The Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is best known for its medieval and Renaissance cities and culinary traditions. While many travelers pass through the region on their way to better-known destinations like Milan or Venice, skipping Emilia-Romagna means missing out on some of Italy’s most elegant and historic cities. The region itself is geographically diverse, stretching across most of north-central Italy and includes a large stretch of the Adriatic Sea coast, the Po River delta, vast plains, and a chunk of the Apennine Mountains. Each of its major cities has a combination of historical sites and culinary traditions that make them worth visiting.
Check out our regional map of Emilia-Romagna to get your bearings, then consider these seven main cities of Emilia-Romagna for your next visit to Italy.
Bologna
The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna, has a lot to offer, from the learned atmosphere of the oldest university in Europe, to a thriving economy (the healthiest in Italy), and its medieval center and well-preserved cuisine that even other Italians consider the best in the country.
Bologna is a great city for walking, as its flat center is closed to car traffic on weekends, and its sidewalks are lined with high, arched porticoes to protect pedestrians from bad weather. Highlights to see include the Due Torri, two tall medieval watchtowers, one of which has a steep incline, plus Piazza Maggiore, one of the largest squares in Europe.
Parma
The fertile countryside that surrounds Parma makes it a barn for two of Italy’s most beloved foods: prosciutto di Parma , a cured ham, and Reggiano Parmesan cheese . Don’t leave Parma without trying both delicacies and maybe buying some to pack in your suitcase.
But there is much more to Parma than ham and cheese. It has a charming and compact historic center with several important churches, including its main cathedral and a baptistery dating from the late 1100s. The Palazzo di Pilotta is home to several museums, as well as a 17th-century theater built entirely of wood. The theater was mainly destroyed during the air raids of World War II, but rebuilt after the war.
Modena
As the home of beloved tenor Luciano Pavarotti and legendary automaker Enzo Ferrari, the birthplace of balsamic vinegar, the site of one of the world’s highest-rated restaurants and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Modena has plenty to do. boast.
Plan to spend some time in your heritage center humanity storico, sample and buy some balsamic vinegar goods, visit the palaces and public buildings in the East, once the ruling family of Modena, and visit museums dedicated to Ferrari and Pavarotti.
Ravenna
In the last days of the Roman Empire, Ravenna served as the western capital, and later as the capital of the Ostrogoth Empire until it was conquered by Byzantium. This tumultuous past left behind an incredible artistic heritage and today, Ravenna is famous for its early Christian basilicas and impressive mosaics, which show the strong influence of the Byzantine style. Seven buildings in the centro storico are UNESCO world heritage sites, as is another outside the city, the basilica of Sant ‘Apollinaire in Classe.
You can buy a combo ticket to enter the UNESCO sites in Ravenna. Dante’s tomb, Roman ruins, and other interesting churches are located in the center .
Ferrara
In the elegant walled city of Ferrara, you can clearly see the mark of the noble Este family, who ruled the city until the 17th century. Ferrara’s massive Castello Estense overlooks the city and can be seen from various vantage points along the nearly six miles of city walls, which can be walked or cycled. The 12th-century Romanesque cathedral has a towering, atmospheric interior.
Rimini
If you’re ready for a beach getaway on your Italian itinerary, head to Rimini, a major seaside resort on the Adriatic coast. This lively city offers more than nine miles of fine sandy beaches, as well as a boardwalk lined with bars, restaurants, hotels and shops. The center of Rimini is also interesting, with Roman ruins, a nice central square and several museums.
Piacenza
If you want to slow down your trip and visit an authentic little town in Emilio-Romagna, Piacenza is a good place to stop, especially if you are heading to Milan or the lakes. Piazza Duomo and Piazza Cavalli form the heart of its center, which contains several interesting palaces and churches. The lands around Piacenza are famous for producing red and white wines, as well as rice, corn and pork used in countless varieties of cold cuts.