Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna (Emélia-Rumâgna in Emilian-Romagnol) is a 4.5 million people region (formed by the historical regions of Emilia and Romagna) in the northern part of Italy by the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennine Mountains, Po Valley and the Adriatic Sea. It's surrounded by Piedmont, Lombardia and Veneto in the north, Marche, San Marino and Tuscany in the south and Liguria in the east. Tuscany is one of the wealthiest and most popular regions in Italy because of its food, its landscapes and its industry. The population have a mostly Catholic Christian heritage and the official language is Italian (standard Italian or its Emilian-Romagnol dialect and language), with English spoken by people working for tourism. The main and capital city of Emilia-Romagna is Bologna, with other important cities like Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ravenna.

What can I visit in the Emilia-Romagna?

Here you have a list of places in the region of Emilia-Romagna that are worth to be seen. Check them out and find out the ones you want to visit:

History

The first inhabitants in current Lithuania were established in the 10th millennium BC and the first Lithuanian people were a branch of Baltic tribes. Lithuanian language is considered a conservative language and is said to have been separated in the 7th AD and the Lithuanian tribe is thought to have developed in the end of the first millennium, first mentioned in the Annals of the Quedlinburg monastery. Traditional pagan customs and mythology were long preserved and in 1009, the missionary Bruno of Querfurt arrived and baptized the King Nethimer. In the 10th and 11th century Lithuanians paid tribute to the Kievan Rus' and the Lithuanian war machine started developing and in the 12th century the Grand Duke of Lithuania started existing. The beginning of the 13th century came with two German crusading military orders which came to expand Christianism: the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and the Teutonic Knights. This made the Baltic tribes unite under the duke Mindaugas who 1251 was baptised and crowned as King of Lithuania. When he died, there was a period of instability until Gediminas family and its first king, Butigeidis, took control of the country. The third king of this dynasty, Gediminas, expanded Lithuanian international relationship with the Pope, trying to convert to Christian Catholicism (twarted by pagan Samogitians and other members of his family who were Orthdox Christians) and expanding the kingdom to Ruthenia (most of current Belarus and part of Ukraine). One of his grandsons, Jogaila became Grand Duke and started fighting with his uncle Kęstutis, starting the Lithuanian Civil War. One of Kęstutis' sons, Vytautas, was able to escape and managed to become Grand Duke and the Grand Duke of Lithuania reached its territory peak, conquering Smolensk. After Vytatutas came the Jagiellonian dynasty, during the one it was obvious that Lithuania needed a close alliance with Poland when, at the end of the 15th century, the increasingly assertive Grand Duchy of Moscow threatened some of Lithuania's Rus; before this,
happened the victory in the Battle of Žalgiris with the Teutonic Knights and the Union of Krewo and Union of Horodło joined Lithuania to Poland. During the 15th and 16th centuries the Polish kings wasnted to ensure and increase the link between Lithuania and Poland and in 1569 it was signed the Union of Lublin, in which Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was created. At the beginning of that union there was a Lithuanian Renaissance but then the polonization started, making Lithuanian fall into disuse (except in Samogitia and Lithuania Minor). During the Northern Wars (1655–1661), the Lithuanian territory and economy were devastated by the Swedish army and later ravaged during the Great Northern War (1700–1721). After the Third Partition (1795) almost all Lithuania was controlled by the Russian Empire (but for when the Napoleon Bonaparte's Grande Armée got Lithuania in 1812) and the Poles and Lithuanians revolted against Russian rule twice, in the November Uprising (1830-31) and the January Uprising (1863-64), but both attempts failed and resulted in increased repression and russification by the Russian authorities; meanwhile in East Prussia (also known as Lithuania Minor) Lithuanian was more preserved but also there was germanization pressure. In the end of the 19th century Lithuanian nationalism started growing and during WW1 Lithuania was conquered by Germany and incorporated into the Ober Ost. When it finished, Lithuania declared its independence with capital in
Kaunas, because Vilnius was occupied by the Poles. There were some Lithuanian Independence Wars and then after Klaipėda revolt in 1923, Lithuania annexed Klaipėda Region. Untill 1926 coup d'etat Lithuania was a democracy and then Antanas Smetona became the authoritary President of Lithuania till 1940, period in which Lithuanian culture got a huge development. Before WW2 Lithuania received the 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania and gave back Klaipėda Region to Germany and when it started, thanks to Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Lithuania was invaded for the Soviet Union till it was conquered by Germany during Barbarossa Operation and during Nazi Germany invation, more than 250,000 Lithuanian Jews were murdered as part of the Holocaust. In the end of WW2 Lithuania was conquered again by the Soviet Union, Vilnius region was given to the Lithuanian SSR and began a rapid sovietization of Lithuania. In this period 20,000 Lithuanian partisans participated in unsuccessful warfare against the Soviet regime in the 1940s and early 1950s, who were later killed or deported to gulags. Between the death of Stalin in 1953 and the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid-1980s, Lithuania functioned as a Soviet society and there was a persecution of the Catholic Church continued. In 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR proclaimed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania and during January Events in Lithuania (Soviet authorities attempted to overthrow the elected government) and in 1991 referendum, the Lithuanian population voted for an independent country. After this the country moved into capitalism economy and in 2004 it became part of the European Union and the NATO. In 2015 it changed its currency from Lithuanian litas to the euro.

Unforgettable experiences 

This places and experiences are a must if you want to discover and understand the region of Galicia. This is my top 10:
  1. Santiago de Compostela: capital city of Galicia and the end of the Way of St. James, Santiago is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and the 3rd most important for Christianity (after Jersualem and Rome) because the apostle St. James is said to be buried here. Despite not being a big city Santiago has a huge legacy and history that can be seen on its many museums, churches or simply walking its streets. It's atmosphere is simply different and sitting in Praza do Obradoiro to see groups of pilgrims arrive after long journeys is very satisfying. Its cathedral is one of the most spectacular ones in Spain. Santiago is also a great point to set your base to visit Galicia. 
  2. A Coruña: the 2nd largest city in Galicia has many things to offer, going from an important cultural offer to sport activities. A Coruña has also a lot of history, as it can be seen at Tower of Hercules (only Roman lighthouse still in use) or the city fortress. A Coruña has also many museums related to science, some interesting churches and a good culinary offer.
  3. Fisterra: the cape and town with the same villages are one of the main touristic points in Galicia due to its mixture of nature, religious meaning and mysticism. Considered by Romans as Land's End, the trail from Santiago de Compostela to Fisterra was popularised during Middle Ages as the foreword of the Way of St. James. Its landscapes, cliffs and beaches are spectacular.
  4. Lugo: talking about this city is talking about its Roman heritage and history. Above all of them are its Roman walls, placed in the UNESCO World Heritage List and one of the best of its kind in Europe. But not all is Roman history, it has an interesting cathedral and many other things to do and visit.
  5. Pontevedra: this city and capital city of province is quite unknown despite its beauty. It has many interesting churches in its Old Town (one of them with scallop shell shape), with is very recommended to walk and enjoy, as its fully pedestrian zone. Moreover you can take some tapas, have a drink on its many bars and enjoy the time.
  6. Mondoñedo: small calmed town with a very impressing cathedral and not very touristic. Its history is linked to the Britonns who arrive here in the 6th century. But it's also a great point to go to the coast and enjoy the spectacular and famous Catedrais beach (booking on advance in peak season) and enjoy the atmosphere of Ribadeo, by the border with Asturias.
  7. Cambados: this town is mainly known because of its wine, albariño. Here you'll be able to know its history and obviously, taste. But not all is food, it has some nice pazos and around Cambados is one of the best places to try seafood, specially in O Grove. This place also has nice beaches.

Planning your holidays

These are some possible routes you may do in Galicia to visit parts of it or discover it all. Galicia has many sightseeing points so you can choose your own route depending your time and what you want to visit. Here are some possible tours:

    a) 5 days tour

 This short journey in Galicia can start in Santiago de Compostela. Here you could stay 1 day enjoying this beautiful, historic and religious city. The 2nd day is a perfect moment to complete the Way of St. James going to Fisterra and enjoying this cape, its atmosphere and landscape. For the 3rd day it can be a great choice visiting one of the largest and most important cities of Galicia, A Coruña, where spending a day knowing it and visiting the known Tower of Hercules. The following day in the morning you can go to Pontevedra, an important city with many churches and a pedestrian Old Town that is a pleasure to walk and in the afternoon Cambados, the capital city of albariño, the main Galician wine. The fith and last day can be enjoyed in Lugo and its surroundings, enjoying its Roman heritage.

   b) 7 days tour

  This journey in Galicia can start in Santiago de Compostela. Here you could stay 1 day enjoying this beautiful, historic and religious city. The 2nd day is a perfect moment to complete the Way of St. James going to Fisterra and for the 3rd day, visiting one of the largest and most important cities of Galicia, A Coruña. The following day in the morning you can go to Pontevedra, an important city with a pedestrian Old Town that is a pleasure to walk and in the afternoon Cambados, the capital city of albariño, the main Galician wine. The fith day can be enjoyed in Lugo and its surroundings, enjoying its Roman heritage. The 6th day can be spent in Mondoñedo, discovering its cathedral and history, going later to the famous Catedrais beach and finish in Ribadeo. The 7th and last day can be enjoyed visiting Ourense and if there's some time left, the traditional medieval town of Ribadavia.

   c) 10 days tour

  This short journey in Galicia can start in Santiago de Compostela. Here you could stay 1 day enjoying this beautiful, historic and religious city. The 2nd day is a perfect moment to complete the Way of St. James going to Fisterra and for the 3rd day, visiting one of the largest and most important cities of Galicia, A Coruña. The following day in the morning you can go to Pontevedra, an important city with a pedestrian Old Town and in the afternoon Cambados, the capital city of albariño (main Galician wine). The 5th and 6th days will be spent in Vigo, spending there half a day and then visiting Baiona and Tui and the following day, in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. The 7th day may be a good one to visit Ourense and if there's some time left, the traditional medieval town of Ribadavia. The 8th day is perfect to visit Sil Canyon and its villages and Monforte de Lemos, before going to Lugo on the 9th day. The 10th and last day you can visit Mondoñedo, discovering its cathedral and history, going later to the famous Catedrais beach and finish in Ribadeo in the evening. 
 https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastronom%C3%ADa_de_Galicia

What can I eat and drink in Tuscany?

Latvian food has Baltic influences (maybe it isn't so wide like other Baltic countries ones) and their meals are usually based in potatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, rye, smoked fish and pork. Sklandrausis (sweet pie filled with potatoe and carrot and seasoned with caraway) is the national dish. One of the most common dishes in Latvian cuisine are soups like beet soup, cabbage soup kļockas (potatoe dumplings soup), grūšļis (potatoe porridge) or lestes (hardened loaves, turnips and milk soup); and cereal soups, such as pūtelis (barley, rye and oats soup), sutnis jeb sutņa putra (barley, wheat and rye soup) or ķiļķenzuppa. The most important legumes are peas and beans which are used, for example, for grūslis (boiled potatoes and peas with roasted hemp) and pinka (boiled peas with hemp). Talking about regional food in Lithuania, the regions with more food personality is Courland, precisely the regions with more Liv influence with dishes like razākakū (salty pie with pork or fish), previously mentioned sklandrausis (sūrkak in Livonian) and smoked fish. The most common bread is rupjmaize (dark rye bread), saldskābmaize (German mischbrot) and slokārtnis too.

Some other typical dishes are šauts (dished made of beet leaves and milk) and curd cheese. Fish are very important in the diet of a seaside country like Latvia. Some of the dishes with fish are cietžāvētas plekstes (dried flounder), salted sprats, salted salmon and cepti nēģi želejā (fried lamprey in jelly). Meat is also important in Latvian cuisine, specially pork, and some of the main dishes are kopķēzis jeb spudiņš (baked pork intestines with potatoes and bean porridge), karbonāde (baked back of the pig), kotletes (meatballs), putraimu desa (Latvian black pudding).
In Galicia some of the most important desserts are based on dairy products like leite callado (cuajada or milk curd) or requeixo (ricotta) but the most famous ones are based on almond, with cakes like torta de Santiago (traditional almond cake), torta de Mondoñedo (almond cake with glucose syrup and fruits) or biscuits such as amendoados de Allariz (almond based cookie).
Talking about drinking, the most famous drink is the wine (viño) since Roman times, with many popular kinds of wine like albariño, Ribeira sacra, Ribeiro or Monterrei. Beer (ceverxa) is also quite important, with brands like Estrella Galicia, that has expanded in the rest of Spain too. There are some kind of stronger spirits like augardente (aguardiente), quemaida (traditional punch made of aguardiente flavoured with special herbs or coffee) or licor café (coffee liquor).

Useful links

 In case you want to look for more information about Tuscany (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/) or its cities and towns here there's a list with some pages to get it:

 
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