Do you want to know the best things to do in Emilia-Romagna, Italy? Then you’ve come to the right place. Here we will guide you to the very best things to do in Emilia-Romagna.
Emilia-Romagna is a region in north-central Italy, halfway between Florence and Milan.
The Adriatic coast, historic cities like Parma, Ravenna, Modena, and the region’s capital Bologna, as well as agricultural plains and forest-covered mountains, make up Emilia-Romagna’s diverse geography.
Emilia-Romagna is home to a wide variety of cuisines and wines, a cutting-edge automotive industry and picturesque villages and towns, stunning nature trails, and festivals.
13 Best Things To Do in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Travelers who want to see more of Italy than the well-known cities should make this a part of their itinerary.
Spend at least a weekend in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and get inspired by our list of the region’s top attractions and must-do activities.
Let’s jump into the 13 best things to do in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
1. Walk under the porticoes of Bologna
A symbol of Bologna’s history, these porticoes have been around since the late Middle Ages. They have served as a shelter for pedestrians and additional living space on the upper levels.
Bologna is one of the best places to visit in Emilia-Romagna. Wherever you are in the city, you’ll enjoy walking under these beautiful arches.
You’ll find these porticos along Via Marsala (particularly the historic porticos at Palazzo Grassi), Strada Maggiore (the Isolani House), and Via Farini. The porticoes around Piazza Cavour in particular feature striking frescoes on the ceilings.
2. Visit the hillside castles
One of the best things to do in Emilia-Romagna is exploring the west of the region by going on a castle tour.
Fascinating country palaces and fortified villages were built on charming hillsides in this part of the region. This area was once known as the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, now home to some of the most fascinating destinations in Emilia-Romagna.
Plan a castle-hoping trip and visit Castell’Arquato, Crespellano, Vigoleno, Soragna, and Bard. These areas all have incredible culinary riches ranging from wines (try the red Gutturnio and white Malvasia) to cheese and pork delicacies, from crudo di Parma to coppa and salame.
The area is also the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi and home to the world’s largest labyrinth – the Labirinto Della Masone.
3. Visit some of Emilia-Romagna’s most charming villages
As mentioned, Emilia-Romagna is home to enticing villages. Any visit to the region should include a trip to any of these picturesque villages. Here are our 5 top picks:
• Dozza –
This medieval comune in Emilia-Romagna is deemed one of Italy’s most beautiful villages in Italy – one of the most vibrant you’ll ever have been to. This is thanks to a week-long event called Biennale del Muro Dipinto, when artists paint the streets on the third week of September biannually.
• Bobbio –
A highly-recommended tourist town noted for its history of art and culture, as well as ancient monuments, Bobbio is also a haven for nature lovers.
Since antiquity, this Emilia-Romagna town has been a meeting point between various cultures like the Ligurian, Piedmontese, Pavian, and Piacentine.
• Brisighella –
Perched between Florence and Ravena, Brisighella is an enchanting tiny town at the foot of the Apennines. This town is a paradise for art and nature lovers, as well as food and wine. Brisighella is rich with vineyards and olive groves, with a spa wellness center just outside the old town.
• Vigoleno –
A historic fortified hamlet of the province of Piacenza’s town of Vernasca, Vigoleno lies on the ridge of a low hill with perfect views of the surrounding valleys and hills.
Certified as one of Italy’s prettiest villages, Vigoleno is a perfect example of medieval human settlement with its imposing crenellated walls and panoramic patrol walkway.
• Comacchio –
Dubbed “the floating city,” Comacchio is in the middle of a lagoon bearing the same name.
This enchanting village in the province of Ferrara was originally built by merging 13 different islets formed at the mouth of the Po River, divided by canals, and linked by bridges 2,000 years ago. This makes Comacchio one of the oldest towns in Italy.
Comacchio is also called “little Venice,” thanks to its characteristic canals that are reminiscent of the said city.
Comacchio is known for its wide sandy shores called lidos that spread throughout the coast.
4. Spend a day at the beach
Along the Adriatic Sea’s 90-km. shoreline, Emilia-Romagna has sand beaches and dozens of beach clubs. Many towns dot the coast, with Rimini being the most populous and well-known. There is a long beachfront in this popular seaside town, but the historic Old Town, with its charming streets and fantastic restaurants, is also worth a visit.
Riccione, located about 15 minutes south of Rimini, is another well-known seaside resort. Visit the pedestrian-only Viale Ceccarini for some retail therapy or a nightcap.
Meanwhile, Cesenatico is a port town that’s been around since Roman times and is a must-visit beach town located further north. It is home to an open-air museum with traditional boats from the Adriatic that was designed by Leonardo da Vinci, as well as a port-canal which he also surveyed and designed. This is definitely one of the best seaside towns you can visit on the Eastern Riviera.
5. Visit the Casentinesi Forest National Park
This place is rich not only in history and nature but mysticism as well, located in the part of the region that borders Tuscany. The Casentinesi Forest National Park is where St. Francis walked, lived, and received the stigmata.
This forest of the Apenines offers 600 km. of hiking trails you can travel on foot or on a bicycle that can be hired available on site. Bikers shouldn’t miss the scenic Lama Forest Trail; while for walkers, the Path of the Sacred Forests and the Alta Via dei Parchi are must-walk trails.
6. Check out your dream car at Motor Valley
Emilia-Romagna is home to the world-famous Motor Valley, where Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati can be found. Motor Valley includes includes Modena, Bologna, and other cities in the region.
In Modena town, you can visit some of Italy’s best car museums such as the Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum, which houses an impressive collection of automobiles. If you still haven’t had your fill, stop by the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
The Motor Valley, which resembles a sprawling theme park, offers a variety of attractions that celebrate the region’s passion for thrills, style, and mechanics. When it comes to automobiles and motorcycles, this is Italy’s premier hub.
13 museums focused on automobiles and 18 car collections entice both serious drivers and casual visitors.
Test drives on world-famous race tracks, as well as sports events and visits to manufacturing plants, are also available.
7. Admire the Mosaics and Churches in Ravenna
One of Italy’s oldest and most culturally significant cities is Ravenna, home to an incredible eight World Heritage Sites! San Vitale and Galla Placidia’s Mausoleo are two of the town’s most famous landmarks, both known for their incredible mosaics. The city is one of the best places to visit in Emilia-Romagna.
Meanwhile, the Mausoleum of Teodorico, a 6th-century tomb for a king, is one of many beautiful churches and basilicas in Ravenna.
The Emilia-Romagna region has a rich history, and this town is no exception. If you only have a day to spend in Ravenna, don’t miss the old town. A must-see is the brick structure Basilica of Sant’Apollinare, known for its eclectic architecture.
8. Stroll along Emilia-Romagna’s canals
The region of Emilia-Romagna is pretty diverse, and apart from its rich history, well-preserved centuries-old architecture, gorgeous beaches, and castle towns, there are also historic canals, such as the ones in the port town of Cesenatico.
What sets this particular canal system apart is that it was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The old town’s harbor is also full of brightly colored sailboats and a fascinating maritime museum.
The visits to the region’s canals include the “little Venice,” the small town of Comacchio, in the northeastern part of Emilia-Romagna. You should spend an afternoon here exploring the town center to see the rows of brightly colored houses and grand mansions like the Palazzo Bellini.
9. Cycle the Destra Po
If you’re the active type and want to see more of the region on a bike tour, try the Destra Po cycleway. This is among the fun things to do in Emilia-Romagna.
The famous river flows through Emilia-Romagna on this route, which covers the entire length of the river. The riverbanks can easily be reached from Ferrara, a charming medieval town further down the river, where you can continue to the village of Ro.
Before heading out, stock up on local meats and cheeses at a well-known river mill, which is just a short distance away. Since Destra Po is a flat route, you can take in the surrounding plains and the river across the way.
If you are planning to tackle this route, stop at Ferrara, which has low-cost options for renting bicycles.
10. Get to know the King of Cheeses
Want to get to know more about the “King of Cheeses” – Parmigiano Reggiano?
Visiting a Parmigiano Reggiano producer to see how the cheese is made and stored is one of the must-do activities in Emilia-Romagna.
As one of the region’s most prominent cheesemakers, 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia near Modena is an excellent place to visit. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and takes you through every step of the manufacturing process, with the massive storage facility serving as the tour’s highlight.
Mornings are the best time to visit, as the cheesemakers are at work. After the tour, visitors get to sample the cheeses.
11. Feast on regional cuisine
Emilia-Romagna is frequently referred to as the “home of food,” in part because it is where ragu came from. This popular meat-based sauce that is commonly served with pasta is called spaghetti Bolognese, but this Italian dish was a meatier sauce served with tagliatelle. Apparently, we all eat a dish from Italy that does not exist.
However, this region is brimming with other culinary delights, from gelato tours in Bologna to factory tours of Parmigiano Reggiano, the world’s first and only certified hard cheese.
Modena’s balsamic vinegar is also a well-known export from Emilia-Romagna. If it is not from here and does not bear the label, it is not authentic.
Emilia-Romagna is also home to Parma ham and Fossa cheese.
When you visit this region, make sure you sample authentic dishes in the many eateries and restaurants spread in most town centers. This is one of the best activities in Emilia-Romagna.
From intimate trattorias to bustling food markets, including FICO, the world’s first food theme park, any true foodie will be spoiled for choice in this fantastic Italian region.
12. Partake in Emilia-Romagna’s fantastic gastronomic events
Being the “home of food,” the region is known for fantastic food festivals, which are among the must-see attractions in Emilia-Romagna. Here are some of them:
• National White Truffle Fair –
Held every Sunday of October in the town of Sant’Agata Feltria, some 45 km. from Rimini, the fair honors the tartufi bianci (white truffles). This event is similar to that in Alba in the Piedmont region, but this one in Emilia-Romagna is less commercial and has a more country-fair feels to it.
- Also check out: Truffle Hunting – A Unique Experience in Italy
• International Street Food Festival –
This is a 3-day International Street Food Festival that showcases famous snacks and meals from 9 Italian regions and 9 countries of the world. It is held in Cesena in the early part of October.
• Italian Porcini Mushroom Fair –
The Italian Porcini Mushroom Fair is held also in early October, in the town of Albareto, about 130 km. west of Bologna. The fair is a celebration of the giant, flat Porcini mushrooms that the area is known for.
13. Go on a day trip to San Marino
The location of Emilia-Romagna makes it possible to access many exciting destinations, including a small country known as the world’s oldest republic – San Marino to.
One of the world’s smallest countries, San Marino is only accessible through Italy, which surrounds it in all directions.
Many people visit San Marino on a day trip and one of the reasons is the unique stamp that they put on visitors’ passports. More than the stamp, however, this tiny country has a lot to offer, including a fascinating history as well as mouthwatering cuisine and scenic hikes through the wilderness.
A truly unique little country, San Marino has no borders, is not yet a part of the European Union, and uses euro as its currency. The country is led by two presidents in place at any given time, each with a term of six months. For their use, they keep a separate calendar.
With its unique culture, varied landscapes, beautiful architecture, and quirky museums, visiting San Marino is one of the best things to do in Emilia-Romagna which should be a part of your itinerary.
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