Reggio Nell'emilia: Culture, Nature and Cuisine

Reggio Nell'emilia offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: museums covering local and regional history, historic architecture, nature and local food culture. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Museums with a range of themes

At the Palazzo dei Musei, four galleries arranged in a square take visitors through the history of the Reggio area, from prehistory and the Etruscan presence to the Roman conquest and the early Middle Ages. Around 1,000 objects are displayed across 1,000 square metres. Highlights from historic collections and loans from various municipal institutions complement the exhibition. The layout and the span of time covered give the visit a clear framework.

The Museo del Tricolore explores different themes across its floors. The first floor recounts the political events in Reggio Emilia from 1796 to the beginning of the Restoration. The ground floor includes an area where the Tricolour meets contemporary art and creativity, and educational workshops are held. This places historical events and a contemporary creative focus side by side within the same museum.

The Museo di Storia della Psichiatria offers another perspective on the history of medicine. Since 2011, it has been housed in the Padiglione Lombroso within the San Lazzaro complex. Instruments, stories and memories convey the history of psychiatry there. This approach differs from exhibitions that focus on political events or the history of the area.

Architecture and performing arts

The Chiostri di San Pietro is a former Benedictine monastery in the heart of Reggio Nell'emilia. The monastery is arranged around two cloisters that differ in style and character. They tell a story of centuries of art and change; the site is rooted in the context of the Emilian Renaissance. The contrast between the two cloisters makes the complex a distinct architectural attraction.

The Teatro Ariosto is in the centre, next to the historic town gardens. It is the city's second theatre venue and is mainly dedicated to spoken theatre performances. It complements the museums and historic buildings with a focus on the performing arts. The Museo del Tesoro della Basilica Beata Vergine della Ghiara displays liturgical objects and offerings donated by worshippers out of devotion to the Madonna della Ghiara. Their religious significance is an integral part of the history of this collection.

Nature and outdoor activities

Parco del Rodano is distinguished by its notably wild landscape and high natural value. The park has several springs, a Site of Community Importance (SIC) and an ecological compensation area (ARE). These features make this natural area a different kind of focus from the city's museums and cultural sites.

The Greenway del Torrente Crostolo can be explored on foot or by bicycle and is suitable for everyone. It thus offers two different ways to get around the greenway. Those looking to include nature and outdoor activity in their trip will find a clear alternative to the city's cultural and historical attractions here.

Local traditions on the plate

Tortelli verdi hold a special place in Reggio Nell'emilia's traditions at important times of the year. Together with tortelli di zucca, they are served both for Christmas Eve dinner and on the night of San Giovanni on 24 June. Both occasions are deeply rooted in the area's folk culture. This shows that the tradition is not limited to a single date, but spans different times of the year.

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia DOP is also the hallmark of a distinctly local product tradition. It is made exclusively from cooked must from grapes grown in the area. It is then aged for at least twelve years in batteries of small barrels made from different types of wood and decreasing in size. The long ageing process clearly distinguishes this product from the seasonal occasions on which tortelli are served.

Consider which of these facets you would like to shape your stay.

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Go to the overview of destinations: Reggio Emilia.