Perhaps you haven’t heard of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, however I’m sure you’ve heard of Parmesan Cheese, Prosciutto (Parma Ham), Balsamic Vinegar and Motor Valley. All of these (and many more) are all children of this region.
Not overly touristy, the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy has a diverse landscape of mountains and rolling hills, with the capital of the region being Bologna. Bologna is most famous as a university city, and indeed even has a university dating back to the 11th century. It is richly historical and is, in more recent years, actually becoming known as the culinary capital of Italy. The city itself has 16 Michelin Star Restaurants and is home to FICO Eataly World, the world’s largest food-centric theme park where you can enjoy Italian marketplaces and restaurants as well as farm tours and educational programs. In addition to amazing food and markets, Bologna also has great shopping! Its definitely worth a day trip.
This region is more than just Bologna, though the city is a great home base for exploring the region. When you are here, I highly recommend the following:
Parmesan Cheese Factory Tour – I am a complete fan of Parmesan cheese. Or as it is correctly called in Italy, Parmigiano-Reggiano. I love how its flavour can enhance almost any meal, and honestly even eat it as a snack! Truly delicious no matter how you decide to consume it. And the Emilia-Romagna region is where it all began. Parmigiano here is an institution. They raise certain breeds of cattle specifically for this purpose, with their diet and lifestyle being closely monitored. They have schools where students learn the art of making parmesan cheese, and dedicate their lives to the craft. This cheese is not an afterthought…parmigiano is big business! You can easily buy it in any store, however to really get an idea of where it comes from, you must visit the factory itself. Factory visits only take place on certain days, at certain times, and you must make a reservation. You then join a group, dress in protective scrubs and head with your guide into the parmesan factory. You see the process from start to finish…from milk to aged wheels of parmesan. And of course, you end in the cheese shop where you can enjoy some tasty samples. My favourite factory to visit is the Consorzio Vacche Rosse (Red Cow Consortia). I would be happy to arrange a tour for you.
Prosciutto di Parma – Parma is a city in this region and the term Prosciutto di Parma literally just means “ham from Parma”. People from this region take great pride in their ham production, and there are consortia which govern the production of the prosciutto. Prosciutto di Parma can actually only be produced in the hills around Parma, and within the boundaries of the Parma production area. So, though you will eat prosciutto around other areas of Italy, it will not exactly taste like this. This is a very unique product to this region, and easy to access in any local store, market or of course, charcuterie plate! They do have farm and productions tours available, however you must be ok being in a slaughterhouse/butcher type environment. Personally, I’m ok to eat prosciutto on a nicely prepared board with cheese, but if you really want to see where it comes from, contact me to set up a tour.
Balsamic Vinegar – This is another highly protected regional product of Emilia-Romagna. Generally referred to as Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (or Reggio Emilia), this product originates from grapes (including stems, seeds and skins) and is processed similarly to wine. However, in order to achieve its status as vinegar, it must be aged in barrels for a number of years, depending on the desired taste. Produced exclusively in this region, I highly recommend you visit a balsamic vinegar distillery. There are a number of distilleries around the region, however my favourite is Opera02. This a boutique hotel, small batch Lambrusco winery and traditional balsamic vinegar distillery. Taking a tour here is actually rather magical. The staff are very attentive and knowledgeable. There is a large terrace overlooking their vineyard and the gorgeous hillside. You get to explore the cellar, where they keep the vinegar in barrels and have vintages that are over 70 years old! Finally, you end with a Lambrusco and vinegar tasting. Being a huge fan of Lambrusco, this combines my two loves, and is both educational and delicious. Highly recommend this unique experience!
And finally….last, but definitely not least….MOTOR VALLEY!! This is a huge draw of the region and probably what has made it most famous. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, Ducati.…all of these amazing luxury motor companies have their headquarters and factories right here. And you can tour them!! Even if you’re not a motoring enthusiast, the scale and design that have gone into these factories is quite amazing and definitely worth a visit. Their museums showcase vehicles from their inception as a company until present day and are very interesting to see. Nowhere else in the world can you experience all of these companies and their vehicles in such a way. You must purchase tickets before arriving, and I highly recommend the factory tours. My two favourites are Lamborghini and Ducati, however feel free to explore whatever inspires you most!
This area offers much in terms of things to see, while not being overrun with tourists. You meet a lot of locals and really get a local vibe. However, it cannot sometimes be a challenge to navigate, as you may have to travel far distances to visit the attraction you want. I have been to the region and am happy to help arrange your travels here. Contact me today to get started planning!
