Have you ever heard of the ‘egg palio‘? The Sagra e Palio dell’Uovo di Tredozio (Tredozio Egg Festival and Palio) is a unique event taking place on Easter Sunday and Monday when the men’s and women’s teams of the town’s districts compete in enthralling contests, featuring the very symbol of Easter celebrations – eggs. In addition to the palio, the programme includes the sfogline (dough makers) championships and various shows including the boiled egg eating contest.

Let’s remain in the Romagna hills between Forlì and Cesena to discover another very evocative Easter tradition of Emilia-Romagna. We are talking about the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) in Civitella di Romagna, which stages the last hours of Christ’s life through a living representation, animated by no less than 120 participants.

That of Civitella is not the only Easter reenactment you can see in Romagna. Indeed, you can find three other processions planned for Good Friday: the Procession of the Dead Christ in Portico and San Benedetto (FC), the Procession of Montefiore Conca, and the Procession of the Jews in Pennabilli in the Rimini area, with costumed participants and the villages illuminated by torchlight.

PIACENZA

Being able to admire a work of art up close is always exciting, especially in the place where it was conceived. In Piacenza there are two very special opportunities to do this, thanks to the possibility of climbing up the dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria di Campagna, decorated by Pordenone, and the dome of the Cathedral, which houses magnificent frescoes by Guercino. An experience not to be missed, available with a single ticket.

PARMA

In Parma, in addition to the commemorative initiatives of Correggio500, the spring exhibition programme includes on the one hand the exhibition ‘Around the 1970s: ideologies, projects, languages in the CSAC collections‘, with works by artists, photographers, stylists, designers and planners who intercepted the tensions and social upheavals of Italy in the 1970s (the exhibition is hosted in the historic Palazzo Pigorini, in the centre of Parma, until 4 May).

On the other hand, the large exhibition at the Magnani Rocca Foundation in Mamiano di Traversetolo ‘Flora. The enchantment of flowers in Italian art from the 20th century to today‘: over 150 masterpieces for a floral tribute to Italian art.

MODENA

In Modena, automotive enthusiasts cannot miss ‘Supercars – The evolution of uniqueness‘, an exhibition at the Ferrari Museum dedicated to the cars that have played a pioneering role in the technological development of the House of the Prancing Horse, while for the more curious, in the new wing of the Palazzo dei Musei, the exhibition ‘Nella Mente del Maestro‘ explores the profound link between the art of the master of surrealism Salvador Dalí and psychoanalysis.

BOLOGNA

In Bologna the choice is as wide as ever: from the works of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei at Palazzo Fava to the major exhibition dedicated to Antonio Ligabue at Palazzo Albergati, from the exhibition dedicated to the bolognese singer Lucio Dalla at the State Archive in Piazza de’ Celestini to Jack Vettriano at Palazzo Pallavicini, the Scottish artist of Italian origin who recently passed away.

FERRARA

The splendid Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara hosts the exhibition ‘Alphonse Mucha / Giovanni Boldini‘, which brings together the works of these two great protagonists of European art between the 19th and 20th centuries.

FORLÌ

‘The Portrait of the Artist. In the mirror of Narcissus. The face, the mask, the selfie’ is the title of the exhibition held at the Museo Civico di San Domenico in Forlì, which investigates the theme of the self-portrait in art through the centuries.

Discover all exhibitions in Emilia-Romagna

Easter in Emilia-Romagna is also about events and outdoor activities. Here are a few examples: stroll among thousands of colourful tulips and create your own personalised bouquet at the Tulipark – the Festival of Blooming Tulips in Bologna, or join the traditional Easter Monday walk along the Bregoli path that leads from Casalecchio di Reno to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, followed by a snack.

The beginning of spring also marks the tours season in the Po Delta Park. So treat yourself to the thrill of observing flamingos in their natural habitat with the Flamingo Bike Excursions at the NatuRA Museum, a 12-kilometre flat bike ride in the Southern Valleys of Comacchio, or enjoy the atmosphere of the salt marshes at sunset with a bike ride and food tasting at the Cervia Salt Pan.

Mountain lover? For the Easter Monday excursion, you can opt for a walk along the streams of the Suviana and Brasimone Lakes Park, in the Bologna Apennines, or take part in the organised excursion around Capanno Tassoni, in the Modena Apennines.

If you can’t wait for the days to get longer to put on your hiking boots or get on your bike, these tips are for you!

Among the many itineraries you can follow over the Easter holidays, we first recommend a breathtaking cycle path. It’s called the ‘Argine degli Angeli’ and it separates Valle Furlana from Valle Lido di Magnavacca in the southern valleys of Comacchio.

Cycling (or walking) along this route gives you the feeling of gliding on water, surrounded by the magical atmosphere of the Po Delta Park.

A typical feature of the Ferrara and Ravenna coasts, the fishing huts are another good idea for a hike or bike ride among nature and ancient traditions.

Speaking of itineraries along waterways, did you know that it is possible to go from Piacenza to Reggio Emilia along the right bank of the Po? The tour is divided into 10 stages, and here too it can be tackled either on two wheels or on foot.

Going up from the plains towards the mountains, we recommend an enchanting hike that leads straight to the Secchia River springs, inside the Parco Nazionale dell’Appennino Tosco Emiliano.

Also not to be missed is a visit to the Labante Caves of Castel d’Aiano, in the Bolognese Apennines, and their small waterfall.

Finally, two themed and unusual tours. The first one takes you to the 19 big benches of Emilia-Romagna, unique observation points as well as good opportunities for a nice hike, while the second one is dedicated to the volcanoes of Emilia-Romagna, from the burning fountain of Tredozio to the mud volcanoes located between Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma.

Let us now take a look at some ideas for spending Easter in Emilia-Romagna among small villages and cities of art. Let’s start immediately with two gems of the Trebbia Valley (Piacenza): Bobbio and Brugnello, perfect destinations for those who love the quiet and enchanted atmosphere of mediaeval villages.

From the top of the rock on which Brugnello stands you can appreciate the magnificent view of the Trebbia River, while in Bobbio – one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy – you can cross the famous Devil’s Bridge and admire the Abbey of San Colombano.

Speaking of abbeys and other places steeped in history, the area between Modena and Bologna also has plenty to offer. With a trip out of town a short distance from Bologna you can visit the Rocca di Vignola fortress, with its 16th-century spiral staircase designed by Jacopo Barozzi, the Romanesque Abbey of Monteveglio and many other interesting spots.

But the hills of Romagna are certainly not to be outdone. Why not decide to spend a weekend in the hill towns of Cesena or in the Conca Valley, discovering the fascinating hinterland of Rimini?

If you are planning a family trip, the opportunities are many and range from Piacenza to Rimini. Do great feats of chivalry and star-crossed lovers fascinate you? With our tour of the villages and castles of Parma and Piacenza in Emilia, you’ll have plenty to look forward to.

If you prefer to stay in the city, a tour between Bologna and Modena will give you the chance to have fun with the little ones with the ‘wireless telephone’ under the vault of the Palazzo del Podestà, admire Gino Pellegrini’s trompe l’oeil murals in San Giovanni in Persiceto, visit the Museo della Figurina and much more.

Another good idea for your Easter in Italy with the kids is a trip to Romagna, a land of seaside villages and amusement parks.

You can explore it on a three-day tour from Cesenatico to Riccione, or with a two-day trip to Rimini and its surroundings, in search of the splendid villages perched on the hills of the Marecchia Valley.