Emilia Romagna is a large region, that from coast to coast, one side from another of the region, touches the Adriatic Sea (East) as well as the Mediterranean (West). The region, whose highly hospitable people make very welcoming, offers one of Italy's best cuisine and many interesting and unique cities.
Nearest the coast, we find the area called Romagna. Here are a bunch of proud cities that with Italian warmth loves to make fun of each other. Ravenna, noble and filled with great history, the folk Forlì and Faenza, with its Roman roots and famous pottery.
We continue with scenic Brisighella with its hiking trails and small medieval villages and Cesena, a farmer city. Really a competition between these gems is not needed. They all have their own special character and soul. In addition, they have a very important asset in common: Sangiovese grapes, from which a great wine is made.
A part of Romagna as we well know, is the Riviera. This curvy coastline, much loved and acclaimed by Federico Fellini consists of a string of cities along Europe's longest beach.
From Cervia in the north to Cattolica in the south, through child-friendly Rimini and fashionable Riccione. Small-scaled and grand at the same time. Here we find Italy's best clubs and extravagant shops, but also well-preserved old cities, traditional restaurants and quiet streets. And so the ever-present beach. A golden, clean and wide beach.
In the middle of the region we find Bologna, "the red, fat and scholars. Red for its political tradition, fat for the sake of good food and scholars for its university, which is one of the oldest in the world. The city captures the essence of Emilia Romagna: welcome, warmth and beauty.
Farther inland, we find Parma and Modena, home of the gastronomic heaven stars: Parma ham and balsamic vinegar, as well as another kind of star that does not need any further introduction: Ferrari.