Parmigiano & Prosciutto Food Tour in Parma: Factory Tastings

Watch cheese wheels being hammered and branded, then taste what you've seen

A guided food tour in Parma that takes you inside a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and a prosciutto factory, where you watch production firsthand and taste both products paired with local wine. The tour runs four to five hours and includes pickup from central Parma, a local expert guide with headsets, and visits to the aging cellars and curing rooms where these protected ingredients are made.

Step-by-step itinerary

Parmigiano and Prosciutto Food Tour

• Travel to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory
• Watch cheese makers produce Parmigiano Reggiano
• Visit shaping, salting, and aging rooms
• Taste Parmigiano Reggiano with sparkling wine
• Move to Parma ham production facility
• See processing, refrigeration, and aging areas
• Watch Parma ham processing in progress
• Taste Parma ham with local wine

The Experience

The tour starts early to reach the cheese factory while production is underway. You'll drive through the countryside where you see the stables and fields that supply the milk for Parmigiano Reggiano, then enter the caseificio to watch master cheese makers separate whey and shape it into the signature wheels. The guide walks you through each stage: the shaping and salting rooms, then the stagionatura where thousands of wheels age in rows. You'll learn about the Consorzio's rigorous testing, including the moment the wheels are hammered and fire-branded before they leave the facility. At the end of the cheese visit, you taste Parmigiano Reggiano paired with sparkling regional wine.

From there you move directly to the prosciutto factory. A brief introduction covers the history of Parma ham production, then you walk through the cold stage where fresh meats are processed, see the salting machines and refrigerated resting cells, and move into the aging cellars where the ham develops its flavor over months. If production is happening during your visit, you'll watch it in progress. The tour ends with a tasting of prosciutto served with local bread and sparkling wine from the Parma hills.

Pickup and drop-off happen at a central Parma hotel next to the train station. You'll wear a headset so you can hear the guide clearly throughout both factories. Children of all ages must be included in the booking and require a paid seat. Large bags and luggage are not permitted on the van.

What’s included

• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory visit with production walkthrough.
• cheese tasting paired with sparkling wine.
• Parma ham factory visit with processing and aging cellar access.
• Parma ham tasting with local bread and sparkling wine.
• pickup and drop-off at a central Parma hotel.
• local expert guide in English or Italian.
• headsets for hearing the guide clearly throughout both factories.

Days and timesDaily · 08:30 and 10:00

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “NH hotel: Parma station, north exit Falcone/Borsellino, reach the NH hotel on the right. Our Van wait at the bus parking area in front of the hotel . After 10 m…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by CURIOSEETY

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Italian, so book this tour if you're comfortable following commentary in one of those languages. The early morning start is what keeps both factory visits and tastings inside a single morning or early afternoon, fitting the experience into one part of your day in Parma.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What exactly happens during the Parmigiano Reggiano factory visit?

You watch cheese makers separate whey and shape it into wheels, then follow the cheese through the shaping and salting rooms into the stagionatura aging cellars. The guide explains the Consorzio's quality tests, including the hammering and fire-branding ritual that marks each wheel before it leaves the factory.

What do you see at the prosciutto factory?

The prosciutto factory visit includes the cold stage where fresh meats are processed, the salting machines, refrigerated resting cells, and the aging cellars where ham seasons over time. You may see production in progress depending on when you visit.

What wine is served with the tastings?

Parmigiano Reggiano is paired with sparkling regional wine during the cheese tasting, and Parma ham is paired with sparkling wine from the Parma hills during the second tasting, served with local bread.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll spend most of the time walking through the factories and tasting rooms, with no strenuous activity required.