Italy! Ravenna, San Marino, Villaggio della Birra, Siena & Bologna

Description

August 30 – September 11, 2026

Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$TBD per person | Single Room add extra $TBD
International airfare not included.

Italy is a wine country… right? Over the last 20 or so years — especially the last decade — Italy has quietly become a beer country, too. Creative brewers embracing local and regional culinary traditions have sprung forth to offer Italian interpretations of the world’s great beer styles.

On this BeerTrip we explore the coastal elegance of Ravenna, the mountaintop republic of San Marino, the Tuscan countryside around Rapolano Terme (home of the beloved Villaggio della Birra festival), the medieval beauty of Siena, and the world-famous food capital of Bologna.

Beer, Food, History & Local Flavor — From the Adriatic to Emilia-Romagna

We start in relaxed and historic Ravenna, with its golden mosaics, Adriatic seafood and emerging coastal beer scene. Then we rise into San Marino, a tiny republic perched high above the plains — a place of towers, cliffs, sweeping views and quiet medieval charm.

Villaggio della Birra, deep in Tuscany, forms the beery heart of the journey: Italian farmhouse ales, Belgian inspirations, small local producers, food stalls, live music and a wonderfully warm Italian crowd. We stay nearby in Rapolano Terme, a spa town known for its thermal springs.

From there we travel into Siena — a masterpiece of medieval architecture, contrade neighborhoods, local cheese traditions and Tuscan wines. We finish in Bologna, where mortadella, prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamico and creative birrifici make Emilia-Romagna one of the world’s greatest culinary regions. A day in Parma and Modena brings us to dairies, prosciutto houses and the legendary balsamic attics of Modena’s families, as well as glimpses of the famous Motor Valley.

Come to Italy on a BeerTrip!

Why We’re BeerTripping Here

• Explores three iconic Italian regions: the Adriatic, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna.
• Includes Villaggio della Birra — Italy’s renowned farmhouse ale festival.
• Visits Ravenna’s UNESCO mosaics and San Marino’s mountaintop fortresses.
• Stays in Siena, the heart of medieval Tuscany.
• Full food immersion: cheese, prosciutto, balsamico, Chianina beef and coastal cuisine.
• Italian brewers pairing regional traditions with modern beer styles.
• Wine, Olives, Pasta, Salumi, Formaggio!! Si!

Trip Snapshot

• Duration: 12 days / 11 nights
• Group Size: Maximum 12 travelers
• Travel Style: Small-group, brewery-focused cultural journey
• Start / End: Begins in Bologna (BLQ), ends in Bologna (BLQ)
• Transport: Private coach plus short local transfers

Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits*

• Coastal breweries near Ravenna showcasing lagers and Adriatic-inspired styles.
• San Marino’s microbreweries and local pouring houses.
• Villaggio della Birra festival — farmhouse ales, Belgian classics, Italian saison creativity.
• Tuscan birrifici experimenting with herbs, grains and Belgian traditions.
• Emilia-Romagna’s rising craft scene in Bologna and nearby towns.

Wine & Spirits Highlights

• Albana di Romagna DOCG — honeyed, golden, underrated.
• Chianti Colli Senesi — earthy and elegant.
• Vin Santo from small Tuscan families.
• Lambrusco di Sorbara & Pignoletto from Emilia-Romagna.

Where We Stay

Ravenna – 3 nights | San Marino – 2 nights | Rapolano Terme – 1 night | Siena – 2 nights | Bologna – 3 nights

Included Tours

• City tours in Ravenna, San Marino, Siena and Bologna.
• Bologna food & drink walk.
• Villaggio della Birra festival visit.
• Parma & Modena culinary day (cheese, prosciutto, balsamico).
• Brewery visits in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and the Adriatic coast.
• Winery tasting & countryside lunch in Chianti.

Included Meals

11 Breakfasts | 5 Lunches | 4 Dinners

Arrival & Departure

Trip begins via Bologna Airport (BLQ), with individual transfers to Ravenna on arrival day. Trip ends in Bologna, with easy onward rail and air connections.

About the Cities & Regions We Visit

Ravenna — Adriatic Calm, Seafood & Golden Mosaics

Ravenna blends quiet streets, seafood traditions, golden mosaics and coastal beer culture. Local cheeses and soft breads add depth to Romagna’s food identity, while nearby beaches and piadine shops give the city a relaxed seaside feel.

San Marino — Towers, Cliffs & Mountain Air

A mountaintop micro-country with stone lanes, medieval towers, hearty cuisine, distinctive wines and a small but expressive beer culture. The views stretch across the plains toward the Adriatic, and the evenings feel pleasantly removed from the rush below.

Rapolano Terme & Tuscany — Thermal Waters & Italian Ales

Rapolano Terme is a spa town with hot springs, rolling hills and family-run wineries nearby. It’s also near Villaggio della Birra, one of Italy’s most beloved beer gatherings, where farmhouse ales and Belgian-inspired brews meet Tuscan hospitality.

Siena — Medieval Lanes & Tuscan Soul

Brick architecture, contrade flags, wine bars, butchers, cheese shops and deep-rooted culinary traditions define this stunning city. Siena’s streets are made for wandering, snacking and sipping.

Bologna — Italy’s Culinary Capital

Mortadella, prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamico, fresh pasta and a creative beer scene make Bologna a world-class food destination. Traditional osterie now share the streets with modern birrifici and beer bars.

Daily Itinerary*

(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 0 – Sunday, August 30, 2026 — Travel to Italy

Fly to Bologna, Italy — gateway to the Adriatic and Emilia-Romagna.

Overnight: Plane
Meals: –

Day 1 – Monday, August 31, 2026 — Arrive Bologna → Ravenna (D)

Arrive at Bologna Airport (BLQ) and transfer individually to Ravenna. After settling in, we gather for a welcome walk with small tasting plates and local beers. Highlights may include Romagnolo seafood and Adriatic herbs.

Local highlight: Squacquerone — a soft, spreadable regional cheese traditionally paired with warm piadina flatbread.

Overnight: Ravenna
Meals: D

Day 2 – Tuesday, September 1, 2026 — Ravenna Mosaics & Coastal Brewery (B, L)

Guided visit to Ravenna’s UNESCO mosaics, including San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Lunch features regional dishes such as passatelli or fresh seafood.

In the afternoon we visit a coastal brewery or taproom for Adriatic-inspired lagers and ales.

Local highlight: Raviggiolo — a delicate fresh cheese made only in small nearby dairies.

Overnight: Ravenna
Meals: B, L

Day 3 – Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — Adriatic Coast Day (B, L)

Excursion to the Adriatic coast — perhaps Rimini or Classe — for sea breezes, coastal walks and a relaxed fish lunch. We squeeze in a seaside beer stop at a local taproom or bar.

Local highlight: Albana di Romagna DOCG — Italy’s first white DOCG, golden and honeyed.

Overnight: Ravenna
Meals: B, L

Day 4 – Thursday, September 3, 2026 — To San Marino (B, D)

Depart Ravenna and climb into the hills toward the Republic of San Marino. On arrival we take an orientation walk with dramatic viewpoints and medieval architecture, then enjoy some free time to explore.

Dinner tonight features mountain dishes and regional wines.

Local highlight: Biancale — San Marino’s native white grape, often poured locally but rarely seen abroad.

Overnight: San Marino
Meals: B, D

Day 5 – Friday, September 4, 2026 — San Marino Walk & Local Ales (B, L)

Morning walking tour of San Marino’s fortresses and alleys, with time to soak up the views. Lunch is included in a traditional trattoria.

In the afternoon we visit a local birrificio or bar pouring small-batch ales from San Marino and the surrounding region.

Local highlight: wild boar salami from mountain families.

Overnight: San Marino
Meals: B, L

Day 6 – Saturday, September 5, 2026 — Rapolano Terme & Villaggio della Birra (B, D)

Travel into Tuscany and arrive in Rapolano Terme, a spa town surrounded by rolling hills. There’s time to soak in the warm mineral springs or simply relax before we head to Villaggio della Birra.

At the festival, enjoy farmhouse ales, Belgian-style brews, rustic food stalls and live music. Italian and international brewers pour side by side in a friendly, small-scale setting.

Local highlight: raw-milk Pecorino di Pienza — rarely exported and unforgettable when tasted close to home.

Overnight: Rapolano Terme
Meals: B, D

Day 7 – Sunday, September 6, 2026 — To Siena (B)

A calm Tuscan morning, then a short transfer to Siena. After checking in, we explore medieval alleys, Piazza del Campo, wine bars and small cheese shops at a relaxed pace.

Local highlight: pecorino cheeses matured in walnut leaves, grape must or clay pits.

Overnight: Siena
Meals: B

Day 8 – Monday, September 7, 2026 — Chianti Wine & Tuscan Ales (B, L)

Today we head into the countryside for a Chianti winery visit and a leisurely lunch among vineyards and olive trees. Expect local olive oil, salumi and seasonal dishes.

In the afternoon we stop at a Tuscan birrificio for farmhouse-inspired ales that riff on Belgian and Italian traditions.

Local highlight: Chianina beef — the ancient white cattle breed native to this region.

Overnight: Siena
Meals: B, L

Day 9 – Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — To Bologna (B, D)

Journey north into Emilia-Romagna and arrive in Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital. After check-in and a little time to settle, we gather for an included dinner featuring Bolognese specialties paired with local craft beers.

Local highlight: Prosciutto di Modena — often overshadowed by Parma but exceptional in its own right.

Overnight: Bologna
Meals: B, D

Day 10 – Wednesday, September 9, 2026 — Bologna Food Walk & Beer Lunch (B, L)

Food walk through Bologna’s historic markets and side streets: cheesemongers, bakers, salumi artisans, pasta shops and wine bars. We learn how traditional products are made and used in everyday cooking.

Lunch is at a brewpub or beer-focused kitchen, pairing classic dishes with modern Italian beers.

Local highlight: Parmigiano-Reggiano from Vacche Rosse — the rare “red cow” breed.

Overnight: Bologna
Meals: B, L

Day 11 – Thursday, September 10, 2026 — Parma & Modena Culinary Day (B, D)

Full-day immersion in the culinary heart of Italy. We visit Parmigiano-Reggiano dairies, prosciutto houses and traditional balsamic acetaie — the attic spaces where aged vinegar rests in wooden barrels for decades.

Time permitting, there’s an option to visit one of the Motor Valley sites (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati or Pagani museums) for those who like engines as much as ales.

Local highlight: traditional 25–50 year aceto balsamico sealed and aged in family attics.

Overnight: Bologna
Meals: B, D

Day 12 – Friday, September 11, 2026 — Depart Italy (B)

After breakfast, make your way to Bologna Airport (BLQ) or the train station for onward travel. You may extend your stay in Italy or head home with a suitcase slightly heavier from cheese, bottles and memories.

Meals: B

Practical Notes

Group Size & Pace

Maximum 12 travelers. Walking days include hills, cobblestones and city streets, with plenty of breaks. The pace is designed to balance structured tastings and tours with free time to explore, nap or linger over another glass.

What’s Included

• All listed brewery visits and tastings.
• All listed guided tours and activities.
• All accommodations (11 nights) in centrally located or well-situated hotels/inns.
• Daily breakfasts plus select lunches and dinners as noted.
• All group ground transport during the trip.
• BeerTrips trip leader throughout.
• All local taxes on included services.

What’s Not Included

• International airfare to/from Italy.
• Airport transfers outside of the main arrival/departure windows (if applicable).
• Most dinners and some lunches.
• Drinks beyond tastings and specific inclusions.
• Personal expenses, optional activities and tips.

Bookings & Payments

A per-person deposit is required at booking; the balance is typically due 90 days before departure. Full booking terms and conditions will be provided during registration.

Breweries, Medieval Streets & Mobility

Italian hill towns and historic centers mean cobblestones, uneven pavements, stairs and some inclines. Brewery and festival visits may involve standing for tastings and walking between venues. Travelers should be comfortable walking several miles over the course of a day at an easy pace.

If you have questions about mobility or whether this itinerary is a good fit, please contact us — we’re happy to talk through details.

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About BeerTrips

For more than 25 years, BeerTrips has crafted small-group cultural adventures woven through beer, food and history. We travel deeply, laugh often and savor every local flavor — from brewery cellars to family tables, from tiny villages to iconic cities.

*Final brewery line-up, festival details and exact timing are subject to confirmation and availability — as always, substitutions will be at least as good as what they replace.