Celebrate The 80th Anniversary Of UNESCO In Emilia Romagna

Italy’s Emilia Romagna offers a wealth of UNESCO-inscribed properties that preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage and offer visitors opportunities to immerse themselves in this legacy.

UNESCO World Heritage Ravenna Basilica San Vitale, one of the most important monuments of Christian artEmilia Romagna Tourism/WALTER FERRETTI

The Emilia Romagna region in northern Italy is a perennial favorite of travelers interested in history, art, and architecture.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of UNESCO, a United Nations agency dedicated to preserving the world’s cultural and natural heritage. An essential part of the agency’s mission is to promote sustainable tourism.

The Emilia Romagna region has 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in total, among Italy’s 60 inscribed properties. The sites in the cities of Bologna, Ferrara, Modena and Ravenna are probably best known.

But other UNESCO-recognized treasures of Emilia Romagna showcase the region's contributions to music, gastronomy, philosophy, literature, natural heritage and more.

Follow The Old Roman Road

A road trip on the Via Emilia is a great way to visit many of these sites.

The 168-mile route itself is a historical marvel of engineering. First built by the Romans in 187 B.C., it is now a modern highway (SS9) running from Piacenza to Rimini. The roads leading off the Via Emilia allow visitors to see the small towns that dot the region.

Here are some of the not-to-be-missed stops on an Emilia Romagna road trip:

Emilia Romagna’s World Heritage Sites

Ferrara and The Po Delta (1 hour, 6 min off SS9 via E45 and A13)

Ferrara, with its 15th-century clock towerEmilia Romagna Tourism/Pierluigi Benini

This Renaissance city with an intact Medieval center was inscribed in 1995 for its innovative urban planning designed by the ruling Estes family. The oversized red brick Castello Estense, now a state-owned museum, dominates the modern city. Known as the City of Bicycles, Ferrara is easy to explore by bicycle or foot.

Also not to be missed is The Jewish Museum of Ferrara (Museo Nazionale Dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah [MEIS]), a national museum that tells the 2000-year history of Jews in Italy.

The Po Delta represents Italy's largest wetland, a favorite among wildlife enthusiasts. The Delta is also known for its IGP rice production. Carnaroli and Arborio are among the varieties grown here.

Modena (10 minutes off SS9 via SS724)

Modena Cathedral and Civic TowerNacchio Bros/Emilia Romagna Tourism

Modena was inscribed for its striking Middle Age architecture, including the Romanesque Cathedral, Torre Civica (the Cathedral’s Bell Tower that serves as a city symbol) and Piazza Grande (the virtual heart of the town).

Motor enthusiasts make pilgrimages to the Ferrari Museum in Modena, located in the house where Enzo Ferrari was born, to see Formula 1 race cars up close and learn about the company’s history.

Modena is also world-famous for its high-quality balsamic vinegar and for the destination restaurant, Francescana, helmed by Chef Massimo Bottura.

Ravenna (1 hour, 21 minutes off SS9 via E45)

The golden mosaics of RavennaEmilia Romagna Tourism

The city is renowned for its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics in the Basilicas and Baptisteries of Ravenna. Eight monuments comprise the UNESCO site.

History and literature buffs will also want to visit Dante Alighieri’s tomb. The writer, poet and philosopher spent the last five years of his life in Ravenna in exile. British Romantic poet Lord Byron also spent many years in Ravenna.

The Porticoes of Bologna (53 minutes from SS9 via E45)

More than 38.5 miles of picturesque porticoes showcase the city’s commitment to preservation.

Porticoes on Via Indipendenza in BolognaEmilia Romagna Tourism

Other Cultural and Natural UNESCO Sites in Emilia Romagna

The Malatestiana Library in Cesena

This public library in Cesena, a treasure trove for scholars, is recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World. Its holdings include legal, medical, scientific, literary, theological, and philosophical works as well as 14 Greek codices and seven Hebrew ones.

Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines

Comprised of a landscape of over 900 caves, hikers often explore this natural site. Created by thousands of years of water erosion, it is one of the best-preserved evaporitic karsts in the world.

UNESCO Creative Cities: Bologna, Parma and Modena

Bologna, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, has a rich musical heritage and vibrant contemporary musical scene. The city is home to the International Museum and Library of Music of Bologna.

Parma is recognized as a City of Gastronomy, nestled in the heart of Emilia Romagna’s food valley. It is known worldwide for its culinary namesakes: Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Proscuitto di Parma cured ham.

Modena is designated a City of Media Arts for its prominence in cultural and media services industries.

Natural Attractions

Nature and wildlife lovers will appreciate two other UNESCO-recognized attractions, the Parchi Geologici dell’ Emilia-Romagna and the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano Biosphere Reserve.

Emilia Romagna: Towards Sustainable Tourism

Aerial photo of Parco Regionale dei Gessi BolognesiEmilia Romagna Tourism/Francesco Grarioli

The Emilia-Romagna region plays a pivotal role in the UNESCO mission. It serves as a living testament to how the harmonious integration of heritage, nature, and creativity can pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.

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Luxurious Modena, Italy: Home To Ferrari

A short distance from Bologna is the distinctive small town of Modena. Located on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena, in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy, the city proudly offers visitors the Ferrari Museum and some of the most unique shops to be found in the entire country. The city has a history and culture that is frequently overlooked because of the larger, higher profile city of Bologna. Do not be misled by publicity hype! Modena deserves your attention!

Big on Education and History

The University of Modena started in 1175, was expanded by Francesco Il d’Este in 1686 and is the second oldest athenaeum in Italy. The Italian military officers are trained at the Military Academy of Modena and utilizes space in the Baroque Ducal Palace. In addition, the Torre della Ghirlandina and Piazza Grande were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1997. Culture seekers will find Modena significant as it is the home of operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Mirella Freni.

Luxury. Enzo Ferrari Museum

Modena is an ancient town that is known for its automotive industry and it includes factories for the manufacturing of famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati. One of the Ferrari cars, the 360 Modena, was named after the town.

The Museum shares the story of Ferrari past and present. Czech architect and Future Systems founder Jan Kaplický designed the museum which includes two buildings: One is the early 19th century former home and workshop of Ferrari’s father that was renovated to maintain a 40-metre gallery, the second space is a glass fronted structure that curves around the original building. The new non-linear structure has a streamlined yellow aluminum roof that matches the color of the Ferrari logo and features sliced incisions intended to resemble the air intake vents on the hood of a car.

Extraordinary Shop

• Handmade Leather Bags/Belts. La Vacchetta Grassa. Corso Canalchiaro 42/44

If you think you have found leather nirvana with a Gucci or Prada, it is time to review your decision. The home of handcrafted leather products is based in Modena, and shopping in this unique old-world traditional workplace is worth the trip. The retailer/shop is located in a beautiful historic building steps away from Piazza Grande. The owners have been producing handmade belts, bags and wallets for over 35 years by using 100 percent natural skins that are processed using an ancient vegetable tanning method that dates back to the Middle Ages. The products are of the highest quality, available in cowhide, crocodile, eel, Galuchat (untanned leather with a granular surface – often dyed green), or python and available for purchase in the shop located on the workshop’s ground floor.

• Original Balsamic Vinegar. Villa San Donnino, Strada Medicina n. 25

If you thought the stuff purchased in the local grocery store or offered at restaurants was Balsamic Vinegar, you may be incorrect. The REAL Balsamic Vinegar, made in Modena, is aged for a minimum of 12 years. For the gourmet palate experience, plan on spending $100 – $400 for a very small bottle.

The traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is produced from cooked grape must ripened by slow acidification due to natural fermentation and progressive concentration through a long ageing process in a series of various wooden casks with no aromatic substances added. The must comes from crushed Trebbiano, Lambrusco and other Modena grapes.

The grapes are pressed and the separate uncooked grape juice or “must” is poured into open cooking vats. It is then boiled over an open fire where it is reduced and slowly concentrated. Boiling evaporates a variable quantity of water and devitalizes the microbe load present at the start of the must causing it to lose its natural tendency to transform into wine.

The cooked must is dark, distinctly tasty and perfumed with an elevated sugary content. After boiling, it is cooled, decanted and placed in a series of casks of decreasing volume and different wood (oak, chestnut, mulberry, cherry, juniper, etc.). Each series of individual casks is called a “battery,” and left in the lofts of houses where it is subjected to seasonal temperature variations. The product is protected by The Consortium of Producers of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Each individual bottle is numbered.

Balsamic Vinegar has been used for centuries in the cuisine of Modena with meat and boiled vegetables and eggs. Tradizionale di Modena is also used on raw and cooked fish, meat roasts and casseroles.

• Jewish Synagogue

Jewish residency in Modena dates back to 1025. Loan officers and bankers from Perugia, Rimini and Fermo developed Modena in 1393 where they enjoyed the protection of the House of Este, rulers of Modena, in tandem with Ferrara. When the Jews were removed from Bologna (1569), and the loss of standing of Ferrara (1598), Modena became the capital city of the Duchy of Estense, and Jews moved to this locale.

The Jewish population expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries. The dukes considered favoring Jewish settlement and development as beneficial to the state for economic reasons. However, there was a ghetto formed (1638-1859) and Inquisitional controls were implemented.

The current Synagogue (viewed by appointment) was built by the Jewish Community of Modena in Lombardesque style and inaugurated in 1873. It was designed by architect Ludovico Maglietta and has a double façade in Via Coltellini and Piazza Mazzine. The interior was decorated by Ferdinando Manzini.

Located next to the Palazzo Comunale, the synagogue is located inside the area that comprised the city’s ancient Jewish ghetto.  This city has been a principal center for Italian Jewry and a seat for Kabbalistic study.

Getting to Modena

Modena is approximately 30 minutes by car from Bologna and an easy commute by rail. From the train station, a short walk brings visitors to the historic center of the city and the Enzo Ferrari Museum

For additional information: Modena Italy office of Tourism.