Journey through the flavours, arts and traditions of Emilia Romagna, an area that excels in giving tourists a warm welcome, with tailor made holiday packages that include art exhibitions, local food festivals, and culinary events. This region is a rich “larder” with a growing number of local products recognized as quality brands by the European Union. The shopping basket of Emilia Romagna now contains 39 recognized “DOP” and “IGP” products from the region.

And then there is that passion for cars: the world famous makes, the museums and great collections. However the so-called “Motor Valley” of Emilia Romagna also stands out for other reasons.You shouldn’t miss out on the Moto GP held at the Misano World Circuit dedicated to Marco Simoncelli (12th – 14th September). This high-profile race at the circuit located in the Rimini Riviera attracts more than 500,000 fans of motorbikes (www.misanocircuit.com). And if this wasn’t enough in 2014 Maserati, founded in Bologna on 1st December 1914, will be celebrating its hundredth birthday. Celebrations include exhibitions, parades, meetings and other commemorative activities. As part of the celebrations the company, with its Trident symbol, has opened a special site www.maserati100.com where you can find details about key moments in the history of the company and the celebrations.

Car lovers can visit what could be called the “sanctuaries” of Motor Valley. In Bologna the archive and Ducati Museum (www.ducati.it) have been classified as local heritage sites while at Maranello the Ferrari Museum (www.museoferrari.it) has set aside a special area for its youngest visitors with interactive space and simulations.Another success has been the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena with its 5000 m of exhibition space dedicated to Enzo Ferrari.The house where Ferrari was born in 1898 is part of th e museum with an exhibition gallery (museocasaenzoferrari.it).

For those of you who love art Bologna’s modern art gallery MAMbo is hosting an exhibition of the work of one of the United States’ more original contemporary artists, Nick Van Woert (until 7th September).While in nearby Modena, Palazzina dei Giardini is hosting another exhibition on Michelangelo and the 20th century. Held simultaneously with an exhibition in Florence, it concentrates on the influence of Michelangelo on 20th-century sculpture (until 19th October). Ravenna until 5th September gives you the possibility to visit the San Vitale Basilica, Galla Placidia’s mausoleum, the Domus dei Tappeti and the TAMO museum with its exhibitions on archaeology every Tuesday and Friday from nine till eleven o’clock at night (www.turismo.rai.it).

Between October 10th – November 4th Parma and Busseto become a paradise for opera lovers during the Verdi Festival 2014 with performances in Parma’s Teatro Regio, the Teatro Verdi in Busseto and other theatres in the Parma area (www.teatroregioparma.org). Up to 31st August Ferrara is home to the International Buskers Festival. The 10 days buskers are welcomed from all over the world featuring master musicians and fascinating street artists. This “mobile” festival includes 1000 artists coming from 35 different countries (www.ferrarabuskers.com).

The area is also alive with food and drink events. There is the festival of Coppa Piacentina (a delicious DOP salame) at Carpenato Piacentino, while there is a festival of Salamina da Sugo al Cucchiaio sausage at Madonna Boschi (FE) on 25th – 28th September; 2nd – 5th October and 9th – 12th October. At Comacchio near Ferrara the Sagra dell’Anguilla celebrates the eel (27th – 28th September; 4th – 5th October; 11th – 12th October). Cesenatico offers a fish festival (31st September – 2nd October). Set in the town’s charming streets and canal port you can enjoy a weekend sampling the season’s fish combined with wine tasting.