For chocolate-lovers visiting Italy, there is one city that stands above all the rest as a must-see: this is the town of Perugia located at the centre of the country in the region of Umbria. Perugia is home to Perugina, the leading chocolate brand in Italy and here you won't need a gold ticket in order to step into the fantastical world of their chocolate factory. You can take tours of the factory, visit their museum, taste their wares – the most famous of their products being their chocolate and hazelnut Baci (or Kisses) – and take chocolate-making lessons. To spend a fantastic couple hours immersed in the world of Italian chocolate, just find a holiday rental in Perugia and make your way down to Via San Sisto one afternoon.
The tour lasts an hour and a quarter and takes you through a test kitchen, past chocolate-themed museum displays and above whirling conveyor belts, before finishing in an all-you-can-eat tasting at the end of the tour. Just call ahead and make an appointment to take the tour, it's that simple! The tour is available in several different languages, but is only conducted in a single language at a time, so ensure you're on the right one. One of the first and most enjoyable things that you notice as you approach the factory is the distinctive smell in the area, almost as though someone were baking a giant batch of brownies.
Throughout, you'll also be treated to lots of their produce meaning that the whole experience really is the chocolate-lover's dream come true.
As well as the tour, there is a museum which tells the story of the brand and its profound link with the surrounding area. The tasting area and chocolate school is run by master chocolatiers and opened to anyone.
Keep an eye out on their website for the three to four hour chocolate-making workshops, held at 10am and 3.30pm on Saturdays and costing between €55 and €65, which are a good introduction for anyone intrigued by chocolate-making. If you haven't had enough of Perugina at that point you can also visit the gift shop as you leave. The whole experience is truly a delicious highlight of Umbria!
As well as the tour, there is a museum which tells the story of the brand and its profound link with the surrounding area. The tasting area and chocolate school is run by master chocolatiers and opened to anyone.
Keep an eye out on their website for the three to four hour chocolate-making workshops, held at 10am and 3.30pm on Saturdays and costing between €55 and €65, which are a good introduction for anyone intrigued by chocolate-making. If you haven't had enough of Perugina at that point you can also visit the gift shop as you leave. The whole experience is truly a delicious highlight of Umbria!
Photo credits
Picture 2: Ciclista / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 2: Ciclista / CC BY-SA 3.0