During the 2nd century B.C., a road was named Aemilia, for the Roman Consul Mark Emilio Facetious. In the 6th century A.D., the Romans lost the territory to the Byzantines, who called the land Romania. When Italy was unified, the region was named Emilia, and in 1947 the name was changed to Emilia-Romagna.

Emilia-Romagna stretches from the eastern coast of Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea almost to the western side of Italy. It borders Veneto and Lombardy to the north; the Marches and Tuscany to the south; and Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont to the west. In the southern part of the region, the Apennine Mountains are formed by loose soil that is eroded by water to cause landslides. The northern stretch of Emilia-Romagna, though, is flat with orchards and farms stretching as far as the eye can see.

The agricultural production in Emilia-Romagna is some of the most advanced in Italy due to the use of modern cultivation and commerce techniques. Wheat, sugar beets, rice, wine, plums, cherries, onions, tomatoes and flax are only a few of the harvested crops.

The climate of Emilia-Romagna consists of warm summers and wet, foggy and cold winters, though by the sea the climate is more mild. The largest city is Bologna with 400,000 residents. Interestingly, eight of the most populated towns in Emilia-Romagna, excluding Ravenna and Ferrara, are located on Via Emilia which runs across the entire region.

Links: http://www.apt.emilia-romagna.it
http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it

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