Emilia-Romagna

I

Introduction

Emilia-Romagna, region in north-central Italy, bordered by the regions of Lombardy and Veneto on the north; by the Adriatic Sea on the east; and by the regions of Marche on the south-east, Tuscany on the south-west, and Liguria and Piedmont on the west. The republic of San Marino forms a small enclave on the region’s south-eastern border with Marche. Emilia-Romagna is divided into the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, and Reggio nell'Emilia and has a total surface area of 22,123 sq km (8,542 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

Much of the region’s northern border with Lombardy and Veneto follows the course of the River Po. Other important waterways in Emilia-Romagna include the Marecchia, Montone, Reno, and Saterno rivers. In the southern Po valley is one of Italy’s most important wetland areas—the Valli di Comacchio, a large, low-lying brackish lagoon that provides a protected habitat for a variety of water birds, including nesting colonies of herons, spoonbills, and bitterns. The Apennines rise along the southern border with Tuscany. The region’s highest point, Monte Cimone (2,163 m/7,097 ft), is also the highest summit of the northern Apennines.

III

Population

The population of Emilia-Romagna is 4,151,369 (2005 estimate), which gives the region an average population density of 188 people per sq km (486 per sq mi). The capital of the region is Bologna, an industrial and cultural centre with 374,425 inhabitants (2005 estimate). Other major centres of population include Reggio nell'Emilia (population, 2001 estimate, 146,092); Modena (2001, 175,502); Parma (2001, 163,457); Rimini (2001 estimate, 131,705); Ravenna (2001 estimate, 139,771); Ferrara (2001 estimate, 131,713); Forlì (2001 estimate, 107,827); Piacenza (2001 estimate, 98,407); Imola (1996, 62,567); and Faenza (1996, 54,139).

Emilia-Romagna was a great centre of culture and learning in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The University of Bologna is one of the oldest universities in the world, with statutes dating from 1317 and a law school dating from the 11th century. The University of Parma (1502) developed from a school of arts founded in the 11th century. Other institutions of higher education in the region include the University of Ferrara (1391) and the University of Modena (1175). Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been designated in the region— the historic city of Ferrara, and the River Po (1995); the early Christian mosaics and other monuments of Ravenna (1996); and the Cathedral, Piazza Grande, and tower of Torre Civica, in Modena (1997).

IV

Economy

Wheat, hemp, grapes, and tomatoes are the chief agricultural products. Parma is famous for Parmesan cheese and smoked Parma ham, while balsamic vinegar is produced according to traditional methods in Modena. The fertile plains of the Po valley are an important winemaking area. The small town of Comacchio is a fishing port, noted for its eel fishing. Parma and Piacenza provinces are producers of petroleum. The chief industrial centres are Bologna, Forlì , Parma, and Reggio nell'Emilia, where processed food, transport equipment, electrical goods, machinery, steel, chemicals, glass, furniture, leather goods, and textiles are manufactured. Tourism is of considerable economic importance—the sandy beaches of the Adriatic coast attract thousands of visitors each summer; Rimini is one of the most popular seaside resorts in Italy and nearby Riccione has been a fashionable destination for artists and celebrities since the early 20th century. The spa town of Salsomaggiore Terme developed as a popular health resort in the mid-19th century.