The region Emilia-Romagna in the north of Italy has, according to ISTAT data from 1 January 2026, around 4,477,009 inhabitants across 22,502 square kilometres, and is divided into nine administrative units: the Metropolitan City of Bologna and the eight provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Rimini. In total, the region comprises 330 municipalities. To the north, Emilia-Romagna borders Lombardy and Veneto; to the south, it borders the Toscana, the Marche and the Republic of San Marino; to the west, it borders Liguria; and to the east, the region opens out onto the Adriatic Sea. The two constituent parts, Emilia and Romagna, stretch from the Po in the north to the Apennines in the south.
Geography: Between the Po Plain and the Apennines
The landscape of Emilia-Romagna unites the broad Po Plain in the north with the Apennine ridges in the south and the Adriatic coast in the east. The Po forms the northern boundary of the region for much of its length and, together with the Reno, Taro, Trebbia and other rivers, feeds the fertile plain. In the south, the Apennines extend through the provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Forlì-Cesena; Monte Cimone in the Province of Modena is the highest peak in the region at 2,165 metres. The Adriatic coast stretches from the Delta del Po in the north-east to Cattolica, south of Rimini, and encompasses wide sandy beaches, the Parco del Delta del Po near the river mouth and the lagoon landscape around Comacchio.
Bologna: the regional capital and home to the oldest university in the Western world
With around 390,000 inhabitants in the city proper and over one million in the Metropolitan City, Bologna is the regional capital and one of Italy's 14 metropolitan cities. The Università di Bologna was founded in 1088 and is regarded as the oldest continuously operating university in the Western world. The historic centre is defined by the two leaning towers, Asinelli and Garisenda; at 97 metres, the Asinelli is one of the tallest medieval towers in Italy. A defining feature of the city are the Portici, the arcaded walkways of the old town, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 and span a total of around 62 kilometres. Further landmarks include the Basilica di San Petronio on the Piazza Maggiore, the Fontana del Nettuno by Giambologna, and the old university quarter around the Archiginnasio.
Parma, Modena, Ravenna and the other cities
The other cities of the region each possess their own distinct identity. Parma, the culinary stronghold of Emilia, was the seat of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and has held the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015; the Romanesque cathedral bears Correggio's fresco of the Assumption of the Virgin in its dome. Modena combines UNESCO World Heritage status with the motor industry; Reggio Emilia gave rise to the Italian tricolour in 1797 and is internationally renowned for the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Piacenza in the west is one of the oldest Roman foundations in northern Italy. Under the Este family, Ferrara developed into a Renaissance court city, with the Castello Estense as its landmark. Ravenna is home to the tomb of Dante and served in late antiquity as the capital of the Western Roman Empire, as well as of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and the Byzantine Exarchate. Rimini on the Adriatic is the birthplace of Federico Fellini, the venue of the TTG Travel Experience , and the focal point of the Riviera Romagnola. Forlì is the capital of the Province of Forlì-Cesena; Cesena is home to the Biblioteca Malatestiana, recognised as UNESCO Memory of the World heritage.
UNESCO World Heritage: from Ravenna to Bologna
Emilia-Romagna is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The early Christian monuments of Ravenna were inscribed in 1996 and encompass eight buildings from the 5th and 6th centuries, including the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the basilicas of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the Battistero Neoniano and San Vitale. The Byzantine mosaics are considered the finest of their kind outside Constantinople. In 1995, the historic centre of Ferrara was inscribed as an outstanding example of Renaissance urban planning; in 1999, the World Heritage designation was extended to include the Po Delta. In 1997, the Cathedral of Modena, the Torre Civica and the Piazza Grande followed as an ensemble from the 11th and 12th centuries. In 2021, the already mentioned Portici of Bologna were added, comprising twelve historic arcaded sections in total.
Cuisine: from tortellini to Parmigiano Reggiano
The Cuisine Emilia-Romagna shapes Italian food culture like almost no other region. Its specialities range from cheese and ham to pasta and vinegar. The Parmigiano Reggiano DOP has been produced since the Middle Ages in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Mantua, and matures for at least twelve months. Climate-related questions surrounding the cheese sector have since become part of the regional debate. The Prosciutto di Parma DOP originates from the area south of Parma and matures for at least twelve months in the hill air around Langhirano.
The Mortadella Bologna IGP is the eponymous product of the regional capital, while the Culatello di Zibello DOP is its refined counterpart from the Bassa Parmense, where small producers such as the Agriturismo Prunara Bringing farm and table together. Classic pasta dishes include Tortellini in Brodo, Lasagne alla Bolognese, Tagliatelle al ragù, as well as Cappelletti and Tortelloni. In Bologna, for instance, the Dispensa Emilia champions the region's authentic cuisine. From Romagna comes the Piadina Romagnola IGP, the thin flatbread made from white flour and olive oil, filled with Prosciutto, Squacquerone and rocket. Modena contributes the Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, a vinegar made from reduced grape must that matures for at least twelve years in successive wooden barrels and is strictly overseen by the Consorzio (consortium).
Wine: Lambrusco, Albana and Sangiovese di Romagna
When it comes to wine the region unites two very distinct winemaking traditions. In the Emilia the sparkling Lambrusco dominates in several DOC variants from the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, including Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro and Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce. In Romagna, the Sangiovese di Romagna DOC and the Albana hold sway. The Romagna Albana DOCG was admitted to this highest quality category in 1987 as the very first Italian white wine. Further notable wines include the Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi DOCG from the hills south of Bologna, the Trebbiano Romagnolo DOC, and the Colli Piacentini DOC, which places the Gutturnio and Ortrugo grape varieties at the forefront.
Motor Valley: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, Ducati
Between Modena and Bologna, the so-called Motor Valley has grown into Italy's most internationally renowned automotive cluster. Ferrari has been producing cars in Maranello, in the province of Modena, since 1947, and also operates the Museo Ferrari there. Lamborghini is based in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Maserati in the city of Modena, and Pagani in San Cesario sul Panaro, while Ducati runs its motorcycle plant in Borgo Panigale on the outskirts of Bologna. Further highlights include the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena, housed in the birthplace of the company's founder, and the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari racing circuit in Imola, which hosts the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The region has built its exceptional concentration of marques into a compelling brand narrative, and several factories regularly offer guided tours of their facilities.
Riviera Romagnola and Delta del Po
The coastline of Emilia-Romagna stretches from Comacchio to Cattolica and is characterised by sandy beaches, gently shelving shores and a dense tourist infrastructure. The Riviera Romagnola, with Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica, Milano Marittima and Cesenatico, ranks among Italy's most popular seaside destinations. To the north lies the Parco del Delta del Po, established in 1988, which encompasses the lagoons around Comacchio. The Delta del Po has been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015 and is one of Europe's most important wetlands, renowned for its flamingos, herons and eel fishing. The thermal spas of Salsomaggiore and Tabiano in the province of Parma complement the tourist offering in the hinterland.
Getting There via Bologna, Rimini and the Via Emilia
Bologna is served by the Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi , the region's international hub and one of Italy's busiest airports. Rimini is served by the Aeroporto Federico Fellini, and Parma by the Aeroporto Giuseppe Verdi. Travellers arriving by rail reach Bologna via Bologna Centrale, one of the key junctions on the Italian high-speed network, with connections operated by Trenitalia and Italo to Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples and Venice. By car, the A1 Autostrada del Sole runs through the region from both south and north, as does the A1 scenic route between Florence and Bologna, while the A14 Adriatica links Bologna with Rimini and continues further south. The historic Via Emilia, from which the Emilia takes its name, has connected Piacenza with Rimini since Roman times and remains the region's principal axis to this day.
