Emilia Romagna: a land full of surprises
Art and culture, unspoilt nature, good food, bike trails and racetracks, thermal baths and spas, a vibrant nightlife scene and a packed programme of exciting events all year round: the Emilia-Romagna region has it all.
Just when you think you know everything there is to know about Emilia-Romagna, this region— which gets its name from the Via Emilia, a millennium-old Roman road that runs from north-west to south-east—will find a way to surprise you again with top-quality products, tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-track places. Emilia-Romagna is renowned throughout Europe for being the region with the most PDO and PGI products (44 in total)—with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Raw Ham and the Lambrusco wine arguably being the most notable—and for its delightful restaurants, 32 of which were awarded the Bib Gourmand in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide for serving exceptional food at reasonable prices. Emilia-Romagna is also home to some of the most iconic brands in motoring and motorcycling history, such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, Dallara and, last but not least, Ducati. The region displays 4 racetracks, 13 automotive museums and 18 private collections.
As for thermal baths and spas, the Emilia-Romagna region ranks second in Italy for the number of spas (23 thermal facilities across 19 stunning locations).
When it comes to art and culture, Emilia-Romagna boasts 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, Parma (Creative City of Gastronomy), the Sasso Fratino Nature Reserve (in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park – recently awarded in the “Green List” of the prestigious International Union for the conservation of nature), the Malatestiana Library in Cesena, not to mention the cities of Modena, Ferrara, Faenza, and Bologna, and the Po Delta Regional Park.
If you enjoy exploring new places, then you are spoiled for choice. Emilia-Romagna prides itself with an abundance of castles, fortresses and strongholds (85 in total), 58 award-winning villages scattered between the Apennines and the Adriatic Coast, 2 national parks, 1 interregional park, 14 regional parks and about 10 protected nature reserves.
