Emilia Romagna is an incredibly beautiful Italian region situated in north central Italy. Comprising the provinces of Bologna, Modena, Ferrara, Rimini, Piacenza, Reggio-Emilia, Ravenna, Forli-Cesena and Parma, the region is also home to 11 art cities, four of which are also Italian UNESCO World Heritage sites. The landscape outside these cities is as rich as the cultural history within them. The region can boasts a stunning 110 km stretch of idyllic coastline whilst inland there are 17 national parks, which in turn are dotted with 18 pilgrimage routes. Add to this its incredible cuisine and Emilia Romagna epitomises everything that Italy stands for.
And yet sadly, May 2023 saw devastating flooding in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, when 6 months worth of rain fell in just 36 hours. Rivers burst their banks submerging entire towns and villages in water, and making many areas completely inaccessible. These floods sadly killed 14 people and a staggering 36,000 people were forced to leave their homes, many of which have still not been able to return.
Since then, the Italian government has pledged more than 2 billion euros in aid to help the flood-stricken region. And the residents of Emilia Romagna have displayed incredible spirit and determination to allow the region to once again re-open to visitors. All of which means that the region is very much open again and eager to welcome back holidaymakers. The main roads and railway lines are all open, boats are arriving and departing at the Ravenna Cruise Terminal normally and flights into Bologna, Forli, Rimini and Parma are all back to delivering a standard service again.
So, to encourage you back, we thought we’d share our top 10 reasons to visit Emilia Romagna this Summer.
1. To spend time on the beach
The Emilia-Romagna Riviera is, once again, open to visitors. This beautiful stretch of the Adriatic coast is home to some of Italy’s most famous and most beautiful beaches. It is renowned for its clean, safe waters.
North towards Veneto, there are the seaside towns of Bellaria, Cervia, Cesenatico and Comacchio whilst south of Rimini the two main resorts are Riccione and Cattolica.
2. To have fun at the park!
Emilia-Romagna is a great holiday destination for families, with plenty of theme parks, adventure parks and water parks to keep everyone entertained, whether you’re a youngster or just young at heart!
Some of the most famous include Mirabilandia, Italia in Miniatura, Oltremare, Fiabilandia and the Cattolia Aquarium.
3. To soak up the culture
Emilia-Romagna is home to a number of important Medieval and Renaissance historical centres including Ferrara, Modena and Ravenna. Ferrara has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995 and is the realisation of the ‘ideal city.’ It’s home to a number of beautiful palaces which in turn were decorated by some of the world’s most accomplished artists including Piero della Francesca, Andrea Mantegna and Jacopo Bellini.
The following year, Ravenna was also granted the same UNESCO World Heritage status due to its artistic and historic religious complex, with eight monuments in the city included. And, not to be forgotten, Modena is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Cathedral and Torre Civica in the Piazza Grande. And, last but not least, Parma is a UNESCO site thanks to its gastronomy and Baptistery.
4. To enjoy the food!
Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s most fertile regions. The region’s capital, Bologna, is the home of ragu (more commonly known as bolognese around the world). What is more, Parmigiano Reggiano, mortadella, prosciutto, Grana Padano and balsamic vinegar all originate in Emilia-Romagna, allowing the region to boast that it’s home to the highest number of DOP products anywhere in Italy. Incidentally, DOP stands for Denominazione d’Origine Protetta, which is a legal certification that a product is produced in a specific, traditional way and in a certain area.
In short, Emilia-Romagna is, quite simply, the perfect Italian region for foodies.
Book a food tour in Emilia-Romagna.
5. To party into the early hours
Emilia-Romagna’s coastline isn’t just known for its beautiful beaches. At night, it also offers youngsters the opportunity to enjoy its many cocktail bars and clubs in Milano Marittima, Rimini and Riccione.
6. To soak up the atmosphere
Every Summer, Emilia-Romagna plays host to a number of events. This rich program offers visitors the opportunity to really soak up the atmosphere in the region’s towns and villages. Some of the biggest music events taking place this Summer include the Ravenna festival (a series of opera and classical music concerts), the Ferrara Busker Festival as well as the concerts held each Summer at the Arena della Regina in Cattolica.
Also of note is La Notte Rosa, which will take place between 7 and 9 July 2023, turning a plethora of towns pink and providing an array of entertainment. Other more unusual events include La Notte delle Streghe, a five day event starting on 21 June which marks the Summer solstice and is another chance to watch an eclectic mix of street performers. Alternatively, crime lovers should head to Cattolica to participate in MystFest, an international festival of mystery! And those interested in art and fashion should head to the exhibition in Forlì, aptly entitled ‘The Art of Fashion: The Age of Dreams and Revolutions’ which runs until the beginning of July. Those who like a tipple should definitely be in Santarcangelo on 11 and 12 August to participate in Wine Goblets, the opportunity to sample some of the region’s wines.
7. To go for a drive!
Emilia-Romagna is not just famous for its food and its historic cities. Anyone who has a love of cars will also know that it’s also famous for its car manufacturing. Emilia-Romagna is the home of Ferrari, Ducati, Pagani, De Tomaso, Dallara, Lamborghini and Maserati.
There are four international race circuits in what is affectionately referred to as Motor Valley – Autodroma di Modena, Misano World Circuit, Verano Circuit and Imola Race Circuit – along with thirteen automotive museums for people to visit.
Book museum automative museum tickets or a test drive.