# Culatello.Parma.it - Culatello di Zibello and Parma food tours, compared

> Independent guide to Culatello di Zibello PDO and the Parma food tours where you can taste it or see it made:
> city food walks, curing-room tastings, Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma tours, and the few tours to
> the culatello producers of the Po lowlands. Tours from GetYourGuide and Viator side by side. Not affiliated with
> any producer, the Consorzio del Culatello di Zibello, any museum, tour operator, GetYourGuide or Viator.

Site: https://culatello.parma.it
Language: en. Currency: USD (tours), EUR (museum prices). Country: Italy (Parma, Emilia-Romagna).

## Verified facts

- Culatello di Zibello is a PDO (EU Reg. 1263/96) cured meat first documented in Parma in 1735. It is the boneless
  inner muscle of the pork thigh, seasoned (salt, pepper, garlic, optionally dry white wine), stuffed into a natural
  casing, usually the pig's bladder, tied into a pear shape (usually 3-6 kg since the 2025 rules) and aged at least 10 months.
- Production area (2025 rules): seven municipalities along the Po in the province of Parma: Busseto, Colorno,
  Polesine Zibello, Roccabianca, San Secondo Parmense, Sissa Trecasali and Soragna. About 40 km north-west of Parma.
- Traditionally made from October to February; only tens of thousands of certified pieces a year.
- Museo del Culatello, Antica Corte Pallavicina, Polesine Parmense: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed
  Mondays except holidays and all of January; EUR 7 with audio guide, culatello tasting EUR 8.
- November Porc 2026: Sissa 6-8 Nov, Polesine Parmense 13-15 Nov, Zibello 20-22 Nov, Roccabianca 27-29 Nov.
- Prosciutto di Parma is the whole leg on the bone, minimum aging raised from 12 to 14 months; Parmigiano Reggiano
  minimum aging 12 months; dairy visits are best in the morning when the cheese is made.
- Trains to Parma: from Bologna about 57 min on average (fastest 48); from Milan Centrale about 1 h 34 (fastest 51 min).
- Honest note: tours that visit a culatello producer are private or small-group days ($245-$324) with fewer than ten
  reviews; most visitors taste culatello on a Parma city food walk or a $25 curing-room tasting.

## Bookable tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide (partner_id 7GG5I5H) and Viator (partner ID P00318890) affiliate links. The site earns a
commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://culatello.parma.it/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move.

- Parma Private Food and Wine Walking Tour (Piazza Garibaldi, Parma) - from $129 per person, 3 hours, rated 5.0 from 651 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Parma/Parma-Walking-Food-Tour/d27234-237138P1
- Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour & Tasting (Pickup in Parma) - from $154 per person, 4 hours, rated 4.9 from 954 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/parma-parmigiano-production-and-parma-ham-tour-tasting-t403494/
- Culatello Country: Po Lowlands Half Day (Bassa Parmense (pickup in Parma)) - from $262 per person, 5 hours, rated 5.0 from 6 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Parma/The-Half-Day-Parma-Lowlands-Food-Experience/d27234-237138P6
- Prosciutto, Culatello & Culatta Tasting (La Fattoria di Parma, Sanguinaro) - from $25 per person, 1 hour, rated 5.0 from 2 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/parma-compare-prosciutto-di-parma-culatello-and-culatta-t1457986/
- A Taste of Parma: Parmigiano, Culatello & Wine (Strada Mazzini, Parma) - from $74 per person, 2 hours, rated 5.0 from 11 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/a-taste-of-parma-s-tradition-parmigiano-ham-wine-and-more-t1399550/
- Parmigiano, Culatello, Art & Music Day (Soragna and the Bassa, from Parma) - from $245 per person, 6 to 9 hours, rated 5.0 from 1 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/parma-food-tour-parmigiano-culatello-t729062/
- Cheese, Ham & Balsamic Vinegar Tour (Parma and Modena) - from $208 per person, 6.5 hours, rated 4.9 from 317 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/tour-parmigiano-cheese-parma-ham-balsamic-vinegar-t440413/
- From Milk to Wheels: Organic Parmigiano Dairy (Borgo del Gazzano, Parma) - from $50 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 262 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/parmesan-wheels-near-parma-tasting-factory-tour-t868007/
- Full Meal Walking Food Tour with a Local (Piazza Garibaldi, Parma) - from $101 per person, 3.5 hours, rated 4.7 from 101 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/parma-l2480/parma-a-full-meal-walking-food-tour-with-a-local-t327536/
- Food Valley Gourmet Private Tour (Parma countryside) - from $220 per person, 4 hours, rated 4.9 from 131 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Parma/Parma-Food-Valley-Gourmet-Tour-Easy/d27234-6739P3
- Labirinto della Masone Full-Day Entry Ticket (Fontanellato) - from $25 per person, Full day, rated 4.3 from 63 GetYourGuide reviews. https://www.getyourguide.com/fontanellato-l184974/labirinto-della-masone-entry-ticket-t438237/

## Guide pages on this site

- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/culatello-di-zibello/ - Culatello di Zibello explained: the cut, the bladder casing, PDO rules, the seven towns, 10 months minimum aging, how to eat and buy it, and where to taste it.
- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/culatello-tours/ - Every way to taste or see culatello near Parma: city food walks, a $25 curing-room tasting, the few producer tours ($245 to $324) and the museum on your own.
- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/parma-food-tours/ - The best Parma food tours compared: city walks from $74, dairy and ham tours with transport, a three-product day, private drivers, prices and who each suits.
- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/culatello-vs-prosciutto/ - Culatello vs prosciutto: the cut, bone, casing, where each is aged, 10 vs 14 months minimum, taste and texture, plus culaccia, culatta and where to taste them.
- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/culatello-country/ - A day in culatello country: the seven Bassa towns, Museo del Culatello hours and prices, Busseto and Verdi, November Porc 2026 dates, getting there and the fog.
- https://culatello.parma.it/guides/parmigiano-dairy-tours/ - Parmigiano Reggiano dairy tours from Parma: why to go in the morning, what you see, options from $50 to $245, and the rules on shoes, strollers and no-shows.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The production area is seven municipalities after the Polesine/Zibello and Sissa/Trecasali mergers; older sources
  list eight.
- Most 'Parma food tours' are about Parmigiano and prosciutto; only a few visit a culatello producer.
- Prosciutto di Parma's minimum aging is now 14 months, not 12.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage. Prices, schedules and opening hours change; verify close to your travel date.