Bologna La Grassa (The Fat)

Bologna is renowned for its cuisine. Tortellinitagliatelleragù and many other traditional dishes draw visitors to Bologna from every corner of the world. The E.C.Co. program helps students experience this delicious aspect of the local culture by offering an unforgettable cooking course with the chef Rita Mattioli.

The students meet with Rita for three lessons and learn to prepare traditional (but also non-conventional) dishes. After each cooking session, there is a dinner for all participants, where students taste excellent wines and share their views on food, diet and well being in general. Rita Mattioli’s cooking course has always been one of the highlights of the E.C.Co. program. Living in “the Fat” city also means going shopping at food markets and tasting great vegetables, meats, fish and bread! Do not miss the famous “Mercato di Mezzo” right next to Piazza Maggiore (open Monday – Saturday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm), or the delightful “Mercato della Terra” (Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm in the courtyard of the Cineteca) inspired by the “Slow Food” philosophy and featuring local products from the regions around Bologna. And … nothing can beat the Bolognese gelato! Our favorite gelaterie are Galliera 49 (via Galliera, 49/b), Il Gelatauro (via San Vitale 98/b), and La Sorbetteria (Via Castiglione 44).