Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia, or officially Reggio nell'Emilia, is a city in Emilia-Romagna, in the north of Italy. It's on the Via Emilia, between Parma and Modena.

Understand
  • 🌍 IAT (Informazione Accoglienza Turistica), Via Toschi, 1/b, ☏ +39 0522 451152. M-Sa 08:30-13:00, 14:30-18:00, Su 09:00-12:00. (updated Apr 2016)

Get in

By plane

There's no major airport in Reggio Emilia. There is a local airport in Parma (50 km away) with few connections to Rome, Sardinia (during summertime), Paris and London. The town can be easily reached from the bigger Milano airport Linate or Malpensa, from Verona's Valerio Catullo or from the Bologna Airport, G. Marconi.

By train

Being close to Bologna and Milano, the main hubs for train traffic in the north of Italy, it's relatively easy to reach Reggio Emilia by train. The train station within walking distance from the city center, and relatively safe compared to major cities train stations.

From Milano and Bologna it's possible to book expensive and fast Eurostar trains, or just jump - without reservation - on a Regional train (slower, probably a bit dirty, but definitely cheaper).

  • 🌍 Stazione di Reggio Emilia (Railway station), Piazza Guglielmo Marconi (at the eastern edge of the city centre). The station opened in 1859. It serves long distance trains in directions Milan–Bologna and also regional trains towards Ciano d'Enza, Guastalla and Sassuolo. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Stazione di Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana, Via Città del Tricolore (at the Mancasale locality, approx. 4 km from the centre). It is a newer station opened in 2013. It is on the high speed railway Milan–Bologna. For transfers to the centre of Reggio Emilia change here to the regional line Reggio Emilia-Guastalla or take a bus (lines 5 or 9). The station per se is a masterpiece of modern architecture designed by Santiago Calatrava. (updated Apr 2016)

By bus
  • 🌍 Autostazione (Intecity bus station). (updated Apr 2016)

By car

Reggio Emilia is on the Highway A1, that runs from Milano to Napoli, passing by Bologna, Firenze and Roma.

Leaving from Milano the exit for Reggio Emilia is around 130, 140 km south. Coming from Bologna, the exit for Reggio Emilia is around 80 km north. The Milano-Reggio highway is usually busy even in the evening and early morning, but it's not so common to be stuck in a long queue for long periods of time. On the other hand, going from Reggio Emilia to Bologna, or passing Bologna, with the highway, can be a pain sometimes, because of traffic and roadworks.

Get around

The city is compact and pleasant to explore on foot, and the center has limited access for cars, so it is almost entirely pedestrians or bicycles.

Many bike shops, and some hotels even, can rent bicycles for the day, or for longer trips.

Taxis wait at the railway station.

Mi Muovo is an integrated public transport pass for the region. Short-stay visitors might use "Mi Muovo Multibus", a 12-trip bus ticket, see Emilia Romagna#Get around.

See

Historical centre
  • 🌍 Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo). Built between 9th and 12th centuries, then reconstructed significantly in the 16th century. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo. Built in 1280, this is one of characteristic buildings in the city. It is now a part of the Hotel Posta. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Basilica della Beata Vergine della Ghiara. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Basilica di San Prospero. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Municipio. With Sala del Tricolore. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Palazzo dei Musei (Civic Museums), Via Spallanzani, 1. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Teatro Municipale Romolo Valli. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Giardini Pubblici (Parco del popolo). (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Ex sinagoga (former Synagogue), ☏ +39 0522 456477 (Civic Museum), +39 0522 43732 (Istoreco). Visits only by appointment. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Chiostri di San Pietro. Cloisters of a Benedictine monastery of San Pietro. (updated Apr 2016)

Out of centre
  • 🌍 Collezione Maramotti, Via Fratelli Cervi, 66 (in the suburb of Pieve Modolena; Minibù (bus) E, "Viale IV Novembre" stop, "Parcheggio Volo" destination, "Parcheggio Volo" stop. No service on Sunday. Bus no .2, "Porta S. Pietro/Viale Montegrappa" stop, "Sant'Ilario" direction, "Pieve Modolena" stop.), ☏ +39 0522 382484. Th F 14:30-18:30, Sa Su 10:30-18:30. Visit the Maramotti collection of modern art, in what used to be the site of production of Max Mara clothing. Free by prior reservation. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Ponti di Calatrava (Calatrava's Bridges). 3 bridges built in 2007 near the exit from Autostrada A1 designed by a prominent Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Il Mauriziano. 15th-century villa at the river Rodano, in San Maurizio, where used to live the poet Ludovico Ariosto. (updated Apr 2016)

Do
  • 🌍 Fondazione Reggio Children Centro Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Children – Loris Malaguzzi Centre Foundation). Reggio Emilia is internationally known for the "Reggio Emilia Approach to Education". Every year, thousands of visitors come to Malaguzzi International Centre for visiting exhibitions, workshops and spaces dedicated to education. The Loris Malaguzzi International Centre offers visitors a number of options: free individual visit of the exhibitions and spaces, guided tours in small groups, educational tours for students. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Football: US Sassuolo Calcio play soccer in Serie A, Italy's top tier, and since 2013 their home ground is Mapei Stadium, capacity 21,500, two km north of Reggio city centre. They ground-share with local team AC Reggiana, who languish in Serie C.
  • Rugby Union: Valorugby Emilia play in Serie A Elite, the top domestic tier. Their home ground Stadio Mirabello (capacity 4500) is 500 m south of the railway station.
  • Bike along the Via Matildica. Rent a bike and go for part of the Via Matildica, a bike trail going all the way down to Tuscany. You can follow the river south for a pleasant ride through the countryside. (updated Apr 2022)

Buy
  • 🌍 Market at Piazza Fontanesi. Saturdays. A street market with vendors of the many local products, meats, cheeses, balsamic vinegar, fruits and vegetables - a good place to buy gifts for gourmands! (updated Apr 2022)

Eat
  • Parmigiano Reggiano - the world-famous aged cheese
  • Cappelletti - a small stuffed pasta, usually filled with a rich mix of meat and liver, commonly served in broth
  • Tortelli
  • Ravioli
  • Gnocco fritto
  • Ciccioli

Drink
  • Lambrusco Reggiano - a sparkling red wine
  • Moscato - a sweet, perfumy dessert wine
  • Negroni

Sleep

Connect

As of June 2022, Reggio Emilia has 4G from Iliad, Tim and Vodafone, and 5G from Wind Tre.

Go next

The hills and the mountains in the south of Reggio Emilia are definitely worth a visit, but you can reach some areas only if you have a car or a motorbike. The main locations will be served also by public transports (bus). If you travel by bus make sure to buy your return ticket before leaving Reggio and to check the time tables, as there's no public transport in the evening and in the night.

Some places you should visit if you're in Reggio Emilia:

  • Pietra di Bismantova
  • Canossa and Rossena (castles)
  • Torrechiara (in the province of Parma, next to the border with Reggio Emilia)


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