EMILIA ROMAGNA

The origin of the name of this region dates back to the second century B.C. when a road named Aemilia was built between Rimini and Piacenza in honor of the Roman consul Marco Emilio Lepido.
In the sixth century C.E. this territory was divided between the Longobards and Byzantines (in the current day Romagna), and their lands were called Longobardia and Romania respectively.
After the Unity of Italy the region was given back its original name of Emilia. In 1947 its current name Emilia Romagna was established.
The Region is delimited by the Po River to the north, the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Apennines to the south, which separate it from Tuscany.
The territory is divided into the following provinces: Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini.

The region offers tourists a diverse territory, cultural initiatives, sports events, towns abounding in history and art, nature trails, enogastronomic circuits, relaxation and good diversion. High quality and hospitality will impress those who have the chance to come here.

BOLOGNA

“Amo Bologna...”

“...la nobile città, mi serba i ricordi nelle sue contrade, che paiono scenari classici, e le piazze austere, fantastiche, solitarie, ove è bello spendersi pensando nel vespero di settembre, o sotto la luna di maggio, e le chiese stupende dove sarìa dolce, credendo, pregare di estate, e i colli dov’è divino, essendo giovani, amare di primavera, e la Certosa, in alcun lembo della quale, che traguardi dal colle al dolce verde immenso piano, si starà bene a riposare per sempre…»

“Ma più l'amo perché è bella...Bologna è bella”

«Gli Italiani non ammirano, quanto merita, la bellezza di Bologna: ardita, fantastica, formosa, plastica, nella sua architettura, trecentista e quattrocentista, di terra cotta, con la leggiadria delle logge, dei veroni, delle cornici. Che incanto doveva essere tutta rossa e dipinta nel Cinquecento!»

Giosuè Carducci

Bologna is the chief city of Emilia Romagna and it is situated on the plains at the foot of the Tuscan- Emilian Apennines between the Reno River and the Savena torrent. An ancient Etruscan site, later Gallic, it became a Roman colony and municipality. During the Middle Ages the city became a free city. It reached glory and fame in 1249 with the victorious battle of Fossalta. After various seigniories it became part of the papal state in the 16th century.
Bologna is famous culturally because it is the cradle of the first University of Western Europe already at the end of the 11th century. This is why the city is referred to by the name “Dotta” [educated]. The presence of a well-known school university helped form valuable cultural movements and favored the presence of outstanding scholars and intellectuals. Today it has students from all over the world. In the year 2000 Bologna was elected the European capital of culture.
You can visit Bologna at any time of year, but to appreciate its artistic beauty the most pleasant time to come here is certainly the spring. Bologna is the second-largest medieval town in Europe after Venice. It is also one of the best conserved thanks to an attentive restoration policy; you can admire ancient palaces and churches, abounding in works of art that bear witness to the great cultural importance of Bologna.

One of the most well-known symbols of the city is the leaning Due Torri [Two Towers] called “della Garisenda” and “degli Asinelli”. They were built in the Middle Ages and are named after the two noble families who commissioned them. Their height overlooks the city and every day they are the destination of tourists who walk up and down their endless stairway to admire the panorama from the top.

A stroll under the porticoes which distinguish the streets of Bologna allows you to immerse yourself in the vital city atmosphere, follow cultural itineraries and do some shopping in the dazzling boutiques or the exciting open-air markets, where you come into contact with a diverse and intriguing setting.

To experience the city in the evening, you absolutely must have dinner at one of the typical trattorias or taverns that you will find here. Besides enjoying the cuisine, you will find yourself in a typically enthralling Emilian atmosphere. There are plenty of fine restaurants and gathering places for aperitifs and live music.

Bolognese cuisine is without a doubt one of the best in the world, especially as regards the entrées: tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagna.

Besides being an important university and tourist town, Bologna is also a major economic center. For this purpose it has a modern Fair District, an efficient Palazzo dei Congressi, numerous accommodations of all categories and several industries of international importance.