Bologna of Emilia Romagna

The Emilia Romagna region of Italy is known for their food. When you ask an Italian which region has the best food of Italy, they confidentaly say Emilia. It’s easy to claim that title when it’s home to Prosciutto di Parma, Balsamic, Parmesan, plus more. We had to fill our tummies with their proud food offerings and taste for ourlseves to judge 🙂

We spent 1 week in Bologna city. Most people pass by Bologna quickly while enroute to Venice. We stopped over a few smaller cities in the area via fast train and tried their dishes. They all have their own specialties despite most are less than 1 hour between them. The food map below shows where most Italian ingriendients come from.

Bologna is home to Mortadella (not bologne) and their pasta is Tagliatelle Ragu (not spaghetti bolognese). Although they do put spaghetti bolognese on the tourist menus since it’s often requested assuming it’s their local dish.

From the photos below, it’s clear that food is why you come to Bologna/Emilia Romagna. There are historical sites to see but clearly we spent more time with our taste and smell senses intsead.

Our favourite deli shop. They had this at front to show the food from each city.

Fresh pasta with speck and asparagus. – Bologna

Tagliatelle Ragu – Bologna.

Ferrara day trip – They are known for their tortellini stuffed with pumpkin. So lucky we stumbled to this cafe – Pumpkin Tortellini with butter sauce. It tasted like our Cactus Club – Butternut Squash Ravioli but more fresh and homemade.

Tagliatelle Funghi

Very locals bar in Bologna. We went to a deli, he told us to go here with your deli purchases. This bar provides the drinks, you bring your own food. We ended up sharing food and table with a local couple. They offered their wine to us first as soon as they sat down.

Ferrara Cathedral (Italian: Basilica Cattedrale di San Giorgio, Duomo di Ferrara)

Our day trip to Ferrara. Home of Pumpkin types of pasta. Locals use mostly bike to get around.

Ferrara – piazza comunale

Biking around old city wall of Ferrara

The two towers in Bologna.

Streets of Bologna. Arched walkways are common.

Pecorino – Sheep’s milk cheese.

The famous Parma ham is in Emilia region

Bologna food streets

This was dinner at home, all ingredients from their deli and farmer’s shop

Ghirlandina is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Initially called Torre di San Geminiano, to compete with Bologna’s towers.

Pumpkin soup with garlic chips and peacans. – Modena restaurant – Franceschetta58. The more casual/economical sister restaurant of Osteria Francescana. The #3 restaurant in the world from San Pellegrino top 50 list.