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Emilia Romagna, located South of Milan and just within reach of Venice, has become one of Italy’s biggest gastronomy and industrial epicenters.
When visiting Emilia Romagna the only trouble you’ll face is deciding what to do!
The region is home to to a variety of destinations that will fit every traveler’s needs. From amazing historical cities famed for their art and culture, to the beautiful lush greenery of the Apennines mountains which become ski resorts in the winter, and in summer are the perfect place for trekking and enjoying nature.
When mentioning Emilia Romagna we can’t forget about the timeless fascination of the Motor Valley and its historic brands, from Ducati, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Pagani just to name a few.
If cars aren’t your thing, Emilia Romagna is home to the Adriatic Riviera with its 110 km of beaches which hosts the largest amusement park district in Europe, as well as a variety of bars and restaurants where you could enjoy the typical cuisine.
Enogastronomy is king in Emilia Romagna, which boasts 44 DOP and IGP certifications for its typical food products, including internationally renowned favourites such as Prosciutto di Parma to Parmigiano Reggiano, from Lambrusco to Traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The region also has many delicious restaurants including 23 Michelin rated restaurants and even the world’s first “food theme park” called FICO Eataly World located in Bologna.
Lambrusco DOC, a sparkling wine made from red grapes of the same name, originates from the provinces of Modena, Parma, Reggio nell’Emilia, and Mantua. All six varieties: Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco Maestri, Lambrusco Marani, Lambrusco Montericco, Lambrusco Salamino, and Lambrusco Sorbara, are cultivated strictly in Emilia Romagna, making this popular wine a staple of the region.
Regarded as one of the older wine regions in Italy, the fertile Po Valley is home to a prolific wine industry that has helped compliment Emilia Romagna’s extensive gastronomy.
With an almost even distribution between red and white wines, the region’s two DOCG appellations have helped to define itself among Northern Italian wine producers : the Albana di Romagna appellation, the first DOCG white wine in the region, and further south, stretching across the Po Valley and culminating in the coastal hills around Rimini, the Romagna Sangiovese grape is cultivated to produce what is arguably the region’s most famous wine.
Aside from the more popular culinary fares of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, balsamic vinegar IGP or Proscuitto di Parma DOP, Emilia Romagna is home to some of Italy’s most iconic dishes. The biggest culprit being Lasagna Bolognese.
Widely regarded as one of the oldest pasta dishes in Italy, the rich meal can trace its roots to Bologna, where the surrounding area’s heavy reliance on agriculture and dairy provided the foundation for the dish. Although it currently holds many modern iterations, it’s traditionally served with a ragù sauce with ground pork and carrots.
Zuppa Inglese, a staple of any Italian dinner, shares an illustrious history with that of its English counterpart. Originally created at the request of Italian nobles seeking an alternative to English Triffle, the custard and sponge cake desert has now become a staple throughout Italy and a lesser known gelato flavor. The dish supposedly got its start in the town of Ferrara.
In Emilia Romagna we can also find one of the most famous italian cooking school, based on the recipes of the father of Italian tipical cuisine, Pellegrino Artusi: Casa Artusi
Discover Emilia Romagna with Wine and Travel. We offer lots of guided tours to discover the region and its rich enogastronomic heritage.
The region’s capital, Bologna, an ancient and beautiful medieval town surrounded by porticoes, is home to the University of Bologna, the oldest continuously attended academic institution in Europe. Noted for the interplay between its financial and academic persona, Bologna has come to define the importance that Italians have placed in preserving gastronomy and education. The city also boasts numerous renaissance style Palazzi and Medieval churches.
While car aficionados will know the region primarily from its automotive exploits, Emilia Romagna is also considered one of the food meccas of Italy. The city of Parma, considered one of Italy’s wealthiest, is home to the Parma Ham and the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, staples of modern Italian cuisine. Replete with Renaissance art and incredible food, visiting Parma is must for the food crazed.
The town of Modena or more famously the home of Ferrari, although that honor truthfully goes to Maranello, is also the location of the Osteria Francescana, a 3 Michelin Star restaurant that is widely regarded as one of the best in the world, and a great showcase of Northern Italian food. A visit to the town and the accompanying restaurant is guaranteed to please.
The world renown Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena or Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (TBVM), a balsamic vinegar regulated by the European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) system that is aged for 12 years to gain its particular features, is another culinary staple of this region, and is produced in Modena.
The region is also home to world renowned wellness spas and thermal baths, there are 24 in the region located in 19 different area ranging from the Adriatic sea to the villages of the Apennines. The spas and baths are popular among tourist and locals and offer a range of services for visitors to feel pampered and to connect with the nature around them.
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When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.
Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.
Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.
So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.