Bologna may be the capital of the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy, but Modena is the motor capital of the region. Ferrari, Maserati and Pagani call the area home. It is also nicknamed the “Capital of Taste” because balsamic vinegar is brewed here in several locations.

Known for its lovely parks, architecture and ties to French rule, Parma is nicknamed “Little Paris.” But it is also known as “La Città della Gastronomia” to honor it as the home base of world-famous foods like Parmigiana Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. It is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Our next blog will cover the food adventures and cuisine of the region.

Ravenna is nicknamed the “Capital of Mosaics.” It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its amazing collection of early Christian and Byzantine mosaics.

It you are starting your regional adventure in Bologna or Modena, GetAway Travel is ready to help plan that perfect trip.

Motor sports and more in Modena

 In addition to it rich automotive heritage and ties to some of the most exquisite balsamic vinegar in the world. Modena is a city with stunning architecture. Piazza Grande, also known as Piazza Roma is the city center and here you can find Modena Cathedral and Ghirlandina, both UNESCO Heritage Sites.

The cathedral is known for its Romanesque architecture and intricate carvings. Inside are beautiful frescoes as well as a lovely mosaic near the altar and an intricately carved pulpit. The outside is equally compelling. The external arches create a dynamic effect and the doorway is protected by two amazing stone lions. Reliefs on the front of the cathedral tell the story of Genesis.

There are historic frescoes on the exterior of the iconic Ghirlandina bell tower adjacent to the cathedral. The panoramic views of the city from the top of the bell tower are epic, but the 293 foot climb up the narrow stairs can be off-putting.

Palazzo Ducate is one of the most important historical buildings in the city. It was the home of the Corte Estense until 1859. Amazing windows with ornamental balconies are on the front of the facade which is also decorated with statues. Spend some quiet time in the gorgeous courtyard.

Less than 30 minutes from Modena is Maranello and Musee Ferrari. See the collection of cars that detail the history of this iconic brand. The museum is divided into four areas: Formula One cars, sports cars, prototypes and Gran Turismo cars. You can book a Ferrari driving experience or a drive around the Modena racetrack in a Ferrari, but it’s a pricey experience.

The Enzo Ferrari Museum is in the Modena city center. It is Enzo’s birthplace next to his father’s restored workshop. Get a glimpse of his life, personal office, road and race cars.

Fabbrica Maserati is in Modena. This historic factory has produced cars for more than 80 years.i

The Umberto Panini Collection is where you can view his private collection of an incredible array of historic Maserati cars including rare prototypes, racing models as well as vintage motorcycles.

The Horace Pagani museum features high performance, high-end spots cars. Founded in 1992, the cars utilize advanced carbon fiber components. You can see the production area where Zonda, Huayra and Utopia models were made. As an fyi, a base Ferrari goes for between $266,000 to $500,000. If you want a Pagani in your garage be prepared to shell out at least $2.4 million. You can dream…

Parma: Art, architecture and music

 Yes, Parma is famous for prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano and a host of other culinary delights. We’ll get to that next. For now, we’ll let you know about what you can do to walk off those calories.

Palazzo della Pilotta was heavily damaged in WWII and then rebuilt. It now houses three museums, National Gallery, Museum Bodoni and the Archeological Museum. You can find art from the masters as well as specialized modern and oriental art collections.

Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Cathedral di Parma is considered a spectacular example of Romanesque architecture. The outside is lovely, but the inside is awesome. There’s a fabulous fresco showing the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels and cherubs on the dome’s interior.The Baptistery, completely covered in lovely pale pink marble that was quarried in Verona, is next to the cathedral. The exterior has some great artwork and arches as well as marble statues. Inside, frescoes cover each part of the octagon interior and there are ornate engravings.

Castello dei Burratni (Puppet Castle) is located in the historic San Paolo monastery complex. It is sometimes called the Giordano Ferrari Museum because the Ferrari family in Parma has been involved in puppeteering for four generations. The Ferrari collection in the museum has hand-carved marionettes and puppet heads. But there are more than 2,800 historical puppets, marionettes, stage props, show posters, scripts and stage backdrops on display in the museum.

The Teatro Regio di Parma opera house is one of the most renowned opera houses in Italy. It has been associated with many great composes such as Giuseppe Verdi and Gioachino Rossini. It produced four operas each season and hosts the yearly Verdi Festival.

The glorious mosaics of Ravenna

 Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century and later Byzantine, Italy. It is famous for the glowing gold and blue mosaics that have also earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Some of the most beautiful and well preserved examples of Byzantine art mosaics found outside of Istanbul are here. These intricate masterpieces of patience and art are in eight of the city’s monuments.

Golden mosaics cover the walls and ceilings of the Basilica di San Vitale. They show scenes of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia has deep blue domes scattered with golden stars. The Basilica di Sant Apollinare Nuovo was once the private chapel of King Theodoric. The tall walls of glittering mosaics show scenes from the life of Christ, rows of pictures of saints and even shipyard scenes.

Dante Alighieri’s Tomb and Museum is a peaceful respite area. This white marble monument that celebrates the father of Italian language is adjacent to the museum which provides some insight into his life.

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare is near the ancient port of Classe. The dazzling mosaics inside include scenes showing Saint Apollinaris among the green meadows.

Are you getting interested in visiting this amazing region? Wait until then next blog when we talk about the famous cuisine and food offerings of the area. Maybe you should just book a trip now…we can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel