Think You Know Eataly? Think Again

With the November 15 opening of Bologna’s FICO Eataly World, founder Oscar Farinetti saw the culmination of his vision to showcase the Italian agri-food industry from field to fork—and then some.

Where better than Bologna? This enchanting historical city is the capital of northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region—known as Italy’s “belly” and famed for its fresh pastas, Prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar, those iconic wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, ragù alla Bolognese and more.

A decade ago, Farinetti reimagined the 19th-century food hall and opened the first FICO Eataly in an old Turin Vermouth factory. (FICO stands for Fabbrica Italiana Contadina.)

His philosophy is “good food brings all of us together, and helps us find a common point of view.”

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Through partnerships and franchises, there are now some 40 worldwide, including one on MSC Cruises’ Preziosa. U.S. collaborators include celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich for the hugely popular emporiums in New York, Boston and Chicago.

The new colossal theme park meanders over 20 acres on the outskirts of Bologna. Eco-responsible, it boasts 44,000 solar panels. Five acres include gardens, orchards and pastures. The park’s farm will be home to some 200 animals: guinea hens, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits (all Instagram-worthy) while providing milk, eggs and other products. The variety of cows include Chianina, the source of the elite bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Visitors can see grain growing in the fields, milled into flour and processed into pasta. Some 40 workshops and courses offered include cooking lessons and how foods (meat, oils) and beverages are processed.

Myriad courses range from making gelato to everything you ever wanted to know about truffles to food photography. These can be booked ahead online at eatalyworld.it/en/plan. The goal is to tell food’s story from the beginning of the supply chain—agriculture and livestock, to the kitchen and the chef, to the fork.

Eataly can be very much a family affair. There are tours, courses, storytelling and activities geared to children, and the complex includes an indoor playground with a separate area for younger kids. A mini-golf course, handball court and a beach volleyball pit will keep tweens and teens happy.

Six themed interactive multi-media pavilions (Earth, Fire, Sea, Animals, Soil to Bottle and the Future) feature educational “rides.”

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Everyone is sure to love seeing the trained Rossopomodoro pizzaioli (pizza makers) tossing dough in the air—and eating the finished products. Delizioso.

Since this is a food-focused park, there are a wealth of options—some 45 venues. A street-food scene with stalls and kiosks works well for families on-the-go, and there are starred restaurants, casual trattorias and wine bars to linger in.

Admission to Eataly is free. Guided tours are available for €15 and are a good idea to get oriented. A train (€1) circles the park, connecting the different areas, and 500 adult-sized, three-wheeled bikes, specially designed by the famed bicycle maker Bianchi are free. They’re equipped with shopping baskets—and there are shops galore.

Eataly will also be a major congress venue. They hosted the third annual Good Italy Workshop on October 30. Seventy buyers specializing in food and wine tourism came from all over Europe, Russia, U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan and China. All were eager for the preview.

Farinetti is projecting six million visitors annually, half from abroad. Ultimately, he hopes to double tourism to Italy, beyond Rome, Venice, Florence and out to the provinces.

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Travelers sampling products like seafood from coastal Rimini and lamb skewers from southern Puglia may be motivated to visit those regions. Bene!

Eataly Fast Facts

—Open: Daily 10:am-Midnight

—Admission & Fees: Free; Visiting the six pavilions costs €10 for all or €2 each. Workshops and courses are priced individually.

—Getting there: By car it is about a 20-minute drive from the center of Bologna (depending on traffic)—The first two hours of parking are complimentary. Shuttle buses are available from Bologna’s main train station (walk or take a cab to the station). Marked shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to midnight—more frequently on weekends. Cost is €5 one way, €7 roundtrip.