Earthquake in Emilia Romagna shakes 30,000 wheels of Parmesan

2012 Earthquake in Emilia-Romagna: Tremors Around Ferrara and Impact on Parmigiano Reggiano

In the early hours of May 20th, 2012, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the area around Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna. Many residents were awakened in the middle of the night by strong tremors. Several buildings suffered structural damage, and tragically four people lost their lives.

Ferrara is located approximately 70 km from Modena and 50 km from Bologna. Although the epicenter was between Modena and Bologna, damage in these cities was limited. In both Modena and Bologna, the event caused significant alarm but only minor structural impact. Train services were temporarily suspended for several hours but were restored later the same day.

One of the most remarkable consequences of the earthquake involved the region’s iconic Parmigiano Reggiano production. Around 30,000 wheels of Parmesan cheese were knocked down from their aging shelves, causing considerable financial losses for local producers.

Bologna

A resident described the moment as extremely frightening, but fortunately no significant structural damage was reported within the city.

Modena

In Modena’s historic city centre, no major damage occurred. However, in the nearby town of Finale Emilia, a bell tower was damaged and 35 hospital patients were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Reggio Emilia

Residents in Reggio Emilia felt vigorous shaking, but no infrastructure damage was reported.

Parma

In Parma, tremors were felt without reports of significant damage.

Impact on Parmigiano Reggiano Producers

The earthquake had a particularly dramatic effect on Parmigiano Reggiano dairies. When the aging shelves collapsed, thousands of cheese wheels fell to the ground. Some of these wheels had been maturing for up to two years. Each wheel represents a major financial investment, and many producers faced immediate economic strain.

Reports at the time noted that producers attempted to sell damaged wheels at discounted prices to avoid waste and reduce losses. In some cases, Parmesan wheels are even used as collateral for bank loans, demonstrating the deep economic importance of this centuries-old tradition in Emilia-Romagna.

Despite the hardship, the resilience of local producers ensured that production continued. Parmigiano Reggiano has been crafted in this region for over nine centuries, and the tradition remains a cornerstone of Emilia-Romagna’s identity.

Emilia Delizia Notice to Our Clients

Although the events of 2012 were unsettling, Bologna, Modena, and Parma quickly returned to normal operations. Today, Emilia-Romagna remains one of Italy’s safest and most culturally rich regions to visit.

Visitors can still experience authentic Parmigiano Reggiano production and witness firsthand how this extraordinary cheese is made and aged. If you are staying in Bologna and would like to visit a working dairy, you can join our parmesan tour from Bologna, where you will explore traditional production methods and see the impressive aging warehouses that store thousands of wheels.

Emilia Delizia continues to operate gourmet food tours throughout the region, offering visitors safe and authentic culinary experiences in the heart of Emilia-Romagna.