Emilia-Romagna, Italy: Things to Do, Provinces & Towns — Complete Guide

Emilia-Romagna borders more regions than any other in Italy: six, plus the Republic of San Marino. And it is the only one whose name declares that it is two: Emilia from Piacenza to Bologna, Romagna from there to the sea — the border, around Bologna, is a stream, the Sillaro. What holds them together is a road, the via Emilia, laid out by the Romans in 187 BC, and almost all the region's 328 comuni line up along that straight line.

Its record at table is well known: parmigiano reggiano, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar of Modena, tortellini. But to reduce it to food is unfair. Ravenna keeps eight UNESCO monuments with the most luminous Byzantine mosaics in the West; Bologna has the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088, and porticoes recognised by UNESCO in 2021; Ferrara the Renaissance design of the Este. And for those who drive, this is the Motor Valley of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati.

Not to be missed

The best of Emilia-Romagna

The places worth the trip on their own, picked by our editors.

Panoramic view of terracotta rooftops and churches in Modena's historic center from the Ghirlandina Tower

Modena 🍷 Modena Balsamic vinegar and supercars

Vintage engraving of a historic city skyline with rooftops, domes, and towers

Parma 🍷 Parma Prosciutto, Parmigiano and UNESCO creative city

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna with its round bell tower.

Ravenna 🏛 Ravenna The Byzantine mosaics

Red brick rationalist building on a street in Ferrara, Italy

Ferrara 🏛 Ferrara The city of the Este court

Emilia-Romagna

The provinces of Emilia-Romagna

Map and list are connected: hover one to light up the other, click to enter.

1 / 9 Bologna 55 towns Open the guide →

9 provinces

BO Bologna 55 towns → FE Ferrara 21 towns → FC Forlì-Cesena 30 towns → MO Modena 47 towns → PR Parma 44 towns → PC Piacenza 46 towns → RA Ravenna 18 towns → RE Reggio Emilia 42 towns → RN Rimini 25 towns →

The top 20 places in Emilia-Romagna

Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →

Byzantine mosaic depicting the Hospitality of Abraham inside the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna.

1 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries Mosaics of San Vitale and Galla Placidia 📍 Ravenna The starry vault of Galla Placidia and the Justinian and Theodora panels at San Vitale.

Carved Romanesque capitals on display in the Modena Cathedral Museum

2 ⛪ Churches & sanctuaries Modena Cathedral and Ghirlandina 📍 Modena Founded in 1099, this Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage site is celebrated for Wiligelmus's reliefs and its bell tower.

Elevated view of Piazza Maggiore in Bologna with the Basilica of San Petronio

3 🏛️ Squares & old towns Piazza Maggiore e San Petronio 📍 Bologna The marble facade stops halfway, and Cassini's 66.8-metre meridian runs across the floor.

Emilia-Romagna and around, on the map

What's around

Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.

🍝 At the table: Emilia-Romagna

All typical dishes →

First course

Tagliatelle al Ragù egg tagliatelle with meat ragù, soffritto and tomato

Ribbons of egg pasta, meat ragù and soffritto: the real bolognese has had a recipe deposited at the Chamber of Commerce since 1982.

🌿 Cured meat DOP

Prosciutto di Parma pork leg and sea salt, aged at least twelve months

Only Italian pork and sea salt, aged for at least twelve months: Prosciutto di Parma has held Protected Designation of Origin status since 1996.

Bread and focaccia IGP

Coppia Ferrarese bread with a central knot and four horns, lard and sourdough

Flour, lard, oil and sourdough starter, a soft knot at the centre and four thin horns: coppia ferrarese has held Protected Geographical Indication status since 2001.

✨ Emilia-Romagna by theme

🏛️ UNESCO heritage 5 🍷 Food & wine 4 🏖️ Seaside 2

Tours, tickets and experiences

Emilia-Romagna

Bookable on GetYourGuide

Upcoming events in Emilia-Romagna

Patron saint festival Today 📍 Rimini

Feast of Saint Gaudentius

📅 Every year, on 14 October

On 14 October Rimini celebrates Saint Gaudentius, its patron: an autumn date, when the beach umbrellas are down and the city belongs to its own people again.

Patron saint festival In 3 days 📍 Fiorenzuola d'Arda

Feast of Saint Florentius

📅 Every year, on 17 October

On 17 October Fiorenzuola d'Arda celebrates its patron Saint Florentius of Tours; in the past the town had a different patron, Saint Boniface, celebrated on 20 August.

Patron saint festival In 7 days 📍 Campogalliano

Feast of Saint Ursula

📅 Every year, on 21 October

On 21 October Campogalliano celebrates its patron Saint Ursula; the town hosts the Museo della Bilancia, dedicated to the history of weighing instruments.

Patron saint festival In 8 days 📍 Berceto

Feast of Saint Moderannus

📅 Every year, on 22 October

On 22 October Berceto celebrates its patron Saint Moderannus; the town hosts the treasury museum of Berceto Cathedral.

All events in Emilia-Romagna →