Often overlooked in favour of its neighbour, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna is one not to be missed on a foodie's itinerary. Extending from the Apennine mountains to the Po river in the north, this verdant region is where a lot of Italy's most well-known produce comes from, including balsamic vinegar from Modena, Prosciutto, Parmesan cheese and, of course, Bolognese.
It's considered by many to be the heart of Italian food, but that's not all that's on offer here. The capital, Bologna, is filled with medieval architecture and the world's oldest university, but doesn't have the crowds that the likes of Florence and Rome attract. The train links here are fantastic and it's easy to explore the nearby towns of Parma, Modena and Ravenna which are equally as picturesque. Emilia-Romagna is also the home of the automobile and is where some of Italy's most famous car-makers are based, including Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati and Ferrari.
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Direct flights to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) are available from London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester and take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.
You don’t have to leave a tip in Italy – most Italians don’t tip for restaurant meals, bar drinks, taxi rides or hair and beauty treatments. However if you do leave a tip, you might receive quicker service.
