| If you are looking for a European tourist | | | | vinegar. Stop by Modena's four hundred year old |
| destination, consider the Emilia-Romagna region of | | | | delicatessen, said to be the world's oldest. |
| northern Italy. It may be the only region of Italy | | | | Bologna boasts the oldest university in Europe |
| named for a road, one constructed by the | | | | with the first woman to teach officially at a |
| Ancient Romans almost 2200 years ago. This | | | | European University. Because of all the students |
| article describes the Emilia subregion, a bit of its | | | | the city does not shut down early. There is an |
| history, its many tourist attractions, local food, | | | | unfinished cathedral and some towers, one of |
| and local wine. A companion article presents | | | | which leans. |
| Romagna, the eastern "half" of the region. | | | | Ferrara, a UNESCO world heritage site, was |
| Our tour of Emilia starts at Piacenza, an Etruscan | | | | featured in the famous movie The Garden of the |
| city proud of its baroque statues, a Thirteenth | | | | Finzi-Continis. There's a castle with a hanging |
| Century Palace, Palazzo del Comune, and a | | | | garden, and moat, a drawbridge, and dungeons. |
| Cathedral with a very interesting bell tower. Art | | | | Make sure to see the nearby Gothic Duomo |
| museums display both Etruscan and Nineteenth | | | | (Cathedral). You can visit Ferrara's ghetto and |
| and Twentieth Century Italian art. | | | | Jewish Museum, once a synagogue. Finish your |
| Opera lovers shouldn't miss the town Busseto | | | | tour at Europe's oldest wine bar where the |
| with the villa where Guiseppe Verdi lived and | | | | famous scientist Copernicus once lived and drank |
| worked and the theatre that performed his | | | | here. |
| works. The historic city of Parma is known for | | | | Emilia-Romagna, in particular Emilia is a world |
| Parmesan cheese and Parma ham. Besides its | | | | famous gourmet destination. See our companion |
| great food there are churches and museums to | | | | article I Love Touring Italy - The Emilia Region for |
| see and opera to see and hear. | | | | a sample menu and more information on |
| Modena and its surroundings is the home to the | | | | Emilia-Romagna wines as well as an in-depth |
| opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, Maserati and | | | | examination of Emilia's tourist attractions. Try |
| Ferrari sports cars, and balsamic vinegar. Be sure | | | | some Lambrusco DOC red wines, which are often |
| to see Modena's old city, the Twelfth Century | | | | fizzy or frothy. Frankly in Emilia-Romagna the |
| Duomo (Cathedral), and the Palazzo dei Musei | | | | wine isn't as good as the food. |
| (Palace of the Museum) and taste some balsamic | | | | |