Emilia Romagna Travel Guide

Emilia Romagna is visited mainly for its coast. And of course it does have a nice stretch of sandy beaches Especially around Rimini and Misano Adriatico. But travelers who just leave it at that, seriously shortchange themselves. Emilia Romagna has many historic cities with loads of sights. Ravenna for example with its fine examples of Byzantine religious art. But Ferrara and Bologna as well absolutely deserve a visit of at least a few days and, although it's a major industrial centre, Modena has a Romanesque cathedral as good as any in Italy.

In the south of Emilia Romagna you find the ministate of San Marino. San Marino is an independant country - the oldest republic in the world or so they say. It's a bit of a tourist trap and you are better off visiting other Italians towns of the same size which have a lot more to offer. The only extra San Marino has is that it is independant.

While in Emilia Romagna be sure to enjoy the food. The region offers some of the finest culinary traditions of the Italian peninsula. Parma has its cheese and ham, Ferrara has is salame, Bologna nicknamed la grassa, or the fat one, does a great mortadella and is the birthplace of tortellini.