Although often skipped over in favor of destinations like Tuscany, Piedmont, Campania, or Sicily, the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy is one of the most interesting. With highly cultured cities, a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, and what many consider to be the best food in all of Italy, Emilia-Romagna is an underrated luxury travel destination. To inspire your next trip to Italy, here is a guide to the Emilia-Romagna region.
The Emilia-Romagna region of Italy is absolutely worth visiting, and for several reasons! Perhaps number one is that it’s a crowd-pleaser—there’s something in store for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re hoping for a luxurious beach vacation, a visit to some of the most storied car producers in the world, time in Medieval Italian cities, cuisine that will blow you away, or even a visit to the oldest and fifth-smallest nation (San Marino), Emilia-Romagna has it all.
Emilia-Romagna Wine and Food
Emilia-Romagna food is often considered the very best in all of Italy, and it also varies depending on where you go. In Bologna, there’s the world-famous Bolognese ragù, of course, as well as Mortadella Bologna, one of the most popular cold cuts in the entire country. Parma, in the Emilia part of the region, is the origin of famous food products like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and prosciutto di Parma, while Modena is known for its balsamic vinegar, and the Romagna part of the region loves piadina, a flat-bread that is filled with various meats and cheeses (or nutella for dessert!). To illustrate that excellent cuisine can also be extremely simple, there’s the popular local specialty passatelli, a thick kind of pasta made from breadcrumbs cut into the broth—the kind of dish a nonna would cook that will warm you up!
There are also many great Emilia-Romagna wines, like Lambrusco, located in the region’s plains, where grapes are grown for sparkling red wines and others. The area also produces excellent examples of Sangiovese, a key grape in many Italian wines, and Trebbiano, which creates snappy white wines that complement views of the beautiful Emilia-Romagna countryside.
In Emilia-Romagna, you can enjoy these local favorites while dining in some of the country’s most famous restaurants. Like Massimo Bottura’s three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana in Modena or Ristorante i Portici in the historic downtown of Bologna. One thing is for sure—you won’t go hungry!
Places to Go in Emilia-Romagna
Thanks to personal experiences exploring the area and decades of welcoming guests to Italy, we’ve come to know all the highlights of each region. Here are some of our favorite destinations off the beaten path within Emilia-Romagna.
Bologna
This city is thought to be the food capital of Italy – and perhaps even in the whole world – and is also home to the oldest university in Europe. The city has a beautifully preserved medieval center filled with restaurants where you can enjoy pasta Bolognese, tortellini, or ravioli. It is believed that Bologna was the birthplace of tortellini. Maybe that is why it is so good at local restaurants. Bologna also boasted about 100 towers during medieval times when the city was full of “skyscrapers” that offered protection and a lookout for the surrounding hills and plains. It is still possible to climb some of the surviving towers. Bologna is not one of the more touristy cities in Italy, which means you won’t have to contend with crowds to see all the sights.
Modena
Car enthusiasts will be sure to visit Modena—the home of Ferrari — where adventure seekers can experience an exhilarating drive around the racetrack in one of the cars. The Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena has a display of Ferraris through the years. After a visit, enjoy a meal at Ristorante Cavallino or “Montana” Restaurant, where you will be surrounded by Ferrari memorabilia and may even dine next to an F1 driver.
But aside from being called the “Motor Valley,” there are plenty of other reasons to head to this small city, too. As the home of Chef Massimo Bottura and his legendary Osteria Francescana, it should come as no surprise that Modena is a foodie destination. Plus, it has a thriving opera scene thanks to Luciano Pavarotti, who hailed from Modena. Its historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its beautiful Ghirlandina Tower and squares.
Of course, the other main reason to visit Modena is to check out its traditional balsamic vinegar producers, who take their craft very seriously—this isn’t the same balsamic you buy from the supermarket! While in town, take a tour of one of the centuries-old acetaie, where you can learn about vinegar production and sample the inky, sweet liquid made here for generations.
The extraordinary monuments of Modena are all concentrated in its elegant old town. These monuments tell the glories of a city that for a long time was the capital of a duchy under the Este Lords, who resided here in the sixteenth century; UNESCO has acknowledged the universal value of the city’s monumental treasures by declaring the Cathedral, Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina Tower UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can spend a day visiting the Palazzo Ducale, the Piazza Grande, the magnificent Duomo with its impressive bell tower, the interior of Palazzo Comunale with its prestigious frescoes, the covered food market Albinelli, and the Jewish ghetto. If you want to spend the whole day in the historical center, you can add the Renaissance church of San Pietro with its Benedictine monastery and the Baroque church of St. Augustine, once a pantheon of Este. Alternatively, the splendid Galleria Estense, with its paintings, sculptures, and archaeological collections, is a must for art lovers.
Parma
Parma is a colorful city with an impressive food scene. Visit Parma to indulge in parmigiano cheese and Parma ham. You can spend a day visiting Parmigiano Reggiano DOP production dairies and Prosciutto di Parma DOP production factories. The town has a close connection to classical music because Giuseppe Verdi was born nearby, and there is an opera house in the center. It was the capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza for centuries, and the city has the vibe of a small capital with a Central European flavor. It’s also enough off the beaten path that you’ll feel like you’ve uncovered a hidden gem.
As an alternative to the historic center of Parma, you can spend a day between Parmigiano Reggiano DOP production dairies and Prosciutto di Parma DOP production factories, where you can smell and sample the region’s specialties.
Dozza
This medieval village has been listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” and awarded the “Orange Flag” by the Italian Touring Club. Dozza is best known for the Biennial of Contemporary Art of the Painted Wall, founded in 1960, which has transformed the town into an open-air museum that visitors can always enjoy. Facades of homes are painted with various scenes.
Ravenna
Over 1,600 years ago, Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire and the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Today, the city preserves the richest world heritage of mosaics dating from the 5th and the 6th century AD, kept within its Paleochristian and Byzantine religious buildings, all UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visiting the historic center on foot or by bicycle like a true local is like reliving a millenary history.
Ferrara
This magnificent Renaissance capital, Ferrara, is a splendid city of art to be enjoyed by walking its streets or by bike, which is how most locals get around. Its character is revealed on every corner. The Este family governed here for three centuries and gave the city the appearance it has today: a uniquely planned city, harmoniously fusing Medieval and Renaissance, Europe’s first modern city. It is precisely these characteristics that secured its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Highlights in the old town include the imposing Castello Estense, the majestic Romanesque cathedral, and the Jewish ghetto. For a more culturally immersive experience, you can the Schifanoia Palace with its famous frescoes, the National Art Gallery in Palazzo dei Diamanti, or the mysterious fourteenth-century frescoes of the monastery of St. Anthony in Polesine to your itinerary.
What to Do in Emilia-Romagna
While in Emilia-Romagna, here are some of the top activities to pursue:
- Taste balsamico di Modena for yourself at an acetaia.
- Walk through the many porticos and piazzas of Bologna, stopping to check out the grand university buildings.
- Do a Lambrusco wine tasting and discover the flavors of this unique terroir.
- Hop from castle to castle on a tour of the region’s most interesting ancient towns.
- See what Italian nightlife is like in small cities like Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica, and more.
- Go to FICO World Eataly in Bologna, an Italian culinary theme park of sorts.
- Check out the origins of car brands like Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini in the region’s Motor Valley, where racetracks and museums await.
- Get your history and culture fix in Ravenna by visiting Dante’s tomb, the Galla Placidia Mausoleum, and a number of basilicas.
Plan a Luxury Trip to Emilia-Romagna
Intrigued by the many wonders of Emilia-Romagna? At Luxury Italian Tours, we have a history of welcoming guests to this part of the country, putting together luxurious and completely customized vacations that show off the best of this underrated region. If you’re interested in planning a trip, get in touch! We’ll put together a customized, luxurious itinerary that shows you the true meaning of Italian hospitality.
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