Emilia Romagna: history, gastronomy, and Verdi
Famous all over the world for Parmigiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma, as well as for the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi, Segmento introduces to you the region of Emilia-Romagna, a rare pearl in northern Italy.
Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, the annual Verdi Festival, and must-see wonders of Renaissance art and architecture are just a few of the delights that the Emilia-Romagna region has to offer.
Emilia-Romagna contains nine provinces, four of which are bordered by the Adriatic Sea on the eastern coast of Italy—Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Rimini. The other five, which include Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma and Piacenza, extend north-west and are land-locked—though Piacenza is only a hop, skip and jump away from the Ligurian Sea on Italy’s western coastline.
Bologna, Parma and Reggio Emilia are three prominent cities that exemplify— though not exclusively—the historical, cultural and gastronomic importance of the region. In Bologna, one can find numerous medieval palaces, basilicas and piazzas, along with the University of Bologna, founded in 1088 and recognised as the oldest university in the world. While parmigiano and prosciutto are central to Parma’s history, the city is also historically significant as the focal point of partisan resistance during World War II. Reggio Emilia, nicknamed the City of the Tricolore (three colours), for obvious reasons is the birthplace of the Italian flag.
The Italian flag was created in Reggio Emilia on 7 January 1797. During a congress proposed by Giuseppe Compagnoni, representatives from the four cities of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara met to officially adopt the red, white and green Tricolore as the national banner of the Cispadana Republic, a new state established under the protection of the French army.
The historic meeting took place in the Municipal Palace, notable for its superb neoclassical architecture. Constructed between 1772 and 1787, following a design by Lodovico Bolognini, it initially housed the general archives of the Duchy. Over time, the chamber came to be known as the Congress Room and later as the Tricolore Flag Hall. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Municipal Board and is also used for the city’s most significant civil events, which of course includes the annual anniversary of the flag’s birth.
Adjacent to the Tricolore Flag Hall is the Tricolore Flag Museum, which employs innovative historiographic methods to document the historical and political context that gave rise to the Italian flag. A visit to this museum is essential for anyone keen to discover the true spirit of the city.
To the west of Reggio Emilia lies the city of Parma, which was awarded the title of Italy’s cultural capital in 2020 and 2021, and in 2004 was the first Italian city to be recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Many Italians live by a philosophy of eating simple, natural foods grown and harvested from their surrounding countryside. In Parma, you will find many farmers that encompass this philosophy, using centuries-old traditions. Often described as Italy’s “food basket,” visitors to Parma have the opportunity to tour local farms and gain insights into the production processes of its world-renowned delicacies. Some of the farms that specialize in cured meats are home to Nera Parmigiana, an ancient and highly-prized pig breed. Parma is also home to its annual Verdi Festival. The festival features Italian opera, orchestral concerts, forums, and cultural tours. Named after Giuseppe Verdi, the most famous Italian composer of all time who performed in the nineteenth century, the festival began in the mid-1980s. Since 2007, it has been held in Parma, Verdi’s birthplace, on his birthday.
The capital of Emilia-Romagna is Bologna. Contrary to popular belief, Spaghetti Bolognese did not originate in Bologna. The locals enjoy a meaty sauce known as ragú, traditionally served with tagliatelle, not spaghetti. Another popular pasta in Bologna is tortellini, whose shape is said to have a mythological origin. While the story varies from town to town, it is commonly said that the shape represents the navel of Venus, the goddess of love. Legend has it that one night Venus came to spend the night at a local inn. While in her room, the innkeeper stole a peek through the key hole. All he could see was her midriff, but he was mesmerised. Struck with divine inspiration, he hurried to the kitchen, where he sculpted the tortellini shape to depict Venus’s navel.
Compared to other renowned regions of Italy, such as Lazio, Tuscany or Veneto, Emilia-Romagna is often under the radar for tourists. But, if you are looking for a more serene and a less crowded destination, this region may be for you. Emilia-Romagna is a treasure trove of delights in gastronomy, art, architecture, history, music, and culture—it’s Italy’s rare pearl.
Cover image: Reggio Emilia, Town Hall, Tricolore's Room
