If you like to travel off the beaten path, Reggio Emilia is definitely for you. While there are many cities in Italy I’d recommend visiting, Reggio Emilia is one where I’d also recommend living. After just spending a day here I was ready to pack my bags and start apartment hunting. It’s quaint, stylish, and sophisticated yet also very welcoming. (And how could it not be, it’s the home of fashion icon Max Mara!)
Reggio Emilia Is So Friendly!
The people are proud, yet friendly. In fact, I’d say I encountered the friendliest Italians ever in Reggio Emilia. While the area is not typically frequented by tourists, locals seem very eager to welcome visitors. One gentlemen actually stopped our group in the street and invited us into his building’s courtyard so we could admire the stone lace frescoed walls while he explained to us the history of the construction.
5 Reasons To Visit Reggio Emilia in Italy
Everywhere we went, residents were eager to say hello and share what they loved best about their city. From restaurants to try, to places to shop, and even must-see pieces of art, there was an overwhelming sense of community here. While I might divulge some great reasons to visit, I confess I’m a bit worried that big crowds would dampen it’s charm. But if you’re the type of traveler that likes to go off the beaten path, Reggio Emilia is definitely for you. Here are the 5 reasons to visit the charming Italian town of Reggio Emilia.
1 – REGGIO EMILIA’S HISTORY
Did you know that Italy’s tri-color flag was first adopted in Reggio Emilia? There is the “Tricolore’s Room” in City Hall and a small museum where you can learn about how the flag was chosen to represent the Cispadane Republic in 1797 (60 years before Italy became a country). Another fun fact for you, all of these little cities such as Reggio Emilia are 30km apart because that is how far a Roman soldier could walk in a day.
2 – FOOD
Reggio Emilia is known for producing Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar, but I also recommend tasting their herbed pumpkin ravioli when you find it on a menu. For lunch, try Ristorante il Pozzo. Their outdoor courtyard is quite enchanting and their selection of pastas and wine will have you wanting to stay all afternoon.
Walking through the streets you’ll also find countless bakeries luring you in with fresh made sweets. There’s also one of the most creatively inspiring coffee shops I’ve ever visited along Piazza Fontanesi. It’s easy to find because of it’s name, Caffe Fontanesi.
3 – ARTS
Valli Municipal Theatre is simply breathtaking. If you have the opportunity to see a concert, ballet, or opera live within these historic walls, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Elaborate frescoes adorn the ceiling, the main stage curtain is painted, and the gilded box seats with their crushed red velvet chairs will have you applauding with excitement even before the show has started.
Another point of interest is The Maramotti Collection, a contemporary art exhibit in the historic factory of Max Mara. Entrance to the museum is free, but you must make an appointment.
4 – EDUCATION
If you google “Reggio Emlia,” the first couple of results in your search are likely to be about a method of education. That’s because the region is famous for it’s philosophy of teaching that focuses on encouraging children to explore what interests them rather than what is required or needed. While standing in line at customs during a flight back to the US, Pete and I actually struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler who was a teacher heading back to Oregon after studying the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy. Small world!
5 – BICYCLES
Being the wife of a hobby cyclist, I was very impressed with the bike culture here. It seems to be the preferred mode of transportation, whether pedaling something sporty or stylish. If you feel like going for a ride or just a stroll around town, Reggio Emilia has the longest city bike trails in Italy. I couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the beautiful bicycles. Take a look …
Need a guide while you’re there? If you’re not fluent in Italian, I recommend it. You’ll get so much more out of the experience.
Looking for a place to stay in Reggio Emilia, Italy? Here’s a video hotel review I took during my stay at Albergo de Notarie in Reggio Emilia for the Lambrusco Festival. It’s located right in the historic center of town and is walking distance to shops and restaurants. Take a look inside my hotel room in the video below.
Disclosure: My apartment in Bologna was provided by the Emilia-Romagna Tourism Board as part of the #BlogVille campaign created by iAmbassador. As always, my thoughts, opinions and enthusiasm for travel and food are entirely my own.
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O I love the area in Italy. We’ve been there a couple of years ago but only passing through. We wanted to visit the parmiggianno factory but I’m not sure where we ended up as the place looked positively scary and closed so we moved on. We have a habit of picking the wrong days for things like that. But definitely on the list to go back with a proper preparation!
Simone,
Definitely go back and check it out. Especially the Parmigiano factories. They have a cheese festival in September which isn’t so much an “event” as it is a time when all the factories stay open and welcome visitors. It’s fascinating to see them pull up a big ball of cheese out of the milk and then press it into a mold.
Also, I LOVE YOUR BLOG! I followed your link back and I think we are kindred spirits. The Netherlands has the best peanut butter in the world. There’s nothing like Calve. 🙂
Keep in touch! And happy travels!
There isn’t only one Parmigiano factory, as the cheese is made in many different factories. Each one is owned by different people and they get the milk from different farmers. However, as the cows, the grass fields and the recipe are pretty much the same, the resulting cheese is always, incredibly good. 🙂
Parmesan cheese is produced every day early in the morning, since it is composed by the evening milk with the early morning milk. I think you can visit any ´Casello´and ask to see the production .
The average place of production of Parmigiano Reggiano is a caseificio, locally named casello, where a casaro (literally “the man of the casello”, but cheesemaker explains better) has between 4 and 8 “bells”, as we call the big copper containers where this cheese is made. Each bell gives two wheels a day, so the average output is really at artisanal level. Look up for the hill area or mountain ones, and don’t forget Vaccfhe Rosse (red cows) an ancient breed found only in the Reggio Emilia area. Richer milk giving a richer Reggiano, expecially when aged over 24 months. One of my favorite ones now is from castelnuovo ne’ Monti, the maintown of our southern province, the mountain zone in the Apennines.
I like paneer rather than cheese
Dear Simone,
as Maurizio quite rightly pointed out the making of Parmigiano Reggiano takes place early in the morning and it is strongly recommended to make arrangements with the factory beforehand. I agree with Villi on Parmigiano Reggiano ‘di montagna’ (literally from the mountains, although they are rather hills) having an ‘edge’. A fair and competition of selected producers from the region takes place in Casina, Reggio Emilia, the first week-end of August. One of the Casina Cheese factory even won a World Cheese Award in 2013!
Despite being often called Parmesan, the king of cheeses was actually first manufactured in the lands of Benedectine monks in Bibbiano, now Reggio Emilia but then under the Parma’ bishopric. Feel free to contact us, Italian Unplugged Tours for further info or to arrange a visit to a ‘casello’.
Hi Rachelle!
I’m going to Italy for first time in May and Emilia Romagna is definitely on my list. Like you, I love authentic local food and I cannot wait to experience all the amazing regional specialties of this overlooked part of Italy. I was thinking of staying in Bologna but Reggio Emilia is now in my radar. Do you have any recommendations on which would be the best neighborhood to stay at?
I’ve been blogging (semi-privately) since 2008 but now just mustered the courage to make an effort to make my writing more public. I travel as much as my lifestyle would allow (I have a day job..) but traveling is one of my most sincerest passions. If you have any helpful advice on how to bolster readership on my blog, I would appreciate it. I just don’t know where to start!
Cheers!
Trish
Hi Trish! I’m from Reggio and I’m glad to give you recommendations if you want (sorry for my english if you find an error)
Hi Annalisa, yes please! Maybe you can teach me Italian. I would need it!
Hi Annalisa,
I would love to visit as I am researching my family history as my Nonna was from Reggio before moving to Australia. I never knew much about my family in Italy and whether I have any relatives in Italia still.
I write a blog on food and coffee in Australia and I am trying to research the food my Nonna cooked for us… I would love to know more about the coffee, food and it’s people… Email me if you want to have a chat :)))
Alice, feel free to contact me as well (I was Rachel’s ‘guide’ in Reggio Emilia).
Hi my daughter is staying in Reggio Emilia for 4 months studying abroad. Can you recommend some inexpensive eateries as she is on a budget. And places to shop for groceries. Thank you so much!
How exciting!
I lived in Bologna for two summers in a row, and we’d always pick up groceries at a place called Coop. The prices were reasonable, and while it was a bit smaller than the big stores we’re used to in the US, they carried a lot of the same staple items. One thing she should know is that typically you have to bring your own grocery bags. Some might offer plastic bags, but there’s typically a small charge.
Hi Rachel,
I am moving to Reggio Emilia for the first time to work there. Do you recommend living in the Centro Storico or in the suburbs? I also am a runner and cyclist.
That’s a good question! As a tourist, I really liked being in town to I could walk to everything. I saw quite a few people on bikes and there seems to be a pretty good trail system to get around. I think it depends on your preference. Parking is definitely easier outside of Centro Storico if you have a vehicle (and you might want a car to get around to see other neighboring towns too).
Feel free to contact me on Facebook (click on my name for the link to my page) and I’ll try to help you 😉
one less known thing: the ice cream. It’s seriously great (I don’t know why, it’s not an ancient tradition but the average level is seriously great and some makers are totally top class!) 🙂
If you’re visiting Reggio Emilia, the best gelateria to go to (in my opinion any way!) is “K2”, it’s amazing and I found that the portions seemed to be the best there too. You’ll find it on Via Guido da Castello, not far from the main cathedral square. I was lucky enough to work only a 2-minute walk away… even in Dec/Jan we got ice cream in our lunch break pretty much every day! 😀
We are from Reggio Emilia and we are happy to read this post on the city, which is exactly how we feel about it. If you guys happen to be in town, please let us know and we will be happy to meet you for a glass of Lambrusco and gnocco fritto.
Per favore!
Hello there we are coming in July. We are staying by the seaside for a few days but I wanted to see more and after searching and reading the article and this blog I’m in love with Reggio Emilia already!!! It would be fantastic to meet up with locals from there!!!
I’m from Reggio Emilia, and I love this article 🙂
Italians in reggio emilia are friendly?? Not at all!!!
I´m from Reggio Emilia, but I´m living in Brazil. When I can I always go back to my hometwon, I miss its lifestyle, its food and wine and of course my family and friends ! Check the hills south of Reggio Emilia as well, nice landscapes e good food , too!
Rachelle Lucas is accurate in her depiction of life in Reggio Emilia. I have been a student at Reggio Lingua for the past four years. I am going back this July: this will be my third year in the Homestay program. Total immersion has facilitated my learning of the Italian language. The people are inviting, the food excellent, the sun is hot, the air is humid, the art is breathtaking: this is Italy!
You can write many other beautiful things about our city, as well as all those who read here. One of those is that in Reggio Emilia is there one of the best music schools in Italy: the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali “A.Peri-C.Merulo”, in which you receive a high level of artistic training that is shared with the territory through concerts and public events throughout the year.
If you so liked Reggio Emilia, try Parma which is all that and some more…!!
Ma vai a cagare te e Parma .
Yes, but unfortunately people are not so welcoming and friendly.
Well, someone from Reggio Emilia found your article and shared it on facebook. As a result, many of our proud citizens (including me) are coming here to read and find out what you’ve written about our beautiful city.
To those who ask where to stay at, I’d recommend staying in the city center if you plan to stay only a couple of days, as the city isn’t that big and there are a few really comfortable and beautiful hotels there. You can visit the city center simply by walking or getting a bus (cabs are pretty expensive in Italy) if you want to move to the suburbs. If you are planning to stay more than 2 days and have a car, pretty much all the neighborhoods outside of the city center are good. The most beautiful villages, however, are on the nearby hills: Albinea and the sorrounding areas, especially, will give you a good panorama of our beautiful land and are 15 minutes away from the city center, by car.
Feel free to contact me on Facebook if you need further information, I will be glad to help. 😉
Amazing post! It’s so rare to read about our city! If anyone is in town and want some company or advice I’ be glad to meet you all!
Being a proud ‘reggiana’, I have appreciated Rachelle’s article. But please be careful with ‘it’s / its’… We should learn good English from mother tongue bloggers….
Hello everyone! I’m from Reggio Emilia. Happy to help anyone who wants to visit our little and cute town!! 😉 you will be in the hearth of Parmigiano Reggiano, Lambrusco, Balsamic Vinegar, Erbazzone!!! don’t forget to take a look at Pietra di Bismantova!!! a brathtaking rocky mountain also described in Dante’s Inferno!!!
Andrea
Hi, i’m from Reggio Emilia and I’m very proud to read such things! Great article. Let me give you just an advice: if you are coming by plane you can land in Milan, Bologna or Parma and reach Reggio by train in few minutes.
Another point of interest is the European Photography Week who thake place in April along the streets and building of the city. Don’t forget to visit the artists ateliers on “via dei due gobbi n.3”
See you!!
Hallo!
Visit http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/browse/reggio%20emilia?projectId=made-in-italy&v.refine&hl=it and you’ll find Reggio’s excellences choosen by Google’s Made in Italy on Google Cultural Institute !!!
Hi! We are from Reggio too and we are glad to welcome everybody who wants to spent a nice day on a bycle 😉 eating erbazzone and zuppa inglese. Slurp
Matteo e Silvia
I’m from Genoa, I live and work in Parma but I LOVE REGGIO EMILIA ;-)!
I wrote a few lines yesterday. I am wondering what is the reason for excluding it.
Please respond!
Was an exchange student in Italy for two months, lived in Reggio Emilia. Absolutely incredible place, I want to go back and live there permanently.
In love with erbazzone, in love with the people! So kind and welcoming!
Within two months I felt part of the community.
Lived in Rivalta but I loved Albinea and the centre of Reggio is incredible, I could spend hours walking in circles around the centre.
Already saving up to return next December.
Bellissimo blog! Una domanda la prima foto pubblicata per Reggio Emilia a cosa si riferisce? Grazie mille !!
Il cortile privato che il gentile signore ha aperto per gli ospiti. Si trova all’angolo tra Via Fornaciari e Via Cristo.
I’m absolutely delighted by this article. I work as a tour guide in Reggio Emilia and the wonders of this little lovely place are countless….food, sights, people, shops make it the perfect hideaway when you just need to relax and enjoy life! And the town center is only the first step: you can just rent a car and in half an hour you’ll reach the sweet hills of Quattro Castella and Canossa, enjoy an amazing landscape, hike along medieval routes and obviously treat yourself with a glass of Lambrusco and those delicious “tortelli” with a Swiss chard & ricotta filling….
So if one of you guys has just fallen in love with Rachelle’s article (as I did!) and is planning to visit Reggio Emilia, just drop me a line and I’ll be more than glad to help you discover the city!
Hello Francesca we are coming in July and I’m so excited!!! We are staying by the seaside for a few nights and then I thought I would like to see more and after searching and reading this blog I fell in love with Reggio Emilia already!!! Please share any ideas what to see or what tours do you provide? Thanks Denisa
Hi
I am from India and from a historical place called Mysore.
I am coming to Reggie Emelia on the 17th of this month.
Will be there for 3 days.
Would like to visit as many places as possible.
Hi, Francesca, are you still working as a tour guide? I am planning to visit in a few weeks…
I lived in Reggio for almost three years. It is a FANTASTIC place to live and I would go back even tomorrow if I could. I also lived in Catania, but Reggio Emilia was really my home in Italy. I miss it very much and would like to visit again soon.q
I am coming to Reggio Emilia in June and was finding it difficulty getting information about the place other that the Learning approach so thanks for this article!! 🙂
Claire
Hi everybody from downtown Reggio Emilia in a mild early spring night! You make me damn proud of being a 100% pure Reggio Emilia stock.Reading these nice things about my hometown is so wonderful, after years we’ve been shadowed by nearby more tourist attracting cities like Parma for example. All the area is litterally full of natural and cultural beauties your to discover.We’re still off the beaten track and surely it worths a visit now; please don’t miss the area sorrounding the city, especially the wonderful mountains on the south.They are super natural, a real jump back in time, a trekking heaven in all seasons, but in winter be prepared for extreme weather!
Should you come to visit Reggio, let me know and we’ll have a coffee together and some “get aquainted” tips…….obviously for free!
Thanks for spending the time visiting, understanding, and writing about the wonderful city of Reggio Emilia! I completely agree with you! I fell in love with a wonderful man from the city of Reggio almost 10 years ago and have been living in his city for the past 7 years. I’m so glad that I’m not the only foreigner who has seen what a wonderful place this is!
And there’s even more. You didn’t mention our weird museums. The Natural History Museum of Reggio (Musei Civici: http://www.musei.re.it/) has all the flavor of a 19th century naturalistic approach, with features that are quite disturbing and freaky as well, in its most hidden rooms (strange fetuses and stuffed animals have given nightmares to generations of children! haha). And what about the Parmeggiani Gallery? It looks like it was built by some Gotham City villain, with all its gothic gargoyles and dark scary doorgate. It delivers the personal collection of Luigi Parmeggiani, who was some kind of adventurer in the early 1900’s. It’s packed with counterfeit paintings, fake medieval armours, etc: it’s a fascinating journey into prank, but you’ll need a guide.
For music fans: Reggio Emilia was home of the Maffia Club back in the 90s, which was a european Mecca for electronic music enthusiasts. Now it’s unfortunately far gone, but electronic music still has its way in the city through the Eleva Festival which is held in september in fascinating locations around town. At the same time the already cited town of Albinea offers a top-class jazz festival during the summer.
and … there are also many stores “would not expect” full of so many new,amazing and “different” things!!! … if you look upon beyond the traditional routes … like RE-LOFT, in via Vittorio Veneto, in the square of the Vescovado .. . just 50 mt. from H & M … Just look all-round and go beyond..!
Grazie Rachelle per le belle parole.
Alesatoredivirgole from Reggio Emilia.
Thanks for the nice words about Reggio … is everything like you said !!!
I’m genuinely from Reggio Emilia, I love my town and I think you got the right picture of it.
Thank you for sharing your experience there with the global community and please go back to Reggio Emilia as soon as you can to keep on describing its beauty.
(My suggestion: Fotografia Europea – usually the first weekend of May/ La Papilla Brilla – for food and home cook from young and talented women)
You said Reggio Emilia ? well done ! But you evvidently missed the top : Parma !
We are staying nearby in July/August – booking late we had intended to stay closer to Verona and ended up further afield with the only thing we could get. But reading this it looks like we completely hit the jackpot! So excited to be visiting!
I read your blog and wrote a reflection on it! https://www.theodysseyonline.com/giving-the-top-tourist-cities-italy-the-boot
Thanks!
Reggio Emilia is a beautiful region, with many surprising landscapes, tasty food and warm people. Your post is very good, so thank you for sharing!
Hello,
i have read every one of the above post and it has just heightened my desire to move to this little town. My husband and I visited Reggio Emilia in January 2017 and fell in love all over again. We are putting plans in place to move there in September 2020. I am currently 6 months into learning Italian language. I have contacted the Italian consulate and found out the details of obtaining an Italian Visa, making plans to rent our house (in Australia) and make the move for a minimum of 18 months with the option to stay longer. I’m not one to wish my life away…but I can’t wait
Love to connect with some ‘locals’ before hand – I’m sure we’re going to need any help that we can get setting up our new home
I’m so excited for you! It seems like a lovely little town to live in.
HEllO! We are sending 5 of our preschool teachers to Reggio as we teach the Reggio Emilia concept in our schools across the US! Do you have any tips for us that would be helpful? Thank you in advance!
Hi Genni!
How exciting for your teachers! I’ve read great things about the Reggio method for teaching. Overall, it’s a friendly town and I think they’ll enjoy visiting Italy. The whole Emilia Romagna region is beautiful and easily accessible by train, so my one tip (besides the ones listed here) would be to visit some of the neighboring towns like Modena and Bologna in-between their studies.
Every pic is very special and atmospheric, thanks for that. This summer I had a trip to Venice and that was my first time in Italy.
My husband and I will be visiting Reggio Emilia in the fall. My grandfather immigrated to the US from Castelnovo di Sotto almost 100 years ago. My father visited the Reggio area and connected with family almost 40 years ago. I’ve tried to find out if our family still exists there….any Rubizzi family out there? Laura Rubizzi of the Reggio method is a cousin and my father met with her and toured her school.