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).
This story is from the September 2022 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2022 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GLAMOUR AND BEYOND
PRESTIGE'S BEYOND THE HORIZON BALL PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
RACING BULL
Lamborghini's breakthrough plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto, might be the supercar it needs to pull ahead in the electrification space race.
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Prestige sits down with world-class pianist and Rolex Testimonee HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD as she shares her journey through sound and silence.
Tapestry of the Heart
Jaipur Rugs, which recently launched in Singapore, is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Its secret commitment to a social mission of equality and empathy.
FJORDS, FREEDOM AND FINE FOOD
Oceania Cruises' Riviera will make its debut voyage to Alaska in 2025, bringing guests deep into the wilderness of America's northernmost state while delivering The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
LESSONS FROM THE LONG ROAD
An extended cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo proves that to go further and deeper, you sometimes have to slow down.
Checks and Balance
Louis Vuitton's latest fine jewellery range, Le Damier de Louis Vuitton, is inspired by the house's Damier check. Artistic director for watches and jewellery FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF takes us through the process.
IN DAZZLING FORM
Powered by a new movement, the Asia Pacific exclusive editions of the Round Skeleton Baguette 31 editions by Franck Muller sparkle with baguette-cut diamonds or coloured precious gemstones.
A TIME FOR SQUARE
In October, Patek Philippe unveiled its first wholly new collection of timepieces in 25 years. Prestige Singapore was among the first in the world to see the Cubitus trio of timepieces and find out how they were created.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.
