We start our journey in Ferrara, with a visit to what might easily be considered the city's most famous landmark. The beautifully conserved Estense Castle, one of few moated castles in Europe, was built as court and residence of the Este family and now provides the stunning location for high profile conferences and international cultural events. In 1995, the historic center of Ferrara was awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO, in recognition of the incredible number of medieval and...

At Maranello and Fiorano, in the province of Modena, just about everything gravitates around a motorcar: the legendary Ferrari. The Ferrari stables, born from Enzo Ferrari's passion for automobiles, the race track, and the Wind Tunnel designed by the architect Renzo Piano are visited by thousands of Ferrari fans and tourists each year, who should also find time to visit the splendid 17th century Villa Guastella del Vigarini in Fiorano and Maranello's Palazzo Ducale, complete with sumptuous...

For this itinerary, it's the SS16 highway which guides us through the gentle scenery of the Riviera Romagnola. The Riviera officially starts at Cattolica, almost on the border with Italy's Marche region and the province of Pesaro. This is where the Natural Park of Monte San Bartolo is located, an area which attracts a great number of bird watchers but also those interested in history and archaeology, thanks to the presence of age-old sites such as Monte Castellano and Colombarone.

Cattolica,...

Our itinerary exploring the art and cuisine of Emilia commences at Fontanellato, a town of circa 6000 inhabitants, just a few kilometers away from Parma. Of immediate impact, the imposing Rocca Sanvitale. Encircled by a deep moat, this massive edifice with crenulated tower on each of its four corners is one of the region's most beautiful castles. Its interiors are adorned with splendid artworks including a magnificent cycle of frescoes painted by Parmigianino in the 16th century. A series of...