The Grand Tour of Romagna

I was very honored to be invited to participate in my very first blogger event, Settimana del Buon Vivere Blog Tour 2014. The event took place on October 2-5, five days filled with programs, appearances and activities dedicated to celebrating, educating and promoting the region of Romagna’s unique and distinctive foods, products, world-renowned wines and rich culture, sights to see, places to stay and dine or just relax.

Of course, I can’t possibly list all of the things we did in one post, but I would like to share some of the highlights in hopes that it will serve as a helpful guide when planning your next “Grand Tour” of Romagna: The Land of The Romans.

TOWN #1: RIOLO TERME

What we saw….

Terme di Riolo Bagni is the site of natural thermal baths that were once a favored stop on the ancient Roman road, Via Emilia. The Terme di Riolo’s environs are straight out of a Jane Austin novel – bringing to mind carriage rides, twirling parasols and top hats.

The stately grandeur of the spa is particular evident in its park-like setting and elegant pavilions. At the Terme you can partake in numerous therapies and thermal treatments, soak or swim in naturally heated spring water pools and participate in special medical spa methodologies and rehabilitation programs. Everything is designed to improve your health or just help you relax and unwind.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Terme….

Terme’s famous mineral water is believed to have miraculous liver-cleansing powers, so we were invited to try a glass of the elixir for ourselves. I took one sip and thought to my self, “The hell with my liver!” Even the attendant kept her own supply of bottled water behind the counter.

Not wanting to offend our gracious hosts, one of our more adventurous bloggers bravely downed an entire glass of this sulfurized liquid in one gulp. Let’s just say his appetite finally returned the next morning.

Via Firenze 15 – 48025 Riolo Terme (RA), Tel. 0546/71045, Fax 0546/71605, e-mail: info@termediriolo.it, web: www.termediriolo.it

It isn’t everyday that a historical figure appears from the past to give you a personal tour of her former castle, La Rocca Sforzesca. Channeling Caterina Sforza, our guide lead us through the 14^th Century medieval structure as she told the tale of Signora Sforza, the woman considered “The First Donna of Italy” for her tough business savvy and warrior spirit.

Rocca di Riolo Terme, Piazza Mazzanti 48025 Riolo Terme (RA) tel. 0546/71025 roccadiriolo@atlantide.net www.atlantide.net/roccadiriolo

Where we ate…

Catine Antica Grotta hosted the group for a typical Romagnolo dinner. The subterranean restaurant is located inside the cellar of the Revellino, one of the towers of the fortress. Besides owning the restaurant, they run a successful e-commerce business, selling their vast collection of wines to people all over the world.

Piazza Mazzanti,2, 48025 Riolo Terme, (RA) tel. 0546/74381, email: info@cantineanticagrotta.com, http://www.cantineanticagrotta.com/ or find them on Facebook.

Where we stayed…

Grand Hotel Terme di Riolo, along with the adjoining resort, was opened to the public in 1877. The Art Nouveau-style hotel’s rooms have been recently renovated and on-site facilities include: Bar, restaurant, separate annexed rooms, outdoor solarium with gazebos, tanning beds, hydromassage pool, outdoor amphitheater, conference center and special access to the spa.

Via Firenze 15 48025 Riolo Terme (RA), Tel. 0546/71041, Fax: 0546/71215, www.grandhoteltermeriolo.com, info@grandhoteltermeriolo.com

TOWN #2: CASOLA VALSENIO

What we saw…

In Rome, the Metro Line C’s opening was delayed because of constant discoveries of archeological sites along the way. During the renovation of the Abbey of San Givoanni Battista it was il buco della scopa (the hole of the broomstick). A construction worker (perhaps out of curiosity or boredom) stuck the end of his broomstick inside a hole and discovered an ancient pagan temple dating back to 1200 B.C. Surprise!

Abbazia di Valsenio SP 306, Localita’ Valsenio

Il Giardino delle Erbe is a botanical garden founded 75 years ago by Augusto Rinaldi Ceroni. More commonly referred to as “the garden of officinal herbs and forgotten trees”, it’s located in the foothills in the town of Casola Valsenio. The garden has 4 hectares of terraced land to cultivate and harvest over 450 types of plants for use in the kitchen or as medicines.

The garden is dedicated to the education and research of plants and their effect on our health and quality of life – each terrace is organized into different categories such as types of herbs, cuisine or medicinal, perfume and aroma (i.e., lavender) and even plants for bees to pollinate to make honey.

Via del Corso 6, 48010 Casola Valsenio (RA), e-mail: info@ilgiardinodelleerbe.it

Where we ate…

Lorenza, the Chef at Il Cardello Locanda restaurant and agriturismo prepared a lunch that was as beautiful as it was delicious. The rustic dining room with its crisp white tablecloths and stunning panoramas of the surrounding vineyards is a perfect stop along the ancient Via Casolana. 

Via Cardello, 5 48010 Casola Valsenio (RA), Tel. 0546/73917, cell. 339 200 0308, info@ilcardellolocanda.it, www.ilcardellolocanda.it

TOWN #3: RIMINI

What we saw…

Beginning at Fiume Marecchia near the 2,000 year-old Roman Ponte di Tiberio, we were treated to a lovely nature walk through an urbanized environment of humid lowlands, thickets of river shoreline and marshes. After all that walking we built up quite an appetite for artisan gelato.

For more information about trekking excursions in the area: tel. 0541/928047, 0722/75343, cell 335 744 4665, http://www.valmarecchiatrekking.it, pennabili@consorzioterrealte.it

TOWN #4: CATTOLICA

The Acquario di Cattolica is the largest aquarium on the Adriatic Coast and 2^nd largest in Italy. It’s home to over 3,000 species of marine life splashing around in over 2,500,000 liters of seawater. It seemed quite strange, but after our guided tour of the inhabitants of glass-front tanks, we headed to the aquarium’s cafeteria, Pesce Azzurro, to lunch on…you guessed it, fresh fish.

Piazzale delle Nazioni 1/a, Localita’ LE NAVI, 47841 Cattolica (Rn), tel. 0541 8371, fax: 0541 831350, info@acquariodicattolica.it

TOWN #5: RICCIONE

What we saw…

Downtown Riccione’s wide, tree-lined boulevards create a tranquil and car-free strolling, shopping and dining experience. Although the beaches of Riccione are filled to capacity in hot summer months, as an autumn destination you’ll find crowds have thinned allowing for plenty of room to breath the fresh salty air.

Where we ate…

The owner of Bevabbe, Riccardo Parisio is quite a popular local character. In the slow food tradition Riccardo serves products not just from Romagna, but from all over Italy. Sitting in the outdoor patio, we enjoyed a light dinner of salumi (Mora Romagnola, Mortedella, Cutello), cheeses from organically fed sheep and cow and fresh baked bread from Puglia. Of course, the music was playing and the Sangiovese was flowing… 

Viale Gramsci 22, 47838 Riccione (RA), tel. 3463224665, www.bevabbe@libero.it, Facebook

Our “last supper” was at La Serra. This vegetarian/vegan restaurant is tucked away in a shady grove of trees in the center of the historic district of Riccione. Host and Chef Nadia lead a workshop to show us how to prepare plant-based dishes with edible flowers. Afterwards we sat down for our “just desserts”.

Viale Ceccarini Alta – Via Bufalini, tel. 0541/600547, email: laratatuia@gmail.com

Where we stayed…

San Giorgio Hotel

I loved the San Giorgio Hotel. The architecture is modern, the décor is sophisticated, the bed pillows are extra-fluffy and the owners and staff are warm and gracious. The hotel features a spectacular rooftop swimming pool, breakfast room/restaurant, meeting center and a fantastic location – just steps from the central shopping district, Riccione train station and seaside.

Viale Carducci 12 – Riccione (RA), tel. +39 0541.601097 – fax +39 0541.607137,  info@hotelsangiorgioriccione.com

Special thanks…

To one of the “uber”-organizers of Settimana del Buon Vivere and fellow blogger Alessandra Catania (21 Grammy). She was the fearless leader, translator and driver of this group of international bloggers that included: Rick Zullo of Rick’s Rome, Maria Rodriques Arruda of Viagem na Itália, Susan FitzGerald of Vibrant Ireland, Liliana Monticone of Travel Blogger Liliana Monticone (Roberto and Valeria too), Janicke Hansen of Norske reiseblogger and Noel Morata of Travel Photo Discovery.

For information about Settimana del Buon Vivere email: info@settimanadelbuonvivere.it; tel. 0543 785443. Find them on Facebook and Twitter