This small northern Italian city is the birthplace of Michelangelo and home to exceptional Parmesan cheese production. Its streets reveal Romanesque buildings and Renaissance art.
Reggio nell'Emilia, a city of 171,000 in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, sits between Parma and Modena. In the Sala del Tricolore, local representatives adopted the green, white, and red flag that became Italy's national symbol. You can climb the bell tower of San Prospero cathedral for city views, taste 12-year aged balsamic vinegar at local producers, or watch an opera at the 19th-century Teatro Municipale Valli.
Getting Around Reggio nell'Emilia
The city maintains 141 kilometers of bike paths throughout its streets. You can rent bikes at the main train station or several city center locations. The Pista del Crostolo, a 7-kilometer path lined with trees and parks, runs from the city center to the northern outskirts. The main train station connects to Milan and Bologna with hourly trains. Three local railway lines run to Ciano d'Enza, Guastalla, and Sassuolo.
Main Squares and Architecture
The city center follows a hexagonal layout with connected squares. In Piazza Prampolini, a bronze statue depicts the Crostolo stream, while the adjacent Broletto arcades lead to Piazza San Prospero with its lion statues. Inside the Basilica della Ghiara, you'll find Guercino's "Crucifixion" painting and frescoed ceilings from the 1600s. The Teatro Municipale Valli, built in 1857, schedules regular opera, concert, and ballet performances.
Local Food Culture
Local dairies produce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese using milk from specific cow breeds and aging it for 12-36 months. Family-run acetaie (vinegar makers) age balsamic vinegar in wooden barrels, moving it through different woods as it concentrates. Many restaurants serve cappelletti in broth and erbazzone, a spinach pie with Parmigiano crust. The surrounding vineyards produce Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine that ranges from dry to sweet.
Art and Cultural Spaces
Spazio Gerra rotates contemporary art installations every three months. The Maramotti Collection displays paintings and sculptures from 1945 onwards in a former clothing factory. At Palazzo Magnani, you'll find temporary exhibitions of photography and modern art. The European Photography festival in May places exhibits throughout the city's buildings and squares. The Aperto Festival brings dance and theater performances to indoor and outdoor venues from September to November.
Day Trips from Reggio Emilia
The ruins of Canossa Castle stand on a white cliff 20 kilometers south, where Emperor Henry IV asked forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII in 1077. Nearby, you can visit the red-brick towers of Rossena Castle and the restored rooms of Bianello Castle. The Po River towns 30 kilometers north include Boretto with its river museum, Guastalla's Renaissance square, and Brescello, where the Museum of Don Camillo and Peppone displays original film sets from the 1950s movies.
