Most of the small towns in the area have weekly market and for the serious shopper. There are excellent market days on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in nearby towns. Also there are many elegant shops Modena and Bologna as well as factory outlets near Mantua and Fidenza (close to Parma).

Emilia Romagna is famous for its cuisine which is based around the use of the famous Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic Vinegar, Parma Ham, freshly made pastas and Lambrusco wine. Modena is also home of the Michelin three starred restaurant, La Francescana.

Italian Country Escapes can arrange local cooking classes and visits to the Carpegiani Gelato Museum near Bologna. Visit the local dairy to see how parmesan cheese is made; learn about the differing qualities of Balsamic Vinegar; have degustation dinners, wine tasting and in the summer attend the local festas to sample uniquely mountain cuisine.

Modena and Bologna are the homes of the Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini car factories and Ducati motor cycles. We can arrange for you to visit several museums in one day including private classic car, motor cycle, scooter and tractor collections. It is also possible to arrange for you to drive a Ferrari on the road or round the race track.

With the delightful scenery and views everywhere the area is a haven for artists. We can arrange a week of art classes with a local artist.

The countryside is perfect for walkers along quiet country roads and tracks. For the more serious hikers we can arrange guides to take you up into the stunning mountain area. There are maps available for self-guided walks of the local area.

The area is both a road and mountain bike rider’s dream with many kilometres of road and off road routes available. Italians are passionate about cycling and it is possible to hire both road and mountain bikes and helmets at a reasonable cost. Be advised that the area has extremely hilly terrain.

Local ski fields are about an hour away at several locations on Mt Cimone (2,165 mt) and a little further afield in Tuscany at Abetone. All ski equipment is available for hire and lift prices are moderate. Downhill, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding are also available.

There are several riding schools and stables in the area. The stables in Polinago will take you riding along a variety of treks through the fields and woods. Rides vary from a few hours to all day and overnight. Please note that suitable shoes, such as boots or sturdy lace-ups are a requirement.

There are many museums, churches and galleries available to visit in the cities of Modena and Bologna and region. A little further afield are the cities of Mantua, Ferrara and Ravenna (famous for its mosaics). We can arrange day trips to these cities which are generally not too busy and have many beautiful palaces, museums and churches.

Modena was the home of the tenor Luciano Pavarotti, it is possible to visit his grave in the nearby town of Montale. The home of Giuseppe Verdi is located near Parma and we can arrange a day tour to visit the museum and town where the composer lived along with the town of Cremona which is the home of the violin maker Antonio Stradivari.

The provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia are dotted with small castles, some going back to the 12th century and earlier. Ranging from ruins to those still in public and private use, we can arrange for you to have day trips to places such as Mantua, Parma and Ferrara to visit the large ducal palaces located within those cities.