Emilia Romagna, renowned around the world as the home of iconic Italian food produce and for its rich gastronomic tradition, is also a region of huge historical and cultural importance. And with 2021 just around the corner, Emilia Romagna is looking ahead to a number of exciting cultural attractions which are set to open, as well as several world-class events taking place throughout the year. From Parma named as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2021, the brand new Federico Fellini International Museum opening, the 700th anniversary of Dante's death and the 2021 editions of the Motor Valley Festival and the Emilia Romagna MotoGP, there is no better year to visit the region.   

Rimini to open the Federico Fellini International Museum in spring

The seaside city of Rimini, once the home and lifelong inspiration of world-renowned film director, Federico Fellini, is set to open a brand new museum dedicated to his life and work in spring 2021. The Federico Fellini International Museum will occupy Rimini's Renaissance Sismondo Castle, the upper floors of the city's art-nouveau Cinema Fulgor (attended by Fellini) and the 400 metres of outdoor space between them. It will feature drawings, costumes, exhibitions, film showings, scenographic elements and multimedia presentations that will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of Fellini, regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century. Many of these experiences will create an immersive walkway through different indoor and outdoor points of the town, forming the Federico Fellini International Museum. 2020 marked 100 years since Fellini was born in Rimini, and the city has marked the occasion with city-wide renovations and events, and with the opening of this museum in 2021, the celebrations are set to continue.

Parma to be the 2021 Italian Capital of Culture

Parma was announced as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2020. However due to this year's Covid-19 pandemic, the award has been extended and Parma has patiently been waiting until 2021 for the opportunity to showcase its exceptional cultural, historical and foodie offerings. As Italian Capital of Culture 2021, Parma will host a rich programme of events throughout the year, including theatrical shows, cinema projections, music concerts, dance performances and food and wine fairs.

Parma, to the west of Bologna, is located along the Via Emilia, the thousand-year-old Roman road that links Piacenza and Rimini. The city has a rich cultural heritage and fascinating history – it was at the centre of several wars in the during the 14th and 15th centuries, part of the Papal States in the 16th century and annexed to France in the early 19th century. Today, Parma boasts one of the oldest universities in the world and is renowned for its theatre and music scenes. In fact, one of the world's greatest opera composers, Giuseppe Verdi, was born in Busseto, near Parma. An annual event, Verdi Festival, takes place across both cities every year to celebrate the music of “the Maestro”. Parma is also world-famous for its Prosciutto di Parma ham and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and was named a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy in 2015. 

Ravenna gears up to commemorate 700 years since Dante's death in 2021

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Ravenna is hosting a variety of events in 2021 to commemorate the life of one the world's most famous poets, including concerts, readings and exhibitions. Even Italy's national day on the 25 March will be dedicated to Dante in 2021, with a 'Dantedi' festival set to take place in Ravenna to celebrate his work.

Ravenna, also known as “Italy's city of mosaics” due to its exquisite collection of Byzantine montages, is a treasure chest of art, history and culture - with eight UNESCO historic buildings. Dante found Ravenna to be the ideal place to complete the Divine Comedy and, as the home of his tombstone, the city has been preserving the poet's memory for seven centuries after his death in 1321. Dante's 700th anniversary programme will mainly take place in Ravenna, located just one hour away from Emilia Romagna's capital city of Bologna.

Roads of Dante, recognised by Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2021

The Roads of Dante (“Vie di Dante”) was recently recognised in the latest edition of Lonely Planet's annual Best in Travel guide as a 'sustainability winner.' The ancient path, which stretches from Dante's tomb in Ravenna to his birthplace in Florence, is praised as a “slow travel delight.” The accolade adds to the 700th anniversary of the death of the Supreme Poet, whose celebrations will take place in Ravenna throughout 2021. Launched in 2017, Roads of Dante is a meditative meander in the footsteps of Italy's divine poet. The epic 245-mile path links all the places between the regions of Tuscany and Emilia Romagna that Dante visited during his exile in the early 14th century. It begins at Dante's tomb in Ravenna and finishes at the Dante's House Museum in Florence, taking in many of the places that the Poet described in his iconic Divine Comedy.

The third Motor Valley Fest to take place from 1-4 July 2021 in Modena

The great celebration of the Motor Valley Fest of Emilia Romagna will return for its third edition in 2021. After a successful virtual version of the event in 2020, the city of Modena is looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the world back to its beautiful historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Circuit of Marzaglia which passes by the corporate museums.

The four-day festival will celebrate the region of Emilia Romagna's passion for cars and motorcycles, telling the story of Italian excellence and technological innovations in the automotive world along with the historical, artistic and food and wine culture. Pros, enthusiasts and onlookers will witness exhibits of large two and four-wheel vehicles from Emilia Romagna, such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Dallara, Pagani and Ducati, but also demonstrations, test drives, hot laps and lots of adrenaline, with Motor1Days event, the “amusement park” of the Motor Valley. A wider focus will then be given to the innovation and mobility of the future, with a special area called “Innovation & Talents” that will feature universities, technical institutes, research laboratories, start-ups and companies. The festival is free to attend.

MotoGP returns to Emilia Romagna for 2021

In 2020, Emilia Romagna hosted the eighth round of the 2020 Moto Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Rimini, one of four world-class race tracks in the region. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix took place in September and was streamed around the world to moto fans, showcasing the thrilling races in glorious weather and with the striking backdrop of the Riviera di Rimini. In 2021, the date has been set for the 17-19 September, which will draw passionate MotoGP fans from across the world to experience the epic race in person. Emilia Romagna is of course the home of Ducati, the world-famous motorcycle company that in 2016 celebrated its 90th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the Ducati Museum located near Bologna was fully renovated and is a must-visit place to learn all about the Ducati brothers and the history of motorcycles in Emilia Romagna.