Emilia Romagna is Italy's gastronomic heartland, stretching from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Known as the 'Food Valley' for producing Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and balsamic vinegar, the region also boasts medieval cities, Ferrari's birthplace, and vibrant beach resorts.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Aged Parmesan cheese, vacuum-sealed for transport; buy directly from a Parma producer or the Mercato Coperto for genuine DOP product
Price: €15-30 per kg
Where: Parma covered market, DOP-certified shops, producer farms
Prosciutto di Parma DOP
Vacuum-packed DOP-certified Parma ham with the 5-crown logo, perfect for gifts and good transport
Price: €15-25 per 200g package
Where: Parma salumerias, Mercato Coperto, BLQ airport shops
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, aged 12-25 years in wooden barrels—in the distinctive white cap bottle
Price: €35-100 per 100ml
Where: Modena acetaias, Mercato Albinelli, specialty food shops
Lambrusco Wine
Sparkling red wine from Modena and Reggio Emilia, excellent value; Cleto Chiarli and Cavicchioli are excellent producers
Price: €5-20 per bottle
Where: Wine shops (enoteche), supermarkets, cantinas throughout the region
Leather goods
Handcrafted leather bags, belts, and wallets from Bologna's artisan workshops under the porticoes
Price: €30-200
Where: Bologna artisan shops near Via dell'Indipendenza and Via d'Azeglio
Faenza ceramics
Traditional hand-painted pottery from Faenza, origin of the word 'faience'—plates, bowls, and decorative pieces
Price: €15-100
Where: Faenza shops, International Museum of Ceramics gift shop
Ferrari/Lamborghini merchandise
Official branded merchandise from Ferrari and Lamborghini—clothing, models, accessories from official museum stores
Price: €10-500+
Where: Ferrari Museum Maranello store, Lamborghini Museum store
Mortadella di Bologna IGP
Large cooked sausage with pistachios—the original bologna—vacuum sealed for transport
Price: €5-15 per package
Where: Tamburini (Bologna), Mercato di Mezzo, any salumeria
Tortellini kit
Ready-to-cook fresh or dried tortellini with authentic Bolognese recipe, perfect gift for food lovers
Price: €6-15
Where: Bologna food shops, Mercato di Mezzo, Eataly
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercato di Mezzo
Bologna's historic covered food market under medieval porticoes in the Quadrilatero district—the city's food soul
Where: Via Clavature 12, Bologna
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-8PM; Sun 10AM-8PM
Mercato delle Erbe
Historic outdoor and indoor market with fresh produce, fish, and local products at genuine local prices
Where: Via Ugo Bassi 25, Bologna
Hours: Mon-Sat 7AM-1:30PM
Mercato Albinelli
Modena's beautiful Art Nouveau covered market (1931), a paradise of local balsamic vinegar, cheese, and Modenese products
Where: Via Luigi Carlo Farini, Modena
Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30AM-2PM; Fri-Sat also 4:30PM-7:30PM
Mercato Coperto di Parma
Parma's indoor market with exceptional cheese and ham selections directly from producers and specialist vendors
Where: Via Luigi Catello, Parma
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-1PM
Piazza Scaravilli Antique Market
Monthly antique and vintage market in Bologna's university area with books, art, ceramics, and vintage items
Where: Piazza Scaravilli, Bologna
Hours: 2nd Saturday of month, 8AM-6PM
Mercato di Piazza San Francesco
Central Rimini market with fresh produce, local foods, and household items
Where: Piazza San Francesco, Rimini
Hours: Mon-Sat mornings
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Via dell'Indipendenza, Bologna
Bologna's main pedestrian shopping street under historic porticoes with international brands, department stores, and local shops
Best for: Fashion, shoes, accessories, international brands
Via d'Azeglio, Bologna
Elegant street with high-end boutiques, artisan leather goods, and independent shops under historic porticoes south of Piazza Maggiore
Best for: Luxury goods, Italian fashion, local crafts
Quadrilatero, Bologna
Medieval food district with centuries-old salumerias, tortellini makers, cheese shops, and specialty food stores
Best for: Authentic local food products, gourmet gifts
Via della Repubblica, Parma
Parma's elegant main shopping artery with fashion brands, specialty food shops, and boutiques
Best for: Fashion, food souvenirs, Italian brands
Via Farini, Modena
Modena's elegant historic street with specialty food shops, fashion boutiques, and the famous Pasticceria Gollini
Best for: Local food products, fashion, pastries
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Centro Commerciale I Portali (Modena)
Large modern mall in Modena with major Italian and international fashion brands, restaurants, and a hypermarket
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
L'Airone Centro Commerciale (Ferrara)
Ferrara's main shopping center with hypermarket, retail stores, and food court
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
Le Befane (Rimini)
Rimini's large shopping center, busiest in summer with beach tourists; good for household goods and fashion
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
Gran Reno (Bologna)
Bologna's large suburban shopping mall with extensive retail and restaurant options
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is not customary in regular shops or restaurants—fixed prices are expected
At antique markets and monthly flea markets, politely negotiating a small discount is acceptable
Ask for a discount when buying multiple food products at market stalls—often possible
Some artisan leather shops may offer small discounts for cash payments
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Cannot export Italian antiques (pre-1850) without government cultural export permit; always verify authenticity
Tax Refund: VAT refund (15-20%) available for non-EU residents on purchases over €155 at Tax Free/Global Blue participating stores; get form stamped at airport
Duty Free: EU duty-free allowances apply when exiting EU; non-EU typical allowances: 1L spirits, 200 cigarettes, €430 goods
Shipping: Major food shops in Parma and Modena offer international shipping with appropriate vacuum packaging for cheese, ham, and wine