Visiting us yu will have the opportunity to to discover beautiful gastronomic and cultural heritage Modena, Bologna, Parma, and Ferrara are renown for.
Modena
Throughout the world, Modena is renown for three different prerogatives: Ferrari cars, Luciano Pavarotti’s singing voice, and world-beloved traditional balsamic vinegar. Starting from the attics of local dwelling units where assembly lines of wooden barrels are displayed in order to be producing the thick, viscous syrup symbol of the town itself, this itinerary aims to be discovering the rich heritage of the town, having been serving as capital of its own Duchy up until 1861. Strolling down the narrow, Baroque alleys of Modena, we will be reaching stunning, all white marble-built 12th century Romanesque Cathedral, elected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Decorated with hundreds of carved capitals, carved marble reliefs and gargoyles, it’s no chance it was described as ‘a precious Bible made of pure marble’. Close to Main Square area, historical Albinelli food market will mesmerize you with the largest selection of lavish foodstuffs typical of the area, from seasonal fruit and vegetables down to cheese, hand-made pasta and sausages. Passing through ancient Jewish ghetto area, you will finally be reaching stunning, Baroque Duchy Palace of the town, one of largest buildings of all Europe, where Este Dukes ruled all over the city for more then two-hundred years, moving their precious books, paintings and antiquities collections inside of it.
Bologna
‘The learned one, the fat one, the red one’: these are three of the many prerogatives Bologna has being described with in the past. With an history spanning throughout three thousand years, the oldest University in the world – been founded in 1088 -, the longest-running porticos all throughout the world and a unique ensemble of Middle Ages towers and Renaissance palaces, Bologna offers a marvellous ensemble of lavish landmarks to be explored. From Fountain of Neptune in Main Square you shall be reaching St. Petronius Basilica, 6th longest church all throughout Europe, coming with a forest of tall cloister pillars, beautiful stained glass windows and Gothic frescos, as well as Baroque Santa Maria della Vita Basilica, having been servings as seat of mysterious Battuti brotherhood in the past, seemingly out of Da Vinci Code. Crossing so-called medieval Middle Market area, kingdom of delicatessen stops offering the largest selection of local delicacies like Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto and hand made pasta, further stop will be arranged at Renaissance Archiginnasio Palace, first campus building in the world and first unified seat of Bologna University, finally reaching the one thousand years old Two Towers, symbol of the whole city and of the many bloody political struggles encompassing it, in the past.
Parma
Having been serving as refined capital of its own Grand Duchy for more then three hundred years, Parma citizens still proudly nickname their city as ‘Little Paris’. Coming with a stunning pastel buildings architecture, the city still embodies the spirit of its glory days, when Farnese and Bourbons courts chose Pilotta Palace as seat of their power, by building one of the largest Baroque court theatres of all Europe, stunning all wooden-built Farnese Theatre. Prepare yourself to be stunned by glorious frescos of local masters Correggio and Parmigianino, having been making the city one of the cradles of original Italian Renaissance style: located on an ancient pilgrim route, the Romanesque, middle ages Cathedral of the town ended up being eventually endowed with one of the most amazing set of frescos of whole Renaissance, Correggio first experimenting here in the dome area. Flanking it, all marble-built, Gothic Baptistery of the town was used in order to be conveying baptism during medieval times, when it happened only once a year, by Easter time. Close to Garibaldi Square, nowadays heart and cradle of Parma, stunning Regio Theatre hosts Verdi Festival every single year, making Parma a real capital of music. This is where Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto are original of, the city been elected as UNESCO Heritage City for gastronomy. Let yourself be inspired by the many food shops and booths all across the city, tasting and treating you with these delicacies!
Ferrara
Right on the border of Po river, elected UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Ferrara is one of the original cradles of Italian Renaissance style. Having been serving as capital of Este Duchy for over three hundred years, the city hosted one of the most-refined, culturally advanced Renaissance courts of all Italy, hungry for humanities and arts, competing with Florence for splendour and luxuries. Still nowadays, the city looks like a stunning, 16th century, Renaissance town, whose architecture and peculiar lifestyle will be seducing you. This is where modern urbanism was first invented in 15th century: from Diamonds Palace, core and centre of the Renaissance-designed district of the town, you shall be reaching stunning 16th century Estense Castle, located at the very centre of the city itself, former seat of Este court. Originally medieval fortress built to be controlling the city; this is one of the few castles of all Europe with moats still filled with water. Renaissance steeple of Gothic Cathedral tops and dominates Main Square area, heart of the Middle Ages town. Finally, by passing through narrow alleys of ancient Jewish ghetto area, having been hosting one the of most ancient Jewish communities of all Europe in the past, you shall be reaching stunning 13th century Vaults’ Street, where vaults were built to be connecting houses located on both sides of the streets, hosting shops and storage rooms of medieval merchants.
