Emilia-Romagna is a region in northern Italy, extending from the Apennine Mountains to the Po River.

Featuring lesser-known destinations including the capital Bologna, Parma, Ravenna and Rimini, it offers travellers medieval cities and seaside resorts, a rich history and fine food and wine.

Bologna, is a vibrant city with an 11th-century university and arched porticos lining the streets and squares of its medieval core.

Ravenna, near the Adriatic coast is known for its brightly coloured Byzantine mosaics.

The UNESCO-listed Chalk Mountains and Caves

Emilia Romagna's Chalk Mountains and Caves have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list and,called Gessi, stretch for over 10km in the Emilia Romagna Apennines.

They are the oldest formations in the iconic central Italian mountain chain, dating back some 20 million years, and are home to over 900 caves.

Emilia Romagna now has 16 UNESCO-listed sites.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en

Rimini

Rimini is a coastal resort with culture and beaches.

There's the chance to explore ancient Roman architecture, such as the Arch of Augustus and visit the Federico Fellini International Museum, devoted to the life and work of the Italian film director and screenwriter.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns#provincia=Rimini

Cinema Modernissimo

Bologna's iconic Cinema Modernissimo, built in 1914 has been restored to its early twentieth-century with interiors of the auditoriums returned to their original Liberty style splendour.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns/bologna

The Enzo Ferrari trail in in Motor Valley

Enzo Ferrari was the visionary behind one of the world's most iconic sports car brands and there is the chance to learn the art of precision driving at the Varano Melegari Circuit and visit the two Ferrrari museums in the region.

https://www.motorvalley.it/en/

Motor Valley Fest

Modena, 2 to 5 May 2024

Motor Valley Fest 2024 is an annual celebration of engines, innovation, culture, and the food and wine in the city of Modena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is followed by the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

https://www.motorvalley.it/en/motorvalleyfest/

Guercino : a fusion of art, culture and history

Emilia Romagna is hosting a tribute to the Baroque artist, Guercino throughout 2024.

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, better known as Guercino, was born in Cento, in 1591.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/search?q=guercino

The thermal baths

Emilia Romagna has had thermal towns since Roman times and surrounded by National Parks,

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/spa-wellness/thermal-establishments

The gastronomic heart of Italy

Emilia Romagna is known for its exquisite culinary offerings including Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar, with trattorias and osterias lining the cobbled streets of cities like Bologna and Ferrara.

Modena is home to balsamic vinegar aka 'aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena' and here one finds Balsamic Village, a theme' park dedicated to balsamic vinegar of Modena.

It covers 40,000 square metres with 70 hectares of vineyards, cellars, paths and illustrative panels.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/food-valley

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/food-valley/dop-igp-products/pdo-parmigiano-reggiano

www.balsamicovillage.it

Winemaking

Emilia Romagna enjoys a fine winemaking tradition and wine enthusiasts can tour picturesque vineyards, meet passionate winemakers and savour tastings in the various cellars.

A great way to do is by following the region's wine trail from Bertinoro, known as the 'city of wine', to Dozza.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/itineraries/on-the-wine-trail

Tresigallo

Tresigallo, near Ferrara, is a small capital of Italian Rationalism, the successful attempt at very modern town planning.

This medieval town saw its most important period starting in the 1930s, when Edmondo Rossoni, an inhabitant of the town and the Minister of Agriculture in Mussolini's government, transformed it according to the canons of rationalist architecture.

Tresigallo is one of the few examples of a foundation city to be recognised as a 'city of art.

https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/itineraries/discovering-tresigallo-the-metaphysical-city

Comacchio

The small village of Comacchio rises in the middle of a lagoon of the same name and was originally built by 13 small islands formed at the mouth of the Po River with the sea.

Known as 'Little Venice', it has an historical centre crossed by a dense network of canals.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns/comacchio

Birdwatching at the Po Delta Park

Po Delta Park is the second largest wetland in Europe, is a vast UNESCO-listed with several lagoons, woodlands and small islands, making it a real paradise for naturalists, biologists, tourists and birdwatchers.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/nature-outdoor/natural-parks/po-delta-park

Ferrara

Ferrara, also known as the city of Renaissance received UNESCO recognition in 1995.

The city, although designed in the Renaissance, has recently gone through profound development of urban planning, making it a combination of historical and modern landscape.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns/ferrara

The Duchies Trai' from Emilia Romagna to Tuscany

Launched in 2021, the Sentiero dei Ducati (the Duchies Trail) is the latest addition to Emilia Romagna's network of ancient pilgrimage routes.

It retraces the ancient routes contouring the borders of the historic Italian regions once ruled by a Duke or Duchess. Sentiero dei Ducati has two different trails, with one for hikers (160km) and another for mountain bikers (90km).

Both start in the village of Quattro Castella (Emilia Romagna) and end in the ancient Roman port of Luni (Tuscany). The path crosses vineyards, castles, ancient churches, stone made villages, fresh streams and beech forests that will delight bikers and cyclists alike.

https://camminiemiliaromagna.it/en/cammino/21-sentiero-dei-ducati

Galla Placidia

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is one of the city's oldest buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage monument since 1996.

The mosaics, described by UNESCO as "among the best surviving examples of this form of art in Europe," is the starry sky that drapes parts of the ceiling, enhanced by the golden pours through the tiny alabaster windows, create a magical atmosphere.

www.ravennamosaici.it

Labirinto della Masone

The 3km Labirinto della Masone is the world's largest bamboo labyrinth, with 200,000 bamboo plants between 30 cm and 15 metres in height, and an adjoining art collection, restaurant and two suites to spend the night.

www.labirintodifrancomariaricci.it/en/labirinto-masone/labyrinth/#section0d

Votigno di Canossa

In the stone village of Votigno di Canossa, 24km southwest of the city of Reggio Emilia, visitors can find Europe's first (and Italy's only) Tibetan monastery.

Inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 1990, the complex includes a Tibetan temple, museum and B&B.

It's a quiet and quirky place for contemplation nestled among the enchanting green hills of Reggio Emilia.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns/canossa

Santarcangelo di Romagna

The village of Santarcangelo di Romagna, 10km west of the seaside town of Rimini, is a medieval town featuring an ancient castle, alleyways, arches and a variety of restaurants.

Below ground, a patchwork of over 150 caves, galleries and tunnels dug from the sandstone and clay unravels.

This parallel city was used in the Middle Ages, some say to ensure survival during months-long sieges (grain, wine and perishable food storage is abundant in the concealed underground world), though its actual construction date and purpose remains a mystery unsolved.

www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/towns/santarcangelo-di-romagna

Useful links

​ www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en