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Emilia Romagna lies between the River Po to the north and the Apennine mountains to the south. It is one of the most fertile and productive regions of Italy also thanks to the effect of the Adriatic Sea mitigating the coastal climate. The variety between the mountains and the sea allows Emilia Romagna to offer its visitors breathtaking views, wonders for the eyes and for the spirit in a mixture of earthy colors and aromas, seaside happiness, music, cinema and art, all in one region.
Many who love the combination of sea, sun and entertainment choose the Romagna Riviera. Having the longest beach in Europe, visitors flock to enjoy the richness offered by its sports and leisure facilities. Towns like Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica are higly geared for tourists reception, emphasising relaxation and providing lots of entertainment. Further from the coast, the beautiful landscape offered by the Apennines may for instance be best appreciated horse-riding or walking in the area between Parma and Piacenza or by visiting the splendid parks and wonderful nature reserves.
The hinterland has several spas like Salsomaggiore and Bagno di Romagna, offering a wide range of proposals, thanks to the many types of waters springing in this region and the modern equipments, technologies and professionalism of the facilities, enhancing the experience of traditional thermal baths. Both culinary and artistic culture found fertile soil in this land and their roots run deep here.
This is the land of Verdi’s novels and Pascoli’s poetry, as well as Fellini’s unmistakable cinema, a director who became a myth, his many masterpieces having come to life in this, his native region. In Emilia Romagna, you can enjoy amazing views anywhere; the list of places to choose from is endless.
The provinces of the region are: Bologna (regional capital), Ferrara, Forli-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, Rimini. Emilia Romagna borders the third smallest European Country, the Republic of San Marino.
Art, history and architecture are only some aspects in the wide range of features characterising Emilia Romagna.
Bologna, being also a city of tradeshows and commerce offers an example of fusion between these various aspects in the Basilica of San Petronio, one of the most beautiful churches in Italy, with its half marble and half raw façade. If you want to reach Asinelli Tower, you must climb 498 steps, but the view you can admire from up there repays for the hard work.
Ferrara, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, is a marvellous example of perfect preservation of the Renaissance splendor. This you can see in the roads and in the façades of the buildings and other artistic treasures the town has to offer, enjoyable merely walking along in this ancient “capital of culture”.
One should definitely visit the Este family Castle before heading on to Modena where a Romanic cathedral and the Ghirlandina Church Tower await contemplation. In the province of Modena is Maranello where speed lovers can visit the Ferrari Gallery and admire the most prestigious cars produced by this most famous manufacturer, along with the trophies and pictures that brought the brand world fame.
Another place with no less than 8 buildings classed by Unesco as World Heritage sites is Ravenna, the town of mosaics. The masterpieces of this town bear witness to the wealth acquired in its long history, during which it was a capital for a good three times. Among the buildings not to be missed, we highlight the Basilica of S. Apollinare Nuovo, the Mausoleum of Theodosius and the Basilica of S. Apollinare in Classe with its marvellous mosaics.
Faenza, rich in monuments and with a remarkable historical and cultural heritage, boasts international fame for its ancient ceramics industry, dating back to the 13th century.
It is finally possible to visit Italy staying in only one place. In the heart of the Adriatic Riviera, we can go from one side of Italy to another in a few seconds, thanks to Italy in miniature, a park with 273 small-scale reproductions of the main Italian and European monuments, where youngsters can have fun seeing the beauties of this Country following various learning routes designed for them.
Emilia Romagna offers a varied series of itineraries, almost customized to visitors’ demands. For nature lovers, 2 national parks, 14 regional parks and 11 regional reserves offer leisure and relaxation to those who want to plunge into the green. The flora and fauna typical of the area can be enjoyed by trekking, kayaking and biking in total freedom.
Horse lovers may follow itineraries on the Via Francigena, in the area of Piacenza and Parma. Here they may dip into the many parks and follow the myriad paths off the bridle-ways scattered almost all over the region.
Another well-catered avenue to explore here is that of health care. Several spas offer pleasantness and relaxation through their therapeutic and regenerating treatments. Salsomaggiore, Tabiano, Bagno di Romagna, Castrocaro, Porretta are only some of the places that are best known for their spas, an integral part of Emilia Romagna.
Speaking of itineraries, the roads of wine and flavours on the Hills of Rimini are a good way to discover the historical and cultural identity of the territory, with its typical products and unforgettable flavours. The route towards the hinterland starts from Rimini and goes across farms, small old villages, holdings and oil mills, in the pursuit of genuineness and nature.
Finally, we cannot forget the fairs and festivals of the whole territory, one going on somewhere most of the year: you can take your pick!
The journey to discover the roots of this Region lead to many directions and one of these is the art of taste. The region is full of strong and refined flavours, from those of the countryside of Emilia to those of the Romagna coast, via the lagoon of Comacchio Valleys, with its famous eels.
Discovering a region means tasting the result of its tradition with the typical Erbazzone, a quiche with spinach, or the pisarei e faso, small dumplings with beans made in the area of Piacenza, not to mention tortelloni, agnolotti and all types of home-made pasta enhanced by their delicious stuffings, herbs and flavours.
We can stop in Bologna to taste some mortadella and eat it with the famous piadina bread. The unquestioned king of Parma food, yet well-known and enjoyed all over the world, is Parma ham, a mainstay for Italian food-and-wine tradition. Parma Ham, together with the wonderful Grana cheese and legendary Parmesan cheese, really make the region proud before all gourmets.
Another pride of the region is wine. From Gutturnio, produced on the Hills of Piacenza, to Trebbiano, Lambrusco, Barbera, Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Simplicity and taste is the winning combination that makes the food of this region so special.
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