HV1651263723
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
An infinity pool, heated all year
The Hidden Voyage guide
Emilia Romagna
The food valley of Italy and the home of Ferrari.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ideal stay
5 to 7 nights
Fly into
BLQ · PMF · RMI · FRL
Getting around
Car or driver for the countryside
Our villas here
2 private villas
Why go
Why choose Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna is Italy's food heartland: the home of Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and fresh egg pasta. Yet it is equally rich in art and culture, from Bologna's porticoes to Ravenna's golden mosaics and Ferrara's Renaissance walls. A villa in the countryside lets you combine cities, cellars and the region's famous Motor Valley at your own pace.
It suits food lovers, car enthusiasts and travellers interested in history and culture. Days revolve around markets, tastings and lunches in trattorias, with easy access by high speed train to Florence, Venice and Milan.
Ideal for: Food lovers, Motor fans, Families · Relaxed, with food and city visits
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
HV1557152267
Colfosco
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Twenty six skiers, one chalet
HV1651263719
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Your own spa, in Cortina
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
BLQ
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi
about 15 minutes by car to central Bologna, about 40 minutes to Modena
Main international gateway; the Marconi Express monorail reaches Bologna Centrale in minutes
PMF
Parma Giuseppe Verdi
about 10 minutes by car to central Parma
Small airport with a limited schedule
RMI
Rimini Federico Fellini
about 15 minutes by car to Rimini
Seasonal flights, convenient for the Riviera
FRL
Forlì Luigi Ridolfi
about 1h by car to Ravenna
Small airport, mainly European flights
- Bologna Centrale is a high speed hub: about 35 minutes from Florence, about 1h05 from Milan, about 1h30 from Venice and about 2h15 from Rome.
- Regional trains connect Bologna with Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Ravenna and Rimini.
- A car with driver is ideal for touring dairies, vinegar makers and car museums.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Bologna
Food lovers, culture
A lively university city with porticoes, markets and great restaurants.
Modena countryside
Food lovers, car enthusiasts
Villas among vineyards and balsamic vinegar lofts, close to the Motor Valley.
Parma
Couples, culture
An elegant city of music and art, surrounded by ham and cheese producers.
Ferrara
Families, cyclists
A Renaissance city with walls perfect for cycling.
Romagna hills
Privacy, slow travel
Brisighella and Dozza, with medieval villages and vineyards.
Riviera Romagnola
Families, beach holidays
Rimini, Riccione and Cesenatico, with long beaches and lively summers.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Bologna's porticoes and Piazza Maggiore
Kilometres of covered walkways, a UNESCO site since 2021. Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio are the city's heart.
02
Modena Cathedral and Piazza Grande
A Romanesque masterpiece with the Ghirlandina tower, listed by UNESCO.
03
Ravenna's mosaics
Eight early Christian and Byzantine monuments, including San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, form a UNESCO site.
04
Ferrara
The Este Castle and Renaissance streets; the city and the Po Delta are UNESCO listed.
05
Parma Cathedral and Baptistery
Correggio's dome frescoes and a pink marble baptistery.
06
Ferrari Museum, Maranello
Celebrates the history of the prancing horse near its factory.
07
Brisighella
A medieval village with a clock tower and the elevated Via degli Asini.
08
Teatro Farnese, Parma
A vast wooden Baroque theatre in the Palazzo della Pilotta.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Parmigiano Reggiano dairy visit
Watch cheesemakers at work early in the morning and taste cheeses of different ages.
Traditional balsamic vinegar tasting
Visit an acetaia in Modena where the vinegar ages for decades in wooden barrels.
Pasta making class
Learn to roll sfoglia and fold tortellini with a local sfoglina.
Motor Valley tour
Visit the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati museums.
Cycling Ferrara's walls
A leafy route around the Renaissance city.
Po Delta boat trip
Explore lagoons and birdlife in the delta park.
Outdoors
Nature and walks
Po Delta Park
Wetlands, flamingos and the town of Comacchio.
Riviera Romagnola
Long sandy beaches with beach clubs and family facilities.
Cesenatico
A canal port designed by Leonardo da Vinci, with historic boats.
Vena del Gesso Romagnola
Gypsum ridges and caves, part of a UNESCO listed karst site.
Foreste Casentinesi National Park
Ancient forests on the border with Tuscany.
Where to stay
Private villas in Emilia Romagna
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Parmigiano Reggiano DOP
The king of cheeses, aged for at least 12 months.
Prosciutto di Parma DOP
Sweet, delicate ham from the Parma hills.
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP
Aged for at least 12 years, dense and complex.
Tortellini in brodo
Small filled pasta served in rich broth.
Tagliatelle al ragù
Bologna's famous meat sauce with egg pasta.
Piadina Romagnola IGP
A flatbread filled with cheese and ham.
Culatello di Zibello DOP
A precious cured ham from the Po plain.
What to drink
Lambrusco
A sparkling red, in styles such as Sorbara and Grasparossa di Castelvetro.
Romagna Sangiovese DOC
A fruity, approachable red.
Romagna Albana DOCG
Italy's first white DOCG, dry or sweet.
Pignoletto
A fresh white, still or sparkling, from the Bologna hills.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Florence
about 35 minutes by high speed train from Bologna
Renaissance art and architecture.
Venice
about 1h30 by train from Bologna
The lagoon city.
San Marino
about 30 minutes by car from Rimini
The ancient hilltop republic.
Verona
about 1h by train from Bologna
The Arena and medieval streets.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to June and September to October.
Spring
Mild weather and green countryside. Perfect for cycling and food tours.
Summer
Hot inland, lively on the coast. Festivals and beach holidays.
Autumn
Harvest and truffle season in the hills. Ideal for food lovers.
Winter
Cold and often foggy, with Christmas markets. A good time for city breaks and hearty food.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 7 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Night low, °C | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Dry days | 26 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Bologna airport weather station. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
June to July
Ravenna Festival
Classical music and opera in historic venues.
May
Palio di Ferrara
A historic horse race with Renaissance pageantry.
September to October
Festival Verdi, Parma
Verdi's operas in his homeland.
Summer
La Notte Rosa
Music and events along the Riviera Romagnola.
Planning Emilia Romagna?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- Bologna's centre is a ZTL, and a 30 km/h limit applies on most city streets.
- On weekends and holidays, Bologna's T days close Via Rizzoli, Via Ugo Bassi and Via Indipendenza to traffic.
- Dairy visits start early in the morning, when the cheese is made.
- Book acetaie and car museums ahead, especially for private tours.
- Fog is common in winter; allow extra time for driving.
Questions
Emilia Romagna: frequently asked
Which is the best base in Emilia Romagna?
Bologna is the most central, with excellent rail links. Countryside villas near Modena are ideal for food and car enthusiasts.
How many days do you need in Emilia Romagna?
Five to seven days allow you to see Bologna, Modena, Parma and Ravenna. Add time for the coast in summer.
Can you visit a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy?
Yes, many dairies offer visits, usually early in the morning. Book in advance.
Is Emilia Romagna easy to reach by train?
Yes: Bologna is on the high speed line, with Florence about 35 minutes and Milan about 1h05 away.
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