Reggio Emilia is a very
attractive city of
Emilia Romagna located in the heart of the Po Valley on a bank of the Crostolo
stream about ten kilometers from the picturesque Apennines which offers very
suggestive landscapes and just halfway between the more famous "sisters"
Parma and Modena with whom he has often shared historical events of
relevance.
A well-known Roman
settlement in the Imperial era since 175 BC, Reggio Emilia had a
flourishing period in the Middle Ages closely linked to the Duchy of Este,
preserving today a monumental heritage of importance.
The city also becoming
well known in the late 18th century as the birthplace of the Tricolor, the place where the flag
of Italy was officially born.
In the contemporary era
Reggio Emilia has been consolidated as a very active manufacturing commercial
center for several decades ago and the food industry, although for many this
beautiful city appears as a "beautiful unknown".
The visit from the
beginning will be very pleasant coming into contact with a city with a jovial
and serene atmosphere in a very suggestive setting consisting of picturesque
alleys and streets that form a large charming medieval village developed
harmoniously around the monumental, urban nucleus.
The first salient stop I
suggest is the iconic Piazza dei Teatri, a name adopted for the
significant presence of the elegant Ariosto Theater dedicated to the great
poet Ludovico Ariosto and the splendid Valli Municipal Theater which for its refined
architectural lines is aesthetically, unquestionably among the most attractive
in Italy.
You can continue reaching
in a few minutes the beating heart of the city, the fascinating Piazza Prampolini also known as "Piazza Grande" where three of the important structures erected in the medieval
period stand.
You can start with the
beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria, an imposing religious building with Romanesque architectural
lines but also with strong Renaissance, Baroque and Mannerist
influences due to modifications over the centuries following its
construction and well known for its large unfinished façade.
In the external layout
you can admire a wonderful dome added in 1700
and a beautiful Michelangelo portal next to two statues depicting Adam and Eve while in the lantern we will appreciate authentic 17th
century masterpieces represented by a Madonna and Child, the Patrons and the
Fiordibelli Spouses.
The extensive interior in
the shape of a Latin cross is rich in numerous masterpieces made in the
various chapels developed on the sides of the majestic central nave with a vast
cycle of frescoes, stuccoes, paintings, sepulchral monuments and we will linger
on the dome masterfully frescoed by the master Francesco Fontanesi.
Continuation with the
nearby Baptistery also known as the Church of St. John the Baptist, a beautiful medieval building dating back to the 11th century in
which the presence of a large baptismal font stands out in a central position.
This religious building
is also famous for a rather peculiar episode because, after some restoration
operations it was deprived of the apse
which was inserted into the architectural complex of the adjacent Bishop's
Palace.
The square exudes a
unique charm with the presence of the statue of Crostolo and a picturesque passage next to an arch surrounded by numerous
historic buildings, namely, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo del Monte which was the municipal seat of the Notaries, the Civic Tower and the Municipal Palace which houses the iconic tricolor hall with the historic flag designed in 1797.
In this "monumental
living room" of Reggio Emilia you can visit a grocery store to enjoy a
welcome taste of the legendary Parmigiano Reggiano, gastronomic symbol of the entire province,
savoring the exquisiteness of this universally famous dairy product.
Afterwards you can enter in the fascinating Piazza San Prospero to admire the Broletto, seat in the medieval era
of the political and administrative activities of Reggio Emilia and a
suggestive covered street located next to the beautiful Basilica of San Prospero erected in the 10th century dedicated to the
patron saint and protector of the city.
The Basilica is flanked
by a high tower of the 1600s built on an octagonal plan but curiously never finished.
Visiting the interior you
will be delighted by a magnificent cycle of 7th century frescoes executed by Camillo Procaccini and an extraordinary choir that
boasts beautiful inlays and wooden carvings of the high artistic school.
It’s time for your lunch
and Reggio Emilia offers a superb, delicious cuisine.I suggest to start with a
traditional appetizer based on Prosciutto Crudo, Erbazzone and Chizze and
a slice of Focaccia con Ciccioli.
Among the first
courses you can choose between Green Tortelli, Cappelletti al Ragu or Rice
with Savoy Cabbage, among the second courses good typical options are Beef Stew alla Reggiana, or Bollito in Salsa
Verde both with a side of potato pancakes.
Afterwards you will reach
the very important Sanctuary
of the Madonna della Ghiara, an ecclesiastical complex
dating back to 1597 famous for a miracle that took place near one of its
Marian frescoes.
The interior is rich of
artistic masterpieces made by illustrious artists such as Guercino, Spada, Talami, Ferrari and Tiarini.
Continuation with the
building that now houses the Civic Museums in its halls which was originally the Convent of San Francesco, currently containing exhibitions that chronologically narrate
the historical stages of Reggio Emilia with a special theme linked to local
uses, customs and traditions.
Afterwards you can have a
stop in front of the splendid 17th-century Church of Saints Girolamo and Vitale, designed by the architect Gaspare Vigarani, who executed a magnificent Baroque composition on the façade in
which there are wonderful joints of elements placed in various sections.
Highly interesting the
interior with one of the three oratories which represents a wonderful reproduction of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem.
The last stage of your
journey can be dedicated to the Museum of the Tricolor, a very interesting exhibition devoted to the
events of the birth of the Republic of Reggio Emilia preserving in its rooms various relics, objects and
documentation linked to the two-year period 1796/97 and a section dedicated to the patriotic uprisings of 1831.
Visiting Reggio
Emilia is a wonderful experience, admiring a great historical - artistic
heritage of considerable value in a jovial and serene atmosphere, with all this
you always have the desire to return in the future.
Link : https://www.reggioemiliawelcome.it/en/homepage
Where to Stay |
Recommended Hotels
Albergo delle
Notarie - https://www.albergonotarie.it/en/
Albergo Morandi - https://www.albergomorandi.com/
