Emilia-Romagna
The Emilia-Romagna region is known as the foodie capital of Italy. We heard this over and over from Italians while traveling throughout Tuscany in 2022. After the third mention, we decided we needed to plan a foodie trip. This is the current draft of our itinerary.
Tentative Dates: June 17 – 26, 2024
10 nights
Meet in Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna. Bologna is accessible by train from most major cities including Venice, Florence and Rome.
Bologna – 3 nights
Bologna’s nick name is La Grassa, which means the fat lady. This is the birthplace of ragu alla Bolognese and mortadella sausage. We’ll visit the Tamburini food emporium and the Quadrilatero food district with family run shops. In between sampling foods and wines all over town, we’ll attend a cooking class. When we take a break from eating, we’ll visit the longest portico in the world, the oldest university in the western world, and the piazzas and churches that have shaped Bologna over the last thousand years.
Parma – 2 nights
You might have guessed from the name that Parma is the home of Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma prosciutto. We’ll also visit the Romanesque Cathedral with frescos by Correggio.
Modena – 2 nights
Our main form of transportation between towns is the train, but we’ll drive from Parma to Modena so we can enjoy a farm to table lunch in the countryside. Once in Modena, we'll soak up as much Modena balsamic vinegar and tortelloni di zucca as we can. Sites we’ll visit include the UNESCO World Heritage site of Piazza Grande, plus cathedrals with grand works of art, and Museo Enzo Ferrari (yes, that Ferrari).
Ravenna – 3 nights
Ravennese salt, chestnuts and extra virgin olive oil flavor the local dishes here. Only 10 km from the coast, fish and shellfish are a big part of the menu. If you’re not a fan of seafood, have no fear. Ravenna is also known for housemade egg pasta, grilled meats, cheeses, and broths. To walk off our meals, we’ll visit basilicas filled with gorgeous mosaics in Byzantine architecture from the fifth century.
The adventure will come to a close in Ravenna.
As details are confirmed, updates will be posted. This itinerary should be finalized by May 2023.
