5 Apps to Discover Emilia Romagna

Emilia Romagna is synonymous with true elegance and picturesque backdrops. Situated in Northern Italy, this oasis of calm is nestled within a serene and tranquil environment. From its vibrant Byzantine mosaics and university to lavish outdoor cafes and venues, the region is a haven for domestic shopkeepers and international tourists. Whether you love fishing and nautical activities or fine dining and cuisine, Emilia Romagna will truly dazzle the taste buds and senses. While there are several guided tours available, one of the best ways to access information is via apps. The following programs have been heralded for being the ultimate ways to discover this enchanted and fascinating locale.

Le Jour ni l’Heure 1465 : amphithéâtre anatomique, 1637-1649, par Antonio Paolucci dit Il Levanti, archigymnase de Bologne, Émilie-Romagne, Italie, lundi 19 décembre 2011,16:08:22 — Bologna Archiginnasio – Oldest University in Western Europe.

Best Beaches in Emilia Romagna

KFrame Interactive is a great app for discovering the sparkling waters and sandy beaches of the region. Designed for Android users, this 5 star app is easy to use and offers timely details and directions. The zoom in and zoom out feature is especially helpful in exploring the rocky shores and miles of coastline that inhabit the region. There are also tons of photos shared by tourists for a true interactive experience. From the hottest nightlife spots to 5-star restaurants and eateries, KFrame offers the perfect Emilia Romagna experience right at the touch of your fingers.

Emilia Romagna Touring Club

The Touring Editor app has received mixed reviews and is designed for Android users. This app is especially helpful in finding the best restaurants and cafes in the region. From traditional Italian delicacies to continental favorites, the Touring Editor is perfect for those that want to have the best culinary experience. The app is also great for locating hospitality venues, hotels, and motels. With its user-friendly interface and all- app compatibility, this program is simply perfect for culinary enthusiasts and aficionados. The app has also received stellar reviews for the most part; however, some users have opted for other apps that offer more intricate and detailed features.

Trenit

Trenit is the premier transportation app for Emilia Romagna. This Android app helps users find train and bus schedules for the region, along with touring guides and even limousine services. From cost-affordable transportation companies to private services, Trenit has received 4 stars and continues to be an app that most everyone enjoys. The Italian Trains Timetable is particularly helpful since it also features transportation hubs and services to and from the region.

Bologna Maps and Walks

This app is for i-Phone and i-Pad users, and is designed to find the best guides tours and walks in the region. The convenient built-in features are also great for creating your own personalized and customized walking tour. In fact, the screenshots easily correlates with real-time information – allowing users to access vital information on where they are and where they are going!

Spas Emilia Romagna

This wonderful app is designed for I-Phone and I-Pad users, and helps customers find a myriad of lavish and elegant spa services. From manicure and pedicures to facials, this unique app is perfect for those that want to experience the sensuality and romance of this beloved region. The app has also received great reviews and client testimonials across the board.

Parmesan Might Have Similar Effects Of Impotence medications, Scientist found.

Parmesan cheese in popular culture:

Not just cheese, more than a staple for those in Emilia-Romagna and the entire word, Parmesan Cheese is a myth, a tradition and at the core of Italian cuisine. The elderly of Modena, one of the areas where the production of Parmesan is safeguarded and brought forward, have always considered Parmigiano Reggiano a cheese with energetic and energizing properties, but there’s more. They also believe this cheese to have aphrodisiac properties and to be able to make those who eat it “horny”. The younger generations might not know of this bit of trivia from their parents or grandparents, but Parmigiano cheese is said to enhance a person’s sexual desire. This was considered a legend until recently, as it hadn’t been proved by scientific research, but folk tales do prove to be true sometimes, as is the case for Parmesan.

viagra-70398_1280 — You might not need the blue bill after all – source

Parmesan cheese and science:

Local professor Mario Baraldi (http://www.fondazionebaraldi.com/curriculum.php) has a 50 years’ long experience in pharmacology and started researching Parmigiano Reggiano’s purported aphrodisiac properties with a scientific study based on the fact that about 15/20% of the male population has erectile dysfunction. His study was conducted on sexually sluggish male rats and then published on the Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Science because the professor discovered that feeding Parmesan cheese to the rats over a period of time improved their sexual performance. In fact, Parmesan is constituted for the 30% of free amino acids that are precursors and building blocks for nervous system stimulants such as dopamine.

Parmesan cheese and its synergic effect with traditional Balsamic vinegar:

Often the two products are consumed together. It’s really an experience to try, and purely from a gastronomic standpoint it’s something you’ll have to taste for yourself to completely appreciate the characteristics and strengths of both foods. The salty, grainy consistence of the cheese, paired with the smooth, sweet but slightly sour taste of Balsamic vinegar (also traditionally produced in the area of Modena and nearby) meet in an extremely enjoyable way. Balsamic is advertised as being a good partner for a wide array of different foods and dishes, but pairing it with Parmigiano Reggiano is like a meeting that was meant to happen. Some people pour a few drops on top of the cheese – which must not be cut in a straight direction, but flaked roughly with a special knife – while other people prefer to pour a small pool of Balsamic vinegar on their plates and dip the Parmesan flake in it. The different qualities of Balsamic vinegar ease the choice, since the more expensive the product chosen, the less drops each of us will use, both for the quality and the quantity needed to appreciate the taste.

Professor Baraldi reckons that consuming both products together can prove beneficial: the Balsamic vinegar helps the stomach in receiving and absorbing the cheese because of its unique sweet and sour taste. This way, the synergy created is not only a pleasant eating experience for your palate, but also for your body and sexual life.

Bologna Food Tour and Cooking at Local Farm Agriturismo

A beautiful visit in bologna City Center, not as a tourist but as a very bolognese person. It will be possible to sleep at San Giuliano, in our beautiful rooms. Price 30€ per person, breakfast included.

Content of this activity: A beautiful visit in Bologna city centre, not as a tourist but as a real Bolognese. It will be possible to sleep at San Giuliano, in our beautiful rooms. Breakfast included. Please enquiry for prices.

poderesangiuliano1 — Cooking class at Farm house in Bologna

Highlights of the Day.

9:00 Meeting point in Piazza San Domenico

Visit at the Principal church of San Domenico’s Order of Preachers. Inside there is the organ where Wolfang Amadeus Mozart played during his stay in Bologna. There’s also the San Domenico Arca with a sculpture of young Michelangelo

9:30 Galleria Cavour, the most beautiful boutique in Bologna
Archiginnasio Library, the most ancient and important palace of Bologna.
Is the first venue of the most antique University of the world

10:00 Fresh meat and vegetable market. We buy what is necessary for our
cooking lesson.

11:00 transfer to Podere San Giuliano.
At their arrival guests get started with a sweet coffee break and…let’s cooking!!!

I will be their Cicerone across our beautiful town and …maybe more
2-4 people maximum

poderesangiuliano2 — Podere San Giuliano in Bologna

Discover the rolling hills of Faenza: art, history, enogastronomy

My family lives in Oriolo from 1970: in that period starts our wine production from grapes harvested in our fields. In 1993 we opened our Holiday farm. We can accommodate till 20/25 people and for larger groups we collaborate with farm houses in the neighbors. The restaurant serves only traditional recipes and uses only seasonal and km0 raw materials. All the rooms have private bathroom, tv, air conditioning and free wi-fi. The swimming pool is from 1,10 m to 2,40 depth and is surrounded with a garden equipped with sun beds and parasols. We have also a kids corner.

Accommodation in holiday farm, surrounded by vineyards on the hills of Faenza

B&B service, equipped with beautiful swimming pool and relaxa area.
Opportunity to dine in or farmhouse with traditional menu: homemade pasta, vegetables in oil, cured meat and cheeses of the area, grilled meat

Small wine tasting course in our cellar “Discovery the authoctons wines of Romagna”: Centesimino and Famoso (possibility to purchase wine). duration 1h

Cookery Course “On the footsteps of Pellegrino Artusi”. Duration half day
Visit to the Herb Garden: guided tour to discover the edible herbs, gathering, recognition and tasting of herbs and flowers or experience distillation, use of essential oils, (alternative preparation of some plant extracts, infusions, tinctures). Possibility of buying herbal products in the store’s garden. Duration half day

Walk through the vineyards to the medieval tower of Oriolo ai Fichi (in the months of May and June every Wednesday local companies propose “Oriolo’s Evening”: quality music, local wines and excellent local cuisine) or along the “road of poetry” a curvy and turn path, shaded by tall plants but open on … enchanted landscapes, dotted with poems posted on tree trunks. Alternatively you can use the bikes available at our farm until exhaustion
Riding lessons or horseback riding at a riding school near our farm. Duration from 1h up to all day

Visit to the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, with works ranging from ancient to contemporary: between all important donations of Picasso (…”pour a ceramist, qui dit dit l’Italie Faenza”…), Matisse, Chagall and Léger. Duration 1h 30’
Small beer class at the local micro brewery (possibility of buying the beers). Duration 2 h
Spa relax at the spa of Fratta Terme or Riolo Terme. Duration half day

Profile of the Owner: My family lives in Oriolo from 1970: in that period starts our wine production from grapes harvested in our fields. In 1993 we opened our Holiday farm. We can accommodate till 20/25 people and for larger groups we collaborate with farm houses in the neighbors. The restaurant serves only traditional recipes and uses only seasonal and km0 raw materials. All the rooms have private bathroom, tv, air conditioning and free wi-fi. The swimming pool is from 1,10 m to 2,40 depth and is surrounded with a garden equipped with sun beds and parasols. We have also a kids corner.

Bologna Food Themed Park to Open In Italy

In a bid to turn disused public real estate into profitable tourist attractions, the municipality of Bologna and Eataly, the food chain, have announce that they plan to open a food themed park in what is otherwise called the food capital of Italy. It is estimated that the proposed food theme park will cost about €400 million to develop and it is hoped that it will open its doors to visitors in 2015. It will be located on 80,000 square meters of what today is a lot of unused warehouses. The move comes as a result of a push from the Italian government to turn unused assets into tourist attractions.

According to Paolo Scordino who is the chief executive of Prelios SGR, they have already started raising the necessary funds and so far, they have managed to get about €85 million. The hope is that the theme park will remind visitors of a time when Italy was more serene, not the way it is currently described as a “decadent” country.

There are several such projects going on around the country. They are part of a plan to try and get Italy out of its current financial woes. In Venice, for instance, a project is underway to turn an abandoned island into a theme park which will include a 55 meter Ferris wheel and many other theme park entertainments.

All these projects, it is hoped, will attract even more tourists than are currently coming into the country to see various attractions. Most visitors come to Italy for the art, the beaches and the food but it is now hoped that theme parks will attract a different kind of crowd, the kind that fills Disneyland every day. According to one official, “Each square meter will be linked to a business line and will directly or indirectly produce revenue, as happens in Disney’s parks.”

Modena and Reggio Emilia: find REAL Balsamic Vinegar

There is still a lot of confusion about what constitutes a genuine Balsamic vinegar, or Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, to give this Italian “black gold” its correct name. After all, anyone can walk into their local supermarket and find a string of different vinegars all bearing the name Balsamic Vinegar of Modena; this is confusing I know, but do not be fooled – this is a cheaper “imitation” and nothing at all like the product it tries to imitate. Most of cheaper bottles will contain cooked grape juice and ordinary red wine vinegar, and sometimes thickeners and caramel to sweeten and colour. These products are regulated by IGP labelling and producers can add these additives to obtain the right colour or density. Most of them are pleasant enough to use for salad dressing, and slightly sweeter than regular red wine vinegar.

ACETO2 — Traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, in its typical bottle.

What is real traditional balsamic vinegar then?

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, by contrast, is regulated every step of the way through the production and aging process and may only be produced in two areas, Modena and Reggio Emilia in the north of Italy, which is where you should go to find it and see how it is made. The best way to be sure that you are finding the real thing is to go on a Balsamic Tour to one of the producers, where you will learn all about the production process and how to recognise the genuine product. There are about 160 producers in the two regions, who make a total of just 75,000 bottles a year. The vinegar is made in the traditional age-old way, using mainly trebbiano grapes grown locally. The vinegar is aged in a succession of wooden barrels which become smaller and smaller until it has been maturing for at least 12 years, the minimum acceptable aging period for a Tradizionale Balsamic. At this stage the vinegar will be tasted by the regulatory body, the Consorzio to which the producer belongs, and if it is passed it will be labelled affinato, indicating a young Balsamic, and is bottled with a white top, in both Modena and Reggio Emilia.

Extra old balsamic vinegars in Modena and Reggio Emilia.

About 30 – 40% of the product is then further aged until it reaches 25 or even 30 years old. A really well matured over 25 year old Balsamic is labelled extra vecchio (very old) and will be bottled with a gold top in both regions. In Reggio Emilia, there is a third designation for vinegars that have been matured for at least 18 years – they are labelled vecchio (old) and bottled with a gold top. The bottle shapes are also distinctive for each region; in Modena they use a rounded globe-shaped bottle with a rectangular base and a long neck, while the Reggio Emilia bottle is straighter and has a slightly flared base.

Many of the producers (acetaia) in the Modena and Reggio Emilia region are very happy to take you on a tour of their establishments, but most will require advance booking if you are not part of a tour. Acetaia di Giorgio is one of the producers in Modena who will give you a genuine welcome and an excellent tour, including the chance to taste several different balsamics, while in Reggio Emilia, Acetaia Medici is a good choice since they not only make excellent Balsamic, but also several wonderful wines.

Emilia Delizia will be delighted to organise a traditional balsamic tour for your group, big or small. Our company can organise an all inclusive day with transport and English speaking guide, departing from Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma.

3 bottles of traditional balsamic vinegar — The 3 ageing of the traditional balsamic vinegar of Reggio Emilia

The Castles and Food of Piacenza – Bardi Arquato, Bobbio, and Coppa.

Emilia Delizia would be delighted to organise a castle, food and wine tour for your group departing from Piacenza, Parma and Milan. For more information about the castles of the Piacenza/Parma area, please check our article below.

Piacenza and Parma’s Castles, a unique experience in Emilia Romagna.

Planning a holiday in Italy is always a delight with such a lot to look forward to! The Emilia Romagna region in North-Eastern Italy is home to the town of Parma, and we all know that Parma is the birthplace of some of Italy’s favourite exports, Parmesano Reggiano (Parmesan Cheese) and Proscuitto di Parma (Parma Ham), but did you know that the province, (or duchy), of Parma and Piacenza is also home to more than 20 castles? Castles and fortresses are symbolic of the region; they are a constant reminder of the hundreds of years the region has been under siege by successive waves of marauding invaders intent upon destruction and mayhem; they are magical places to visit for adults and children alike and you should not miss the opportunity to include a few in your itinerary.

This area is acknowledged to be the best place to view some wonderful examples of the best-preserved castles in all of Italy, and they are relatively close together, making exploring easy. I will tell you a little about 3 of the castles:

Castello di Bardi. The fortress of Bardi is an excellent example of Military architecture and has stood for more than one thousand years. It was built for defence, but later (16th century) partially converted to an aristocratic residence. There is plenty to see, including the ancient patrol paths, the parade ground, the fortified towers and all you would expect to find in a structure dedicated to defence. The view from the towers is worth the climb, and you can also visit a Museum dedicated to the story of the ancient Valley-Dwelling Civilisation. The Castle is open from March to Nov and entrance is around €5.50 per adult.

Castello di Arquato is found in the little medieval town with the same name (Castell’Arquato) in the province of Piacenza. The Castle was built from 1342-1349, and was a strategic structure, designed for the defence of the area. The rectangular courtyard enclosure is dominated by the Tower (keep) composed of a series of small rooms built one on top of the other, and linked by a series of staircases leading to the very top. Once again, your climbing efforts will be rewarded by the views of the surrounding countryside. You can visit the castle all year round for €3.50 (If you plan to visit several castles, you can buy a discount ticket for €2.00 at the castle that will save you money at all the other castles in the region.)

Make sure to visit the Multimedia Museum of Medieval Life, then explore the pretty little town than spills down the hill and visit the 12th century church of Santa Maria to see some sculptures and frescoes dating from the 12th and 15th centuries.

Castello di Bobbio. Bobbio is a small town near Piacenza, mainly famous for its Abbey and its Christmas Eve Snail Festival! The castle, properly known as Malaspina Dal Verme Castle now lies within the city walls of the town. It was begun in 1304 on the hill overlooking the town and although it is no longer intact, it is still worth a visit. You will find ruins of the Bishops Tower, and another circular tower built on two levels; you can still see the ancient arrow slits on the battlements, now converted to windows. The interior has undergone several modifications but the original large barrel-vaulted main hall is still intact, as are some very old frescoes in the stairwell. The Castle is open all year round and it costs €2.00 to visit. The little town of Bobbio is a lovely place to spend a few hours and you should try to visit the Abbey while you are there.

Bobbio - ponte gobbo 2 — Ponte Gobbo – Bobbio Emilia Romagna – source

Food and wine in the Piacenza province.

When all the sightseeing has made you hungry and thirsty, you will be delighted to find yourself in Emilia Romagna, the culinary capital of the country where good food and wine are the order of the day! You are certain to have tasted Parma Ham and Parmesan cheese, but here in Piacenza there are other specialities to try, namely the Coppa Piacentina, Salame Piacentino and Pancetta Piacentina; all of these are wonderful examples of cured meat from the region and have been awarded PDO status (Protected Designation of Origin).

Your meat platter is beautifully accompanied by a glass or two of Gutturnio wine from the hills of Piacenza; this mellow blend of red Barbera and Croatina grapes has recently been awarded DOC status – do not miss it! Salute!

Balsamic vinegar tour in Modena – EmiliaDelizia.com

Modena and the traditional balsamic vinegar produced here are truly Italian gems of uniqueness.

Romanesque cathedral — Cathedral of Modena

The Duomo di Modena is part of the Unesco world’s heritage and it is something really markable that you should not miss. It is almost 1000 years old and build only from scrap marbled derived from ancient Roman villas. The Duomo has been built according the Romanesque style by the masters of Campione D’Italia. The structure celebrates Modena’s patron and protector San Geminiano.

extra old balsamic vinegar — 100 ml bottle of balsamic vinegar of Modena

Hidden in the family’s home attics there is another treasure: Traditional Balsamic vinegar of Modena. Only made by the Modenese families in small batches and aged up to 25 years, it is a remarkable pearl in the Italian gastronomic tradition. It requires a set of barrels made of noble woods, Lambrusco grape juice and a lot of patience. Every year the producers have to painstakingly refill the barrels since some of the liquid is lost due to natural evaporation during the hot summers. However this allows to blend the flavours of the woods into the final product.

tasting of balsamic vinegar — trying the balsamic vinegar

The traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena has basically nothing to do with lower quality vinegar even when marketed as MODENA’S. During the tasting we will discover how to distinguish the black nectar from its numerous imitations. The tasting is aimed to develop an appreciation for the producer and learn how to match it with foods. Even though it is seen by many as an expensive and eccentric product it can be used on everyday’s foods. If used correctly a bottle will last for long time.

During Emilia Delizia’s Traditional Balsamic Vinegar tour we will learn how the fractional ageing works and each detail of the production will be explained to our guests. For those wishing to take home some of the product is now possible to purchase the 100 ml bottles directly from the producer at discounted prices. Some producers are also happy to send their products directly to your home and almost all accept all major credit cards.

Even though Modena is small, it is a true concentration of history, architecture and food delicacies. If you want to truly sample the city we recommend to spend at least one night and a full day. Modena is also famous for Parmesan cheese, pasta like tortellini, Zampone and cotechino and there is an endless array of good restaurants in the city centre. Ranging from cheap eat to Bottura’s Osteria Francescana, Modena is set to please everyone in terms of food.

Canza Enzo Ferrari — Ferrari museum in central Modena

Modena is also the capital of motor sport, and super cars. The newly open Enzo Ferrari museums is an interesting hot spot for those fanatic about the Ferrari cars. The modern building offers themed and rotating car collections that express the soul Modena. It is also possible to catch a shuttle bus and visit the Maranello Ferrari museum without the need of hiring a car.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2knZXPzfHdU

Parmigiano Reggiano Factory Tour

Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan) guided visit to a cheese day.

Emilia Delizia offers detailed Parmigiano Reggiano cheese tours in Modena, Parma and Reggio Emilia. Our tour will begin early in the morning in order to catch as much as possible. Below we tried to reproduce our tour in pictures to give a better idea to people about what they will see when at the Parmesan dairy.

Milk for parmesan cheese — 1000 kg of milk for the parmigiano reggiano cheese production

At the arrival at the dairy we we will see the raw milk sitting in the vats. These large containers “cauldrons” contains 1000 kg of full fat and half milk mixed together. The compound is then acidified and the rennet is added. At this point the milk will turn into a yoghurt like substance.

cheese just made — 2 wheels of parmesan cheese

These are the 2 twins, one is a boy and the other is a girl. Basically these are the curds of the cheese that have been cut and left to rest. From 1000 kilos of milk we obtain 2 45 kilos wheels. Some of the weight is lost during the ageing, and therefore the final product weights approximately 37 kg.

Parmesan cheese just made — The cheese will spend a day in the Teflon mould

The unformed cheese goes into the Teflon mould for one day and one night. The cheese master carefully add a weight on top of the cheese. In order to squeeze our all the liquid the moulds are then turned every couple of hours. In the evening the cheese cloth is removed and the matrix carrying the naming Parmigiano Reggiano is inserted in the mould. Telon is a new material that has replaced the hand made wooden moulds that were originally crafted by hand. httpv://youtu.be/z6M7-THZOeM In the video you can clearly see how the cheese is moved from the vat to the moulds. Our guests will be able to see the full production just meters away form the cheese being made.

metal moulds for the cheese — the parmesan cheese is the metal mould

The cheese goes into the metal mould for another day. These moulds have the shape of the wheel which will not required further manipulation such as the trimming of the edges. The cheese always rest on wooden shelves which allow breathing and the correct ageing.

cheese guided tour — Guided tour to a Parmesan cheese dairy

The wheels then go to a brine bath and stay here for 3 weeks. This is an important step to make hard cheese in fact the high salinity of the water will allow residual moisture to exit thanks to natural osmosis. It is important to keep in mind that Parmesan cheese does not contain any preservative or anti fermentative, therefore it is essential to have the right amount of moisture in the wheels.

ageing Parmesan cheese — visit to the Parmigiano Reggiano maturation cellars

The last part of the visit will be spend in the ageing cellars. Here is the Parmigiano Reggiano is stocked on the traditional shelves for a minima of 12 months. During the visit we will learn how to recognise the real Parmesan cheese from imitation and we will discover the nutritional values of the product.

The culinary traditions of Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia is often overlooked by the tourists coming to Emilia Romagna. Reggio Emilia is a medium size town on the Via Emiia situated between Modena and Parma, and it makes the perfect base for the culinary traveller as there are many gourmet foods to be discovered.

Reggio Emilia and Parmesan cheese.

Reggio Emilia is in the cradle of Parmigiano Reggiano. The history of this amazing cheese starts here. Bibbiano has been named the town where the first production started around 900 years ago due to the discovery of the first written accounts of the cheese production. Therefore visiting Reggio Emilia makes perfect sense for those interested in seeing the production of Parmesan cheese.

Traditional balsamic vinegar of Reggio Emilia.

Modena made balsamic vinegar known worldwide but the production of aceto balsamic tradizionale is not restricted to the Modenese province. In the tradition balsamic vinegar was the dowry of young women who would marry and bring the vinegar barrels with them. Due to the close proximity of the two provinces the tradition was also brought in Reggio Emilia. Here it is possible to find more old fashioned producers who make only high quality traditional balsamic vinegar rather than concentrating on industrial vinegar as many do in Modena.

Fresh Egg Pasta: tortelli di zucca.

Of course Reggio Emilia, as all towns in the Emilia Region, produces its own version of fresh egg pasta. One of the most peculiar ones are the Tortelli di Zucca. Sometimes hat or ravioli shaped these parcels are filled with ricotta cheese, parmesan and pumpkin. Some recipes require a hint of crumbled amaretti biscuits in the filling, it is indeed an acquired taste but they can be delicious when topped with melted butter parmesan cheese and a few drops of balsamic vinegar.

A Medieval Pie: Erbazzone.

Erbazzone belongs to the simple farmer’s style cuisine. The women in the kitchen had to come up with something filling and tasty so erbazzone is a pastry made with lard and flour with a filling of chard, spinach, or whatever was in the allotment at the time of preparation. The filling requires to be laced with parmesan cheese, and you could put as much as you could afford. The pastry is pierced with a fork to let vegetable inside to steam when baking in the oven.

Culaccia ham.

Culaccia is a culatello, (the best prosciutto cut) but it is cured with the rind on. This technique allows the meat to stay soft and tender. Culaccia can be found on the Reggio Emilia hills where the climate is drier and away from the foggy plains. In some cases Culaccia beats Parma ham and culatello in tasting competitions. So it is well worth to look for some slices of culaccia in the next trip to Italy.