Discover Italy’s Best-Kept Secret

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Italy’s beautiful Emilia-Romagna region with Typically Italian Holidays, and it was a wonderful reminder that there is so much more to Italy than Rome, Venice and Florence.   

Our journey began with a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Rimini. I hadn’t flown with Ryanair for quite some time, but everything was straightforward, from downloading boarding passes on the app to the two-hour flight itself. Even with the new EES arrival checks, we were through the airport in around 45 minutes.

From Rimini, it was a 45-minute coach transfer to Ravenna, where we stayed at the Aparthotel La Reunion, ideally located in the heart of this fascinating city. Ravenna was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire and is famous for its stunning Byzantine mosaics, historic churches and as the final resting place of the poet Dante. During our stay, we enjoyed a hands-on cooking class making piadina, a traditional flatbread filled with soft cheese, rocket and tomato.

The following day took us to Bologna, a beautiful walled city known for its famous towers and wonderful food. While only 24 of the original towers remain today, they still dominate the city’s skyline. We spent time in the impressive Piazza Maggiore, home to the magnificent Basilica of San Petronio. Bologna is often regarded as Italy’s culinary capital, and I was fortunate enough to attend a cooking lesson at Eataly, where we learned how to make fresh pasta and helped prepare a traditional ragù sauce.

Day three brought me back to Rimini, a resort I first visited around 50 years ago. I remembered the miles of sandy beaches lined with hotels and shops, and they remain just as impressive today. What surprised me, however, was discovering the beautiful historic centre just a short walk inland. Entering through the Arco d’Augusto, one of the surviving gateways of the ancient city walls, I found a charming area filled with piazzas, historic buildings and the city’s cathedral. Visitors can also see the 2,000-year-old Ponte di Tiberio Roman bridge, although it is currently undergoing renovation. One of the highlights of the day was a fantastic seafood lunch at La Marianna Restaurant.

Our first night was spent in Ravenna, while nights two and three were spent in Cesenatico at the lovely five-star Grand Hotel Da Vinci. The spacious rooms, many with sea views, made for a very comfortable stay. The hotel is also just a short stroll from the picturesque canal area, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and shops.

We flew home from Bologna Airport, which is larger than Rimini but equally efficient. The EES departure checks took only a few minutes.

If you’ve already visited some of Italy’s more famous destinations and are looking for somewhere a little different, I would thoroughly recommend Emilia-Romagna. With its beautiful historic cities, excellent food, stunning coastline and authentic Italian atmosphere, it offers a wonderful alternative for your next Italian holiday.