In Reggio Emilia in the city of the Tricolour

We start in Reggio Emilia, the city of the Tricolour, the one where the Italian flag was adopted for the first time in 1797. The historic centre revolves around Piazza Prampolini, which the people of Reggio Emilia simply call 'Piazza Grande'. Here is the Duomo, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, with an unfinished façade that has its own rough charm. Next to it is the 11th-century Baptistery in Romanesque style, where the octagonal interior creates a play of light that enhances the sacred architecture. The historic theatres - the Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre and the Ariosto Theatre - are two jewels that demonstrate how Emilia, even in past centuries, invested in culture. Before leaving, the Basilica della Ghiara, a masterpiece of the late Renaissance, is worth a stop.