Emilia Romagna Turismo

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Emilia Romagna
APT Servizi Emilia Romagna (Regional tourist board)
Fax +39 0541 430150
info@aptservizi.com
www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it
www.aptservizi.com
For information on tourist products
of Emilia Romagna
Unione di prodotto Appennino e Verde
Fax +39 051 4202612
appennino@aptservizi.com
www.appenninoeverde.org
Unione di prodotto Città d'Arte, Cultura e Affari
Fax +39 051 4202612
cittadarte@aptservizi.com
www.cittadarte.emilia-romagna.it
Unione di prodotto Costa
Fax +39 0547 675192
info@adriacoast.com
www.adriacoast.com
Book your holiday on:
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Land with a Soul
Unione di prodotto Terme, Salute e Benessere
Fax +39 051 4202612
info@emiliaromagnaterme.it
www.emiliaromagnaterme.it
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Emilia Romagna
Land
with a Soul
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Publishing project:
APT Servizi
Texts:
Stefano Maldini
Text restyling in foreign languages:
English – Lisa Gerard Sharp
German – Maren Preiss
Russian – Gamer Bautdinov
Concept and graphics project:
Empresa Creativa - www.empresacreativa.com
Translation:
Action Line Servizi Linguistici – Forlì
Images:
APT Servizi Photo Archives
Photo Archives of the Unioni di Prodotto Appennino e Verde, Città d’Arte, Costa, Terme and their public
partners
Federico Fellini Foundation (image pag. 12-13 – Federico Fellini “La dolce vita: Silvia come la Via Lattea”
Coloured pens on paper - copyright Federico Fellini Foundation)
Forlì – Cesena Province Photo Archives (sangiovese glass pag. 91; montetiffi baking-pots pag. 25; nordic
walking pag. 62)
Ferrara Province Photo Archives (deer in the woods of Mesola pag. 23; Cento carnival pag. 35; Delta Park
hide pag. 46)
Reggio Emilia Province Photo Archives (making pasta pag. 37; images of the chapter “Don Camillo and
Peppone”)
Rimini Province Photo Archives (various images in the Adriatic Riviera section)
Cesenatico Town Council Photo Archives (Marino Moretti birthplace pag. 19; recalling garibaldina pag.
22)
Modena Town Council Photo Archives (Pavarotti & Friends pag. 33)
Ravenna Town Council Photo Archives (sapanno Garibaldi pag. 22)
Sarsina Town Council Photo Archives (Sarsina arena pag. 94)
Oasi costiera dei 4 comuni Photo Archives (small flamingo pag. 22)
Museo della Figurina Photo Archives (images pag. 35)
Savor of Montegelli Feast Photo Archives (images pag. 71)
Motorvalley Museum and Collections Photo Archives (images for the chapters Enzo Ferrari and Ducati) Alessandro La Motta (front page)
Printed in October 2009 by Grafica Editoriale Printing srl – Bologna
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Via Emilia: the ancient Roman road that recounts the centuries of history of this
extraordinary region. A road that encloses an entire universe: from Rimini to
Piacenza, a world of surprises and new experiences.
To the east the horizon follows the coastline where for over a century millions of
tourists have been attracted by the sun, beaches and theme parks for a holiday of
fun and wellbeing. The Adriatic coast always offers visitors a warm welcome
which is appreciated all over the world; all guests enjoy a unique and true experience
filled with opportunities.
To the west of the via Emilia gently rolling hills give way to the relaxing and
mysterious grandeur of the Apennines overflowing with fascinating itineraries and
thermal baths with a tradition of wellbeing.
To the north the road borders with the Po River that flows to the Delta: a natural
paradise waiting to be discovered.
Wherever you stop this land offers extraordinary food and local products of amazing
quality; a real paradise for food and wine lovers, home of Pellegrino Artusi, born
in the province of Forlì, author of one of the most famous Italian cookery books.
Bologna is the navel of this extraordinary territory, surrounded by charming
villages and unforgettable cities of art: from the Estense city of Ferrara to Byzantine
Ravenna, the jewel cities of Parma and Modena and the great heritage declared
Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. Theatres, cultural events, and museums of
all types entertain visitors in all corners of this territory.
This fertile land is the birthplace of the genius of Guglielmo Marconi and of the
music of Giuseppe Verdi. This is the region that fired Enzo Ferrari’s passion for
motors and inspired Federico Fellini’s dreamlike vision.
United and multifaceted, welcoming and curious, bound to tradition and open to
the world, Emilia Romagna is a fascinating and sincere "land with a soul": listen
to the voices of who knows this land well and let the words accompany you on an
endless journey.
Massimo Gottifredi
President
of APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna
(Regional tourist board)
Andrea Babbi
Managing Director
of APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna
(Regional tourist board)
Index
4
3
Introduction
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Index
6
Map
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10
12
16
20
24
26
Adriatic Riviera
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30
32
36
40
44
48
52
Art Cities
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58
60
64
68
72
Appennine mountains and countryside
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78
80
84
88
92
Spas
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Map of D.O.P. and I.G.P. products
and of the Food and Wine Routes
Map
Federico Fellini
Leonardo da Vinci
Eel
Piadina
Mussels and clams
Map
Giuseppe Verdi
Pellegrino Artusi
Porticoes
The River Po
Enzo Ferrari
Ducati
Map
Alberto Tomba
Matilde di Canossa
Don Camillo & Peppone
Woodland
Map
Francesca da Rimini
Miss Italy
Water
Ancient Romans
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Tips and top picks
Art Deco masterpiece: the Palazzo
Berzieri in Salsomaggiore
Head for opera houses in Verdi’s
homeland to listen to the Maestro’s
great arias
Piacenza
Parma
Reggio Emilia
Modena
Fast speed myths:
Ferrari & Ducati
Wolf howling in the Apennines
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Learn the handmade pasta
masters’ secrets in traditional
cooking academies
City adventure: explore Bologna’s
secret waterways in a dinghy
Gourmet shopping: parmigianoreggiano, prosciutto di Parma, culatello
di Zibello, aceto balsamico tradizionale
Where to drink Emilia Romagna’s
high quality wines? at the Enoteca
Regionale in Dozza
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for Emilia Romagna
Ravenna and its Byzantine
mosaics
Pink flamingos in Po Delta
wetlands
Ferrara
Bologna
Ravenna
Forlì
Cesena
Rimini
Faïence: the world of clay,
colour and fire
For adrenalin-addicts:
the theme parks on the Riviera
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Stage your holiday in the
Adriatic Riviera when the Pink
Night in on
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Artist: Alessandro La Motta
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The Adriatic
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Piacenza
Parma
Reggio Emilia
Modena
Amusement Parks
1
Acquajoss
13 Beach Village
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Acqualand
14 Delfinario di Rimini
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Acquaparco Auai Auai
15 Eden Park
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Belafonte Minigolf
16 Fiabilandia
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La Casa delle farfalle
17 Imax
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CerviAvventura
18 Indiana Golf
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Parco della Salina
19 Italia in Miniatura
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Mirabilandia
20 Oltremare
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Atlantica
21 Palestina in miniatura
10 Indiana Park
22 San Marino Advertures
11 Acquario di Cattolica – Le Navi
23 Skypark
12 Aquafan
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Riviera
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Ferrara
•
•
Lido delle Nazioni
Lido degli Scacchi
Lidi di Comacchio
• Lido degli Estensi
• Lido di Spina
1
• Marina di Ravenna
Bologna
Ravenna
Le Spiagge di Ravenna
• Punta Marina Terme
• Lido Adriano
8• Milano Marittima
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Forlì
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Cesena
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ADRIATIC SEA
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Cervia 4-6-7
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Cesenatico
Gatteo a Mare
Savignano Mare
San Mauro Mare
Bellaria - Igea Marina
14-15-16-19
Rimini
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22
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Rep. di
San Marino
12-13-17-18-20
Riccione
Misano Adriatico
Cattolica 11
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Federico
FEDERICO FELLINI
Rimini, 20-01-1920 • Rome, 31-10-1993
Scriptwriter and director.
Oscar for lifetime achievement - 1993.
He “portrayed” in dozens of feature films a
small crowd of memorable characters.
Dream
In a sense, all Fellini ever did was to make films about Rimini, his home-town.
Fellini was born and made in Rimini. He was inspired by the Fulgor cinema, the
local foods and flavours, the emptiness of the sea, and the charm of the women.
To the great director, everything wonderful in life came from
this well-known Adriatic resort. This was his canvas, his raw
material. You can imagine Fellini giving silent thanks to Rimini
for each of his five Oscars. What would Fellini have been without
Rimini? It was Rimini that sparked his imagination and helped
him to dream.
He saw the sea and the land as one large screen coming alight.
At night, the lights still glimmer at sea and a gentle sea breeze
sweeps the resort and hills with cooling night air. Fellini’s films,
from Dolce Vita to Amarcord, or 8 1/2 to Vitelloni, were all set
in different locations. But spiritually Fellini never left Rimini.
Instead, he took his spectators by the hand and led them on a
journey to savour the magic places of his childhood. Despite
Rimini’s changes, the resort still remains a gentle place where
dreamers are welcome and fantasies fostered.
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Fellini
‘Pink Night’
Staged in July, this Adriatic beach party is the
high point of the Italian summer. With the sky lit
up by fireworks, the Pink Night is a party involving
Emilia Romagna’s Adriatic Coast, all 100 kilometres
of it. From Comacchio to Cattolica, from sunset
to dawn, thousands of events turn the coastal
resorts into party central –for one night only.
The beaches, bars and shops are open round the
clock, with partying spilling out of the restaurants
and discos. Pink is the colour of hospitality,
kindness and emotions. Rimini sees the occasion
in Fellini-esque terms: it’s a film that starts when
the resort’s lights go out. If so, it’s a never-ending
film, an enchanted dreamscape inhabited by
dreamers with their eyes wide open.
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Grand Hotel
Fellini recalled the summer evenings of his
boyhood when Rimini’s legendary Grand Hotel
transported him to Istanbul, Baghdad, or
Hollywood. As a famous director, Fellini still felt
the transformational power of this time-warp
hotel. Every time Fellini set
foot on the elegant terrace,
he saw a film set where the
`dance of life’ was played
out. Little has changed. Ever
since 1908, when its doors
first opened, this iconic hotel
has conjured up images of
elegance and exoticism. The
allure of this grande dame
hotel lives on, much like the
dreamscape of Rimini and the
Riviera itself.
Printed fabric
If you have time, drop into in Gambettola, Fellini’s
father’s home town. Slip into the old Pascucci
shop and sniff the vinegar-scented air. Then
take a look around: take in in the workshop full
of rust-coloured prints which have been
transferred to linen, cotton or hemp. You might
meet the writer Tonino Guerra drawing butterflies
or even run into the Nobel Prize winning author,
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Dario Fo, looking for material for his work or
dreams. If you have time, go to Santarcangelo
and peep into the old Marchi dye-works. You will
discover a rare mangle that dates back to the
17th century. It’s a weird and wonderful world.
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Queen of the home
In Rimini, dreams are fixed; they do not fly away
with youth. This ability to dream is linked to the
local talent for envisioning creative solutions
and fully enjoying every stage of life. The
traditional figure of the azdora seems to have
come out of a collective dream: with her hair
swept into a headscarf, this wise woman is busy
preparing the dough for the pasta. She is queen
of the hearth, a busy mother and wife, and a
guiding light for future generations. Dreams
never fade; they are just reborn.
The poetry of places: Pennabilli
“It is great to arrive in a place where you
rediscover yourself”. These are the words written
by poet and screenwriter Tonino Guerra
who has decided to let his dreams flourish again
in Pennabilli, at first home of the Malatesta
family and then under the rule of the Dukes of
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Urbino. You can understand his words by strolling
through the LUOGHI DELL’ANIMA (places of the
soul) conceived and created by Tonino Guerra:
from the “Orto dei frutti dimenticati” (orchard
of forgotten fruits) to the “Strada delle
meridiane” (road of sundials) or
“Santuario dei Pensieri” (sanctuary
of thoughts); or you can simply walk
around the streets of the village
during the famous National Antiques
Fair which takes place in the summer
and enjoy the sounds, shapes and
colours of times gone by, soft and
gentle like memories.
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Leonardo
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Vinci, 15-04-1452 • Amboise 02-05-1519
Unique talent of the Italian Renaissance period.
Painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, anatomist, literary
man, musician and inventor.
Paul Klee wrote about him: “Having seen Leonardo it is
difficult to imagine making any more progress”.
Arts
&
invention
It is often forgotten that Leonardo da Vinci, the painter of the Mona Lisa, was also
a complete Renaissance Man: scientist, civil and military engineer, scholar and
draughtsman, to name but a few of his talents. And some of these talents were
employed in Romagna. In 1502 Leonardo da Vinci traversed the Emilia Romagna
region in his role as engineer and master architect (architecto et ingegnero generale)
to Cesare Borgia, his patron. Leonardo’s role was to measure and calculate any
number of civil and military projects in accordance with his master’s whims. While
studying fortifications for his patron in Emilia Romagna, Leonardo came across the
village of Cesenatico. He was impressed by the harbour canal, and the
combination of the natural setting and the man-made design. Leonardo da
Vinci promptly jotted down a few sketches in his notebook, along with
possible improvements of his own. It is intriguing to walk along the banks
of the canal today and realise how, after 500 years, the scientific side of
the site has been complemented by beauty. In particular, the floating
section of Cesenatico’s Marine Museum displays trabaccoli (fishing
luggers), bragozzi (two-masted trawlers) and lugsails - all of which
form a lovely palette of colours in the wind.
If Leonardo could speak to us today, he would urge us to visit Emilia
Romagna. If it weren’t for the misadventures of Cesare Borgia,
Leonardo would have stayed far longer.
da Vinci
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International
Kite Festival
This is a magical festival weaving in elements of
wind, water and life. The flight of the kites
carries all sorts of symbolism but can also just
be viewed as an entertaining day out for all the
family. The International Kite Festival takes place
every spring on the beaches of Cervia. During
the festival, the kites twist and turn in the sky
as competitions and kite fights unfold. Anyone
who has seen the film, The Kite Runner, will
know how evocative kites can be.
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The Food and Wine Routes
While wandering through Emilia Romagna,
Leonardo da Vinci was intrigued by the way that
the farmers hung their grapes for the winter, so
he sketched what he saw. To follow in his
footsteps, study his drawing and, as if by magic,
you will find yourself transported to the Food
and Wine Route in the Forli and Cesena hills.
The image is of gentle hills and fortified villages,
with the pale blue sea viewed from above. The
mood is in keeping with the local novello wine
and the tasty pasta dishes.
Writers’ homes
At the beginning of the last century a young
writer called Marino Moretti dedicated a poem
to Leonardo da Vinci. He was a friend of Alfredo
Panzini who wrote a poetic diary of a journey
by bicycle; these were also the last years of
life of the poet Giovanni Pascoli. To sense the
atmosphere in which these writers’ works were
conceived, simply look around their former
homes, now transformed into museums and
shrines. These places can be found in
Cesenatico, Bellaria, and San Mauro Pascoli,
by the Riviera.
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Theme parks on the Riviera
It is important to know how to have fun when
not working or studying. What better way than
to head for the parks and gardens on the Adriatic
Riviera. Choose between the various water parks
and theme parks. Apart from Oltremare, there
are the heady water slides of Aquafan in Riccione
or the big Le Navi aquarium in Cattolica. Or what
about the adrenalin-fuelled roller-coaster rides
at Mirabilandia? Or the discoveries awaiting you
at Italia in Miniatura (Italy in Miniature)? Many
of these water adventures are ingenious enough
to have challenged Leonardo, the Renaissance
Man himself. Perhaps even Leonardo da Vinci
might have learnt a trick or two.
Eels
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EEL
In Comacchio (and surrounding area) all parts of
an eel were used, nothing was thrown away.
The fat produced when cooked was used for lighting.
The dried skin was used to make shoelaces.
Even the bones were used: they were eaten fried
and crunchy.
Slithering
It’s a mystery why some people find eels so fascinating. Maybe it’s because of the
way they wriggle and slip away so speedily. Maybe it’s because these creatures
belong to an insubstantial landscape that is neither earth nor water.
between
They live in a mysterious place that seems to be without clear boundaries. The
land
and
great poet, Eugenio Montale, dedicated a poem to an eel. Sofia Loren wanted eels
to feature in a film set in Comacchio. Set within the Po Delta wetlands, Comacchio
is a `Little Venice’ made up of 13 small islands. This is a protected mosaic of
water
marshes, dunes, mudflats and salt pans flanked by windmills. Home to fish farms
and water fowl, these lagoon waters provide a perfect habitat for eels.
Comacchio is a beguiling little town, with its quaint Trepponti bridge suspended
between water and the sky. The canals flow into the Adriatic while the reddish
stone houses evoke the Emilian plains. Foodies find eels fascinating because of
their silvery-hued sheen and the tasty flesh that can be eaten roasted, stewed or
marinated. Eel is best accompanied by such local wine as Bosco Eliceo. More poetic
visitors equate the eel’s charm with the winter fogs that turn the fishing huts into
a magical mirage. Others are intrigued by the eels’ monumental voyage: in winter,
they travel all the way to the Sargasso Sea to reproduce. In any case, if you’re in
Comacchio, you’ll find it difficult to escape these slithering creatures. Eels take
pride of place on every restaurant menu, or can be spotted slithering around at
the fish market.
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Cervia’s Salt Pans
Have you ever seen a chessboard that changes
colour during the day, which reflects the clouds
at dawn and turns red at sunset? The salt pans
are a stunning feature of the wetlands, an area
that is home to gregarious flamingos. The
wetlands, with their atmospheric stretches of
land and water, are the preserve of salt-workers
in search of `white gold’, once one of the world’s
most precious commodities. Comacchio grew
rich on the salt trade. You can see this in Cervia,
a land of salt, with its salt museum and
spectacular Salina Camillone salt pans. Taste the
coarse sea salt still collected in the traditional
way and savour its sweet taste.
Anita Garibaldi
It is hard to forget those desperate days back
in August 1849. On certain summer evenings,
the sight of the cane fields helps recall a tragic
story. Giuseppe Garibaldi and Anita, his beloved
wife, were looking for shelter in the Comacchio
wetlands. They had sailed from Cesenatico, in
flight from the Austrian forces. The revolutionary
hero survived but Anita, who was already
suffering from a fever, did not, and died at
Guicciole Farm, in Mandriole. This is a tale of
how a man lost his greatest treasure in a land
as changeable as water.
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The Boscone della Mesola
This woodland is the last remaining tract of the
great forests of holm oak, ash and elm that once
covered the coastal strip. The Adriatic coastline
used to be dotted with forests and access to the
sea was an adventure. In fact, Boscone della
Mesola is what remains of the d’Este dynasty’s
Grand-Ducal hunting estates. To relive those
times, stroll or cycle through Bosco Eliceo and
look out for the deer that now go unhunted.
Pomposa Abbey
Eels are not the only creatures to have settled
in this striking patch of Emilia Romagna. In the
7th century, Benedictine monks founded a
monastic complex near the Via Romea. Within
a few centuries, Pomposa became a very
prestigious cultural and spiritual centre where
Guido D’Arezzo lived most of his life. He
revolutionised the teaching and writing of music,
and invented the system of musical notation
still used today. Maybe he was inspired by the
`silent music’ of this watery, other-worldly land.
Piadina
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PIADINA
Traditional recipe
1 kg of flour not sieved too much; 4 g of
baking soda; 300 g of lard (certain “azdore”
- the housewives in Romagna - guarantee
that 100 g are sufficient), and salt.
Half a glass of extra virgin olive oil can be
used instead of the lard.
You don’t really know Emilia Romagna until you’ve
Piadina
sampled piadina, the local but genuine fast-food,
prepared according to time-honoured methods. It’s
a type of doughy bread that is used as a base for a
and
pleasure
huge range of fillings. It makes a cheap, filling and
tasty snack at any time of day.
A piadina is a simple peasant dish made from flour, lard, water and salt.
Its simplicity is part of its appeal, as is its versatility. It’s delicious with salads,
squacquerone cheese and cured meats, from hams to salami. Try it at a roadside
kiosk or at bars and restaurants. A piadina has lots
of nicknames and deserves respect as ‘the queen of
the table’.
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Music:
from liscio to discos
Montetiffi baking-pots
Make sure you try the stuffed version of piadina
made in a terracotta baking-pot like those
peasants once had in their homes. The stuffed
version is called crescione or cassone. Cooking
in this way produces wonderful,
unforgettable aromas. To indulge
in nostalgia, why not buy one of
these old-fashioned baking-pots?
Every pot is unique and handmade in Montetiffi di
Sogliano. Crafted with
local clay according to
centuries-old tradition,
the pot makes an evocative
souvenir.
Piadina isn’t the only simple pleasure on offer
in Emilia Romagna. After dinner you can choose
music to match your mood. Ballroom dancing is
very popular in these parts, largely thanks to
an orchestra created by Secondo Casadei, known
as `the Strauss of Emilia Romagna’. Known as
liscio, this type of dancing is undergoing a big
revival abroad but in Italy it has never gone out
of fashion. Ballroom dancing is an opportunity
for twirling around the floor, along with local
`strictly ballroom’ fans. If, instead, you want to
unleash your dancing demon, kick up you heels
to the latest sounds on the Riviera Romagnola.
The Adriatic Riviera is Italy’s disco mecca. You
can dance all night, even on the beach, from
family-oriented resorts like San Mauro Mare to
trendier resorts like Marina di Ravenna. For cool
cats, Gatteo Mare, which stages a Micizia festival
dedicated to cats, is the place to dance at dawn.
The Bagno Corrado bathing establishment
becomes an open-air dance floor: start the day
with a waltz, mazurka or cha cha cha. There is
music for all tastes!
Mussels
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COZZA - MUSSELS
Scientific name: Mytilus galloprivincialis
The inside colour varies according to whether
it is female or male: the female tends to have
a creamy colour whereas the male’s colour is
orange.
CLAMS
Scientific name: Tapes decussatus (Linneo)
The term “vongola” originates from Naples and
it derives from the latin volgare “conchula”,
diminutive of “concha”, or rather shell.
Beach
Along the Adriatic coast, from Comacchio to Cervia, from Cesenatico to Cattolica,
fun
mussels and clams find their way into the feast. Depending on taste, they can be
served as clam chowder, or spaghetti and clams. Or eat them served with shallots,
parsley, cherry tomatoes, or even strozzapreti. Try mussels and clams on their
own, or with shrimps, king prawns and mantis prawns.
Taste the shellfish in every permutation and
discover a sea of flavours. Or resort to a
classic fry-up - fritto dell’Adriatico.
& Clams
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Fishing food safari
Partying on the Beach
You might have guessed you’d have fun here.
The first tourists came to Romagna’s Adriatic
beaches in 1843 to sunbathe and escape the
stress and strain of city life. The elegant Riviera
resorts developed in all their Belle Epoque
splendour. Vestiges of glamour remain in such
resorts as Rimini, which is undergoing a revival.
Brash beach fun prevails along the coast, from
family games to flirting under beach umbrellas.
The bigger beaches offer games ranging from
beach volley ball to boules (bocce). Enjoy a
sailing regatta or a dip - under the watchful eye
of lifeguards. The beach strip from Comacchio
to Cattolica offers non-stop entertainment,
from beach games by day to live music and
discos by night. Happy hour on the Riviera
Romagnola is a chance to parade around, sip
aperitivi and spot girls in silver heels at ice
cream parlours.
Do not miss the “Riviera Beach Games” event
the Olympia games of the Riviera in summer.
Be tempted by a fishy trail
that takes you from the
Adriatic Sea to a restaurant
terrace and a tasty fish
risotto or Adriatic grill.
Fishing boats set sail in
search of bluefish and
whitefish, shellfish and
lobster. To savour this trail,
just join the crew.
The Pescaturismo (fishing tourism) service will
take you on an unforgettable food safari,
combing fishing and adventure. The voyage
starts with a hunt for snails or cuttlefish, with
snails gathered in baskets and cuttlefish caught
in traps.
Artist: Alessandro La Motta
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città d’arte
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The Art
Piacenza
4
10
Parma
3
19
Reggio Emilia
6
Modena
14 18 20
15
Motorvalley highlights
Circuits and race tracks
1
2
3
4
“Santamonica” International race track
“Enzo e Dino” International race track
“Riccardo Paletti” race track
Parma go-kart track
Museums and Collections
5 Museum "Ferruccio Lamborghini"
6 Mario Sassi “Old Racing Spare Parts”
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Colori compositi
collection
“Benito Battilani” Collection “Bruno Nigelli" Collection
“Mauro Pascoli” Collection “Nello Salsapariglia” Collection
“Parmeggiani” Collection
“Mario Righini” Collection
ATC - public transport historical Museum
Enzo Ferrari Birthplace Foundation
“Galleria Ferrari”
16 “Maranello Rosso” Museums
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
(Abarth museum & Ferrari museum)
Museum of industrial heritage
“Stanguellini” Museum of historical cars
Car Museum
“Umberto Panini” Classic Car and Motorcycle Museum
“Bandini” Car Museum
DEMM - Museum of motorcycles and mopeds
“Ducati” Museum
”Francesco Baracca” Museum
”Lamborghini” Museum (Centro Eccellenza)
National museum of motorcycle
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY CMY
K
31
Ferrara
A1
3
5
25
a
12
23
Bologna
8
A1
4
2 7
Ravenna
24
9
A 14
A1
22
11 13 17
Faenza
Forlì
A1
21
4
Cesena
Rimini
16
1
E
45
26
Rep. di
San Marino
Colori compositi
Giuseppe
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Roncole, 10.10.1813 • Milan 27.10.1901
Italian composer, author of operas performed
in opera houses all over the world.
The most popular and loved musician in Italy
during that period.
He composed the famous aria "Va' pensiero",
from the Nabucco.
Music
musique
Giuseppe Verdi’s life story owes much to the countryside of Emilia Romagna.
This was a land he left to achieve glory at La Scala in Milan. He often thought
about about Roncole, where his vocation for music first became apparent. His
father, a landlord with the ability to recognise the power of music, bought Verdi
his first spinet. Roncole was where he saw his first organ. Then Verdi moved to
Busseto where his benefactor Antonio Barezzi lived. He gave Verdi freedom by
funding his studies and giving him permission to marry his daughter Margherita.
To Verdi, Emilia was a generous, nurturing homeland so he decided to return
to the peace and quiet it represented. With the profits of his early success, he
bought the Sant’Agata estate in Villanova sull'Arda, where he lived happily for
many years with his beloved Giuseppina. Verdi’s arias were heard at major
opera houses as well as on the street. Verdi was in demand in Paris and in
Parliament; he was even asked to inaugurate the Suez Canal. Verdi’s lyrics were
deigned to raise people’s spirits. Yet the composer’s thoughts kept returning to
his homeland as he tried to keep his feet on the ground and not forget his roots.
At heart, he considered himself a country gentleman who simply put his talents
and good fortune to good use. That is why he wrote great operas all his life - not
just ones designed as crowd-pleasers at the opera house.
Verdi
33
The generosity of song:
Luciano Pavarotti
A life devoted to music is a good life and that is
exactly what Pavarotti chose to do. In the last few
years, nobody expressed the generosity and passion
of Emilia better than Luciano Pavarotti. The great
tenor from Modena cultivated his operatic talents,
as well as friendship, the good life and social
responsibility. His breadth of vision was in keeping
with the open, generous spirit of the region. When
he left his homeland, it was only to fulfil his dream
and scale the heights of his ambitions abroad,
dominating the international stage.
Musical theatre tradition
If you were wondering why anyone would want
to dedicate his whole life to opera, then dress
elegantly, invite the person you love out to
dinner, and walk smartly towards an opera house.
Head for one of the traditional opera houses in
Emilia’s great cities of art, which all offer enticing
programmes. These traditional opera housescum-theatres embrace the cities of Bologna,
Modena, Ferrara, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and
Ravenna – not forgetting the celebrated Regio
Theatre in Parma. This cluster of gems represents
almost a third of the opera houses in Italy. This
is proof, if any were needed, of the region’s deep
love of music. The musical tradition lives on.
Along the musical road
The Via Emilia has been the backbone of this
region since 187 BC. The road connects Rimini
and Piacenza, running through the rolling
countryside and Apennines. This is a musical
road, linked to many celebrated voices. The
names that crop up en route range from
conductor Arturo Toscanini to Lucio Dalla and
Zucchero, king of soul and blues. Then there’s
old crooner Gianni Morandi and Francesco
Guccini, or Vasco Rossi, the metropolitan rocker,
or Luciano Ligabue, who conjures up the
atmosphere of the plains.
35
Folk theatre between
Cento and Ferrara
Emilia’s passionate spirit can be sensed in song,
dance and swirling colours. All this is typified
by the Carnival of Cento, which is twinned with
Rio de Janeiro. Expect competing floats and a
parade of huge papier-mâché figures. The same
passion also spills over in Ferrara, where the
summer Buskers Festival is held - the greatest
event of its kind in the world.
The invention of cards and stickers
Many inventions changed the world during
Verdi’s lifetime. One in particular was the
chromolithographic print, invented in the mid19th-century. Verdi witnessed some of the
earliest cards, which he saw in Paris. He found
them a diverting way of passing on information,
especially to children. If you want to get a sense
of the charm of the invention and savour those
times, visit the Cards and Stickers Museum in
Modena, international capital of the genre.
Pellegrino
PELLEGRINO ARTUSI
Forlimpopoli, 04.08.1820 • Florence 30.03.1911
Italian literary critic, writer and gastronome
He became famous thanks to his book “The Science of
Cooking and the Art of Eating Well” with which he conferred
dignity to the “mosaic” of regional traditions that make
Italy so special.
In Forlimpopoli, the ancient walls of the block of buildings
of the Chiesa dei Servi house Casa Artusi, the first centre
of gastronomic culture dedicated to Italian home cooking,
which includes a library, a restaurant and a cooking school,
and offers many events.
When you hear the cuisine of Emilia Romagna praised, bow to it. It deserves
respect. This is rich, robust yet refined cuisine - an opulent parade of pasta, velvety
sauces, meat, charcuterie and cheese. If eating and loving are two of life’s great
pleasures, they come together in Emilia Romagna, and in the passion of Pellegrino
Artusi. The locals match their passion and skill to a selection of the finest raw
materials.
Art
eating
of
The
Pellegrino Artusi was not just a great gastronome but a foodie pioneer. He was the
first to research and collate Italian regional recipes in a systematic way. Such
recipes form the basis of Italian cuisine and are still in use today. The cooking of
Emilia Romagna is showcased in Forlimpopoli, where Artusi lived. As well as
doubling as a cookery school and gastrodome, the Artusi centre serves as a shrine
to the great gastronome.
Artusi spent twenty years collecting recipes from all over Italy but appreciated his
‘home’ cuisine. Emilia Romagna celebrates the art of eating well. Where else can
you find such a succulent array of dishes, prepared with such culinary skill?
Pasta mania: Simply savouring the names of the traditional pasta dishes is a deep
pleasure. Pellegrino Artusi, like many a gastronome since, believed these dishes
were actually good for your soul. In Romagna, savour hat-shaped cappelletti,
passatelli in broth, or ricotta-stuffed ravioli. Bologna boasts tagliatelle and tortellini,
inspired by Venus’s navel. Enjoy pumpkin-filled cappellacci in Ferrara - or anolini
in Parma and Piacenza.
Artusi
37
Parma, European food capital
Parma justly deserves its reputation as a temple
to gastronomy. As the seat of the European Food
Authority, Parma is a capital of culinary delights.
The whole province is studded with specialities
and criss-crossed by food trails. Explore the hills
along the Food & Wine Routes, or visit the food
museums to savour the history and magic of
local delicacies.
Langhirano is the home of Parma ham while
Felino is a byword for superior Salame. Zibello
is the home of Culatello, another prestigious
cured meat. The pigs live like princes, fattened
on chestnuts and whey. Soragna is cheese
country, renowned for its Parmigiano Reggiano
museum. Look out for signs to producers on the
cured meat routes (eg Strada del Culatello di
Zibello and Strada del Prosciutto e dei vini dei
colli di Parma)
Prince of cheeses:
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Parmesan cheese is infinitely versatile and suits
the simplest or most sophisticated dishes. It’s
been produced in its wheel-shaped form for over
eight centuries. The hard and slightly gritty
texture is adored by both gourmets and the
health conscious. Parmesan eschews additives
and is simply the result of raw milk matured for
up to 24 months. The cheese is rich in proteins
and highly digestible so is perfect for children
and the elderly. Instead, squacquerone cheese
works wonderfully with rocket and piadina while
formaggio di fossa, aged underground, has a
strong, distinctive flavour.
39
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
from Modena or Reggio Emilia
What would a salad be without a touch of
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena or
Reggio Emilia? Forget the industrial versions:
this artisanal nectar transforms a bland side
salad into a delicious dish. This viscous but
delicious vinegar is made from the must of
top-quality grapes, and aged in barrels for
at least 12 months. In recent years, it has
(almost literally) come out of the attic to
win glory on the
international stage. Used
in many recipes to add
flavour, it has an
irresistible sweetand-sour aroma.
Branding Emilia Romagna: Italy follows a
quality control system along the lines of the
French appellation controllee wine
classification. `Parmesan cheese’ (parmigiano
reggiano) must come from a strictly bound area
named ‘place of origin’ Parma and be produced
according to stringent requirements. Unique regional
produce are classified to protect the brand, identity
and quality. Top charcuterie, such as Parma ham,
Modena ham and Culatello, are classified `DOP,’
as is Parmesan cheese and
Traditional Balsamic
Vinegar. Coppia bread from
Ferrara is an IGP while
certain wines are classified
DOC or DOCG.
Hamming it up
Parma ham (Prosciutto di Parma) is perfect for
all occasions, whether a tasty snack or a
sumptuous feast. The same is true of Modena
ham, also made from pork. Foodies contrast
Parma ham or Culatello with other cured meats,
such as pale-pink Bolognese mortadella, studded
with black peppercorns and green pistachios.
Savour Parma ham with bread – possibly coppia
from Ferrara. Other tasty speciality breads
include tigelle and crescentine, as well as focacce
from Modena and the classic piadina from
Romagna.
Porticoes
PORTICOES
Of the 40 km of porticoes in Bologna 8 can
be walked without ever changing direction.
Some of the most beautiful ones are: the
great Loggia del Palazzo della Mercanzia,
the Quadriportico of the Chiesa dei Servi in
Strada Maggiore and those decorated with
paintings in Piazza Malpighi.
Bologna’s elegant yet intimate porticoes are one of the most civilised and civilising
features imaginable. The medieval period was when Bologna’s sinuous porticoes
were built. These are the longest arcades in the world, and the city’s most distinctive
feature. Called portici, over 40 kilometre of these graceful covered arcades link
the streets in this terracotta city.
The porticoes provide both a refuge from the elements and a meeting place for
Bolognese of all backgrounds. As medieval versions of the modern shopping mall,
the porticoes are also an excuse for strolling, chatting and eating. One of the bestloved porticoes is the Pavaglione, off Piazza Maggiore, where students mingle with
chic matrons and gossip about city life. The essence of the portico is that everyone
is constrained to go at the pace of the slowest tortoise, a charming concept.
The porticoes date back to the Middle Ages, when Bologna boasted the oldest
university in Europe. Known as the Alma Mater Studiorum, it was established
in the shadows of the famous towers. The porticoes would have been the place
where professors and students discussed such esoteric topics as laws and
theorems, philosophy and the planets. Montaigne would have walked under
these porticoes. Verdi and Rossini would have wandered under these arcades
in search of inspiration. Little has changed: the poticoes are still a place for
children to play or for lovers indulge in their first kiss.
Always try and look at this surprising city from different perspectives.
For instance, the ‘secret’ waterways that run under the city can now be explored
in a dinghy.
Elegance
41
Land of artists
Emilia Romagna is both forward-looking and
deeply traditional, passionate and pragmatic,
creative and concrete. This seemingly
contradictory character is ever-present on the
artistic scene, including in Bologna’s prestigious
new Modern Art Museum of Bologna (MAMbo).
In terms of literature, the region boasts Ludovico
Arioso, author of L'Orlando Furioso; his home
can be visited in Ferrara. Another famous
character was the controversial Pier Paolo
Pasolini. As for art, the region’s painters run
from the Renaissance to modern times.
Correggio’s magnificent Renaissance frescoes
can be seen in Parma. As for modern artists,
Giorgio Morandi’s famous still lifes are on display
in Bologna, in the museum named after him.
Regional galleries display works of art by such
luminaries as Carracci, Guido Reni and Guercino.
The world of cinema owes much to Oscar-winning
directors from the region. Several of the greatest
names come from here, including Federico Fellini
(Rimini), Michelangelo Antonioni (celebrated in
a Museum in Ferrara) and Bernardo Bertolucci
(Parma) who claimed that beauty was in the
DNA of inhabitants from the region.
Mosaics and ceramics
Ravenna has gone from being capital of the
Western Roman Empire to capital of mosaic
design. The Ravenna Festival is part of the city’s
charm and was chosen by conductor Riccardo
Muti as the backdrop to the prestigious festival.
The monuments, from San Vitale to
Sant'Apollinare in Classe, also showcase the
world’s finest Early Christian mosaics. The mosaicmaking tradition survives thanks to the
workshops dedicated to this subtle decorative
technique. Neighbouring Faenza has a long
tradition of making ceramics (majolica) - from
ornamental vases to vibrant objets d’art. Faenza
is so well-known that the place name is often
used as synonym of ceramics itself. Visit the
museum of ceramics and choose a painted plate
or jug.
Saving art treasures for posterity
Many of the region’s art treasures have been
classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites, worthy
of saving for posterity. Ravenna’s major Byzantine
monuments are classified, including those
magnificent mosaics. Ferrara’s historical centre
is equally protected, as it was in the days of the
ducal D’Este dynasty. Look out for the grand
palaces, especially Palazzo dei Diamanti and the
splendid Palazzo Schifanoia. As for natural sites,
the neighbouring Po Delta area is a magical mix
of wetlands and historical sites. As for Modena,
the central square, the Piazza Grande, is UNESCOlisted, along with the octagonal Torre della
Ghirlandina belltower and the Cathedral, the
purest Romanesque cathedral in Italy. It is
studded with reliefs created by a medieval
43
Celebrating quality of life
Emilia Romagna remains a paradigm of the good
life. Friendliness, efficiency and elegance: the
cities of art share these values. The region’s
quality of life is considered among the best in
the world. It is not by chance in fact that The
Times praises Reggio Emilia’s play-schools as
models of their kind. It is no coincidence that
Ferrara boasts nearly as many bicycles as
inhabitants: almost 90% of the locals are fans
and regular users of this Green-friendly form of
transport. Nor is it by chance that shopping is
such a treat for fashionistas. Whether in the
Cities of Art or in the Riviera resorts, the
boutiques are tempting. Try some window
shopping in resorts such as Riccione, Bellaria,
Milano Marittima.
master-builder, Wiligelmus (Wiglielmo). The
cathedral is a veritable `Bible in stone’ designed
to teach and inspire medieval pilgrims, including
the illiterate.
The region also boasts lesser-known art treasures
that have been singled out for praise and
protection. In Cesena, the Malatesta Library
contains illuminated manuscripts which have
been preserved intact down through centuries.
As for Bologna, UNESCO has singled out the
regional capital on several scores. The city has
been declared a `creative city of music’. Native
sons of the region include Verdi and Toscanini
- and Paganini by adoption. Bologna also boasts
a superb Museum of Music.
The river
PO RIVER
The largest river in Italy in terms of length
and capacity.
It was called Eridanus by the Greek and
Padus by the Latins.
It has 141 tributaries.
It flows into the Adriatic sea with a large
6 - branch delta.
Emilia Romagna is the proverbial land of plenty, with fertile plains, vineyards
Travel
and nature reserves, as well as medieval castles and Renaissance palaces. Much
of this splendour is thanks to the River Po, which has brought fertility, trade,
wealth and innovation. The great river runs from the Alps to the Adriatic on a
course covering over 600 kilometres. By the time the Po reaches Emilia Romagna,
it has acquired a stately, sluggish calm. The Po passes through Piacenza, the
northernmost city in the region. After meandering past poplar trees, the Po
gathers pace after Ferrara, as it opens into the sandbanks and mudflats of the
wide Po Delta and runs into the Adriatic.
The Po Delta has played a key role in the development of the region since Etruscan
times. Felsina, modern-day Bologna, was founded as an Etruscan settlement in
the 5th century BC, and flourished as a trading centre linked to the port of Spina
on the Po Delta. Later, as borderlands between rival dukedoms stretching from
the Apennines to the river Po, the region was fertile ground for
agriculture and art. Today, the Po still ensures that agriculture
and wildlife thrive. The Po Delta bristles with bird life, from
egrets to herons, cormorants, flamingos and a swathe of
migratory birds.
Po
Elephants along the Trebbia river
A journey of this kind certainly doesn’t go
unnoticed. When the Carthaginians reached the
Pianura Padana, the Po Plain, and crossed the
river with their elephants, the locals watched in
amazement. On the banks of the River Trebbia,
not far from Piacenza, the Romans, led by
Cornelius Scipio and Sempronius Longus, fell
into the trap prepared by Hannibal and suffered
a bitter defeat. This happened in 218 BC, at the
onset of a winter when everyone thought that
hostilities were about to cease. Instead, twenty
thousand Roman legionaries were sacrificed in
the conflict.
45
Exploring the Po Delta Wetlands
This is a voyage through a land with shifting
boundaries. You will lose your bearings and sense
of time when you travel into the heart of the Po
Delta. This regional reserve is the largest
protected wetlands in Italy. You can indulge in
bird-watching or contemplate the myriad
waterways. The wetlands can be explored by
bicycle or on horseback. You can even paddle
yourself in a canoe, rent a houseboat or go on
a mini cruise. This delightful area, which seems
as insubstantial as a mirage, resembles nothing
else in Emilia Romagna.
Naïve art on the River Po
Following the river Po inland reveals artistic
gems as well as landscapes of outstanding
beauty. For an arty escapade, visit Gualtieri,
Guastalla and Luzzara, villages strung out along
the river bank north of Reggio Emilia. Gualtieri
was home to Antonio Ligabue, a visionary
painter known as `the natural version of Van
Gogh’. Luzzara boasts the only National Museum
of Naïve Art, a project envisioned by the
scriptwriter Cesare Zavattini.
47
Hitting the salami trails
Not that art and food can’t be combined. Within
easy reach of the Po Delta are tempting gastro
trails. The region is criss-crossed with such trails,
especially ones devoted to cured meats and
Parmesan cheese. One prized delicacy is the
celebrated cured meat from Ferrara, known as
salama da sugo. Instead, closer to Parma, Zibello
is noted for Culatello di Zibello. The cured meat
ages protected by the thick winter fogs that rise
from the river banks. Spalla cotta comes from
the neighbouring village of San Secondo. Towards
Piacenza are equally tasty cured meats, including
coppa, salame and pancetta. All the prestigious
cured meats in Emilia Romagna are designated
DOP, meaning that the brands are protected,
quality is guaranteed –and that provenance of
the meat is clear.
Etruscan town of Spina
Coming to Spina means a journey back in time.
Spina was an important Etruscan port which
traded with the Greek world. Elsewhere in
the Delta, travel back in time by visiting
the Archaeological Museum in Ferrara or the
Museo della Nave Romana (Museum of the
Roman Ship) in Comacchio. Although now
better known for eels, Comacchio grew rich
on the salt industry. The traditional salting
of pork was introduced by the Etruscans and
is still carried out today.
Enzo
ENZO FERRARI
Italian car racing driver and entrepreneur.
Founder of the car manufacturing company
named after him.
When he was still alive the Ferrari racing team
won 9 Formula One Driver’s Championships and
15 in total.
The most beautiful car is the one that has yet to be built. Enzo Ferrari was ten when
he saw his first one. His father took him to see a race at the Bologna racetrack on Via
Emilia. Enzo Ferrari’s lifelong passion for racing was born that very day. A fuse was
lit: Ferrari fell in love with cars, entranced by their sex appeal and power.
This passion for racing cars was shared by his team – and by his drivers, in particular.
Naturally, the boss adored red, the colour representing Italy in International car and
motorbike races but also the colour of passion. Ferrari’s factory transformed his
dreams into reality and the dream lives on. Ferrari fans, including kings and famous
artists, are happy to queue up to acquire one of Enzo Ferrari’s extraordinary creations.
Ferrari started out on this path when he was a young test driver but his passion was
there from the outset. Very soon he was promoted to being the official Alfa Romeo
driver. He rated himself pretty highly as a driver but his determination and ambition
drove him on to far greater challenges. Ferrari wanted to win in his own way, and
to create cars he could fall in love with and feel at one with. That’s how the Ferrari
brand was born. From 1950 until today, Ferrari team has never missed a Formula
One championship. The first racing driver he chose was Alberto Ascari. Ferrari liked
the young man’s meticulous yet assured driving style and time proved Ferrari right:
Ascari delivered. Ferrari won the first title in 1952 but this was only the first of many
victories. The firm has achieved over 5000 wins to date –to the delight of spectators,
Ferrari fans and those behind the racing circuits and championship. But Ferrari’s
pragmatic attitude prevails: win or lose, move onto the next race. You are only as
good as your last race; the next challenge lies just around the corner.
Passion
Ferrari
49
The famous Ferrari logo
`Mr. Ferrari, do put my son’s prancing horse on
your cars as it will bring you luck.’ This was the
curious yet inspired request of Countess Paolina
whose son, fighter pilot Francesco Baracca, died
during combat in World War One. Baracca was
born in Lugo, near Ravenna, where a museum
dedicated to the pilot still displays a fighterbomber SPAD VII. On the famous Ferrari logo, the
horse remains black, as it was
originally designed. Ferrari added
the canary-yellow background,
which is the colour of Modena, his
home-town. But if Modena, a
cultured city of art, has
become famous well beyond
its boundaries, it is partly due to the
all-conquering Ferrari brand.
Pilgrimage to Maranello
Everything in a small plot of land: that’s the way
Ferrari wanted it, just like one big family. The
headquarters are in Maranello, along with the
Wind Tunnel designed by Renzo Piano and the
Ferrari Gallery. Maranello, just fifteen kilometres
from Modena, also boasts a church where the
bells peal every time a Ferrari notches up another
victory. The Ferrari Gallery acts as both a museum
and a showcase to the brand. On display is
everything from rare vintage models to the latest
Ferrari creations. Nearby, in Fiorano, there’s a
state-of-the-art 3-kilometre circuit designed to
test single-seaters and GT cars. Why would Enzo
Ferrari ever wish to leave such a temple to speed?
Imola circuit
The Ferrari brand also embraces the Imola circuit,
named after Ferrari and his son Dino. It was
tested by one of Ferrari’s 340 sport cars and a
Ferrari driver beat a Maserati to win the first
race ever staged here, back in 1954. Many great
champions have competed on the circuit, racing
anti-clockwise. Numerous championships have
been staged there, such as the San Marino stage
of the Formula One Grand Prix from 1981 to
2006. The refurbished circuit is once again a
feature of the racing world.
51
Not only Ferrari
Conductor Herbert von Karajan once said that
Ferrari’s 12-stroke engine played notes no other
maestro could emulate. To create cars which
are works of art you need passion and
imagination: just look at the 250 GT, the
Testarossa or the F40. The blend of love, passion
and technology is typical of Emilia Romagna in
that other rival brands were created there,
notably Maserati and Lamborghini cars. You can
admire these stars in museums dedicated to the
brands or call in at any of the thirteen private
car collections that form part of the Terra di
Motori association.
Spearheaded by the Casa
Natale Foundation, a new
multimedia space opens in
Modena in 2011. This will
be a showcase, not just to
Ferrari, but to all sports car
brands from Modena.
Ducati
DUCATI
Ducati, sports motorcycle manufacturer par
excellence, was originally founded as company
specialising in the research and production of radio
communication technologies.
The motorcycle section was established in 1946
with the production of the Cucciolo, a single cylinder
engine to be mounted on a normal bicycle; 250,000
units were sold all over the world.
An interesting fact: Ducati was the first motorcycle
manufacturer to sell a motorcycle exclusively on
the Internet.
You can tell what stuff Ducati motorcycles are made of from the noise they make.
Speed
Those who love and understand bikes call it music. And it’s easy to see why. We’re
not saying that design is irrelevant or that looking beautiful doesn’t matter. Think
of those long summer evenings driving along the coast or spring afternoons spent
climbing winding roads into the hills. Ducati’s unmistakable design will make you
proud.
But the true Ducati spirit lies elsewhere. Its heart is in the racing pistons; in the
clever way the bike leans into corners; in the perfect way the throttle works. Ducatilovers care about the way the bike slices the air in a display of consummate speed
and power. The Australian racer, Casey Stoner, can tell you all about it. In 2007
he rode a Ducati, the Desmosedici, and won the top class in the MotoGP World
Championship. Ducati have been running so fast that the first four-stroke single
cylinder engine seems like ancient history. (Note to petrol-heads: it was called
Cucciolo and created in 1946). Ducati has certainly come a long way since then.
Car country: Ducati plays an important role in the region’s proud motoring history.
Known as Italy’s car country, Emilia Romagna is home to Ferrari, Lamborghini
and Maserati, which are manufactured around Modena and Bologna.
53
Ducati Museum
Instead, Ducati is based in Borgo Panigale, near
Bologna, the motorbike capital of the province.
Come and visit the factory where Ducati bikes
are manufactured and see the motorbike
museum. The company, founded in 1926, is one
of the most prestigious brands in Emilia
Romagna. The museum traces a journey back in
time that will bring shivers down your spine. It’s
a race against your imagination, with mythical
models displayed against a background of old
films.
Misano World Circuit
Set between the hills and the sea, the Misano
Adriatico circuit is a mecca for bikers. It has
recently been refurbished and can now hold
60,000 spectators. Naturally, it is a cult place
for motorcycle fans from Emilia Romagna. Here,
they can watch famous international races, such
as the MotoGP world championship, or experience
the thrill of riding on the circuit themselves.
Why not join them?
The myth of motorcyclists
Emilia Romagna is the land of roaring engines.
This irrepressible passion for speed revs into life
at weekends, when you can hear the roar of
motorbikes on the roads. This love of motorbikes
is reflected in success at international
competitions. Simoncelli, Capirossi, Melandri
and Dovizioso are just a few of the champions.
Even though champion motor cyclist Valentino
Rossi was born a few miles outside this region,
his spirit fully belongs here.
55
Restoration workshop
In their own way, motorcycles and cars can be
considered an art form. So why not give them
the attention they deserve? Curiously, Emilia
Romagna is home to an institute dedicated to
the restoration of Italian vintage motorcycles
and cars. Naturally, it is supported and partly
sponsored by the Ducati Foundation in Bologna.
If you’re interested, bear in mind that the waiting
list is very long. But when your time comes,
seize the moment. The experience should propel
you, full throttle, into the heart of the Italian
motorbike industry.
The Motor Show
For petrol-heads, the Motor Show is the most
important international car and motorcycle
exhibition. What makes this show such a success
with fans is the mix of new models and prototypes
and the meetings with the champions. The Motor
Show is staged in Bologna every December.
appennino
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Artist: Alessandro La Motta
emilia romagna
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Torino
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Milano
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Apennine
Brescia
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Piacenza
Mantova
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Parma
3
2
Reggio Emilia
Modena
4
La Spezia
14
2
7
1
14
3
5
Regional Parks
1 Parco fluviale regionale Stirone
2 Parco regionale Boschi di Carrega
3 Parco fluviale regionale Taro
4 Parco regionale Valli del Cedra e del Parma
5 Parco regionale Alto Appennino Modenese
6 Parco regionale Corno alle Scale
7 Parco regionale Sassi di Rocca Malatina
Passo Penice (Bobbio) 1150-1450 m
Le Vallette - Ceci (Bobbio) 1040-1110 m
Schia 1200-1500 m
Pratospilla 1303-1800 m
Cerreto Laghi 1350-1980 m
Appenninia (Civago) 1115-1657 m
Alpe di Cusna (Febbio) 1203-2063 m
9 Parco regionale dei laghi di Suviana e Brasimone
Ospitaletto 1135-1582 m
10 Parco storico regionale Monte Sole
Ventasso Laghi 1350-1553 m
11 Parco regionale dei gessi bolognesi
Pratizzano 1227 m
12 Parco regionale Delta del Po
13 Parco regionale Vena del Gesso Romagnola
National Parks
Cimone 1020-2155 m
Fiumalbo 1410-2010 m
Piane di Mocogno (Lama Mocogno) 1300-1600 m
Sant' Anna Pelago 1100-1700 m
Piandelagotti (Frassinoro) 1400-1800 m
14 Parco Nazionale Appennino Tosco-Emiliano
Corno alle Scale 1358-1945 m
15 Parco Nazionale Foreste Casentinesi
Campigna 1070-1670 m
Monte Falterona e Campigna
Colori compositi
6
Ski stations
8 Parco regionale Abbazia di Monteveglio
e dei calanchi dell’Abbadessa
4
Monte Fumaiolo 1100-1473 m
5
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mountains and countryside
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Venezia
Padova
12
Ferrara
VALLI DI
COMACCHIO
12
Bologna
Ravenna
8
11
6
10
8
5
9
13
7
Forlì
Firenze
9
10
15
PARCO DELLE 100 AVVENTURE
2
PARCO AVVENTURA CERWOOD
3
ADVENTURE PARK CIMONE
4
MONKEY'S PARK ADVENTURE
5
MONTE PIZZO ADVENTURE PARK
6
ESPLORARIA
7
PARCO AVVENTURA SALTAPICCHIO
8
TRITON'S PARK ADVENTURE
9
CERVIAVVENTURA
10 INDIANA PARK
Colori compositi
Rimini
Ancona
Adventure parks
1
Cesena
Perugia
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Alberto
ALBERTO TOMBA
One of the greatest Italian skiing champions.
He won 50 World Cup races.
He won 3 Gold and 2 Silver Olympic medals and
2 Gold and 2 Bronze medals in the World
Championships.
Alberto Tomba, one of the greatest ski champions of all time, was born in Bologna
in winter. Perhaps it was destiny. His father used to take him down the pistes on
his shoulders when he was very young. Alberto and his brother first donned a pair
of skis when they were only 4 or 5 years old. Their father never over-did the
pressure or the training: he just wanted his sons to have fun. Tomba senior believed
it was very important to do open-air sports. He believed it was healthy and that
it would teach his sons to respect nature, to be disciplined and to be respectful of
their opponents. Tomba senior started out by taking his sons onto the Apennines
at weekends. But the enthusiastic boys put on their skis whenever they could.
All it had to do was snow and they’d shoot down the slopes around their home
–either on skis or on a toboggan. The boys loved the excitement of hurtling downhill
and then trekking all the way back up again. Somebody noticed Alberto’s talent
and he soon started training seriously and took part in his first competitions on
the Apennines. Emilia Romagna marked the start of Tomba’s ski career. After
that, success took him to competitions all over the world. In his long career, Tomba
has achieved many goals, from the Olympic medals in Calgary, Albertville and
Lillehammer to the World Cup and, the final accolade, gold medals at the World
Championships in Sierra Nevada. Between competitions, Tomba always used to
return to ‘his’ mountains to train. Even now, these slopes are close to his
heart -and still part of him.
Mountains
Tomba
61
On the snow
Snow fills you with joy, cleanses your soul and
dispels any winter gloom. So what are you waiting
for? Launch yourself down Emilia Romagna’s 250
kilometres of pistes –all linked to the region’s
18 ski resorts. Try out the Cimone ski area, with
its new piste called `Slalom Stadium’ and ski to
the Corno alle Scale and Cerreto Laghi, with its
impressive ice rink. Skiing, cross-country skiing,
snow-boarding and snow-shoeing are all on
offer. Or what about snow-tubing in special
rubber `dinghies’, or snow-kiting or dogsledging?
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Trails for all
The thrill of trekking is linked to the sensation
of being in the great outdoors. Nordic walking,
horseback-riding and mountain-bike riding are
exciting ways to explore the area. In the Modena
area, trails from the Via Vandelli lead to trails
along the mountain ridges. The Apennines
appeals to everyone and suit all needs: certain
parks have now opened trails to those with
reduced mobility or some sort of visual
impairment. Such visitors just need to close
their eyes and touch the information panels.
They will then feel confident enough to explore
further.
The great outdoors
Visit our mountains, nature reserves and parks.
Consider jogging in the woods. Bring your
children to learn about plants and animals
–and to help develop a passion for sport. The
green heart of the region offers rock climbing
and rafting, orienteering and wolf-tracking as well as wolf-howling at night. You can learn
how to track wolves. If safety is a big concern,
then consider the adventure parks in the
Apennines. Tree-climbing will put you in touch
with a different side of yourself. Such rugged
but simple activities will help you achieve a
level of concentration and harmony that will
amaze less adventurous friends you’ve left
behind in the city.
63
Cycling fiends
The inhabitants of Emilia Romagna have a
fighting spirit. These are vital, energetic folk
who never give up, even when the going gets
tough. Whether it’s skiing downhill or mountainbiking uphill, expect a gutsy performance. Pedal
power is the name of the game. This passion is
linked to a couple of racing legends: Ercole
Baldini from Forlì, Olympic and world champion
in the ‘50s, and the `Pirata’ Marco Pantani, a
spirited climber. Pantani, winner of the Giro
d’Italia and Tour de France in 1998, has a museum
in his honour in Cesenatico -Spazio Pantani.
At weekends, the cycling hordes hit the roads.
Cycling fans are looking for their moment of
glory, perhaps in the famous Nove Colli race.
But there are also cheerful groups of tourists
out exploring the hills and villages. Many hotels
have workshops to help out in case of mechanical
problems.
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Matilde
MATILDE DI CANOSSA
Mantua 1046 • Bondeno di Roncore 24.07.1115
Countess, duchess, marquise and queen in the Middle Ages.
A lady always at the forefront, powerful feudatory and ardent
supporter of the Church in the Investiture Controversy.
If Matilde di Canossa had never existed, the saying “andare a Canossa”
(literally: ‘going to Canossa’) would simply mean going to a small village in the
Apennines near Reggio Emilia. But Matilde did exist and the saying has a deeper
meaning. (In Italian, ‘andare a Canossa’ means to beg forgiveness and eat humble
pie). Matilde was one of the leading female figures in Medieval Europe. The Grand
Duchess was courageous, learned, cosmopolitan and enlightened. She mediated
between the two great powers of the age: the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.
The Matildic dominions acted as a buffer zone between the territories owned by the
Emperor and the Church. Matilde played a role as mediator, culminating in the
legendary meeting between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII at Canossa
Castle in January 1077.
Maltilde was not overly impressed by Emperor Henry, a relative of hers. She recalled
him as small, bare-foot, dressed in a habit and prostrating himself before her great
friend Ildebrando (Hildebrand) Pope Gregory VII. Matilde considered the Pope ‘a
real man’, a leader who came from Cluny and knew what had to be done to foster
faith. To Matilde, he was a true guide, exactly what was needed - while Henry wanted
to appoint bishops himself and would not understand that he could not win.
At the fateful meeting in January 1077, Matilde played her part well. After all, she
was the undisputed queen of feudal domains stretching from the foothills of the Alps
to Lazio, near Rome. She owned the largest estates in Italy. If viewed from the top
of mountain ridge, her lands would have been adorned with castles, churches, towers
and villages. Fittingly, a trail in Matilde’s name now runs through her former lands.
Strength
di Canossa
Medieval mood
The region is renowned for its medieval heritage
and is dotted with medieval fortresses, castles
and villages. Bobbio is just one well-preserved
site, with its Ponte Gobbo and an abbey founded
by San Colombano. Then there’s Castell'Arquato,
near Piacenza, or Bardi, which boasts the
Ghibelline fortress linked to the Landi dynasty.
In Parma Province, Fontanellato is an intriguing
castle, famous for its `optical illusion chamber’
and frescoes attributed to Parmigianino. In
Brisighella, there’s Via degli Asini (Donkey
Street), a charming arcaded street. Longiano is
a princely residence that once belonged to the
Malatesta, one of the region’s most powerful
dynasties.
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Natural bastions
At times, nature creates its own impregnable
fortresses. The sandstone peaks of the imposing
Sassi di Roccamalatina rise vertiginously, like a
castle. Set in gentle landscape, this rugged
natural formation looks every bit the fortress.
In the Apennines, the Pietra di Bismantova is
another awe-inspiring natural rock formation:
just ask the rock climbers, hikers or dreamers
who stand at the stop, contemplating a
magnificent structure which lay under the ocean
millions of years ago. Equally impressive are the
small volcano-like cones of Salse di Nirano,
which fascinated Pliny the Elder –or the Gessi
Bolognesi, an atmospheric rock formation
studded with cliffs.
Via Francigena
The Via Francigena was the route travelled by
pilgrims, merchants and wayfarers from Britain
and France. They made for the Cisa Pass and
crossed the mountains into Tuscany’s Lunigiana
area en route to Rome. In Emilia Romagna, a
section of the Via Francigena thoroughfare runs
from Piacenza to Parma. This famous route was
described in the year 990 by Sigeric, Archbishop
of Canterbury, and is lined with Romanesque
treasures in the Emilia stretch. The architectural
wonders include the Romanesque Baptistery in
Parma, a masterpiece by Benedetto Antelami,
as well as the Duomo in Fidenza, decorated with
bas-reliefs that even feature helpful route
directions. To follow in the footsteps of medieval
pilgrims, contemplate the Sentieri della Luce in
the Modena area or the Via degli Dei in the
valleys around Bologna.
67
Nonantola Abbey
When the Lombard Duke Anselmo became a
monk, he received land as a gift from King
Astolfo. In 752 he founded a Benedictine abbey
here, which became a medieval power-house.
The abbey, dedicated to Saint Sylvester, is just
outside Modena. Over the centuries, the abbey
became increasingly powerful thanks to its
strategic position and to the patronage of kings,
popes and emperors. To follow in the footsteps
of the medieval pilgrims, visit the crypt: dozens
of slender columns fill the crypt like trees bathed
in light.
San Leo: an impregnable fortress
If you wish to understand the meaning of the
word impregnable follow the Marecchia Valley
up to San Leo built high on a rock and accessible
only along a road cut into the rock. The medieval
village - always at the heart of battles between
Byzantines, Goths, Franks and Longobards and
capital of the Kingdom of Italy for two years
under the rule of Berengario II – is dominated
by the imposing fortress restored by Francesco
di Giorgio Martini in the 15 the century and
transformed into a practically unattackable work
of MILITARY ART. However, it was also almost
impossible to escape if you were so unfortunate
to be imprisoned its dungeons. Count Cagliostro,
alchemist and adventurer who fascinated Europe
in the 18th century soon found out; the walls
of this fortress were his last earthly prison.
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DonCamillo
DON CAMILLO & PEPPONE
Literary characters created by Guareschi.
They appeared for the first time in the weekly
magazine Candido.
They became famous thanks to the successful
film and the actors Fernandel and Gino Cervi.
The tale of Don Camillo and Peppone is a classic story of two mortal enemies who
eventually achieve a sort of friendship despite their differences. Don Camillo was a
passionate priest and committed Christian while Peppone was a fundamentalist Communist
and the local Mayor. The tale of their ideological conflict, set in Emilia Romagna, reveals
much about both the region and human nature.
The author, Giovanni Guareschi, describes it all in `Mondo Piccolo’ (literally, `It’s a
Small World’). As Guareschi relates it: `You might ask me why I am telling you these
stories? Because I want to. Because it is important to realise that this stretch of land
between the river and the mountains witnesses things that don’t happen elsewhere.
Whatever happens is in harmony with nature. The special wind that blows here is
beneficial for both the living and the dead; even the local dogs have souls. By narrating
such things you will come to understand more about Don Camillo, Peppone and the rest.
Against this setting, you won’t be surprised to hear Christ talking and to learn that two
individuals might almost come to blows over differing ideologies.
But it will be a fair fight in the name of differing faiths. You will
discover that two sworn enemies can agree on essential matters.
All this is possible because the broad river cleanses the air. In
the evening, on the banks of the majestic river, Death itself may
cycle by. Or you might walk along the river bank and see a
small cemetery just below. If the shadow of a dead person sits
beside you, you won’t be frightened but will chat peaceably.
This is the atmosphere of this quiet backwater.’
Friendship
& Peppone
Opposition man: Giovannino
Giovannino Guareschi, an Italian writer renowned
for his humour, toughness and truthfulness,
created the `small world’ of Don Camillo and
Peppone where he himself grew up. `The Bassa’
lowlands created these characters. It was as if
I met them, and we walked arm in arm up and
down the alphabet,’ he said. Memories of these
characters can be found in the Brescello museum
dedicated to these two enemies who were also
friends. On display are film sets from the movie
version, starring Fernandel and Gino Cervi.
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Gothic Line
The Gothic Line was the war front that once ran
through the region, and became a battleground
between the Nazi Wermacht and the Allies in
1944-5. The Apennines were caught up in the
conflict and the land was scarred. In peacetime,
bridges have been built, with reconciliation and
friendship founded on the ashes of the conflict.
It’s no coincidence that Emilia Romagna is
proudly part of the European Union.
71
Taste of the country
This region offers an array of traditional cakes,
pastries and desserts, ranging from ciambella
to pampapato, torta di riso and zuppa inglese.
There’s also a traditional peasant dish called
Savor. This thick jam is made by boiling down
the must of black grapes with quinces, pears,
dried fruit and lemon and orange rinds.
Country classes
As Guareschi has shown us, the countryside is
a great source of stories. To promote the
countryside further, the region created several
`open-door’ farm projects. Fattorie Aperte
(`Open Farms’) and Fattorie Didattiche
(`Educational Farms’) welcome locals, holidaymakers or students. Here you can take part in
rural activities and taste the farm produce. This
is a fun day out and creates a bond between
urbanites and country-dwellers.
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Woodland
WOODS
The woods of the Apennines are mainly made
up of beech, ash, chestnut and elm. Silver fir
grows at high altitudes.
They are also rich in fauna. Deer, fallow deer,
roe and hawks can be found here.
Feasts&
flavours
In Emilia Romagna, the locals are keen on ‘going down to the woods’. If you know
where to look, the forests are full of such delicacies as chestnuts, mushrooms and
truffles. There are even smelly cheeses buried in caves underground.
Children have a field day collecting chestnuts, or helping their parents and
grandparents hunt for wild blackberries, blueberries and elderberries to make
delicious jams. There is also an opportunity for animal-spotting, with sightings of
roe deer, foxes and squirrels. At night, be silenced by the grandeur of the forests,
and the impact of standing in a mysterious clearing under the stars.
Many parts of the region are covered in forest, ranging from pine or oak to maple,
hazelnut, beech, linden or fir trees. Forests can also be linked to folklore, legends
or heartfelt traditions. In times past, country families used to celebrate the birth
of a baby by planting a tree for good luck. Forests are respected and cared for in
the region, with the most ancient trees especially revered. In the hinterland of
Rimini, Verucchio boasts the Cypress of Saint Francis. According to legend, the
tree was transformed from the staff of a beggar from Assisi. Then there’s Saint
Paul’s Pear Tree, one of the oldest in Italy, set in the Casentinesi forest, a majestic
national park. Anywhere on your travels, leave time to look at curious gnarled
trees and let yourself dream –both of folklore or forest feasts.
73
Porcini Mushrooms of Borgotaro IGP
Always keep your eyes open when hiking in the
Apennines in autumn. Lurking in the undergrowth
below conifers or oak trees may be one of the
region’s tastiest woodland treats. We are talking
mushrooms, and the prized funghi porcini
mushrooms in particular. (These are often called
wild mushrooms in English). The four types of
porcini from the countryside around
Borgotaro are famous and highly-prized.
Borgotaro is the main market town for
mushrooms. The porcini have a wonderful
scent and find their way into tasty sauces,
soups, salads, escallops and risotto. The
fame of these mushrooms has spread abroad
thanks to the many locals who emigrated from
the area at the end of the 19th Century.
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Chestnuts from Castel del Rio
What would the civilisation of the Apennines be
without chestnuts (marroni)? Locally, chestnut
trees are also called `bread trees’ because
chestnuts were once essential to the survival of
mountain folk. Nowadays, the delicious autumn
crops can be eaten roasted or boiled. Chestnuts
also find their way into traditional recipes
reinterpreted by a new generation of chefs.
Delicious marroni (a special type of chestnut)
are tastier than normal chestnuts and have a
different shape. The chestnut museum is
dedicated to marroni from Castel del Rio, in the
Santerno Valley. These chestnuts have been
awarded IGP status, meaning that they are
classified and protected in much the same way
as other prized produce, such as Parma ham or
Parmesan cheese. An ancient chestnut fair is
the place to taste `peasant’ treats, such as
castagnaccio, a cake made from chestnut flour,
along with other delicious dishes.
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Prized White Truffle: the Festival of
Savigno and the Fair of Sant’Agata
Feltria
Formaggio di Fossa
(cheese matured in underground caves)
Every year a fair is organised in the villages of
Sogliano al Rubicone and Talamello at the end
of November when an unmistakable PUNGENT
AROMA fills the air. This is in fact the moment
when the tuff caves are opened to reveal the
cheese “buried” there three months before in
canvas sacks. The anaerobic fermentation
process changes the shape of the cheese and
makes it more digestible; but above all it gives
it its famous characterising bitter and STRONG
TASTE. The formaggio di fossa, also poetically
called “Amber of Talamello” by Tonino Guerra
because of its almost golden hue, was already
known in the 15th Century; its origins however
are still uncertain: perhaps it was a way of
hiding and defending food supplies from enemy
incursions.
An embarrassingly wide choice of DELICACIES
welcomes you whenever you stop to rest and
relax during your journey through woods and
across hills: the dilemma is which one to taste
first! It is not easy to choose but we are sure
that the place of honour will be
reserved for the White Prized
Truffle, a delight for your
PALATE! In October and
November, at the Fair of
Sant'Agata Feltria in
the Marecchia Valley
and at the Festival of
Savigno, along the Food &
Wine Route of the Colli
Bolognesi (hills surrounding
Bologna), food is carefully prepared with simple
and local ingredients that combine well with
and enhance the first class characteristics of
truffle. Truffle finders with their trained dogs
are well aware of these characteristics and are
happy to go out on cold autumn mornings to
uncover the secret and hidden tracks of truffle!
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Torino
Milano
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Brescia
Piacenza
Mantova
Salsomaggiore
Terme
Terme
di Sant'Andrea
1
Terme
di Tabiano
2
Parma
3
Terme
di Monticelli
4
Reggio Emilia
Modena
Terme
della Salvarola
La Spezia
Terme
19 di Cervarezza
Resorts and spa establishments
1
2
7
8
14
9
15
10
3
11
4
16
17
18
5
12
19
6
13
20
Colori compositi
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The Spas
79
Venezia
Padova
Ferrara
20 Thermae Oasis
a
Terme
Felsinee
6
Bologna
7
Terme
dell’Agriturismo
Terme
8 di Porretta
Firenze
15 Terme di Punta Marina
Terme di
Castel San Pietro
9
Ravenna
Terme
14 di Riolo
16 Terme di Cervia
Forlì
Terme
di Brisighella 13
Terme
di Castrocaro
10
Cesena
Terme
12 della Fratta
Rimini
Riminiterme
17
Riccione
Terme
18
Ancona
11 Bagno di Romagna
Perugia
Colori compositi
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terme
emilia romagna
Francesca
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI
Ravenna, 1255 • ?, 1283/1285
“Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize,
Seized this man for the person beautiful
That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me
Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving,
Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly,
That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me;
Love has conducted us unto one death;
Caina waiteth him who quenched our life !"
These words were borne along from them to us.
(Dante Alighieri, Inferno V, 100-108)
Francesca da Rimini was born on the coast, where
the Po River peacefully enters the sea. She sought her own peace for many year and
finally found it where her HEART felt at home.
That was no easy feat. In those times priorities were different: alliances, battles, and
the power of noble families...these were the important things. In that period marriage
was like a business contract, so she was forced to marry Gianciotto Malatesta: everyone
was satisfied with the agreement between the two rival families. Even Francesca’s
husband was pleased: she was young, beautiful and desirable... But Francesca had set
her eyes on Paolo, her brother-in-law, and could not stop thinking about him. And to
think that Paolo was sent to ask Francesca’s hand in marriage! He was so GRACEFUL...
He exuded kindness; his eyes were as deep as the sea. Francesca sighed and quivered
with delight just at the thought of him. He was her peace. She had no doubt: true love
rules the heart, without boundaries and cannot be stopped. What happened afterwards
was just the natural course of love, as for all lovers around the world. Gianciotto never
understood her feelings so he killed Francesca and Paolo; with this action however he
only violated their bodies without stealing their souls which had found happiness within
each others hearts: they had already reached their eternity.
Paolo and Francesca had met for the first time in this sweet and gentle land embraced
by its scents. They would have liked to visit the many delightful and beautiful places
nearby, walking hand in hand, dissipating all fears and allowing joy to break through.....
So what are you waiting for? You can express you LOVE freely, so allow yourself to
enjoy these wonderful places. Take the initiative: run quickly to you KNIGHT and
invite him for a romantic holiday in Emilia Romagna! You will come back more in love
than ever.
Love
da Rimini
The treasures of the Senio valley
The amazing wonders of nature are full of
astonishing surprises. The Senio river valley will
ENCHANT you with its Herb Garden in Casola
Valsenio: stirring aromas and colourful plants
used in health products and cosmetics and to
enhance the flavour of food will gently fill you
with light EMOTIONS. To complete your sense
of well-being stop at Riolo Terme; in this town,
much loved by Lord Byron, built around a 14th
century Fortress, you can enjoy and benefit
from the virtues of its water and century old
woods.
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Tuscany Romagna
When Francesca’s father gave her in marriage
to Gianciotto he was lord of Ravenna. The family
however, originated from Polenta a village in
the hills surrounding Forlì, near Bertinoro and
Fratta Terme: right on the border with a corner
of Romagna which was once part of Tuscany
under the dominion of the illustrious dé Medici
family. Take some time to discover the towns
that testify the historical period of these
Renaissance patrons dedicated to beauty,
COURTESY and elegance: Castrocaro Terme, a
thermal resort that will take care of your wellbeing and Terra del Sole, an innovative fortress
town with elegant architecture and an “ideal”
urban plan that restores the feeling of long lost
HARMONY.
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In love with the radio
Never do what you are told, don’t be stopped
by the prejudices of those who do not understand
you, always follow your FEELINGS! This is the
meaning of true loyalty! Just think what would
have happened if Guglielmo Marconi had not
believed in his intuitions and DESIRES when he
was a boy and nobody had faith in him! To create
his wireless telegraph he was forced to leave
Bologna and Italy. Without his courage and his
first experiments in Pontecchio the wireless
would never have been invented: many tried in
vain to invent it to no avail; only he was
successful. Can you imagine a world without the
radio? How would have songs travelled to every
corner of the world? Less people would probably
have fallen IN LOVE. Thanks to Guglielmo Marconi
words and notes travel quickly in the air and
suddenly arrive, today like in the past, to keep
us company.
The pleasure of Blues
This region taught Francesca to fully savour the
JOYS of life and not to get disheartened in
difficult moments. This is a FERVENT region that
enjoys the PLEASANT things in life. This is exactly
the atmosphere of the music festival Castel San
Pietro in Blues, held in the thermal town nestled
between the hills and plains, with exceptional
national and international guests every year:
the last editions included artists such as James
Cotton, the greatest living blues harmonica
player and Mick Taylor the legendary guitar
player of the Rolling Stones.
Miss
Miss Italia
The most famous women’s beauty contest in
Italy
Since 1994 the contest is also open to
mothers and married women
Some of the most famous contestants include:
Sophia Loren, Lucia Bosè, Silvana Pampanini,
Stefania Sandrelli, Simona Ventura and
Martina Colombari
It’s not easy to become a beauty queen, much less Miss Italia.
You might think that it’s all down to nature but nature isn’t everything. Genetically,
to some extent, we inherit a great deal from our parents: from our physique to the
shape of eyes or face. But for real beauty to bloom, we also need a healthy body, mind
and sprit. There’s a lot to be said for a well-balanced diet and for daily physical
exercise. That’s without mentioning an environment that enhances and fosters beauty
in all its forms.
Salsomaggiore Terme, a celebrated spa resort, is just that healthy environment –and
the stage for Miss Italy. Abroad, such beauty contests may be mocked but in Italy they
still have a place in people’s hearts. In the past, the jury has included such luminaries
as De Chirico, Carrà, both great artists and connoisseurs of beauty. Not forgetting
judges of the calibre of Visconti, De Sica and Mastroianni, all icons of the Italian
cinema. The pageant dates back to 1939, when it was charmingly entitled: “5000 lira
for a smile.” Since then the beauty contest has moved on, and emotions run high. In
some ways, it’s like a contemporary fairy tale. These are girls who dream of becoming
‘princesses’ in the world of showbiz. Such starlets may well launch their careers by
first becoming beauty queens. These starlets occupy a particular place in Italian hearts
and may well go on to be in the public eye in other fields.
Sofia Loren, the great actress and Italian icon, has been involved in past editions of
the pageant. She once said that the beauty contest was a reflection of Italy because
everything was done in the light of day. Rather like the authentic beauty of Salsomaggiore
Terme: what you see is what you get, without tricks or artifice.
Beauty
Italy
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Salt and water
Salsomaggiore has been a leading spa resort
since the late 19th century. It has a fascinating
history linked to the extraction of salt and
subsequently rose to prominence as a mineralrich spa resort. The waters are rich in salt and
bromide and these particular properties have
always been key in the mineral-rich treatments
and water cures. The beauty of Salsomaggiore
is another of its great assets, particularly the
Art Nouveau Berzieri baths, famed for their
Oriental-style decorations.
Neighbouring Tabiano Terme, specialised in the
treatment of the respiratory tract, is another
significant spa resort. Tabiano is set in the lovely
rolling hills around Parma. In their own way,
Salsomaggiore and Tabiano are both stars of the
spa world, much like the beauty queens
themselves in the world of showbiz.
Good food
from times past
Why not attend an historical banquet? Known
as Ricordanze di Sapori, these old-world feasts
take place in lovely castles in the former Dukedom
of Parma and Piacenza. Soak up the courtly
atmosphere with banquets attended by knights
and ladies. These costumed ladies will be as
gorgeous as beauty queens. In Emilia Romagna,
beauty and well-being are ever-present.
Health eating
A well-balanced diet (with plenty of fruit and
vegetables) is essential to keep us looking
gorgeous. Emilia Romangna has this in
abundance, including in the countryside around
Forlì and Cesena. Taste the pears, strawberries,
apricots, plums and peaches, including the juicy,
sweet-scented nectarines. As for cherries, head
for the Vignola hills. In spring, the white blossom
is gorgeous.
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Sport, well-being & fairplay
“I owe a lot to football and I hope it will always
be a sport that brings joy and relieves stress.
I am one of those people who love football in
the sense of a good clean fun and fair-play". So
said Arrigo Sacchi, the great football coach from
Emilia Romagna. Sacchi’s search for balance
and beauty won him many great victories. He
was in charge of AC Milan in its glory days, when
the team included Baresi, Van Basten, Gullit
and Maldini. This focus on harmony in `the
beautiful game’ filtered down to other squads
coached by Sacchi, from Rimini to Parma and
even the Italian national team.
Water
WATER
It is a fundamental component for plant and
animal organisms.
The human body is 65% water.
It plays a fundamental role in the control of
body temperature and of the salt and water
balance.
Water is the font of life. Mankind has always sought water and settled near a
Well-being
water source. In ancient times, water was considered divine, even miraculous,
and worshipped like a goddess. As one of the most fertile regions in Italy, Emilia
Romagna still worships water (and wine). From the Adriatic Coast to the spa
resorts and coastal wetlands, water has shaped the culture of the region.
andwine
Water is at the heart of Emilia Romagna’s well-being, from the vineyards to the
fertile plains of the River Po or the chestnut groves in the Apennines. Even
Bologna has a scenic ‘secret river’. On the Adriatic coast, the wild Po Delta
coastal wetlands is a mosaic of marshes, dunes and mudflats. Dubbed the Italian
Camargue, it lies between Ferrara and Comacchio. Look out for water defences
and drainage schemes, from locks and flood plains to raised canal banks which
serve as cycle trails.
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Spas as a way of life
Geological good fortune has fostered the
development of spa resorts (terme). Whether
tucked away in the hills or strung out along the
coast, the spas flourish thanks to the healing
properties of water. These are not snooty spas
but good-value, family-friendly affairs. Their
appeal is enhanced by lovely settings, a warm
welcome, and robust food and wine. From
Porretta to Cervia, Riolo and Fratta, the spas
offer everything from innovative beauty
treatments to cures dating back to Roman times.
Recharge your batteries
The spa resorts make a relaxing base, with
outings to ancient castles, parks and classic
cities of art. Parma province boasts the Reggia
di Colorno, dubbed `a Versailles in miniature’.
This is where the princely Farnese dynasty
summered. Then there’s the cliff-top castle of
Montechiarugolo, perched above the river Enza.
As for combining scenery and sport, golf is
increasingly popular and many golf clubs offer
special rates.
The poetry of water
Water has always inspired poetry. How could
the magnificent waterfalls of Acquacheta not
inspire sublime verse? One waterfall in the
Apennines has been immortalised by Dante
Alighieri, Italy’s greatest poet. Dante, who
stayed in the area while in exile from Florence,
wrote about the waterfall in The Divine Comedy.
The waterfall’s deafening roar is likened to the
terrifying Flegetonte river in Hell. It’s an easy
walk to the lofty waterfall, which is set in
clearing that was once home to Benedictine
monks.
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Turning water into wine
Much as the locals love drinking water, they are
even fonder of wine. A popular saying gives the
game away. `If you ask for a glass of water but
you are given a glass of wine, then you are in
Romagna’. Hardly surprising when this is the
land of full-bodied Sangiovese DOC. The Italian
DOC system is similar to the Appellation
Controllee system used in France. (DOC literally
means `controlled denomination of origin’ while
DOCG is a variant, meaning `controlled and
guaranteed designation of origin’). Two
recommended regional wines are Albana DOCG
Trebbiano DOC.
Where to drink? Sample local wines in old-world
wine shops and wine bars, as well as in the wine
estates themselves. Look out for the word
`enoteca’, meaning vintner or wine store, where
you can quaff as well as buy. These are friendly
places which reflect the warmth of the region.
To immerse yourself in wine lore, begin in the
Enoteca Regionale di Dozza. This showcase to
regional wines occupies an intriguing medieval
fortress between Bologna and Imola. Known as
the Rocca Sforzesca, the castle stocks over 800
different labels. But don’t ignore the rest of
the region. Superb DOC wines include Gutturnio
from Piacenza, Fortana from Ferrara, and
Pignoletto from the hills around Bologna.
And the local fizz? The best-known is Lambrusco
DOC, and the wine most closely associated with
the region. As a celebrated DOC wine, Lambrusco
reigns supreme between Modena and Reggio
Emilia. Lambrusco is highly individualistic and
slightly sharp: it’s a sparkling, cherry-red wine
that goes well with all local dishes.
Did you know that wine could take years off
you? Spa-lovers can indulge in wine-and-wellbeing cures. Known as vinotherapy, such
treatments are available at Salvarola spa. Freshly
picked grapes are used in bathing and massage
treatments and revitalise the skin. The antioxidant properties of grapes are beneficial in
anti-ageing treatments.
Ancient
ANCIENT ROMANS
Today’s passion for thermal spas owes much to
the Ancient Romans who used them as a place
of rest, socialisation and well-being; this passion
was exported to all the regions they colonised.
Some state that the term SPA derives from the
acronym Salus Per Aquam.
The body
Ad Balneum, ad Balneum - ‘to the baths’ was the rallying cry in these parts in Roman
times. As the Roman cavalcade approached Emilia Romagna, the cry became even
louder. The journey from Rome to Ravenna was long and arduous, particularly as
an array of goods had to be transported in tandem. The exhausted contingent could
beautiful
hardly wait for solace for their aching limbs. As the troops crossed the mountain
passes, the town now called Bagno di Romagna beckoned appealingly. Some Roman
merchants were so fond of the resort they retired there. Rest and recreation were
the order of the day. In the baths, the Romans appreciated the health benefits of
the healing waters, with alkaline and sulphurous waters gushing out at 45°C. The
superior Romans marvelled at the fact that ‘prehistoric barbarians’ had been capable
of discovering these places and settling nearby. Although illiterate, the ‘barbarians’
presumably had good instincts and sniffed the spas out.
The Valle del Savio was occupied by the Umbrian Sapinates for several centuries.
When the Romans arrived, they respected the ancient cults but also introduced the
first thermal baths. On one side, around the sacred spring, would have stood a
temple dedicated to Nymph, the queen of waters. On the other side would have been
the baths for ablutions and immersion in hot water. Between these sections there
would have been a long colonnaded section. These thermal baths were in no way
inferior to those used by gentlewomen and emperors: even Martial sang their praises.
romans
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Via dei Romei
Pilgrimage route to Rome
In the Middle Ages, European merchants and
travellers to Rome had to cross the Apennines.
This route, the Via dei Romei, reached Via Emila
from the coast or the Po River before crossing
the passes atop the Tuscan-Romagna border.
Travelling along roads dotted with parish
churches, wayfarers travelled on foot, on donkeys
or on carts, taking only a few basic possessions
with them. Pilgrims, friars and the poor found
free lodgings while the inns and taverns offered
true Roman hospitality to all who sought bed
and board.
Sarsina - where time stands still
A visit to the Archaeological Museum of Sarsina
is an affecting experience. It’s a place where
time has stood still, from the mausoleum
dedicated to Rufus to the mosaic depicting the
triumph of Dionysius. Plautus, the great Roman
playwright, bequeathed us an even greater gift.
The playwright was born in this splendid
municipium in the Apennines. Nowadays, a
theatre festival in his honour fills the cool
summer evenings with laughter.
Roman land legacy
Signs of Roman times are still visible in the
countryside around Cesena, Faenza, Imola and
Lugo. In fact, Roman colonisers reclaimed and
remodelled the land, using a rational grid system
unequalled in the modern era. Roman planning
made use of roads and canals and divided the
land into square plots called centuriae. This
formed a functional grid system linked to the
cardinal points or the axis of the main road. The
Roman grid is still apparent in areas with
smallholdings that weren’t swallowed up by vast
estates under the latifundismo system, whereby
great estates were created by absentee landlords.
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Roman dwellings
The Romans perfected the art of relaxation and
well-being and could teach modern city-dwellers
a lesson in living well. If in any doubt, visit a
typical Roman dwelling in Rimini, the oldest
established Roman colony in the Po valley. In
the historic heart of town is a fascinating villaclinic that has been restored recently. Known as
the Domus del Chirurgo (the Surgeon’s House)
this once belonged to Dr. Eutyches, who also
left an intriguing collection of Roman surgical
instruments. In Ravenna, admire the richly
-decorated mosaics in the Domus dei Tappeti di
Pietra (`House of the Stone Carpets’). Ravenna
is also home to the world’s finest collection of
Classically-inspired Early Christian mosaics. The
link with Roman mosaics is hardly surprising
given that Ravenna was the capital of the Western
Roman Empire and the base of the Roman fleet
in the Mediterranean. `Glory to Jupiter and the
Gods of the Pantheon’ might well have been the
Roman cry.
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D.O.P. and I.G.P. Products,
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DEI COLLI PIACENTINI
STRADA DEL PO E DEI SAPORI
DELLA BASSA PIACENTINA
STRADA DEL CULATELLO DI
ZIBELLO
(Strade dei vini e dei sapori di Parma)
Torino
Milano
Brescia
Piacenza
Mantova
Parma
Reggio Emilia
Modena
La Spezia
STRADA DEL FUNGO PORCINO DI
BORGOTARO
STRADA DEL PROSCIUTTO E DEI
VINI DEI COLLI DI PARMA
(Strade dei vini e dei sapori di Parma)
(Strade dei vini e dei sapori di Parma)
Cheese
Parmigiano - Reggiano • DOP
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
COLLINE DI SCANDIANO E CANOSSA
Grana Padano • DOP
Provolone Valpadano • DOP
Meat
Prosciutto di Parma • DOP
Prosciutto di Modena • DOP
Culatello di Zibello • DOP
Coppa piacentina • DOP
Salame piacentino • DOP
Italian salamini “the hunter's way” • D.O.P.
Salame Cremona • IGP
Pancetta piacentina • DOP
Mortadella Bologna • IGP
White young beef of the central Apennines • IGP
Colori compositi
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
CITTÀ CASTELLI CILIEGI
(Colline fra Bologna e Modena)
Fruits and Vegetables
Romagna shallot • IGP
Borgotaro porcini mushroom • IGP
Castel del Rio marron • IGP
Emilia-Romagna pear • IGP
Peach and nectarine of Romagna • IGP
Altedo green asparagus • IGP
Extra virgin olive oil
Zampone Modena • IGP
Olio extra vergine d’oliva di Brisighella • DOP
Cotechino Modena • IGP
Olio extra vergine d’oliva Colline di Romagna• DOP
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Food and Wine Routes
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DELLE CORTI REGGIANE
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DELLA PIANURA MODENESE
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DELLA PROVINCIA DI FERRARA
Venezia
Padova
(La via del grande fiume - La via
delle corti estensi - La via del delta)
Ferrara
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DEI COLLI D’IMOLA
STRADA DEL SANGIOVESE E DEI
SAPORI DELLE COLLINE DI
FAENZA
Bologna
Ravenna
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DEI COLLI DI FORLÌ E CESENA
Forlì
Cesena
Firenze
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DEI COLLI DI RIMINI
Rimini
STRADA DEI VINI E DEI SAPORI
DELL’APPENNINO BOLOGNESE
Ancona
Vinegar
Perugia
Traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena • DOP
Traditional balsamic vinegar of Reggio Emilia• DOP
Balsamic vinegar of Modena• IGP
Baked products
Coppia ferrarese • IGP
Colori compositi
D.O.P. Protected designation of origin (pdo)
I.G.P. Protected geographical indication (pgi)
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Publishing project:
APT Servizi
Texts:
Stefano Maldini
Text restyling in foreign languages:
English – Lisa Gerard Sharp
German – Maren Preiss
Russian – Gamer Bautdinov
Concept and graphics project:
Empresa Creativa - www.empresacreativa.com
Translation:
Action Line Servizi Linguistici – Forlì
Images:
APT Servizi Photo Archives
Photo Archives of the Unioni di Prodotto Appennino e Verde, Città d’Arte, Costa, Terme and their public
partners
Federico Fellini Foundation (image pag. 12-13 – Federico Fellini “La dolce vita: Silvia come la Via Lattea”
Coloured pens on paper - copyright Federico Fellini Foundation)
Forlì – Cesena Province Photo Archives (sangiovese glass pag. 91; montetiffi baking-pots pag. 25; nordic
walking pag. 62)
Ferrara Province Photo Archives (deer in the woods of Mesola pag. 23; Cento carnival pag. 35; Delta Park
hide pag. 46)
Reggio Emilia Province Photo Archives (making pasta pag. 37; images of the chapter “Don Camillo and
Peppone”)
Rimini Province Photo Archives (various images in the Adriatic Riviera section)
Cesenatico Town Council Photo Archives (Marino Moretti birthplace pag. 19; recalling garibaldina pag.
22)
Modena Town Council Photo Archives (Pavarotti & Friends pag. 33)
Ravenna Town Council Photo Archives (sapanno Garibaldi pag. 22)
Sarsina Town Council Photo Archives (Sarsina arena pag. 94)
Oasi costiera dei 4 comuni Photo Archives (small flamingo pag. 22)
Museo della Figurina Photo Archives (images pag. 35)
Savor of Montegelli Feast Photo Archives (images pag. 71)
Motorvalley Museum and Collections Photo Archives (images for the chapters Enzo Ferrari and Ducati) Alessandro La Motta (front page)
Printed in October 2009 by Grafica Editoriale Printing srl – Bologna
Colori compositi
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Emilia Romagna
APT Servizi Emilia Romagna (Regional tourist board)
Fax +39 0541 430150
info@aptservizi.com
www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it
www.aptservizi.com
For information on tourist products
of Emilia Romagna
Unione di prodotto Appennino e Verde
Fax +39 051 4202612
appennino@aptservizi.com
www.appenninoeverde.org
Unione di prodotto Città d'Arte, Cultura e Affari
Fax +39 051 4202612
cittadarte@aptservizi.com
www.cittadarte.emilia-romagna.it
Unione di prodotto Costa
Fax +39 0547 675192
info@adriacoast.com
www.adriacoast.com
Book your holiday on:
Colori compositi
Land with a Soul
Unione di prodotto Terme, Salute e Benessere
Fax +39 051 4202612
info@emiliaromagnaterme.it
www.emiliaromagnaterme.it
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Emilia Romagna
Land
with a Soul