The Emilia Romagna region in northern central Italy attracts a lot fewer tourists than Rome, Venice, and Florence, but has so much to offer in terms of food and incredible landscapes.
Food
The food of Emilia Romagna is at the very heart of Italian cuisine. Balsamic vinegar originates from Modena, a city in the center of the region, and the balsamic vinegar you can buy in Emilia Romagna tastes like a totally different thing to the balsamic vinegar that you would buy normally. Emilia Romagna is also the home of Parmigiano Reggiano, one of the most vital ingredients in a lot of Italian recipes. The region is also famous for creating tortellini, little shells of fresh pasta with fillings. Emilia Romagna has continued this rich culinary history in maintaining the quality of its restaurants and if you visit, make sure to try as much local produce as possible.
Landscapes
If you are interested in climbing beautiful mountains without needing mountaineering experience or specialist equipment, Emilia Romagna is the place to come. The tallest mountain in the region is Monte Cimone at 7,103 feet (2,165 meters). It is a very safe mountain to summit in the summertime, and there are incredible views of Tuscany at the top. In the winter, lots of the mountains in the region also have skiing facilities, making Emilia Romagna a great place to visit all year round.
