Emilia-Romagna region is renowned for its lovely medieval cities, sun-drenched Adriatic beaches, and some of the best Italian cuisine: Bologna is known for its meat sauces and pasta, Parma for its renowned ham and Parmigiano cheese, and Modena for the best balsamic vinegar in the entire world.
Despite of not having the grandeur and tourist reputation of Tuscany and Venice, Emilia-Romagna is home of incredible attractions!
The region has been divided into numerous city-states during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and a lot of them remained independent even after the Papal States seized control of the majority of the area in the 16th century— all the way up until the Reunification of 1861. Due to all of the revolving alliances, there are several fortresses on the territory and driving 20 km without seeing one is difficult! They are among the best maintained in Italy.
Bologna hosts the oldest University in Europe, where some very prominent alumni studied, like Copernicus, Pope Alexander VI, Petrarch, Dante. Bologna is still a university city, pervaded by intellectual energy and student activity.
Modena retains many buildings from the 10th and 11th centuries, above all its magnificent Duomo, as well as the Ducal Palace; on the other side, Ferrara, a strong and independent duchy, was one of the most well-known cities in Italy by the 15th century: it is still surrounded by some of the best-preserved medieval walls in the country. Parma is worth visiting for reasons other than its world-famous prosciutto, thanks to its Cathedral, Gothic churches, and elegant Renaissance palaces and theaters.
But Emilia-Romagna offers also a lot of natural treasures: it hosts 2 national parks and 14 regional parks. The region is extremely diversified, from the beautiful beaches on the Adriatic sea to the Apennines, with their marshes, woodlands, caverns, and springs. Therefore, Emilia-Romagna is a terrific destination if you’re interested in hiking, camping, mountain biking, caving, or any other outdoor sports!