Things to Do and See in Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia, the capital of the province of the same name, is a city rich in art, boasting a vast artistic and historical heritage. The heart of the city is Piazza Camillo Prampolini, home to its most important civic and religious buildings, including the Cathedral, which houses Orazio Talami’s 17th-century painting *The Expulsion of the Profane from the Temple*. The square also features the statue of the Cròstolo, dedicated to one of the province’s streams. Adjacent to the Baptistery stands the Town Hall, featuring the Sala del Tricolore, where in 1797 representatives from Reggio, Modena, Ferrara, and Bologna gathered to declare the Tricolore the flag of the Cispadane Republic. Don’t miss the Valli Municipal Theater, the center of the city’s cultural life and now named after the Reggio-born actor Romolo Valli. Not far away is another of the city’s theaters, the Ariosto Theater. Meanwhile, the Monte di Pietà Palace is located in Piazza del Monte. Notable religious buildings include the Basilica of San Prospero, the Church of St. Augustine, and the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara, adorned with numerous frescoes by great artists, including a work by Guercino. Elsewhere in the province, a visit to Reggiolo is recommended to admire the picturesque Rocca with its tower; in Correggio, don’t miss the Renaissance Palazzo dei Principi with its splendid portal and the civic museum inside, the Basilica of Saints Quirino and Michele, and the numerous villas in the surrounding area. Among the villages, Quattro Castella is also worth noting; it takes its name from the four castles situated on four hills: Monte Vetro, Bianello, Monte Lucio, and Monte Zane. Don’t overlook Guastalla, with its cathedral and the Ducal Palace, and Scandiano, with the Rocca dei Boiardo. Finally, don’t miss the town of Canossa, which was once at the center of European politics. Although there are few architectural structures remaining—including the ruins of Canossa Castle, one of the countess’s most famous estates—these fascinating and evocative sites are well worth exploring.