Hear about travel to the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna as the Amateur Traveler talks to Keith Jenkins from VelvetEscape.com who keeps returning to this unvisited gem.
Why should you go to Emilia-Romagna?
Keith says, “I think most people will know about the Products that come from there, the food, even the cars, maybe some of the cities, but they would just not associate that with the name Emilia Romagna. And we all know Parma, Bologna but there’s so much more to explore. And a large part of the region is actually pretty, off the beaten track, because you have all these little, small, medieval towns. On the plains, also at the hill towns, which are absolutely beautiful. And there’s so much to explore. They’ve got huge forests and lakes and national parks.”
Based on Keith Jenkins’ detailed description, here’s a recommended itinerary for a trip to Emilia-Romagna:
Day 1: Arrival in Parma
- Morning: Arrive in Parma. Check into your hotel.
- Afternoon: Explore Parma’s city center. Visit the Cathedral and the Baptistery.
- Evening: Dine at a local restaurant to enjoy Parma’s famous prosciutto.
Day 2: Parma to Modena
- Morning: Drive or take a train to Modena.
- Afternoon: Take a guided tour of a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factory and visit a producer of Balsamico di Modena (Modena balsamic vinegar).
- Evening: Visit the city center, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Modena Cathedral.
Day 3: Modena
- Morning: Visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum.
- Afternoon: Tour the Ferrari factory in Maranello and take a test drive on a racetrack.
- Evening: Enjoy a meal at a local trattoria, trying traditional balsamic vinegar.
Day 4: Bologna
- Morning: Drive or take a train to Bologna.
- Afternoon: Explore Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda), and the Basilica of San Petronio.
- Evening: Enjoy dinner in the Quadrilatero district.
Day 5: Bologna
- Morning: Take a food tour or visit Le Sfogline for a pasta-making class.
- Afternoon: Visit the Ducati Museum.
- Evening: Try gelato from Cremeria Funivia or Cremeria Santo Stefano.
Day 6: Ravenna
- Morning: Drive or take a train to Ravenna.
- Afternoon: Visit some of the 8 UNESCO World Heritage monuments in the city centre such as the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Visit the Mercato Coperto for a delicious lunch.
- Evening: Dine at the Ca de Ven restaurant and explore the city center.
Day 7: Ravenna and Surroundings
- Morning: Visit the Neonian Baptistry and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.
- Afternoon: Take a trip to Comacchio, the “Little Venice,” and explore its canals and bridges.
- Evening: Enjoy a traditional canal-side dinner in Comacchio before returning to Ravenna.
Day 8: Adriatic coast
- Morning: Relax on the beach at Milano Marittima or Cervia.
- Afternoon: Enjoy a seafood lunch in Cervia with its famous mussels. Visit the Cervia salt pans before proceeding to the historic fishing port of Cesenatico. Walk along the port which was designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Evening: Enjoy a harbourside dinner in Cesenatico before continuing to Rimini.
Day 9: Rimini
- Morning: Explore the Roman heritage sites like the Arch of Augustus and the Ponte di Tiberio.
- Afternoon: Walk around Borgo San Giuliano, a charming neighborhood famous for its colorful houses and murals dedicated to Fellini.
- Evening: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant
Day 10: San Marino Day Trip
- Morning: Take a bus to San Marino.
- Afternoon: Explore San Marino’s historic center and the fortress.
- Evening: Return to Rimini for dinner.
Day 11: Brisighella
- Morning: Drive to Faenza, the town of ceramics.
- Afternoon: Continue to Brisighella, explore the town and hike up the hill for scenic views.
- Evening: Spend the night in Brisighella or return to Bologna/Parma
Day 12: Departure
- Morning: Depart from Bologna or Parma.
Additional Tips
- Reservations: Make dining and tour reservations in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.
- Car Rental: Consider renting a car to explore hill towns and countryside areas not easily accessible by train.
- Local Experiences: Engage with locals and take part in regional festivals or markets for an authentic experience.
Enjoy your trip to Emilia-Romagna!
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Show Notes
Velvet Escape
Emilia-Romagna
Via Aemilia
Ravenna
Comacchio
Rimini
Parma
Modena
Ferrari Factory Panoramic Tour
Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari
Bologna
Two Towers, Bologna
Santo Stefano, Bologna
Piazza Maggiore
The old market in the Quadrilatero
Bologna Food tours
Le Sfogline
Ducati Museum
Bologna’s Gelato Gems: 5 Places to Taste the Best
Recommended things to do in Bologna in the Emilia Romagna region
San Marino
Ponte di Tiberio (Rimini)
Federico Fellini
Borgo San Giuliano
Cesenatico
Basilica of San Vitale
Milano Marittima, Italy
Cervia
Bobbio
Torrechiara Castle
Brisighella
Forte di San Leo
Sant’Agata Feltria
Parco regionale del Delta del Po
Caravan Restaurant (Ravenna)
Things to do in Brisighella, Italy
Driving the Via Emilia
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One Response to “Travel to Emilia-Romagna, Italy – Episode 900”
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Tags: audio travel podcast, emilia romagna, italy, podcast
Brian Gilbert
Says:July 31st, 2024 at 6:04 am
Dear Chris- congrats on your retirement. I’ve only listened to a few of your podcasts & always learn something new. About your new “tips” podcast- I’d like to hear more discussions about SUSTAINABLE travel. By that I mean not just reducing carbon (had a very bad experience driving on our first trip to Italy, and we do public transpo ever since- we LOVE train travel, trams, rent bikes, walk a lot, and occasionally Uber). But also, I’d like to hear strategies on how to avoid damage by travellers to the places we go. Example, we try to avoid “blitz” travel, where you spend a short time in a destination (another mistake from our 1st trip). We try for at LEAST 2 nights in any location, longer is better. We try to support true local businesses, avoid trinket shops, our “souvenir” is always a small painting from a LOCAL artist. We love going to European grocery stores. We never set foot on a cruise ship. We volunteer if we can- we’d volunteer more if we could find half-day opportunities. It’s important when you consider the impact of overtourism in places like Barcelona. (there’s big money for a handful of people when you bring in a cruise ship, but more often than not, it destroys communities.) We don’t want to be part of this problem. I’m guessing your audience doesn’t either. Please encourage your listeners to think about this, and please ask your guests about it. (i.e., “how could travelers help your community?”) Email me if you’d like, I can go on. Thanks very much, BG