Require some expert Emilia Romagna, Italy planning tips

[justme_francesca]

Buongiorno

I am in the planning and research stage of traveling to Emilia Romagna, from March 11-21, 2027.

My good friend and I were planning on basing our stay in Bologna for trip, as train travel through this region, and to base location in Bologna, has been reported to be highly positive from the information I've gathered so far.

My dilemma is, now I'm thinking we need to change our base location, because a very important trade fair is happening in Bologna on the last 4 days of our planned vacation (Cosmoprof). The pricing for accommodations during this time, have now doubled if not tripled, and this does effect our budget.

I'm now thinking of Modena for our base stay. Thoughts anyone?
I'm not able to get useful information online so far, and will Modena train station still serve our needs to complete day trips?
Everything online, is saying Bologna is best suited due it being centre hub, and huge train station.

We are ladies in our 50's, fit and active. Enjoy culture, trying new experiences and are foodies. Myself, I have been to Italy 3 times, however, never north of Rome. This will be my friend's 1st time there, so I'd love to be able to provide her with a seamless and enjoyable experience.

What is the best and most reliable train app to download?

What is one thing I should know before traveling to this region?

How do I know which tour company or site to choose? Omg, there are so many!!
We both wish to experience a parmigiano cheese and prosciutto tour, for sure!!

What other experience would you suggest?

We are not car enthusiasts, lol, so I don't think we'll be visiting the fancy car museums.

I do plan to visit a balsamic vinegar production facility, while in Modena.

Any other information useful, I welcome the input.

Grazie mille

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

Depending on what you would like to visit Bologna and Modena could both be ok
For 10 days you could consider 2 bases for different areas (maybe Bologna before the fair starts and another one depending on the areas you would like to visit?)

 

[Ian Sutton]

Yes, the high number of conventions in Bologna can make accommodation very challenging.

Modena is good, and for the trains you want to visit Parma, Bologna, Reggio, Faenza, etc. etc. I believe you'll still have the same frequency of trains - it's when you want to use Freccia (fast inter city) trains that Bologna adopts it's role as the regional hub.

I still stand by the Trenitalia website, and presume its app is serviceable.

There is some merit in a 2 base trip as suggested by Giulia. 10 days in one place is a super way to really get to know that location, but in this situation I'd lean towards an east and a west base:

Modena for itself, Reggio, Parma and the food tours, plus Bologna
An eastern base a little tricker, with options of Faenza, Ravenna and possibly Cesena. Forli looks an option on the map, and we stayed there on the basis we've had great success with seemingly humdrum untouristy towns, but it really was humdrum, and the food rather disappointing.
However if you could arrange it so you had 5 days in Modena and 5 in Bologna, then that's probably ideal, and achieves that wonderful thing of a simple and fast transfer. It opens up an easier trip to Ferrara for instance.

I will throw Reggio nell'Emilia in as an alternative to Modena. It's a little quieter, less touristy and at least while we were there, the local council were keen on environmental initiatives. There's a nice central grassed park, and good food, plus there wasn't the everyday 'tourist tax' on sitting outside in a pleasant piazza with a coffee (I think it went from €1 'al banco' to €1.20' to sit outside.

I don't know if you're set on staying in hotels, but apartments can be a brilliant way to open up 'grazing' of the superb specialist food shops and markets, plus getting you closer to the everyday culture and interaction with local people.

For other stuff to do, Bologna's tourist office is a good active one, so have a browse or even pop into their base in Piazza Nettuno. We once did a pleasingly humdrum self guided walk to see evidence of the old canals in the city, now mostly hidden behind and beneath buildings. Its appeal was getting us to explore the suburbs of the city.

One thing to know? the old via Emilia that runs along the river Po, and the route is very flat. There are hills in the region, but that involves heading away from via Emilia, e.g. Sasso Marconi where the life of the radio started.

OK a 2nd. Lambrusco. It's a regional speciality wine, and got a horrible reputation when in screwcap and sweetened form. Good dry (secco) Lambrusco is still very cheap, and whilst on its own can be a little rasping, with cured meats, hard cheeses etc. lifts both wine and food. It is the classic 'food wine'.

I hope this helps. IMO a super region.

 

[NancyLU]

Hi. Use the trenitalia app.

We did this food tour from Bologna way back in 2012. It was great:

Italian Days Food Experience - Food & Wine Tours Bologna #1

The day begins with a morning excursion to a cheese factory where you will experience the entire production process of Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. – the KING of Cheese.

www.italiandays.it

We did this one specifically: https://www.italiandays.it/tour-item/italian-days-food-experience-bologna-day-tour/

 

[Lizth]

I would opt for Bologna and either Modena or Ferrara. If you want a lovely day trip from Ferrara, take the train (actually a bus) to Codigoro and arrange a taxi (€20) to Pomposa Abbey.
The region is filled with fascinating destinations: Parma, Piacenza, Mantua, Padova, Este…. Perhaps stay in one of these towns and go to Bologna as a day trip.

 

[justme_francesca]

Thank you everyone!
These are all fantastic tips and suggestions

 

[wco81]

Some of the cities, it’s about a kilometer between the center and the train stations. So be prepared to walk. It will cost more but I’d rather stay in the center. Italian taxis will try to charge €15 minimum for rides too.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Some of the cities, it’s about a kilometer between the center and the train stations. So be prepared to walk. It will cost more but I’d rather stay in the center. Italian taxis will try to charge €15 minimum for rides too.

The distance indeed a factor.

From memory:
- Bologna station about 30-35 mins walk from Piazza Nettuno / Le due torre, (and maybe 20-25 mins from Ugo Bassi market). Regular buses, but the one we caught was packed, so we walked every other time.
- Reggio station pretty close. Maybe 10 min walk from the centre
- Modena I think was reasonably close, maybe similar to Reggio
- Ferrara is a long walk c. 40-45 minutes from the centre. It's a moderately pleasant walk, and there are buses, or 'be like a local' and hire a bike to cycle around.
- Ravenna. About mid range walk IIRC, so c. 20 mins from the centre.

 

[justme_francesca]

Extre

The distance indeed a factor.

From memory:
- Bologna station about 30-35 mins walk from Piazza Nettuno / Le due torre, (and maybe 20-25 mins from Ugo Bassi market). Regular buses, but the one we caught was packed, so we walked every other time.
- Reggio station pretty close. Maybe 10 min walk from the centre
- Modena I think was reasonably close, maybe similar to Reggio
- Ferrara is a long walk c. 40-45 minutes from the centre. It's a moderately pleasant walk, and there are buses, or 'be like a local' and hire a bike to cycle around.
- Ravenna. About mid range walk IIRC, so c. 20 mins from the centre.

 

[justme_francesca]

Extremely helpful, thank you!
This, I was not aware of

 

[susan]

Hi justme-francesca,

It's been a while since I've been back to Italy, but I have spent time staying in both Bologna and Modena as bases during my stay in Italy. I do not drive in Italy, so all of my travel has been by train, bus, taxi and boat.

My blog has a bunch of photos as well as info about each place as well as taking day trips from both Modena and Bologna.

As Ian has mentioned, it is a long walk from the train station to the historic center. If I remember correctly, I've always taken a taxi to my hotel when arriving/departing but usually walked or took the bus to the train station for day trips. The walk from the train station to the center in Modena is not as far. I love both Bologna and Modena. If it was me, I would split my time between the two places.

One tip to add from the great info already given is to check for holidays in advance and avoid those days for train travel, especially when traveling with all of your luggage.

Here are my blog posts (old now) about Bologna.
Here are my blog posts (again old now) about Modena.

 

[Fedina]

Yes, the high number of conventions in Bologna can make accommodation very challenging.

Modena is good, and for the trains you want to visit Parma, Bologna, Reggio, Faenza, etc. etc. I believe you'll still have the same frequency of trains - it's when you want to use Freccia (fast inter city) trains that Bologna adopts it's role as the regional hub.

I still stand by the Trenitalia website, and presume its app is serviceable.

There is some merit in a 2 base trip as suggested by Giulia. 10 days in one place is a super way to really get to know that location, but in this situation I'd lean towards an east and a west base:

Modena for itself, Reggio, Parma and the food tours, plus Bologna
An eastern base a little tricker, with options of Faenza, Ravenna and possibly Cesena. Forli looks an option on the map, and we stayed there on the basis we've had great success with seemingly humdrum untouristy towns, but it really was humdrum, and the food rather disappointing.
However if you could arrange it so you had 5 days in Modena and 5 in Bologna, then that's probably ideal, and achieves that wonderful thing of a simple and fast transfer. It opens up an easier trip to Ferrara for instance.

I will throw Reggio nell'Emilia in as an alternative to Modena. It's a little quieter, less touristy and at least while we were there, the local council were keen on environmental initiatives. There's a nice central grassed park, and good food, plus there wasn't the everyday 'tourist tax' on sitting outside in a pleasant piazza with a coffee (I think it went from €1 'al banco' to €1.20' to sit outside.

I don't know if you're set on staying in hotels, but apartments can be a brilliant way to open up 'grazing' of the superb specialist food shops and markets, plus getting you closer to the everyday culture and interaction with local people.

For other stuff to do, Bologna's tourist office is a good active one, so have a browse or even pop into their base in Piazza Nettuno. We once did a pleasingly humdrum self guided walk to see evidence of the old canals in the city, now mostly hidden behind and beneath buildings. Its appeal was getting us to explore the suburbs of the city.

One thing to know? the old via Emilia that runs along the river Po, and the route is very flat. There are hills in the region, but that involves heading away from via Emilia, e.g. Sasso Marconi where the life of the radio started.

OK a 2nd. Lambrusco. It's a regional speciality wine, and got a horrible reputation when in screwcap and sweetened form. Good dry (secco) Lambrusco is still very cheap, and whilst on its own can be a little rasping, with cured meats, hard cheeses etc. lifts both wine and food. It is the classic 'food wine'.

I hope this helps. IMO a super region.

A good Lambrusco, I might add, is excellent with pizza. And, I love Parma!

 

[Fedina]

There is a so much l to do, see and taste in Emilia. Where will you be flying in and out of? We always drive, so that does change things from using trains and buses. Usually we stay near Parma with family, and outside Modena at an agriturismo - https://www.podereprasiano.com/. Amazing location one half hour from Modena and Bologna. Lovely people, but not accessible by PTransit.

The Parma area has so much to see. Parma is a walkable city with a beautiful cathedral, shopping and restaurants. The food in general in this area is very very good. Look for small local spots outside the main areas. Ask what the "tipico"/ local specialty is and don't be afraid to try something unusual. There are usually many food markets and festivals in the Parma and Modena areas that you could research and try to attend. Great fun.

I love castles and there are many in this area. A couple of my favorites are Fontenellato and Vigoleno. So, if you choose to get off the beaten path there are a few not far from the highway. Not too far east of Parma is Fontenellato, a castle with a moat and museum - it's small, but interesting historically. It was used by the Germans as a prison during WW2 (the Nazi's were embedded in this area and the locals suffered dearly). There used to be a wonderful antique market at Fontenellato on certain Sundays. Check this website if you're interested. https://en.zerodelta.net/antiquary_markets/mercatino-dellantiquariato_fontanellato.php. Vigoleno Castle is lovely and set in the beautiful hills west of Piacenza, but still in the Parma region. https://www.visitvigoleno.it/. Some years there are concerts or operas performed there.

The area is flat and agricultural. This hills are further west. If you can, take a tour of a parmigiano cheese factory. Your B & B or hotel should be able to help with this. It's been many years so I can't recommend one myself. There's also the Antica Corte Pallavicina, an upscale farm stay and restaurant, on the River Po, that was portrayed on Anthony Bourdain's program, which produces "culatello di Zibello", an expensive variant of prosciutto. (You should be able to find it on Youtube)
https://www.anticacortepallavicinarelais.com/
https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/restaurants/antica-corte-pallavicina
Another small, but lovely city you could visit via train is Cremona with it's 90+ luthiers and small but excellent museum. It's northeast of Parma. My husband plays violin, so we found it fascinating to see Stradivarius' tools, patterns etc. Sbrisolina is a sweet treat common to this area. Look for it, you won't be sorry. https://museodelviolino.org/en/?lang=it. https://www.turismocremona.it/en/museums-cremona

Just a few things to consider if you plan to stay near Parma. But don't push yourselves, over plan your time or spread yourselves too thin. Enjoy your trip!