrange hotel pickup and drop-off within a 15-kilometre radius of Piazza Garibaldi in central Parma, or drive yourself and follow the guide in your own car.

Options for this experience

2 options

Up to 10 per booking · Guide in English or Italian10:30 and 17:00

Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Italian10:30 and 17:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

What’s included

• Professional local guide in English or Italian.
• traditional homemade pasta and focaccia.
• large selection of cured meats including PDO Culatello of Zibello, Coppa, Pancetta, Lard and Salami.
• local wine and bottled water.
• dessert.
• coffee and tea.
• admission to the farm and fortress cellars.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within 15km of central Parma (available with the transportation option).

Days and timesDaily · 10:30 and 17:00

AgesAges 5+ · Under 5 — Free

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “We will meet in front of Avis Autonoleggio - Parma, in Largo Maestà del Taglio, 3a, 43122 Parma PR, next to "Da Gianni" Cafe.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by ARTEMILIA Guided Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the transportation option if your hotel is within 15 kilometres of central Parma and you'd rather not drive. Pick the self-drive option if you prefer to follow in your own car or your accommodation is outside the pickup radius.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Under 5, free.

What animals and products will I see on the farm?

The farm raises ancient local breeds including white-mantled cows and the Nera Parmigiana pig, and produces PDO Culatello of Zibello, Coppa, Pancetta, Lard, Salami, and Strolghino in the fortress cellars where they're cured and aged.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to drive myself?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within 15 kilometres of Piazza Garibaldi in Parma is included if you choose the "Price including transportation" option. The "Self-Drive Price" option means you provide your own transport and follow the guide in a separate car.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch features traditional homemade pasta and focaccia, a large selection of cured meats, local wine, bottled water, dessert, and coffee or tea, served in the fortress restaurant.

Can I do this tour if I have dietary restrictions?

The tour can accommodate gluten-free diets with prior notice at booking. It is not available for vegans and vegetarians, and the operator asks that you advise any specific dietary requirements when you reserve.

What is PDO Culatello of Zibello?

PDO Culatello of Zibello is a protected cured meat made from pork, aged in the fortress cellars you visit. The region is known for producing the greatest variety of cured meat products in the world, and Culatello is considered the finest.