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Italy: World’s Fare

Making the Most of Modena

Continuing southeast, Modena is the next stop on the Via Aemilia, as well as home to a collection of some of the most outstanding extant examples of Romanesque architecture, the UNESCO-protected 11th-century Duomo di Modena, the Piazza Grande, and the 285-foot-tall Ghirlandina tower.

Between the buildings themselves and the adjacent museums, which house art and decoration from the cathedral’s past 10 centuries, you could easily spend a whole day in town and finish just in time to catch one of modern Modena’s most important treasures: Osteria Francescana, with three Michelin stars and ranked No. 2 this year on the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

 

Behold the Black Gold

With bottles that can age for up to 25 years, Emilia’s balsamic vinegar industry was among the hardest hit by the 2012 earthquake, with some producers losing as much as 85 percent of their products. Thankfully, most have weathered the storm and continue to welcome groups not only for tours, tastings and visits, but also for lunch.

One of the most notable and best fits for groups is Acetaia Pedroni, which has been producing award-winning vinegar for decades in Nonantola outside Modena and can host groups for lunch in its own on-site osteria before or after a tour of and tasting in its aging attic. The nearby Baroque Villa Sorra, known for its gardens and hundreds of Trebbiano grape trellises, makes the perfect postprandial stroll.

 

Bring It All Together in Bologna

The oldest of the Via Aemilia’s Roman cities, Bologna is the perfect place to sample all the region’s culinary specialties in one place, especially the pasta dishes that make use of all of the bounty of the Pianura Padana.

Hand-stuffed tortellini is the hallmark of Bologna, where it is typically eaten in house-made broth while thick, wide, hand-stretched tagliatelle eaten with ragu is the dish that gave rise to America’s Bolognese fascination. Likewise the pistachio-studded local mortadella, inspiration for American bologna, will make you wonder how the knockoff could ever be compared to the real thing.

The best way to work off Bologna’s carbohydrate and protein overload is by strolling the medieval center, with its 12th-century towers and cathedral, which was left unfinished on orders from Rome lest it surpass the beauty of St. Peter’s, and its 11th-century university. Its Medieval medical school, complete with an operating room and the Museum of Anatomical Waxes, is well worth a look, though perhaps not right after lunch.

 

Relax in Rimini and Ravenna

Though it’s a slight detour off the road near the end of the Via Aemilia, a visit to Ravenna is a must for groups with a love of art or history. Home to one of the most important collections in the world of early Christian art, Ravenna’s eight UNESCO-protected buildings boast Byzantine-style mosaics that rival, if not surpass, Venice’s San Marco.

Finally, follow the coast to the end of the Aemilia in Rimini, a seaside resort home, to the Arch of Augustus, the oldest surviving Roman arch in the world. Do as locals do and grab an aperitivo by the beach. After taking in 2,200 years of history and taste testing the triumvirate of Italian treats, a celebratory drink is in order.

For more information on travel to Italy or the 2015 Milan Expo of the World’s Fair go to www.italia.it/en