Stretching the length of the ancient Via Aemilia trunk road, from Piacenza in the northwest to the resort town of Rimini on the Adriatic coast, the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is one of the most fortunate in country widely held to be the embodiment of la dolce vita. This blessed area is the home of glorious old cities such as Parma, Modena, Bologna, Imola and Forli; and the heartland of gastronomic traditions that brought us balsamic vinegar, the finest prosciutto, Parmigiana Reggiano cheese and fizzy lambrusco wine, not to mention the likes of Modenese chef Massimo Bottura, whose Osteria Francescana has twice been voted the world's best restaurant.
It's also a hotbed of learning, the arts and culture: The universities of Bologna and Modena were founded in 1088 and 1175 respectively; Verdi, Toscanini and Pavarotti were born here, as were the filmmakers Antonioni, Bertolucci, Fellini and Pasolini.
Such notable accomplishments would surely be sufficient for any corner of the planet, but over-achieving Emilia-Romagna can claim another distinction: It's the location of Italy's "motor valley", which is an area extending roughly from Parma to Imola on that same arrow-straight Roman highway, which has developed into an extraordinary aggregation of automotive expertise.
Along this 150km axis, Maserati, Lamborghini and Pagani, the motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, the racing-car builder Dallara and- undisputedly the greatest Ferrari all set up shop, the latter's small factory in the Modenese village of Maranello mushrooming in size to become a vast hub of high-tech excellence and ingenuity - one that today is responsible for what are almost certainly the most exciting and dynamically accomplished automobiles produced anywhere on earth (not to forget building the cars that have won more Formula 1 races than any other constructor since 1950 - and by a considerable margin).
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sailing Into A Dream
Scenes from the fantasy feature Game of Thrones come to life in the otherworldly landscapes of the Arctic Circle.
Here Come The Sun Seats
Italian furniture has long held the crown for blending luxurious, sophisticated design with impeccable craftsmanship.
ABSOLUMENT FAB
France's premier fair for fine-art and antiques returns for its third edition inside its new home in the Grand Palais.
Through the Director's Lens
Filmmaker JIA ZHANGKE and his protégé RAFAEL MANUEL share their perspectives on life, cinema and their current projects.
THE CUTTING EDGE
Having long played quiet supporting roles in the gem industry, gem cutters are finally having their day in the sun. Four acclaimed independent master gem cutters share more about their love of the craft and the creation of their best pieces.
Spheres of Power
Following up on the gold- and titanium-focused Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams launch collection, the superstar now turns to pearls for a softer, but no less striking, second act.
Horological Masterpieces Reimagined
Beyond the wrist, these timekeepers transcend all traditional boundaries.
WILD IMAGINATION
Cartier's latest category-spanning Panthère de Cartier novelties showcase the endless ways in which the panther continues to inspire.
READY FOR ACTION
The latest watch to come from the celebrated Richard Mille and McLaren partnership looks set to be another trailblazing timepiece.
THE RIGHT ANGLES
Twenty-five years after the launch of its last new collection, Twenty-4, Patek Philippe introduces the Cubitus range.
