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EMILIA-ROMAGNA

Italian region named best place to visit in Europe by Lonely Planet

The world's largest guide book publisher, Lonely Planet, released its annual list of the top ten places to visit in Europe on Monday, and an Italian region topped the rankings: the stunning northern region of Emilia-Romagna.

Published: 22 May 2018 17:43 CEST
Italian region named best place to visit in Europe by Lonely Planet
The medieval castle of Torrechiara in Parma. Photo: Maugli/Depositphotos

Long a favourite destination among travellers in the know, Emilia-Romagna has traditionally had far fewer visitors than neighbouring Florence.

Over the past few years, however, it has found its way into many a travel guide and is particularly popular with tourists seeking a slice of the 'authentic' Italy beyond the spectacular monuments and long sandy beaches of the traditional stops on the Grand Tour.

The travel guide cited the region's food as the top reason to plan a trip there, which will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Emilia-Romagna's reputation as the culinary heart of Italy.

READ ALSO: Why Bologna should be the next place you visit in Italy

It singled out four top dishes to try: Bolognese ragù, prosciutto di Parma, Modena's balsamic vinegar, and parmigiano reggiano (Parmesan cheese). 

Not on Lonely Planet's list but also worth sampling in the area are the Bolognese Mortadella sausage, the seafood on offer along the coast, and the many varieties of stuffed pasta. One dish not to ask for, however, is spaghetti bolognese, the name for the international (and inferior, if you ask an Italian) version of ragù. The Local has delved into the mystery behind the myth here.


A side street in spectacular Ferrara. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Beyond the food, the travel publisher singled out “Bologna's FICO (the world's largest culinary theme park), Ferrara's National Museum of Italian Judaism and Shoah, and Rimini's restored Cinema Fulgor” as some of the must-visit sites in the area.

Travellers to Emilia Romagna should also consider tracking down the region's impressive religious sites, from the mosaic-adorned churches of Ravenna to Bologna's San Luca Sanctuary offering panoramic views, and the wide range of architecture including Bologna's medieval towers and porticoes (covered pavements) and Ferrara's impressive castle. 

READ ALSO: Five great reasons why Parma is Italy's 2020 capital of culture

Beyond the cities, there's the Adriatic Coast to explore, and stunning off-the-beaten-track spots. Three villages deserving of a detour are fortified Montegridolfo, Bobbio – described by Hemingway as the most beautiful town in the world – and Dozza, a small village that also acts as an open-air art gallery.

 

A post shared by Milena Di Nella (@mile_di87) on May 17, 2018 at 11:24am PDT

Incredible Dozza.

Second on Lonely Planet's list of European travel hotspots was Cantabria in Spain, followed by Friesland in the northern Netherlands.

Last year, no Italian regions made the top ten, which ranked Zagreb as the must-visit city in Europe, though in its 2016 edition, Venice was named as the third best place to visit. Later the same year Lonely Planet placed the same city as a 'great value destination' – despite regular reports of tourists being ripped off by some restaurants.

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FOOD AND DRINK

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

As well as its most famous cocktails, Italy has a long tradition of making refreshing aperitivo drinks without the alcohol.

Published: 11 April 2024 12:01 CEST
Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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