Emilia Romagna

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Emilia Romagna

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About Emilia Romagna

Emilia Romagna runs like a beautiful band almost all the way across Northern Italy, starting on the Adriatic coast, crossing the Apennine Mountains, reaching the Po River in the north, and almost touching Genoa on the Ligurian Sea. This is the perfect destination for a rural escape, or for an historic one, because the region is known for its fantastic produce, wonderfully historic towns and cities, and enchanting rural views. Our picks for the best places to stay in Emilia Romagna encompasses a promisingly varied range of accommodation, which includes charming, but inexpensive farmhouses-turned-argiturismos; minimalist hotels owned and designed by fashion houses; romantic B&Bs in picturesque city centres; luxuriously converted hunting lodges and former palaces; and contemporary five star hotels.

Once the great ancient Roman road, the Via Aemilia, ran through this green and gently undulating part of Italy, connecting Piacenza and Rimini, and that’s where the name came from. But us contemporary folks may know Emilia Romagna better as the birthplace of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti; and Verdi and Pavarotti too; or as the region responsible for the production of Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. Emilia Romagna also has Italy’s largest theme park; the coastline of the Adriatic Riviera; and an exceptional number of World Heritage listed churches, palazzos and other notable buildings. So the best places to stay in Emilia Romagna suit everyone from honeymooners to bucket-and spade families, or budding chefs to art historians.

The best places to stay in Emilia Romagna for foodies include Parma and Modena, and our Gurus recommend Ferrara, Ravenna and capital Bologna to anyone looking for a city break with a cultural edge. While Rimini has the beach. Emilia Romagna’s food and cars are exported, but the graceful architecture and incredible countryside require a visit, and are surprisingly little known.

The Best Places to Stay in Emilia Romagna

For a Special Occasion

Roncolo 1888 is a stunning wine and balsamic vinegar estate in Italy's "Food Valley". The historic buildings now contain a range of beautiful rooms and suites with just enough modern design alongside beautiful period features to create an elegant and sophisticated feel throughout. In addition there are lovely gardens with a pool and loungers for lazy days and a fine-dining farm-to-fork restaurant show-casing the food of the region and the fabulous wines and vinegars produced on site.
The Horti della Fasanara is a carefully renovated hunting lodge belonging to a castle estate. It has just four luxurious rooms and suites, with mezzanine levels and minimalist chic decor. Plus acres of beautiful parkland all around. Romantic and private.
Luxurious and well positioned within Bologna’s pedestrianised centre, while also being very affordable, the Hotel Corona d'Oro is a traditional choice. Its 40 rooms and suites — including some family-sized suites — are dressed with classical furnishings, parquet flooring, stucco work and original exposed beams. The communal spaces are even more elegantly decorated. The hotel bikes and chic bar are great extras.
The Hotel Commercianti is another charming choice within Bologna’s pedestrianised centre, which also offers the use of hotel bikes to guests. It’s a similar size to the Corona d’Ora, with 35 rooms and suites, but the decor is from an earlier era; think tiled floors, original oak beams, and frescoes. They also have a couple of family-sized suites. What the Commercianti doesn’t have is a restaurant, but they do lay out a very hearty breakfast, and run cooking classes.
The Hotel Rua Frati 48 is another centrally located hotel (in Modena this time), offering a collection of 30 extremely spacious rooms and suites, decorated with traditional details like beautiful parquet floors, frescoes on the ceilings, wood panelled walls, and marble fireplaces. The romantic restaurant is known of its local cuisine, and intimate atmosphere, and there’s a sleek bar and welcoming spa onsite too.

For a Beach Break

Carducci 76 is a chic beach hotel choice, just along the coast from Rimini in Cattolica. This makes its level of chic more affordable, and as it's owned by the Ferretti fashion house, it’s quite a high level of chic! The 38 rooms and suites offer classic minimalist monochrome, with plenty of space and huge bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant, and the fashion house owns another seafood restaurant next door. We rate the spa too.
The I-Suite Hotel is right in amongst Rimini’s buzziest beach spots, an ultra-cool contemporary hotel with a space age vibe, white décor and huge windows. There are 54 rooms and suites, and our Gurus recommend you make sure yours has a balcony, because the sea views are stunning. Expect DJ sets and hip events poolside, and in the bar, plus a friendly restaurant specialising in local cuisine.

For a City Break

The Hotel Touring offers stylish yet unfussy accommodation almost hidden along a quiet street right around the corner from some of Bologna’s most historic vias and piazzas. The 38 rooms and suites are compact but very well thought out, some of the single rooms have private balconies and even space for a double bed. One of the hotel’s nicest features is its roof terrace with a view — and a hot tub.
Vittorio Veneto 25 is a six room hotel on the site of Modena’s former city walls, right on the edge of the oldest part of town. The property itself is a charming townhouse, beautifully restored and updated, so that its six rooms and suites offer contemporary style in a warm palette of deep greys and pastels. Our Gurus like the lighting and small, private balconies overlooking the oldest part of town. Some of the suites are suitable for families too.
The Hotel Porta San Mamolo is only a few minutes outside the centre of Bologna, and offers more traditional Italian hotel decor in its 28 spacious rooms: think feature wallpaper, exposed beams, and elegant lighting. Our Gurus appreciate the buffet breakfast, courtyard garden, and hotel bikes to borrow.

For Historic Emilia Romagna

I Portici is an elegant, all-round choice, with a grand grey and pink facade complete with the portico arcades Bologna is known for. The scale of the public areas is as grand as the facade, and the 89 rooms and suites are of a good size, with a choice of room styles and decor in minimalist pale greys and neutral shades. Our favourite rooms have small balconies overlooking the Via dell-Indipendenza. There are two restaurants, one with a Michelin star.
The Hotel Annunziata is a design hotel perfectly situated within Ferrara’s pedestrianised area, just a short stroll from the city’s main sights. Its 27 rooms and suites offer contemporary design in a historic setting, with simple decor; the best enjoy castle views. The hotel has a fleet of bikes if you want to expand your radius for exploration.
The Salotto delle Arti is a 19th century townhouse in Modena, with five elegant guest rooms featuring original details — like frescoes, parquet flooring, and open fireplaces — to which they’ve added plush linens, chandeliers and stylish antiques. Romantic and opulent.

For Families

The Locanda Antiche Macine is an eight room property, cleverly converted from an olive mill built in the 17th century. Accommodation is in rooms, suites and self-catering apartments, so this is an easy choice for groups and families as far as space is concerned. It also has lovely gardens, with a pool and tennis courts, and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. The friendly restaurant is known for its local specialities, and they offer cooking classes if you want to take a recipe home with you, and wine tastings. Great value too and a short drive to the coast.

For Romantics

The Antico Borgo di Tabiano Castello is a wonderfully romantic castle-hotel nestled in the hills just outside Parma. The castle has 40 elegant rooms and suites, all individually decorated with antiques and details in keeping with the castle-atmosphere; expect exposed beams, dark wood and beautiful original floors. You will also enjoy wonderful views from the castle’s many terraces, plus a pool, a hammam, and an excellent restaurant serving local specialities.
Close to Ravenna’s Basilica, and within its network of traffic-free streets, you’ll find the Albergo Cappello, a traditional 19th Century hotel with seven romantic rooms. Each room has its own character, and features include high ceilings, frescoes, exposed beams, chandeliers and antiques. There is also an excellent, authentic Italian restaurant, and chic wine bar.
Converted from an elegant townhouse in the heart of Modena, the Hotel Cervetta 5 has just five rooms and suites, all fresh-feeling, and decorated in bright neutrals. There’s no restaurant, but they have an airy breakfast room and a chic hotel bar specialising in aperitivi-post-explorations.

For a Rural Retreat

You’ll find the Agriturismo alla Cedrara just outside Ferrara, a handsome sandstone farmhouse with eight lovely spacious rooms: some suites, some doubles and some triples. There are plenty of original features like stone floors and exposed beams, and lovely terraces opening out onto glorious gardens. Family friendly and very affordable.

For Great Value

Converted from a 15th century townhouse, within Ravenna’s pedestrianised centre, the M Club is a charming, four-room guesthouse. We like it for its original features — especially the bedrooms under the eaves — and for the care taken in decorating each of its rooms with hand-picked antiques. Perfect for anyone looking for some local Italian hospitality.
The Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati is an elegant guesthouse ideally located in the medieval centre of Parma. Its accommodation includes both hotel rooms and suites, and larger apartments, which are idea for families. Each of the 11 options has been uniquely designed and decorated, but they all have well chosen furnishings and magical views of Parma.
The Locanda del Feudo is in a small town just outside Modena. It’s been converted from a traditional house, and now offers accommodation in large suites with high ceilings, exposed beams and elegant furnishings. Plus there's an excellent traditional restaurant with an extensive wine cellar.

Best B&Bs

Santa Maria Foris is a charming B&B in the heart of Ravenna’s old town, with just six spacious rooms and suites, elegantly decorated with a contemporary, monochrome vision, against original terracotta tiles and Italian wallpaper. Each of the rooms has been individually decorated, and some have beautiful views. The location, just five minutes from the main square and the Basilica, is perfect for sightseeing.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Villa?

If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

Depending on your itinerary, you’re probably most likely to fly into Bologna Airport, or Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci international airport, but Parma International Airport is a useful hub if you don’t mind changing flights, or you’re flying internally within Italy. Bologna is on the high-speed train routes of both Trenitalia and Italo, which makes it very easy to get to from other major Italian hubs and cities It’s also fairly well connected to the regional rail network.
If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
The best time to visit Emilia Romagna depends on your itinerary. If you’re here for the beach, summer is definitely the best time — though this is also the busiest time for travel here. If you’re visiting Emilia Romagna for its historic treasures and charms, summer will be unnecessary hot and humid, with April through June offering far more pleasant weather for appreciating architecture and strolling charming old centres. Foodies will probably want to plan for September and October, when there are food festivals all over the region, and corresponding harvests. Emilia Romagna’s winter starts at the end of November and runs until March, and while winters here are comparatively mild, and you could easily do your sightseeing comfortably, during this period some businesses close. As with many Italian destinations, Christmas is a beautiful period of celebration in Emilia Romagna, but this is a quiet period to visit. Easter is very special too.

Still not sure where to stay?

You could refine your search by the kind of holiday you’re planning and consider the best places to stay in Rimini, by the beach
Or the best places to stay in Ferrara, or Ravenna which are both crammed with historic treasures.
Or for foodies, the best places to stay in Parma or Modena
Or large and lovely, Bologna
Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

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The best hotels in Emilia Romagna

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Agriturismo alla Cedrara

Ferrara

A sandstone farmhouse just outside Ferrara. Lovely spacious rooms, suites, and triples painted in creams with wooden beam ceilings, stone floors, and walk out terraces onto the garden. Good breakfasts, family friendly, and excellent value for local exploring.

Value chic - Excellent value.
Traditional
Local markets
Sights nearby

from AU$65 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees