Modern and efficient organization, integration with the agricultural hinterland which assures all the necessary products for the tourist business, and expert family management of small and average sized hotels has led Emilia Romagna to the development of important seaside resorts:
Rimini , the capital of fun on the Coast of Romagna (served by an important airport), Riccione (which is considered a more exclusive resort), Cattolica , Cesenatico, Milano Marittima, Gatteo a Mare, Bellaria-Igea Marina, Lido di Classe and Lido di Savio.
Bologna, the seat of local government and an important industrial and trade fair centre, is proud of "Piazza Maggiore" with the basilica of Saint Petronio, the town hall, King Enzo's Palace and the Fountain of Neptune, Giambologna's opera. The museums are various and the University, founded in 1188, is famous for being the first European University.
There are also other towns which are important centres of art: Ferrara is a town of the Renaissance, with its Cathedral and the wonderful Diamanti, Schifanoia, Marfisa and Ludovico il Moro Palaces; Parma is famous for the Cathedral frescoed by Correggio (Assumption of the Holy Virgin), for Parmigianino's operas kept in its picture gallery and for the Baptistery; Modena for its Romanesque Lombard Cathedral; Cesena for the Church of Bramante and the Malatestiana Library.
Ravenna was an important Byzantine centre and the capital of the exarchate and it is known for the Basilica of Saint Vitale, the Baptistery, the Church of Saint Apollinare in Classe, Saint Apollinare Nuovo, Theodoric Mausoleum and Dante's tomb.
On the shores of Comacchio ("Lidi Ferraresi") there is an important tourist centre formed by six resorts: Lido delle Nazioni (an important meeting place for lovers of air sports), Lido di Pomposa, Lido degli Scacchi, Porto Garibaldi (a point of attraction for lovers of sailing), Lido degli Estensi and Lido di Spina.
Lovers of medieval centres will enjoy visiting the Castell'Arquato , one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy and Grazzano Visconti , a medieval village rebuilt at the beginning of Twentieth Century and today the site of important shows.
Nearby we find Gropparello Castle, where your children, guided by team leaders dressed in traditional costumes, will be able to re-live the adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, "the magical life of Celtic people" or "the town at war".
Finally we suggest some important spas such as Salsomaggiore Terme , well-known from pre-Roman times, Bagno di Romagna and Castrocaro Terme.

LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
First of all the piadina , a mixture of cereal, water and lard that can be eaten with every kind of dish, the balsamic vinegar of Modena and the olive oil of Brisighella.
First course : homemade egg pasta , puff-pastry, " lasagne bolognesi" , "ravioli", "tortellini" and "the soup of passatelli" (not prepared with stock cubes, but with hen or capon broth).
Second course and cold cuts : roast sucking-pig, boiled meat, kid "alla piacentina", turkey meatloaf, croquettes of chicken; Parma ham , mortadella of Bologna, "coppa of Piacenza" (pork sausage), "zamponi of Modena" (stuffed pig's trotter),"fiocco of culatello" (a kind of ham); among the cheeses, Parmesan Cheese ,"formaggio di fossa", "grana padano", "squacquarone", "casatella" and "provolone valpadana".
Desserts : ring-shaped cake, "castagnole", "scrocadent", jam tarts, " reggio briscione", gingerbread in Ferrara, "the chiacchiere della suora" in Parma and "sfrappole" in Modena.
Wines : the most famous of Emilian wines is Lambrusco (Grasparossa, di Sorbara and Salamino), then Gutturnio, Otrungo, Colli di Parma Rosso, Bianco Classico dei Colli of Scandiano and of Canossa, Pignoletto, Albana, Trebbiano, Pagadebit and Malvasia. .

Second photo: www.ferraraterraeacqua.it