A mini guide of the city of Reggio Emilia to always know what to do, where to eat and how to have fun, low cost, in the beautiful city of Emilia Romagna.
Reggio Emilia is one of the towns of Roman origin born along the Via Emilia, it is not very well known for tourism, probably also due to the proximity of more famous centers such as Parma and Modena. Despite this, however, it is a place full of life and history: the historic center is not very large and in everything you perceive the typical Emilian atmosphere; one day is enough to visit it, even if there is no lack of things to see and do, especially on the occasion of the many events that animate the historic center.
How to reach us
Reggio Emilia can be reached very easily on the train both with the Regionals that travel on the Milan - Bologna - Ancona line, but also with the Intercity and Frecciabianca trains that arrive, as well as from the Lombard capital, also from the Adriatic coast or from Rome; the train station is located a stone's throw from the center, so you won't even need to use public transport after arriving. The recent Mediopadana station The high-speed train, on the other hand, is located a few kilometers away and is well served by shuttles or even by local trains: here the Frecciarossa and Italo from Milan or Naples-Rome arrive.
Who moves by car, during the week, you can park in one of the numerous parking lots, from which you can then take the Minibù, a free bus (you have to take the car in front of the columns to collect the tickets) which leads to the center. On weekends or in the evening there are many free parking spaces available even in the center, it is usually not difficult to find parking: to organize in advance the Reggio Parcheggi website provides all useful information.
What to do
If you don't have much time or you want to enjoy a beautiful sunny day in Reggio, you can simply walk around and see its beautiful squares:
- Prampolini Square (or Piazza del Duomo) where the Cathedral dedicated to S. Maria Assunta is located, which has a beautiful and particular unfinished facade, half of the sixteenth century and half Romanesque, with a large gilded bronze statue of the Madonna and Child, and Town Hall with the famous Hall of the Tricolor where in the last years of the XVIII century the Italian flag was born.
- San Prospero square (or Piazza dei Leoni) is located next to the one just mentioned and takes its name from the Basilica that overlooks it, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, characterized by a presbytery and a frescoed dome of great impact.
- Not far away is also located Fontanesi Square, a sort of green outdoor lounge, overlooked by numerous bars and restaurants that occupy the spaces with tables in the summer; this is definitely one of the most suggestive places to relax on the benches or have an aperitif.
- Returning to the most central part, crossing via Emilia, on the north side is what is called Square of the Theaters, which in reality is the set of several squares (Piazza della Vittoria, Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio, Piazza XXV Aprile) and streets overlooked by the three theaters of the city: the spectacular Valli Municipal Theater, the Ariosto Theater and the Theater of the Cavallerizza.
There are many places to visit, whether they are museums or simply churches and palaces, often hidden and not very well known. The most important sacred buildings are those already mentioned, which must also be accompanied by the beautiful Temple of the Beata Vergine della Ghiara, which is located in Corso Garibaldi and is worth a visit in particular for its sumptuously decorated interiors with gilding, marble and frescoes.
As for the museums, you can get an idea of what is in the city by visiting the website of the Civic Museums, among which you have the new Palace of Museums, recently restored and which includes collections of zoology, botany, ethnography, archeology and much more, the Parmiggiani Gallery with its nineteenth-century collection of paintings, furniture, fabrics, antiques and weapons and the Museo del Tricolore.
Lovers of contemporary art, on the other hand, will have bread for their teeth at the Maramotti Foundation, which is located near the center and where many works that have seen the light between 1945 and today are gathered. The temporary exhibitions instead they are the masters a Magnani Palace where there is always an exhibition to occupy these spaces, also used for cultural activities of various kinds.
The best opportunity to enjoy Reggio Emilia, however, is between May and June, when the center is completely invaded by an event that is becoming more and more beautiful, well organized and engaging every year: the European Photography. During this period many buildings in the center, such as the scenographic ones Cloisters of San Pietro and the Synagogue, are used as exhibition venues. The Cloisters are also the protagonists of other events, such as the Food Immersion Festival. Another location often used during European Photography and which organizes other special events independently is also Gerra space.
To get an overview of all events in the city (from concerts to festivals, passing through exhibitions) I suggest you take a look at the site Like Pocket Magazine, I use it often and it is really useful because you discover initiatives that otherwise would have remained completely unknown!
A tip instead for lovers of reading is to go to the Arco Library: not just any shop, but the kingdom of books in an ancient building, with a beautiful piano on the first floor; meetings and readings with the authors are also organized almost every week.
Where to eat
In the center of Reggio Emilia there is certainly no risk of remaining on an empty stomach: the first place I want to recommend is certainly the Pizzeria Little Piedigrotta, which is located just below the Spazio Gerra, next to the Piazza dei Teatri, here you can eat without a doubt the best pizza in town (and in my opinion not only!), book in advance or go there for lunch during the week, otherwise be prepared for a long line because it is very well known and loved. Another essential point of reference is Melli: once a simple bakery of excellent quality in Piazza San Prospero, now it has also become a place with tables inside and outside that works from breakfast to after dinner, here you can stop for both a cappuccino and a quick lunch based on cold cuts and cheeses, but also for a buffet aperitif, all products are of excellent quality.
If you are in town in the afternoon you can have a good genuine and delicious ice cream Cremeria Emilia where according to the season there are different tastes; if it is cold and you need a good hot tea, there are two solutions: literary coffee Hermit crab, where there are also many special beers, or the Black Stone bar under the arcades of via Emilia San Pietro.
