I Thought It Was Just Ferrari, And Never Expected This In Emilia-Romagna, Italy -Adriatic Sea

Posted On February 9, 2021

Port of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Located on northeast Italy‘s coast of the Adriatic Sea, Port of Ravenna is connected to this body of water via a canal. It was established during the 1st century B.C. when Roman Emperor Augustus made the port his base for his imperial fleets. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire, Port of Ravenna continued as a busy port.

After World War II, Port of Ravenna became an international port when gas fields were discovered offshore from the city. Refineries and petrochemical plants soon mushroomed at the area. The oil crisis in the 1970s made this port more famous in its position in the world market. Other terminals have been added to handle bulk, general cargoes and containers.

About Adriatic Sea:

The most wonderful sea in the world, Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea separating Italy (north and western) between the Balkan countries (eastern side) of Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Albania. It is about 800 km. long with an average width of 100 miles and a maximum depth of 4,035 feet.

While it appears like the shape of an arm, Adriatic Sea stretches from the city of Venice (Italy) and flows directly to the Mediterranean. This sea was named after Adria, which was an ancient port in Venice.

Most of the time, Adriatic Sea is calm and clear, tidal movements are slight mostly about half a meter. The seabed is made of pebbles which make its water clear and you can always see the bottom when you’re looking out from the ship’s deck. About 1,246 islands are dotted on the Adriatic of which most are located at the jurisdiction of Croatia. Since the ancient times, this has been an important route for sea voyage between Central Europe to the countries on the eastern part of the continent.

An Overview On Emilia-Romagna:

It was once a settlement of the Etruscan tribes in 6 B.C. but after two centuries, Emilia-Romagna was occupied by the Gauls and later on by the Romans. They built roads in the area, Via Aemilia, that connect the settlements of Picenzia and Rimini and it’s where the region got its name, Emilia.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines and Longobards moved into the region and built the Port of Ravenna. In later centuries, the area would be given for lease to the papacy especially during the time of Pope Alexander VI of which his son, Cezare Borgia administered the region. When the Pope died in 1503, the papacy controlled half of the region while the rest under the Duchy of Este (local ruling family).

Napoleon dominated the region in the 1800s but after the Congress of Vienna was signed in 1815, Emilia-Romagna has been divided under the ruling clans between the Bourbons (Spanish) and the Este family. The region fought hard for Italian unification and in 1859, it joined the Kingdom of Italy. Residents retained the Roman name of their area, Emilia after its union with the kingdom.The Romagna name was added in 1947 when the country became a republic.

After our itinerary in Genoa in 2009 with the Front Hunter, we headed to the Adriatic Sea for Emilia-Romagna‘s Port of Ravenna for gasoline loading. Situated between Veneto and Tuscany regions in Northeastern Italy, Emilia-Romagna is sometimes overlooked by tourists in favor of Florence, Milan, Rome and Venice. In reality, this region is a jewel too bad to miss out. Full of great surprises, I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Here are the reasons why.

Haven of Italy’s Best Culinary Delights

I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy but it has a rich culinary tradition. Proscuitto di Parma (Parma ham), Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, spaghetti Bolognese, salami, tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagna came from this region.

The food scene in Emilia-Romagna has been there for centuries and they are well protected for the quality. In the farms of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena towns you can savor to the max the Parmesan cheese (Permagiano Reggiano), Parma ham (proscuitto) and balsamic vinegar. Spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna and tagliatelle all came from Bologna.

Birthplace of Famous Sports Car Makers

Dubbed as Italy’s “motor valley”, this region is home to the country’s esteemed sports car makers like Enzo Ferrari, Ferancio Lamborghini, Ettore Maserati, the Ducati brothers among others. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. In this region, you will find 4 international race tracks, 7 manufacturers, and 11 museums to explore for the car aficionados.

All throughout the year, visitors traveling to Modena, Emilia-Romagna will be given the opportunity to drive either a gleaming Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini via a simulator which gives you the feeling of what it’s like to race on some of the world’s tracks like Barcelona or Zandvoort. So, buckle up, what are you waiting for?

Home to Italian Mosaics and Porticoes

Did you know that Italy‘s most spectacular mosaic-themed Churches are found in Ravenna? I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. As Ravenna was once the capital of the Roman Empire, its Churches and mausoleums were decorated with rich mosaics which are well-preserved up to this day. They still look as spectacular as they were in the 6th century B.C.

Meanwhile, in the beautiful city of Bologna it is synonymous with its porticoes. Wherever you go, it is such a real treat to walk under these awesome arches. You can find the best ones when you walk along Via Farici and at the Palazzo Grassi in Bologna.

It’s the Burial Site of Dante

Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna may be famous for its grand mosaics but it is also the final resting place of Dante Alighieri. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Although he was born in Florence, he spent the last years of his life in Ravenna. He also wrote his famous Divina Comedia (The Divine Comedy) while in exile in this town. His mausoleum is located near the Church of San Francesco where he was buried in 1321.

Where the Republic of San Marino is Located

A tiny country like the Vatican City, Republic of San Marino is located at the foot of Mt. Titano in Emilia-Romagna region. This is the 3rd smallest country in Europe and one of the world’s oldest independent state. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Roots of Max Mara Fashion House

Italy‘s biggest fashion house identical with luxury and style, Max Mara was created in Emilia-Romagna. The man behind the brand, Achille Maramotti built his clothing empire in 1951 at Reggio Emilia where he was born. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was one of the first fashion designers in the world to produce by bulk, RTW quality clothes. After his death in 2005, his children: Luigi, Ignazio and Ludovica continued his high-end retail legacy.

Home of Europe’s Oldest University

It’s true, Europe‘s oldest university is not Oxford or Cambridge. The oldest highest school of learning in this continent is found in Bologna. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The University of Bologna was founded in 1088. It has an array of notable alumni such as Copernicus, Pope Alexander VI, Dante Alighieri, Giorgio Armani and others.

It Gave Us Verdi and Pavarotti

Giuseppe Verdi was one of Italy‘s greatest composers of all time and he was born in Roncole di Buseto, Emilia-Romagna in 1813. You can visit his mansion where he had his first performance and the Verdi Theater in Buseto built in his honor. And in the land of sports cars, Modena, it was also the hometown of another music virtuoso, the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti. I thought it was just Ferrari and never expected this in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His house where he spent his final days has been converted into a museum, Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti and is opened to the public for viewing.

While Tuscany, Naples and Genoa are fantastic, Emilia Romagna is a region in which the feeling of genuine Italy is more evident. Full of beauty, charm and revered traditions, don’t hesitate to visit the area one day. It is a perfect destination for everyone. Arrivederci.

Reference: Wikipedia