Emilia Romagna

Emilia Romagna is a varied and vibrant region and a firm favourite amongst European and Italian holiday makers, combining as it does rich and fertile plains (Pianura), high and spectacular mountains (the Apennine Mountains) and some of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastline to be found in Italy.   Here you will find a variety of landscapes unequalled and unrivalled.   Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on one side the area contains settled and industrial plains (mostly producing ceramic products), farmland, producing a wide variety of crops and the wild mountainous areas of the Apennine mountains, famed for their skiing, trekking, spectacular scenery and a magnet for tourists.

Covering an area of 22,000 sq. km (making it one of the largest regions in Italy), it has a population of just under 4 million. The region is very rich in historical character and contains major cities such as Bologna, where the oldest university in the world is to be found, Parma, famed as the home of Verdi, Toscanini and Parma Ham, or Modena, birthplace of both Lucian Pavarotti and the world famous and highly respected Balsamic vinegar.  For the more adventurous, Emilia Romagna is also the spiritual home of motoring enthusiasts, being as it it the base for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducatti and Mondial (amongst others).  

Here, in the southern part of Emilia Romagna, home to the glorious and world famous Apennine Mountains, you will find some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, rich with flora and fauna not easily found elsewhere.   Bordering the famous Tuscany region, it shares not only the same border, but also the pace of life, wonderful scenery and warm and generous hospitality so famous in this part of Italy.  In this area, you will find not only majestic mountains, but charming small villages scattered around the hilltops or clinging to the slopes of the hills and mountains, rushing mountain streams full of ice-cold crystal clear water.   In the villages you will find bars, restaurants, sports centres, open air swimming pools, weekly markets selling farmers' produce, arts & crafts, antiques and of course, the famous and stylish Italian clothes and shoes.

An area of natural beauty, it is here that you will find the Association, one of the largest Immobilliari Agenzias (estate agencies) in the area.  It is here that the Association's area of expertise comes mainly to play, and where most of our properties are to be found.  Although we have interests throughout Emilia Romagna, we have a particular fondness for this area and most of our properties are to be found in within the ‘Parco Giganti’ (the National Park of the Giant).  Particularly, in this part of Emilia Romagna, ready for the taking, you will still find rustic stone-built farmhouses, cottages, old mills, even villa's at very affordable prices.   An area of outstanding natural beauty and renowned internationally for its wealth and diversity of flora and fauna and superb skiing facilities (within a ½ hours drive from the centre of the Parco Giganti, there is a choice of around 6 first-class ski resorts).  In this area, the seasons and the temperature follow a clearly defined pattern. In the height of the summer months the temperature will rise to 30 – 32 degrees C.   However, because this is a mountainous region, the temperature does not get oppressive and humid, remaining instead wonderfully hot and comfortable. In the winter it can drop to below freezing, though not for long, with 3 maybe 4 heavy snow falls. These ‘storms’ usually last for 1-2 days and can deposit snow drifts of up to 2 mts.

Food and Drink  Known as the 'Food Kitchen' of the North (it is also widely recognised as the ‘The Garden of Italy’), Emilia Romagna is without doubt the region where Italy's best food is produced.   The birthplace of handmade pasta such as tagliatelli, tortellini, cappelletti and lasagna, other specialties worth noting are gnocco fritto, pieces of pasta rolled thin and fried in boiling lard to acquire their characteristic taste and eaten while still hot.  As well there is Erbazzone which is a spinach pastry.  For the more sweet toothed you should try chestnuts roasted or made into a delicious puree for pastry fillings.  As well there are the wonderful liquors and flans made from the natural fruits found in the woods of the area such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries and bilberries.   Of course you can combine eating with exercise by going either mushroom picking or truffle hunting in the mountains; this mountainous area is home to the famous Porcini mushroom and the rare and exotic white truffle (though you will need a license for both).  If you are looking for delicacies truly fit for a king, you would be hard pushed to beat Parmigiano Reggiano, the king of cheeses.   Parmigiano Reggiano represents all that is excellent about food in Emilia Romagna.   Produced in 52 diaries with milk taken from 860 farms that own a total of 30,000 selected cows, it can be eaten before, during or after your meal and it is a vital ingredient in hundreds of recipes.

The world famous traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena and certain recognised parts of Reggio Emilia delights the taste buds thanks to its unique production process, derived not from wine, but from the skins of the best grapes.  It undergoes a slow and lengthy transformation from skins to vinegar which can in some cases take longer that 25 - 40 years from start to finish (and longer - there are some examples of Balsamic vinegar of over 100 years of age)

Tourist Attractions

The National and Regional parks represent the "green heart" of Emilia Romagna and testify to the importance attributed to the protection and promotion of the natural beauty and landscapes of the region.   The Casentinesi Woods, the Gigante Regional Park, the Park of the Corno alle Scale and the Delta of the River Po are the principal green oasis to be explored horse-riding, walking or skiing.   The region offers all the peace and tranquillity one could desire.

Recreation  The region boasts sixteen premier Italian golf courses, canoeing, hot water spas and a world renowned observatory at Febbio and of course, not forgetting the wonderful hot sandy beaches along either the Adriatic or the Mediterranean Coast.

History & Culture

Unified in 1946, the regions of Emilia and Romagna joined together to form one of Italy's wealthiest regions in art, history and culture.   The region's most notable cities are Bologna, Parma, Piacenza, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Ravenna and Ferrara.   Each of them has something special to offer.   The cultural centre of the region is Bologna,  home of the oldest university in Europe.  A visit to Bologna will be well worth it as the historic centre is famed for it's ornate churches, medieval piazzas, immense towers and porticos that elegantly shelter and shade one's way as you walk through this fascinating city.   As well, the region is renowned for it's beautiful Byzantine mosaics and wealth of historic paintings.

The Apennines and surrounding Area

The irregular Apennine peaks (distinctive as showing the unique outline of a giant man lying down and looking up at the sky, hence the name of this area's famous  national park, the Parco Giganti - The Park of the Giant) mark the border between Emilia and Tuscany and in the middle of these peaks sits the Bismantova, a magnificent sandstone plateau.  Its structure, awesome and mysterious, is a breathtaking symbol of the whole region and is the recognised logo for the capital town of the Apennines, Castelnovo ne' Monte.   Here you will find an environment completely unpolluted and pure as nature intended.

Sports Activities

Throughout the year the Apennines are ideal for sports activities, walking trails, gastronomic excursions hunting for chestnuts or mushrooms; in winter the white mountains and the ski resorts are very popular and have contributed to the success of ski champions such as Alberto Tomba.   Emilia Romagna also offers a wide variety of opportunities for cyclists.   Every year a growing number of cyclists from all Europe decide to visit this area, where they can experience the joy of cycling in the valleys and the hills or along the ridge of the Apennines.  The area is also a favourite with mountaineers and rock climbers, especially the Pietra di Bismantova (Bismantova Stone).  For the less active sports enthusiasts Emilia Romagna is the centre of the sports car and motorcycle world.   With the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Ducati (home to one of the finest motorbike producers in the world), all having their museums and factory's in this region (all of which can be visited, making for a wonderful day out) there really is no better place to visit for the motor sports enthusiast.

Towns & Villages

Emilia Romagna boasts some of the most beautiful towns in Italy overflowing with Byzantine art, architecture and historical character.   Naturally, Italy would not be Italy unless there were festivals! with any excuse to relax in wonderful surroundings and indulge yourself in the local food, wine, colour and pageantry. Throughout the long hot summer days and evenings, the tranquil landscape is enlivened by small villages with their traditional popular customs celebrating their heritage with either a grand festival or an open-air feast, where anyone and everybody is freely welcomed. Generally, during the summer months, there is either a festival, fair or celebration taking place in the area somewhere locally every day of the week.

For further information contact us on

(0039) 0522 802173 / (0039) 3385 040391        or         01656 65694 / 0784 602592  (U.K)