Emilia-Romagna

LIve it, this is considered one of the wealthiest regions of Italy

 

In the 10th Century, northern Italy became part of the Holy Roman Empire under the control of Otto I of Germany. In the 12th Century,k the papcy increased its infuence and the various city states started to oppose the Holy Roman emperors. The Pope formed the Lombard Leauge and the division formed: Guelphs and Ghibelines which lasted for centuries. Emilia and Romagna were ruled by papal legates. The Universityof Bologna, the oldest university in the world, was established in 1088. The unification of Itay took place and the following that the territories of Emilia and Romagna would incorporated into a single nation.

Most of the major cities, with the exception of Ferrara and Ravenna, are along the ancient Roman via Emilia. It travels from what is now Piacenza to Rimini.

Travel + Leisure, in one of its 2007 issues, describes this region as being "blissfully crowd-free" as it is off the main route of art pilgrims. Again in 2009 articles call this an unfound treasure of Italy. We agree. There is much to see in this Region but it has been found.

The region has sandy beaches on its Adreiatic coast, historic cities that include Bologna, Parma, Ravenna and Modena, and large agricultural plains and forest covered mountains.