Bologna, Modena, Padova

About the destination: People have strained themselves over the years inventing nicknames for wondrous Bologna: la Dotta, the learned, for being the home of Europe’s oldest university, an institution which still attracts thousands of students; la Grassa, the fat, for being a gastronomic marvel with more and better restaurants than many world capitals; finally Bologna Rossa, due to its leftist politics. Stroll among the endless miles of porticos which grace the burnt-orange buildings, and catch the energy which hums quietly in the streets. Check out the elegant galleries of vie dell’Indipendenza and via Ugo Bassi. At piazza Nettuno and Maggiore the crowds gather under the Corinthian columns of the Palazzo del Podestà, shifting in the afternoon with the shade to the steps of the Basilica of San Petronio, a huge Gothic structure with a spectacular doorway. In the fountain outside, the bronze Neptune and Attendants splash happily. The two towers to the west of piazza di Porta Ravegnana are considered the symbol of the city. You can climb the taller of the two for a great view of Bologna and the Po valley. The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is rich in history, art, culture, cuisine and music, and is often overlooked in favour of the country’s more well-known tourism honeypots nearby but is all the more appealing for it.

About the destination: Modena is an ancient town in Emilia-Romagna, 40km northwest of Bologna. It is a charming place, with lovely arched porticos and a magnificent main square. We have now visited Modena twice and highly recommend it, even if you only have a few hours as a day trip from Bologna. Home to Balsamic Vinegar, there are countless places where you can taste and buy this delicious product. The region surrounding Modena is home to the factories of some of the famous Italian car makers, such as Ferrari and Maserati, which gives the town its nick-name of "the capital of engines". Modena is a gentle city and tourists from all over the world are attracted to visit the art treasures in Modena: the 12th century Cathedral, masterpieces of Italian Romanesque art, which, together with Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina tower, creates a complex of unique beauty, included by UNESCO among the "Wealth of Mankind".