The Fontana dei Quattro Cavalli: the fountain of the four horses 
PIadine from a small snack bar in Rimini The Piazza Malatesta in Rimini 
What a sunset... 
The imposing city gate: the Arco d'Augusto 
A short evening stroll in Rimini 
The almost endless beach of Rimini on the Adriatic Sea A sensation more than 100 years ago: the Grand Hotel Wow! Sunset on the endless beach of Rimini The endless beaches on the Adriatic coast, here in Rimini The gastro promenade in Rimini
Nowhere else in Italy are acceleration and standstill so close together. Emilia-Romagna is the region of extremes: here they build the fastest cars in the world - and let the vinegar rest in the dark for decades. A stocktaking between Maranello and Rimini.
Travelling along the Via Emilia takes you through the economic heart of Italy. The old Roman road cuts through the plain from Piacenza to the Adriatic Sea like a ruler. To the left and right: world market leaders, agriculture, tourism. Emilia-Romagna does not live from postcard romanticism, but from excellence.
Italy: one country, many faces
Motor Valley: PS as religion
The numbers are clear: Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani, Ducati. The highest density of supercar manufacturers in the world is concentrated in a strip of just a few kilometres. The „Motor Valley“ is not a marketing gimmick, it is an industrial powerhouse.
The classic Rimini holiday: everything at a glance
In Maranello, the prancing horse dominates the cityscape. Those who work here don't build cars, they build myths. The manufacturers' museums are places of pilgrimage for technology fans, the race tracks in Imola and Misano are the playground for the weekend. It smells of petrol and burnt rubber here. It's loud, expensive and fast. The region exports speed to the whole world - and is proud of it.
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Food Valley: The wealth is in the cellar
But just a few kilometres away from the test tracks, absolute silence reigns. Emilia-Romagna is the belly of Italy. Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. These names are protected and the conditions are strict.
It's not speed that counts here, but patience. A wheel of Parmesan cheese needs at least 12 months, a real balsamic vinegar from Modena often 12 or 25 years. In the dark attics of the Acetaia the grape must evaporates for decades in wooden barrels until it is as viscous and black as crude oil. This is a craft, not an industry. In Bologna, the capital, this is what you get on your plate: tortellini, tagliatelle al ragù, mortadella. The cuisine is heavy, buttery and uncompromisingly good. Anyone who eats here will understand why the region is one of the most prosperous in Europe.
From parmesan to prosciutto: delicious in Emilia-Romagna
The Adria: more than just a Teutonic grill
The sea awaits at the end of the Via Emilia. The Riviera Romagnola has been the bathtub of Europe since the 1950s. Rimini, Riccione, Cesenatico. At first glance, an endless row of parasols and hotels. But first impressions are deceptive.
Rimini has changed. Today, the city of Federico Fellini focuses on culture, restored cinemas and a modern promenade instead of cheap mass tourism. The infrastructure is perfect, the nightlife legendary, the beaches clean. It is the pragmatic antithesis to the hinterland: here people relax, party and live.
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