The small city of Reggio Emilia is located in the centre of the Emilio-Romagna province, and is usually referred to as Reggio by locals; not to be confused with the town of Reggio Calabria in the far south of the country. As with many Italian cities, most of the attractions are in religious buildings, but Reggio is also home to a number of interesting museums and pleasant public spaces. The city also hosts a famous chess tournament, attended by many of the Grand Masters over the years, which is held in December and January every year.
The city's main cathedral was completed in the 13th century, though some parts of the building date back to the 9th century. The crypt is one of the main attractions, and is supposedly the resting place of two martyred saints. Pieces of original flooring have been discovered here, decorated by mosaic pictures of animals. In the main body of the cathedral, the smaller chapels are home to some particularly fine examples of religious sculpture, especially the funeral monument of Valerio Malaguzzi (1510), made by Bartolomeo Spani. The city's baptistery is an unassuming building, worthy of visiting for one intriguing feature; the marks made on the left hand side of the entrance that were used for checking weights and measures on market days in the past.
Reggio is home to a number of museums, covering subjects as diverse as the Italian flag and wine. One of the most popular museums in the town is the contemporary art museum. Housed in a modern structure, built specially to house the collection, the museum features examples of Italian and international modern art, including pop art works by Basquiat and Schnabel, who collaborated with Andy Warhol on many projects. The Tricolour Flag museum not only recounts the history of the Italian flag but also features exhibits on the fascinating history of the town of Reggio itself.
The city park, Parco del Popolo, is a large space with laid-out gardens and miles of paths to explore, located right in the centre of Reggio. At every turn, visitors will find sculptures and fountains, while the park hosts popular cultural events in the warmer summer months. Just outside the city, you can visit the Marmirolo Oasis, a man-made reservoir created for industrial purposes and abandoned, which has now filled with rain water over the decades and is home to a remarkable number of bird species. There are expert tour guides available to show you round the area and help identify some of the rare feathered creatures that have made the Oasis their home.
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