In 1999  the first regional food and wine network in the hills above  Modena and Bologna was born the Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori  “Città Castelli Ciliegi”. The Association includes 16 municipalities in the provinces of Bologna and Modena, 2 Mountain Communities, 2 Regional Parks and 130 commercial activities which include farms, vineyards, hotels and restaurants.

The new tourism? Not necessarily a holiday in the traditional sense. It could simply be a visit to a particular place, out of curiosity or the desire to take some time out or do something different, and perhaps in the company of a glass of wine and some good food. After all, that is what we take home with us, at the end of the day, the impression of having discovered something typical of the place we have visited. A sort of “genius loci” resides within the flavours, colours and views of a given area, in the unique characteristics of a particular environment. With the new tourism, it becomes increasingly clear that an area should be promoted through the products which are typical to it.