When in Emilia-Romagna, definitely visit Bologna. Here you may not only enjoy the old beautiful University of Bologna but also walk through the old city, full of galleries. The total length of the covered porticos is almost 40 kilometers. The largest of them starts at Saragozza, the city gates, which were constructed in the 13th century, to the Sanctuary of Madonna of San Luka. It has 666 arches – by the number of the serpent, which Mother of God had concurred. Take a look at the two fallen towers. Asinelly and Garisenda, 97 and 48 meters high respectively, were built in the 12th century and became the two of two dozens such buildings, which remained till the present time. Previously, there were 100-180 such towers.
There are a few peculiarities of the Italians’ mentality, which you have to consider if you decide to visit Emilia-Romagna. First of all, there is a totally special attitude towards …
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Visit a 16th-century fortress in Parma. It was a defense store, a prison, and barracks. Now it consists of ditches and walls, surrounded by a beautiful park. The Charterhouse of Parma is also an impressive building of 16th-17th centuries. Unfortunately, the original building of the 13th century did not remain until the present time. The construction of Basilica of St. Mary of Steccata also dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The oldest building in Parma is definitely the Church of St. Vitale, built in the 11th century. However, some historians think it’s actually a couple of centuries older.
Modena is famous for its Ghirlandina, a belltower of the city’s cathedral. The beginning of the construction dates back to the 12th century, but it was finished later. Anyone can go up to the 89 meters and look at the city at the birds-eye-view. For the construction of the Cathedral itself they used the stones from the settlement, which lived during the times of the Ancient Rome Empire. The Cathedral of Madena is a famous monument of Italian architecture, where you can see the most beautiful 14-15th century murals. The baroque fans will be interested in visiting the 16th-century Duke’s Castle. By the way, it was built on the ground of the ancient castle of d’Este family, which had rule on this territory for almost 5 centuries. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
It should be mentioned, that the biggest landmark of the region is still its resorts. Amazingly beautiful well-maintained beaches, clean water, pleasantly warming sun – all of these …
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Ferrara will charm anyone, who likes Medieval times. The rise of the city was in the 13th-15th centuries, and you can still feel that spirit. For example, Via Delle Volte (the Street of Sets), which remained practically the same since the 8th century. By the way, this also had not been without the d’Este family’s legacy. The castle, which belonged to that royal family, was built in the 14th century and till the end of the 15th century it was a real first line of defence. Later the rulers’ residence was located here, and this tradition is still alive. Though, the part of the castle is opened to tourists, the acting city administration still sits here.
In Piacenza you will see the street design, typical for ancient Rome Empire. No surprise here – this place was a big trade centre of the region since the 2nd century BC. Visit the San Sisto Church, for which the great Raphael Sanzio had painted the world-famous “Sistine Madonna”. Though, the masterpiece was later presented to a Polish king, so now you can only see the copy here. The Basilica of Sant’Antonino is famous for its ancient history. The first building on this ground appeared in the 4th century, and in the 11th century it was transformed and is looking the same till the present time. The 13th century Municipal palace is a great example of Gothic style, and the Landi palace will show you all the details of the Renaissance architecture.
Emilia-Romagna region is literally created for fans of beach rest. Many popular beaches are large-scaled; there are lots of calm coastal areas suitable for the entire family. Rimini is …
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Ravenna also has a rich history. The 6th century mausoleum of the Ostrogoth empire’s ruler and the tomb of Galla Placidia, which was built even earlier, have still remained here. The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare has the 5-6th century murals in its décor. There are 8 unique monuments of the early Christian culture in the city, which are older than 14 centuries. Famous writers, such as Barron, Dante Alighieri, and Block, had visited the city.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Emilia-Romagna Region and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.
City tours, excursions and tickets in Emilia-Romagna Region and surroundings
Emilia-Romagna Region - guide chapters
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