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Emilia-Romagna

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Emilia-Romagna is a large and wealthy region in northern Italy.

Map of region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with provinces-it
Map of region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with provinces-it

It is made of two historical areas called Emilia and Romagna. The capital city of the region is Bologna.

View from the Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna 3
View from the Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna 3

This place is very important to European culture and economy. It has a population of more than 4.4 million people. Many people visit because it is a center for food and fast cars.

Ferrari 458 Spider
Ferrari 458 Spider

The land here changes a lot depending on where you stand.

Reliefkarte Emilia-Romagna 2019
Reliefkarte Emilia-Romagna 2019

Nearly half of the area is made of flat plains. These plains were once marshlands, but people worked hard to change them.

I-RE-Brescello9
I-RE-Brescello9

Now, the plains are used for large fields of wheat and fruit. The rest of the region has hills and high mountains called the Apennines.

Alta Val Trebbia - panoramio
Alta Val Trebbia - panoramio

In the north, the Po river flows along the border.

Saline di Comacchio
Saline di Comacchio

The history of this land goes back to the time of Ancient Rome. The name Emilia comes from a Roman road built in 187 BC.

Arco d'Augusto, Rimini Italy
Arco d'Augusto, Rimini Italy

This road was named after a leader named Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. The name Romagna comes from the name for the Eastern Roman Empire.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna

Later, the region saw many different rulers. The Lombards, the Byzantines, and the Franks all held power here at different times. Even the Popes ruled parts of the land for many years.

Many famous things began in Emilia-Romagna. The University of Bologna was founded in AD 1088.

Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna
Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna

It is the oldest university in the world that is still running. Some cities like Modena, Parma, and Ferrara are UNESCO heritage sites.

This region is also where famous car makers like Lamborghini and Maserati build vehicles.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ%2C Paris Motor Show 2018%2C IMG 0656
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ%2C Paris Motor Show 2018%2C IMG 0656

If you visit the coast, you can find seaside resorts like Rimini.

Beach of Rimini (14-07-2012)
Beach of Rimini (14-07-2012)

Today, the region is a busy place for both living and working. People live in many crowded towns and large cities.

Sede regione Emilia-Romagna
Sede regione Emilia-Romagna

While many people work in factories, others work on farms. However, many small farms have been lost in recent years.

Tagliatelle al ragù (image modified)
Tagliatelle al ragù (image modified)

The region also has beautiful natural areas like national parks.

Sentieri tra le foreste casentinesi
Sentieri tra le foreste casentinesi

These parks help protect the forests and the many animals that live there.

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🖼️ Images & Media (31)
File:Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna.JPG
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna.JPG
File:Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
File:Castello_Estense_con_riflessi_-_Ferrara.jpg
Castello_Estense_con_riflessi_-_Ferrara.jpg
File:Flag of the Cispadane Republic.svg
Flag of the Cispadane Republic.svg
File:Reliefkarte Emilia-Romagna 2019.png
Reliefkarte Emilia-Romagna 2019.png
File:Saline di Comacchio.JPG
Saline di Comacchio.JPG
File:Alta Val Trebbia - panoramio.jpg
Alta Val Trebbia - panoramio.jpg
File:Sentieri tra le foreste casentinesi.jpg
Sentieri tra le foreste casentinesi.jpg
File:Sede regione Emilia-Romagna.jpg
Sede regione Emilia-Romagna.jpg
File:CESENA-3497.jpg
CESENA-3497.jpg
File:View from the Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna 3.jpg
View from the Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna 3.jpg
File:Arco d'Augusto, Rimini Italy.jpg
Arco d'Augusto, Rimini Italy.jpg

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