Culture and Lifestyle in Emilia-Romagna

As the name suggests, Emilia-Romagna is made up of the union of two historically separate areas. Only in 1970 it was established as a single region through its first regional elections.

The main feature that diversifies it from other Italian regions is the presence of 9 provinces very different from each other. So, Emilia-Romagna has the quality of being strongly federated in these nine major centres. The capital is Bologna and the other provinces are: Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena,  Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini 

It is the third largest economy in Italy and according to the Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, it is among the top regions for quality of life in 2021. In particular, it is an optimal destination for young people for working and study experiences, sport, concerts and entertainment.
 

Fun Facts

• Did you know that the Italian Tricolour was born right in this region? In 1797 in Reggio Emilia, with the establishment of the Cispadane Republic, a flag with three horizontal stripes (green, white and red) was flown for the first time. The same colours were later adopted for our current flag. 
• Bologna is also famous for its beautiful Porticoes. The city holds the record for the longest in the world, with a length of 3.8 km and 666 arches.
• Emilia Romagna is the most "bike-friendly" region in Italy with about 128 km of cycle paths. Among its cities, Ferrara is also known as the "bicycle-city".

Find out more about Emilia-Romagna watching the video below

Let's take a look at some of the most important cities in the region, their cultural heritage and specificities:

• Ravenna: In the past, it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. It has also been the home of  the Poet Dante Alighieri for 20 years after his exile from Florence. His tomb is still located in this city near the Basilica of Saint Francesco.
• Ferrara: The city is famous for the various festivals held throughout the year, particularly three of them: Palio of Ferrara, Ferrara Buskers Festival and Ferrara Balloons Festival.
• Modena: it produces the world’s finest balsamic vinegar. Vinegar is aged  between 12 and 25 years, and is provided and sold in a particular type of bottle designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Modena is also the home of Italian luxury sports cars and moto racing, where nearly every iconic Italian motor cars and motorbikes are represented. 
• Parma: One of its specialities is ham and parmigiano cheese, referred to as parma ham or cheese. In 2015, and in recognition of its culinary importance, Parma was designated by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy.  
• Rimini: along with its coastal neighbours of Cattolica and Riccione, Rimini is known for its long sandy beaches and summer nightlife. It is regarded as an international tourist destination and established itself as a seaside resort in 1840. Owing to its sandy beaches, and safe bathing waters, it soon became an attraction for wealthy Italians and Europeans.

Still not convinced about the beauty of this region? Why don’t you take a look at:

Food and wines in Emilia-Romagna

Here is a list of the main typical products you must taste if you come to Emilia-Romagna : 

1. Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese and Parma ham
2. Balsamic Vinegar from Modena 
3. Different kinds of Pasta such as lasagna, tagliatelle, and tortellini
4. Piadina, which is flatbread made from lard, salt, wheat flour and water (typical of the Romagna area)
5. An abundance of fish, olives, salami, meats, fruits and vegetables- including pumpkins and wheat- owing to the perfect climate and soils
6. As for wines, Lambrusco (slightly sparkling red wine) and other reds including Barbera and Sangiovese, whilst Malvasia is the best known of the white wines

So whether it is food, wine, art, culture, sport or cars that attract you, you can't help but come to one of Italy's most beautiful regions.

Read more about culture and lifestyle in Emilia Romagna in the following article.