If you need time off the treadmill away from the stresses of modern life and want to get your fill of culture, history, and beauty, a perfect place to head to is Emilia Romagna. In this guide, we’ll look at the beautiful things this northern Italian region has to offer visitors in 2024.

Emilia Romagna is a cultural haven offering a diverse array of experiences for travellers. With its ties to Baroque artist Guercino, visitors can explore his masterpieces scattered throughout the region. One of its latest exhibitions, “Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance,” showcases how British visual heritage meets Italian mastery from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance.

Faenza, renowned for its connection with ceramics, and Ravenna, with mosaics, offer visitors a hands-on education of their heritage. This year, travellers are invited to embrace Emilia Romagna’s cultural tapestry for an unforgettable journey into history, art and tradition.

Brand new exhibition: Pre-Raphaelites
Culture seekers can journey through time via an artistic presentation of “Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance”. The presentation runs until 30 June 2024, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in this cultural crossroads, where British visual heritage meets Italian mastery.

Directed by Gianfranco Brunelli and curated by a team of distinguished experts, including Elizabeth Prettejohn and Peter Trippi, this unprecedented exhibition showcases over 300 exquisite pieces, spanning paintings, sculptures, prints and more.

Visitors can step into the heart of history as the birth of Pre-Raphaelitism—a bold artistic rebellion against stifling conventions—is unveiled.

The wide-ranging exhibition will place the great names associated with the trend, from Dante Gabriel Rossetti to the British painters Ford Madox Brown and Frederic Leighton, alongside the works of late 19th-century Italian artists whom their British precursors inspired.

Visitors can explore the evolution of Pre-Raphaelitism through curated sections that unveil the essence of reinvention and discover works by British artists whose contributions shaped an era, offering fresh insights into this transformative period in art history.

Hosted by the Fondazione Cassa Di Risparmio di Forlì in collaboration with the Forlì City Council, this extraordinary exhibition transcends borders, uniting European and American treasures.

The exhibition layout, designed by the Lucchi & Biserni firm from Forlì, will extend around the inside of San Giacomo Church and through the large chambers of the library belonging to San Domenico Convent.

Emilia Romagna: Celebrating the illustrious Baroque artist, Guercino
Cento, the birthplace of Italian Baroque painter Guercino, will offer guided tours that will take visitors through his childhood home, the local churches adorned with his masterpieces, and other significant sites that shaped his life and career.

The end of 2023 marked the re-opening of the local Pinacoteca following an impressive refurbishment, and it will be the new setting for a number of Guercino’s masterpieces.

Visitors to the region can also enjoy following in the footsteps of the artist. The renowned German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe made reference to Guercino in his Italian journey.

To follow the same path, visitors should consider a trip from Piacenza to Parma and Reggio Emilia or from Cento (his birthplace) to Bologna (his place of rest—Chiesa di San Salvatore), discovering various establishments that house the paintings and key locations where he created his legendary works. Guercino-related itineraries are also accessible via the Emilia Romagna website.

Experience the fourth edition of Biennale Disegno Rimini
Culture seekers can discover the diverse world of drawing at the fourth edition of Biennale Disegno Rimini, with this year’s theme being ‘Return to travel’. The event, which takes place from 4 May to 28 July, is organised by the Department of Culture and the Municipal Museums of Rimini. It presents 12 simultaneous exhibitions across key venues like the City Museum, Gambalunga Library, Palazzo del Fulgor, and Sismondo Castle.

The exhibition features 1,000 drawings sourced from institutions such as the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid and the Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain de Picardie. It also showcases a range of works, from Felice Giani’s travel notebooks to Piranesi’s engravings. Modern masters like Morandi and Fontana are also featured alongside Cuban cinema Carteles.

The event offers engaging activities, including meetings with specialists, readings, performances, and educational workshops, providing an immersive experience in the world of drawing.

Faenza: Visit the Ceramics Capital
Discovering the rich heritage of ceramic craftsmanship in the city of Faenza is a must. The production of ceramics here dates back over a millennium. Initially producing humble household items, local artisans elevated their artistry during the Renaissance, infusing intricate motifs into their creations.

By the late 16th century, the Whites of Faenza emerged, setting a new standard in ceramic excellence. So renowned were these works that the city earned the title of the Ceramics Capital, with “faïence” becoming synonymous with enamelled faience across Europe.

Today, a journey through this city’s ceramic legacy promises an immersive experience, intertwining artisanal skill, captivating history, and a vibrant glimpse into local culture.

From visiting the International Museums of Ceramics and the temporary exhibition about designer Gio’ Point, which boasts a heritage of over 60,000 works of ancient and contemporary nature, to taking part in a hands-on artisan ceramics workshop (there are over sixty of these located around the historic centre), Faenza is the ultimate place for an education in ceramics.

The works of Escher arrive in Ferrera
Visitors can experience the visionary world of Maurits Cornelis Escher at Palazzo dei Diamanti until 21 July 2024. For the first time, the iconic Dutch artist’s works will grace this prestigious venue, inviting visitors on a journey through his imaginative and seemingly impossible realms.

Born in 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, Escher’s art has captivated mathematicians and the public alike. His creations, influenced by geometric theorems, philosophical reflections, and logic paradoxes, challenge perception and transcend boundaries.

For further information on things to do and places to visit in Emilia Romagna, please visit www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en.