Romagna

Romagna is a historical and geographic region in Northern Italy, located along the Adriatic coast. It lies largely to the east of the modern administrative region of Emilia-Romagna and is commonly used to describe the southern part of the Po Valley’s coastal plain. The Republic of San Marino, an independent microstate, is an enclave within Romagna.

Geographically, Romagna extends from the Po delta in the north to the Apennine foothills in the south, featuring a low-lying coastal plain, dunes, and marshlands near Ravenna. The principal urban centers are Ravenna, Rimini, Forlì and Cesena. Rivers such as the Savio and Marecchia run through the plains, shaping its landscape and agriculture.

Historically, Romagna has been part of several states and empires. The name appears in medieval and early modern usage to denote a cultural and linguistic area rather than a strictly defined political unit. After the unification of Italy, Romagna became part of the new region of Emilia-Romagna. The term remains in common use to identify a distinctive regional identity within northern Italy.

Culture and language in Romagna include Romagnol dialects, a group of Gallo-Italic languages spoken in parts of the region alongside standard Italian. The area is known for culinary traditions such as piadina flatbread and seafood along the coast, as well as regional wines like Albana di Romagna. Ravenna is renowned for its late antique and Byzantine mosaics, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Notable places and tourism in Romagna include the Adriatic coast towns of Rimini and the surrounding resorts, along with San Marino’s historic towers and views across the region. The area also features historic towns and natural reserves inland.