7 highlights of an Emilia Romagna highway journey

Fly into Bologna or Milan to take an epic highway journey alongside the traditional Through Emilia that hosts a string of lovely Italian cities. Within the coronary heart of Emilia Romagna lies Italy’s Meals Valley. Just be sure you cease alongside the way in which for dishes and wines which have acquired worldwide acclaim.

Sizzling, scorching summers and chilly winters, with moisture trapped by the Apennine mountains, coalesce for good rising situations for meals that has turn into legendary: globally.

Michelin-starred eating places

Such is Emilia Romagna’s prominence in Italy’s gastronomic scene that Modena not too long ago hosted the Michelin Information 2025 Awards: basically Italy’s foodie Oscars. As well as, Emilia Romagna can even host the awards for 2026 and 2027.

Amongst the culinary rock stars on the awards, Massimo Bottura is a God of the trade. The success of his 3 Michelin star Osteria Francescana in Modena, generally lauded because the World’s Finest Restaurant, offers Massimo a platform to talk for Emilia Romagna and for the restaurant trade as a complete.

Awards granted by the 2025 Italy Michelin Information elevated the variety of Bib Gourmand eating places inside Emilia Romagna to 33. Excellent news for these touring the area in search of eating places recognised by Michelin as offering high quality with distinctive worth.

A spectacular panorama

Create your individual gourmand path by way of Emilia Romagna which runs from Piacenza within the west, alongside the traditional route of the Through Emilia by way of Bologna, Modena, Parma and thru to Rimini sat on the Adriatic.

Primarily, the route of the River Po, backed by the Apennine mountains to the north, is a mild panorama the place cows are milked to create huge wheels of Parmigiana Reggiano cheese.  That is Italy’s bread basket, packing the markets with vibrant contemporary produce. A land of sluggish meals, these wheels of cheese mature for years, and quick vehicles. Modena is the house of Ferrari and the Ferrari Museum. 

Pavarotti’s home and restaurant

Emilia Romagna calls for an operatic sound observe. Name in on the previous house of Luciano Pavarotti, close to Modena, to make these long-held tenor notes a actuality. A mural, emblazoned on the mansion’s wall, even bigger than the good man’s character, indicators that you’ve arrived. 

Now a shrine to the good tenor, the museum shows letters of admiration from Sinatra, Bono, Sting, Hillary Clinton, Springsteen and Princess Diana, testifying to Pavarotti’s common attraction. 

Pavarotti labored onerous for his fame, saving his voice for performances, at all times scouring phases for a bent nail that introduced good luck and dropping three kilograms each time he carried out. Past music, Pavarotti loved portray and his cookbook exhibits his love of meals. E-book a desk within the neighbouring restaurant for the whole Pavarotti expertise. 

Mercato Albinelli, Modena

Name in on the wrought iron Liberty fashion market in Modena for an artisan introduction to the meals and produce of Emilia Romagna. Stalls overflow with the produce of Italy’s bounteous bread basket.

Artisan eating places across the fringes of the market, with humble trestle desk seating provide a chalked-up intro to regional specialities. 

In addition to dishes which have now turn into international favourites, for example bolognaise and lasagne, that is the place to attempt native dishes akin to tortellini in broth. 

Parma

Allegedly, Bologna is the gastronomic capital of the world or so the locals say as they sit with an intense expresso explosion of espresso. Or look into one another’s eyes as they offer a toast with a knock of their glass on the desk, echoing “Chin-chin” earlier than sipping certainly one of Emilia Romagna’s 24 DOC wines. 

But, it’s Parma that UNESCO has given the award of a gastronomic capital: most likely for the gastronomic virtuosity of its manufacturing of Parma ham, Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, plump tomatoes and a few of these DOC wines. 

Verdi Corale

You’ll be able to’t escape from opera in Emilia Romagna, the Verdi Corale is an opera faculty for Verdi aficionados. Lunch to arpeggios and ascending scales of Verdi lovers from all around the world loosening their vocal cords for his or her favorite arias. 

Amongst the darkish wooden and eating tables of the restaurant a grand piano sits on the stage for extra tributes to the good opera composer born in Parma. 

Trattoria Amerigo 1934

Except you’re a licensed truffle hunter, with a keen-nosed Lagotta Romagna canine, appreciable expertise and a slice of excellent luck, you’re unlikely to search out your individual truffles. The following most suitable choice within the truffle nation round Savigno, within the foothills of the Apennine mountains, for tasting truffles, is to dine on the Trattoria Amerigo. 

Since 1934, the Bettini household has run this rustic-styled trattoria, the place the decor nonetheless pays homage to the Nineteen Thirties, with adverts from the period extolling Campari and Cinzano existence. 

The trattoria has simply been awarded a Michelin star for the twenty eighth consecutive 12 months. These within the know guide into one of many adjoining inn’s rooms, significantly when Savigno’s annual truffle competition comes round in late autumn.

Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by Emilia Romagna Turismo.

Michael Edwards

Michael Edwards is a journey author from Oxfordshire, UK. Though Michael had his first journey items revealed almost 4 a long time in the past, he’s nonetheless discovering new luxurious locations to go to and write on.