Bologna & Liguria with Melissa Kelly

3 Reasons to Travel with
Modern Adventure
& Melissa Kelly

Aerial View of Portofino, a picturesque seaside village with colorful buildings and blue waters off the coast in Emilia Romagna of northern Italy.

The Patience of Place

Bologna & Liguria is a region shaped by patience and pride—arcaded cities, misty vineyards, and kitchens where time is an ingredient. Parmigiano aging in mountain air, pasta folded by hand, balsamic resting quietly in attic barrels—this is Italy at its most generous and deeply rooted.

Traveling with Melissa

Melissa Kelly is a two-time James Beard Award winner and the chef-owner of Primo in mid-coast Maine, where her farm-driven approach to Mediterranean cuisine has earned national acclaim. Raised on Long Island with deep Italian roots, she honed her skills at Chez Panisse and An American Place before opening Primo, a pioneering farm-to-table restaurant. Her cooking draws from her Italian heritage—fresh, seasonal, and soulful. With decades of accolades and a deep respect for tradition, Melissa brings the flavors of Italy to life, one dish at a time.

A close-up of a chef in a white apron using a traditional hand-cranked silver machine to roll out a thin sheet of fresh golden egg pasta dough in a rustic Italian kitchen.

So Much Deliciousness

If Italian food has a homeland, this is it. Fresh pasta rolled by hand, wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano aging for years, traditional balsamic vinegar slowly maturing in attic barrels, and prosciutto perfected through generations of craft. Bologna and Liguria is a region where daily life and extraordinary cooking have never been separate.

Experience Bologna & Liguria

Emilia-Romagna 2025_Scenic view of rolling vineyards and countryside leading to a charming hillside town near Bologna and Modena.

Emilia-Romagna 2025_Homemade pappardelle pasta with meat ragu and a glass of red wine served in a cozy Bologna restaurant.

Emilia-Romagna 2025_Warm and rustic restaurant setting with brick walls and traditional pottery in Bologna or Modena.

A close-up of dark, aged balsamic vinegar being poured into a glass flask from a traditional wood barrel in a rustic cellar, highlighting artisanal craftsmanship.

Emilia-Romagna 2025_Aerial view of Bologna’s historic center with terracotta rooftops and domed church architecture at sunset.

Emilia-Romagna 2025_Traditional wine cellar with rows of oak barrels stacked under vaulted stone arches.

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