Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is a northern Italy’s administrative region which comprises of two historic regions called Emilia and Romagna. The area of the region is 20,124 square kilometers with a population of 4.3 million inhabitants. Bolagna is the capital of the region.
Geography
The Emilia-Romagna region consists of 9 provinces. Nearly 50% of the region consists of plains with 25% mountainous and 25 % hilly regions. The region’s Appenines section has areas of flisch, caves and badland erosions. More than 300 kms of mountains are present stretching from north to south-east. Padan Plain constitutes half of the region which is a very fertile alluvial plain. The region’s north has lagoons and saline areas and the rest of the area has many thermal springs. The region’s vegetations are divided into various belts consisting of the common oak belt, Adriatic oak belt and the beech belt.
Economy
The region of Emilia-Romagna is one of the richest regions of Europe and the third region of Italy in terms of per capita GDP. It has a very developed economy based on the agricultural sector. This region is also one of the leading region in farming contribution. The most important products are potatoes, tomatoes, cereals and onions alongwith grapes and fruit for wine production. The industrial part of the region is mainly located in the area of Via Emilia. Food, mechanical and automotive industry is mainly concentrated in Bologna, Modena and Parma.
Art
In Emilia-Romagna, Roman traces can be found in Ravenna and Rimini with the magnificent monuments of the Byzantine period. These Romanesque Longobard style are found in Piacenza e Ferrara and Cathedrals of Modena, some important sculptural works can be found in the Baptistry of Parma. Bologna and Piacenza have great examples of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic styles.
Attractions
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Tomb of Dante are present in Ravenna. It also has the magnificent Saint Apollinare Basilica and the Mausoleum of Theodore. The charming Dozza town near Bologna showcases the region’s wines. The biannual murals festival is celebrated in this town. The Parco del Casentino is a protected reserve located in Romagna. The castle of Torrechiara which is beautifully preserved is located near Parma. The Riviera Adriatica has various beach towns which cater mainly to the young visitors. A fascinating Ceramics Museum is present in Faenza. Various beautiful hill top villages and towns can be discovered between Florence and Forli like Bagno di Romagna, Castro Caro Terme, Modigliana, Rocca di San Casciano, Tredozio and Portico di Romagna.
