Emilia Romagna has some of the most incredible landscapes in Italy. Stretching from the Apennines to the fertile Po Valley, it is synonymous with food. In fact, its food heritage is rich even by Italian standards. It’s home to Parmigiano Reggiano, Proscuitto di Parma and traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena amongst other things! That’s not all it’s home to though. The majority of Italy’s top car manufacturers are also based here. These include Ferrari, Maserati, Ducati and Lamborghini. There are plenty of opportunities to learn more about these brands in the motor museums that Emilia Romagna boasts. Its capital city, Bologna, is a lively city, home to the world’s oldest university. It certainly offers the perfect city break in Italy. What is more, it is a region that has a really authentic feel to it.
Quite simply, a holiday in one of our Emilia Romagna villas is the perfect destination in Italy for foodies and nature lovers. It goes without saying that Bookings For You are delighted to launch a range of villas in Emilia Romagna for the first time this year!
Can’t find the villa you want? Get in touch with your requirements and we’ll send you our suggestions.
EXCELLENT Based on 50 reviews Miki Leibowitz2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cassina Rossa in Forte Dei Marmi was a perfectly located villa to enjoy all things Forte & truly feel like a local! The communication with the owner and her representatives was so easy and they were VERY helpful with anything we needed during our stay. We so enjoyed waking up every morning and either taking our coffee intown while it was super quiet and watching everything wake up around us or on most mornings we rode the bikes that were supplied to us to the wonderful market that was literally down the street and picked up anything we needed fresh for the day. The kitchen was beautifully equipped and we made espresso most mornings and either sat outside on ground level patio or on the roof top overlooking the mountains. It was comfortable enough to have lunch and dinner at home a couple of times and fun setting a beautiful table with their pretty dishes, linens, etc. Having Bagno Vasco the very authentic classic beach club included was a dream and a big savings! Great food, easy location to bike or drive to and the position of our chairs, umbrella and sunbed right next to the sea was great. We were there for over 2 weeks and for a nominal amount he supplied us with their towels each day so we didn’t have to bring back and forth. The villa’s proximity to the center of town can’t be beat. It’s quiet enough to be a bit removed and beautiful to see the mountains whenever walking or riding home but so close to all the wonderful restaurants & very upscale & unique shops. Forte has such a unique vibe day and night especially on market days (Wednesday and Sunday). The markets are so full of clothing, housewares, etc that you’ll need to bring an extra bag or ship stuff home. People come from everywhere to take advantage of it. The location of Forte Dei Marmi is so central and close to other towns like Pietrasanta up in the hills which allows you to experience a completely different more typically Tuscan area within a short 15-20 min drive and it’s also very close to Lucca, Pisa & Carrara (where they get the marble) only 1 1/2 hours from Florence and Portofino if you are staying longer and want to take some wonderful daytrips. Forte Dei Marmi doesn’t have the dramatic coastline of the Amalfi coast but the beauty of looking one direction and seeing the beaches and looking the other and seeing the stunning mountains including Carrara is truly unique and offers its own special beauty. Another plus is that it is very flat so much easier than many Italian towns to walk and ride bikes which everyone does everywhere. It’s fun to see everyone (mostly Italians which we loved) fully dressed for dinner on bikes as it’s truly the chosen form of transportation for the young and old. We can’t wait to return!! Victor Johansen2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo at Bookings for You is absolutely wonderful to work with. We have booked properties in Sorrento and Sicily over the past two years (2022 & 2024) and have not been disappointed. The properties were 1st class and just phenomenal. Jo lists only the best based on; location, amenities, condition & cleanliness. I highly recommend Bookings for You when planning & booking your stay in Italy; you won't be disappointed. First class service and first class properties! Jackie Morgan2024-10-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , prompt and efficient responses to enquiries . Villa was just what we wanted for a family holiday , and Fiona was a great asset ! Thanks Joy2024-09-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have just spent a fabulous week in Villa Speracedes booked with Bookings for You. Bookings for You provided excellent communication with us both prior to and during the trip to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible for us. The apartment was great: comfortable, very well equipped and the terrace was fabulous with a seating area for meal times, comfortable loungers to relax on and down the steps, loungers beside the pool. All having magnificent views across the valleys. Highly recommended! Rob Aherne2024-09-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fabulous stay in Villa Assisi - a big villa with private pool in a hotel resort complex. It was very peaceful, despite a very central location, and the pool was a fantastic luxury given the super-hot temperatures. We were able to use the hotel facilities, such as the tennis court and bicycles, as well, so it felt like the best of both worlds. We were well looked after by Bookings for You too. Highly recommended. evan sohun2024-08-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An amazing place. Had such a great stay with my family and the hosts were so helpful all along. Thank you! Diane Safran2024-08-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The villa is Beautiful. The staff wonderful especially the chef and Benne. Daniela is a wonderful host. Our family had a wonderful time Thank you Ella Jones2024-08-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! We had the most amazing holiday at Golfo Gabella on Lake Maggiore and will definitely be rebooking for next year 😊
Emilia Romagna is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions. In fact, its one of the most developed and wealthy in Europe, not just in Italy. Situated in the north of Italy, the region stretches from the Apennines to the fertile Po valley. Even amongst native Italians, its famous for its rich food heritage. It’s also home to some of Italy’s most exclusive brands, among them Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini.
Emilia Romagna’s capital is Bologna but it’s also home to eight other cities – Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Ravenna, Rimini, Ferrara, Forlì and Piacenza. In addition, there are countless smaller historic villages and towns. These include 15 villages which are included in the list of Italy’s borghi piu belli. These include Bagnara di Romagna, Bobbio, Brisighella, Montefiore Conca, Montegridolfo, San Leo, Verucchio, Vigoleno and others.
Head to Bologna to admire its two leaning towers – the Due Torri. Yes, you read that right! Pisa isn’t the only city to boast a leaning tower! In fact, standing at 97.2 metres tall, the Torre degli Asinelli is the highest leaning Medieval tower in the world. Also make sure you enjoy time in the central Piazza Maggiore, visit the world’s oldest university and walk the 4km path from the city under the 666 arches of the Portico San Luca (the longest portico in the world) to the San Luca monastery. From here, you can enjoy wonderful views over the city of Bologna below.
Discover more about the towns and cities of the region in our A to Z of Emilia Romagna.
There is plenty more to see and do besides exploring Emilia Romagna’s towns and cities. You can easily eat your way around the region. Visit a balsamic vinegar acetaia in Modena, sample Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in the Parma-Reggio region or get a taste for Parma ham in the hills around Parma. Not only that. Emilia Romagna is also the birthplace of some of Italy’s most popular pasta dishes including tortellini and tagliatelle. And then wash all this down with a glass or two of the sparking Lambrusco wines that Emilia Romagna is also famous for.
The region is steeped in history. This is perfectly demonstrated than in the fifty castles scattered around the region. These were once home to the Farnese, Visconti, Malatesta, Este and Gonzaga families and can be visited today. And it is also easily evident in the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna, Ferrara and the Po Delta. These sites are one of 60 sites in Italy awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
Emilia Romagna is also bordered by the Adriatic sea to the east so there are plenty of opportunities to spend the day at one of the region’s many beaches. These long, sandy beaches stretch for 130 km from the Goro Po mouth to the Gabicce headland.
Or, in the winter, opt instead for a few days skiing. Monte Cimone is the highest mountain in the northern Apennines. A relaxed and uncrowded ski resort, it can boast 50 km of linked slopes accessible with a single ski pass. And, of course, in the warmer months of the year, this same area is perfect hiking country too as are the five regional parks in Emilia Romagna.
In fact, Emilia Romagna has swathes of beautiful countryside waiting to be explored. It is also where you will discover the Ancient Beech Forests in the Casentinesi forests. This is yet another of the many UNESCO sites in this region.
For more inspiration on what to see and do in the region, enjoy reading our bucket list of the top 40 things to do in Emilia Romagna.
The many things to see and do, along with the warm hospitality you will enjoy, means that Emilia Romagna is the perfect all year round destination. There are so many reasons to visit Emilia Romagna that no time is a bad time to visit!