Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna’s name comes from Aemilia (now Via Emilia), a road built by Ancient Rome people, and most cities of the region are actually located on it. Emilia Romagna has gorgeous Medieval castles sprinkled all over its territory, gentle, cultivated hills and miles of sandy beaches looking over the Adriatic Sea, which in summer are very popular and filled with locals and tourists alike.
No city or town has the same dialect, even the closest ones, making it a very linguistically rich region. There is a wealth of traditional cuisine as well, and some of the most famous Italian dishes can be found here, from Prosciutto (ham) to Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) cheese.
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How to get to Emilia Romagna
There are airports in Bologna, Rimini and Parma. Bologna’s Marconi International Airport is the biggest and is well connected to a vast number of cities from all over the world. All airports are also well connected to the centre of their respective cities and train stations, as well as other destinations in Italy.
Official tourist information site:
https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en
Here you can find the official sites of all the airports:
https://www.bologna-airport.it/en/
https://riminiairport.com/en/
https://www.parma-airport.it/it/default.aspx [in Italian]
Things to do in Emilia Romagna
Ravenna
Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 until its fall in 476, and boasts the presence of eight of its monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Among them are the Basilica of San Vitale, a late antique church with early Christian Byzantine art and architecture, best known for its wealth of Byzantine mosaics; and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, where you will find the Garden of Eden mosaic. Remember to check Dante’s Tomb (yes, the Divine Comedy author!) and to eat the delicious piadina (thin flatbread) with anything you would like, from Prosciutto to Nutella.
Ingo Mehling, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Useful information
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From Bologna Marconi airport:
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Modena
Modena (from Etruscan: Mutna) is most popular for its traditional cuisine, which includes world-famous Balsamic Vinegar and also Barozzi cake and Lambrusco wine.
Ferrari motor company founder Enzo Ferrari and operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti were born there. The Cathedral of Modena, the Gothic campanile Torre della Ghirlandina (climb up and enjoy the view) and Piazza Grande are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and you will find them all in the town’s centre, which is perfect for a stroll. Estense Gallery (in the Museum Palace) is also worth stopping by: there, you will enjoy works by Tintoretto, Veronese, Correggio, Bernini, Velázquez and more.
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From Bologna Centrale railway station:
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Parma
Parma’s centre is beautiful, rich in art and architecture and life, with splendid Parma Cathedral (a Romanesque Church), the Baptistery, the Teatro Farnese (a Renaissance theatre, part of Palazzo della Pilotta) and more. It is also renowned for its Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) and Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese.
As for other towns in Emilia Romagna, in Parma’s province you can find beautiful castles as well, such as the Ducal Palace in Colorno (take the bus n. 2820, Colorno v. Farnese Scuole stop) and Torrechiara Castle near Langhirano (bus n.12, Torrechiara La Casetta stop). If you plan to travel to Emilia Romagna, visiting Parma will definitely be worth it.
Carlo Ferrari., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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From Bologna Centrale railway station:
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Reggio Emilia
Like other Emilian towns, Reggio Emilia is full of churches and palazzos in its centre, which is perfect for a stroll while sightseeing. Enjoy a slow pace walk, eat some good food (tortelli, gnocco fritto and more) and take a look at many places and monuments within walking distance, such as Piazza Prampolini, Basilica della Ghiara (with beautiful frescoes by Lionello Spada), the Cathedral, the Basilica of San Prospero, various palazzos and more.
And if you have a penchant for Medieval castles, arm yourself with patience and take the buses that will lead you to nice Castle of Canossa, Castle of Rossena and Castle of Sarzano, among others, in the province.
Paolo da Reggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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From Bologna Centrale railway station:
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Ferrara
Half Medieval, half Renaissance styled, this marvellous city is fun and pleasant to explore. While strolling in the centre you will find: twisting Medieval cobblestoned streets, the Cathedral of Saint George with its incredible Gothic front, the fantastic Estense Castle (check out the Medieval dungeons!), Palazzo dei Diamanti (“Diamonds’ Palace”), Via delle Volte (a Medieval street featuring vaults, a must-see landmark).
And if you are visiting in August, you will be able to listen to street musicians, performing for the annual Ferrara Buskers Festival. For its beauty and cultural importance, Ferrara’s city centre was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list, and it really deserves it.
Geobia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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From Bologna Centrale railway station:
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Piacenza
Piacenza is indeed a pleasing town, like the name suggests. It has a great number of monuments, palaces, gardens and more. Just to give a few examples, in the centre you will find Piazza Cavalli, “Cavalli” referring to the two bronze “horses” monuments.
Five minutes of strolling will take you to the Cathedral, of Northern-Italian Romanesque architecture; the façade is in Veronese pink marble and gilded stone, and inside are beautiful frescoes, some painted by Guercino. Another example of Romanesque architecture is the Basilica of Sant’Antonino, dedicated to the patron of Piacenza, and characterized by a large octagonal tower. Do keep strolling and enjoying this comely town.
Albertobru, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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From Bologna Centrale railway station:
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Rimini and Riccione
Rimini and Riccione are both very popular beach resort towns. Riccione is perfect for living the nightlife, with its clubs, pubs and bars, some of them facing the sea. Rimini is both fun and cultural: check the Arch of Augustus and the Bridge of Tiberius, dating back to Roman times.
Rimini and Riccione are very close (less than 10 minutes by train!), so you can explore them one after the other. If you have the chance and time, travel to San Leo in Rimini province and enjoy its gorgeous fortress (Count of Cagliostro spent his last days here) at an elevation of 600 metres above sea level (you can get there by car using Statale 258 or by bus n. 160 or 102 Adriabus).
How to get to Rimini:
From Bologna Centrale railway station:
- Car: E45 and Autostrada A14
- Train: Fast train (either Freccia Bianca towards Lecce, or Freccia Argento towards Bari)
How to get to Riccione:
From Rimini railway station:
- Car: Via Flaminia/SS16
- Train: Regional train (towards Pesaro or Ancona)
- Bus: n. 11, 50 Grand Hotel stop; Metromare, from Metromare Rimini Station (3 minutes from Rimini station), Ceccarini Riccione Station stop
From Bologna Centrale railway station:
- Car: E45 and Autostrada A14
- Train: Regional train (towards Ancona); Fast train (either Freccia Bianca towards Lecce, or Freccia Argento towards Bari) to Rimini train station, then Regional train (towards Ancona)
- Bus: Train to Rimini, then bus n. 124, P.Le S.D’Acquisto stop
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Sarahhoa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons