Reggio Emilia
ItalyCfa
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
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Why visit
Reggio Emilia is one of Italy's most underrated small cities. Visit the Sala del Tricolore (Tricolor Hall) inside the Town Hall where the Italian flag was born, and the Tricolor Museum next door. Wander the perfectly preserved Renaissance Piazza San Prospero with its six sandstone lions and the magnificently lopsided Romanesque to Baroque Basilica. The Calatrava-designed Mediopadana high-speed rail station (a striking ribbon of white steel waves north of town) is a landmark in itself. Eat erbazzone (a savory chard-and-Parmesan torta), Lambrusco wine, and the local tortelli verdi. Use Reggio as a base for visiting Parma's Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factories and Modena's balsamic vinegar producers.
When to avoid
Reggio Emilia is a small city without major nightlife, don't expect Bologna or Florence energy. Sundays see most shops shuttered. The Mediopadana station is 4 km from the historic center, don't get off there expecting to walk to the old town. August sees Italian holiday closures of restaurants and museums for weeks. Skip if you don't have a few days to slow down, it rewards lingering. Don't confuse with Reggio Calabria, the very different southern coastal city.
