Travel guide Emilia-Romagna
Where Northern Italy transitions to the South
Emilia-Romagna is located between Veneto and Lombardy in the north and Tuscany in the south. The region also borders Marche, the Republic of San Marino, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Adriatic Sea.
Bologna is the capital and at the same time the transport hub with the most important airport and two large train stations with good connections to all parts of the country. There is another small airport near Rimini on the Adriatic coast. By car, you can reach your vacation rental in Emilia-Romagna from the Brenner Pass via the A22.
Cold winters and hot summers — Almost Mediterranean
The inland of Emilia-Romagna is characterized by hot and sometimes humid summers and cold winters. On the Adriatic coast, there is a moderate coastal climate, which is almost Mediterranean. Large parts of the region are foggy and cool in autumn and mild and rainy in spring. The best time to travel for a
beach vacation in Emilia-Romagna is the summer months with Adriatic water temperatures above 20 °C. The air temperature rises to over 30 °C in July and August.
Culinary delights at the olive oil border
Just like the climate, the cuisine in Emilia-Romagna transitions from the northern Italian, characterized by pork and butter, to the southern Italian, Mediterranean cuisine, in which olive oil and lamb play a significant role. In Emilia-Romagna, you always get the best from both the north and the south. Bologna is famous for its Ragù alla bolognese and Mortadella. The best air-dried ham in Italy comes from the area around
Parma, and the balsamic vinegar from Modena is made from the wine of the Lambrusco grapes. Genuine balsamic vinegar is aged for several years in wooden barrels. The most famous culinary export is probably Parmesan cheese, which may only be produced in the region around Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, and Mantua. The cherry blossom festival in the small town of Vignola near Modena, Italy's largest cherry-growing area, is also worth mentioning.
Over sunny beaches and through dark catacombs
The region around the seaside resorts
Rimini and
Riccione is perfect for a vacation with the whole family. From your vacation home, you can explore the beaches along the Adriatic coast and take trips inland. The beaches of Viserba, Rivabella, and Rivazzurra are ideal for small children, as the water of the Adriatic gently slopes from the shore. Numerous restaurants, cafes, and entertainment venues round off the program. If you prefer to take a dip in the cool water in your own vacation home, book a
vacation with a pool in Emilia-Romagna. A trip to the village of Santarcangelo, ten kilometers away, with its narrow, winding streets, offers a unique excursion destination: A labyrinth of 160 underground caves and vaults from the 6th to 15th centuries invites you to make eerie discoveries in the underworld. In the shafts, corridors, and alcoves, you can experience many a spooky story. Hikers will enjoy the mountain ranges of the Apennines, which stretch across the entire Emilia-Romagna.
From early Christian mosaics to Peppone and Don Camillo
Where to start with the art-historical highlights when it comes to an entire region of Italy - with a history that goes back several thousand years? Not to be missed are the early Christian churches, mosaics, and mausoleums in
Ravenna. The complex from the 5th and 6th centuries was built under the Ostrogothic King Theoderic. The early Byzantine churches and buildings have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. Between Ravenna and Chioggia lies the abandoned Benedictine monastery Abbazia Santa Maria di Pomposa. It is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The church of the monastery complex was built between the 9th and 12th centuries, the monastery itself in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the inland, the Torrechiara Castle near Parma is worth a visit, as is the Teatro Farnese from the 17th century in the old town. Those interested in more recent literature and film history should visit the main square in Brescello. There, between the town hall and the church, stand the two bronze figures of Peppone and Don Camillo. All exterior shots for the legendary films, which were made after World War II, were filmed here.