www.EmiliaRomagna-Traveller.com - Itineraries

The Dukes of Este and the Po Delta

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0200

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 renaissance works of art and architecture conserved within its walls. Featuring high on the list of sites to see we find the fresco cycle in Palazzo Schifanoia, where the Civic Museum of Antique Art is housed, the Loggia dei Merciai, the Cathedral of San Giorgio, and the Palazzo dei Diamanti, home to the National Picture Gallery.

To reach the area's impressive nature reserves, we take the road through land transformed by the great land reclamation of the early 1900's. The town of Tresigallo, often...

Art, food & Ferrari

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0200

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 staircase and an imposing statue of Neptune, realised according to designs by Bernini. At Maranello, the "city of the Ferrari", a series of exhibitions and conferences are held in the name of the "Cavallino" (the prancing horse which is the automobile's logo). Not to be missed, a guided tour of the establishment and a burst in one of the legendary Ferrari sports cars.

This part of Italy is a veritable paradise for food lovers, where a great many of the country's most highly...

The Via Emilia

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

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 porticoes skirting the edifice have been transformed in unique spaces occupied by charming little restaurants, shops, and cafes. Fontanellato is the destination of numerous pilgrimages culminating at the Beata Vergine del Rosario Sanctuary, situated just outside the historic center. Extensive restoration work has brought the 17th century sanctuary, complete with neo-baroque façade and statues, back to its original splendour.

At San Secondo Parmense, just a few...

The Riviera Romagnola

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

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, with a population of circa 15.000, shares many of the characteristics of the other towns on the Riviera; offering visitors a vast choice of hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs, all close to the sea and the various bathing establishments. The principal streets are lined with every kind of shop and boutique. Cattolica is home to one of the most fascinating sites in Emilia Romagna; the "Le Navi" aquarium. An unforgettable experience for both young and old, Cattolica's aquarium with its...