Tour guides Italy > Emilia-Romagna

5 ideas for guided tours in Emilia Romagna

• Cervia

  

  In Cervia, also known as the “city of rest,” the spirit of a green, relaxing holiday is everywhere. Nestled between Rimini and Ravenna, the town has grown while staying true to its natural surroundings and environment.

  The municipality takes great pride in protecting its remarkable pine forest, which dates back to Roman times. Take a bike ride through the vast salt marshes. This journey into nature lets you spot ducks, herons, flamingos, gulls, stilts, and many other birds that thrive there.

  But Cervia’s green spaces are not its only treasure. The town also boasts a beautiful seafront, with a wide stretch of fine sandy beach running for nine kilometers.

• Ferrare

  

  Ferrara is a city steeped in history and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the Este Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Italy, an imposing fortress built in 1385.

  Inside, its many halls are richly decorated with ceiling frescoes, while the inner courtyard is equally worth admiring. During your visit to Ferrara, follow the city’s delightful historical routes.

  You’ll be amazed by its religious buildings as well as its palaces, such as the Palazzo dei Diamanti, and its colorful arcaded streets. Pay special attention to the Via delle Volte, the oldest street in the city.

• Saludecio

  

  Perched on a hill overlooking the valley of the Conca stream, Saludecio has kept the quiet charm of a medieval village. Its cobbled lanes form a maze of passages and little squares, where your eyes are constantly drawn to details on façades or at street corners.

  Every August, the Ottocento Festival turns the village into an open-air studio. Artists paint directly on the walls, adding colorful scenes to the old stones that seem to converse with the past.

  The main church, built in 1640, preserves an elegant interior. Its 18th-century paintings and carved wooden altar reflect patient, meticulous craftsmanship, still visible despite the passing centuries.

• Bologna

  

  Capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna unfolds its arcades and ochre façades around the Piazza Maggiore. This wide, lively square is framed by palaces, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Basilica di San Petronio, whose pink and white marble glows differently with every hour of the day.

  Not far away, Piazza Santo Stefano reveals a cluster of Romanesque chapels linked together, creating an almost monastic atmosphere. Uneven cobblestones, small courtyards, and covered galleries form a series of perspectives perfect for wandering.

  Bologna lives to the rhythm of its markets, bars, and trattorias. Terraces fill up at the end of the day, when locals gather under the arcades. The scents of fresh pasta and cured meats drift out from half-opened doors.

  A city of history and knowledge, it is home to the oldest university in Europe. Its buildings, gardens, and libraries remind you that Bologna is as much to be read as it is to be visited, with every street adding a page to its story.

• Modena

  

  Modena, just 40 km from Bologna, is a city full of charm and flavor. It is best known for its gastronomy, with local specialties such as tortellini, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and the world-famous balsamic vinegar.

  Did you know that the Osteria Francescana restaurant, voted best restaurant in the world in 2016 and 2018, is located in Modena?

  Though the city center is small, it is delightful, with arcaded streets and an extensive network of covered walkways. At its heart lies Piazza Grande, where you’ll also find the cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, and its bell tower, the Ghirlandina Tower, rising 87 meters high. Modena is also at the heart of Italy’s automobile industry, home to Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, and Pagani factories.

  The surrounding countryside offers plenty of nature walks, where trails lead past ancient farms, historic villages, and castles.