Show and Tell: Romagna with New Eyes

The region of Romagna literally “has it all”: Majestic mountains, dynamic wetlands and rugged coastline.  I’ve been living in Italy for a quite a while now, but for the life of me I can’t explain why I hadn’t been to Romagna before! Perhaps, like many foreign travelers to Italy, there’s such a hyper-focus on central and southern Italy that Romagna is sometimes overlooked.

I love Romagna’s rich history, vast landscapes, culture, food and wine. I’ve chosen 6 photos that tell the tale of my recent Buon Vivere 2014 Blog Tour. After all that I saw and did, I now feel I should shout it from the rooftops…”Run, don’t walk to Romagna!”

1.  Il Giardino delle Erbe

Our host and fellow blogger, Alessandra Catania described this place as “The garden of officinal herbs and forgotten trees”. I was intrigued. Located in the town of Casola Valsenio, it was founded over 75 years ago, but in the last 20 it has been especially devoted to developing herbs for the kitchen as well as for medical purposes. 4 hectares of terraced land grows over 450 types of plants.

Photo credit: Toni DeBella

2.  Acquario di Cattolica

The largest Aquarium on the Adriatic Coast, it houses over 3,000 species of marine life in 2,500,000 liters of seawater. Among its special attractions are Otter, Penguin Ray and Shark tanks. Feedings are quite the frenzy!

Photo credit: Toni DeBella

3.  Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic outlines eastern Romagna starting from Veneto’s border to its north and Le Marche’s to the south. Famous beaches like Rimini, Cesenatico and Riccione draw large crowds in the summer months but in Autumn, the pace is more serene and hassle-free.

Sailboat off Cattolica. Photo credit: Toni DeBella

4. Pescatori

Fishing is an important industry in this region so of course you’ll find fresh seafood on every menu and family table. How lucky we were to have been invited guests for a lunch of (among other things) crawfish brodetto served on a boat in a picturesque harbor.

Photo credit: Vibrantireland.com

5.  Riccione

These wooden benches placed all along the lovely, tree-lined streets of downtown Riccione seem to be an ode to those who love the Sea.

Photo credit: Toni DeBella

6.  Rimini

Rimini’s famous bridge, Ponte di Tiberio, dates back to Roman times. I found the Ponte dello Scout to be a prime example of the juxtaposition of ancient and modern architecture and how they can co-exist in harmony.

Photo credit: Toni DeBella

 Have you been to Romagna? Share your experience with us in the comments below.