The journey begins in Piacenza, a distiguished city of art, nestled between the Po River and the hills. The historic centre can be reached from the station with a pleasant 10-15 minute walk through gardens, small squares and elegant streets.

The first stop is undoubtedly the Duomo di Piacenza, known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Giustina, with its extraordinary dome painted by Guercino.

Continuing on, you arrive at one of the city’s landmarks: Piazza Cavalli, the heart of the city, where the Farnese equestrian statues and the majestic Palazzo Gotico stand out.

From here, you can easily reach the Basilica of Sant’Antonino and the Ricci Oddi Gallery of Modern Art, home to Klimt’s famous “Portrait of a Lady”, whose history is full of turbulent events. On the other hand, you can reach Palazzo Farnese, home to the Musei Civici (where, among many other works, Botticelli’s Tondo and the Etruscan Liver are kept), and the Basilica di Santa Maria di Campagna, with its dome frescoed by Pordenone.

A stop at one of the restaurants or wine bars in the historic centre is the ideal way to sample the delicious Piacenza PDO cured meats, accompanied by a glass of Gutturnio wine.

In about 45 minutes by Trenitalia Tper regional train from Piacenza, you can reach Parma, a refined and welcoming city famous for its music, cuisine and connection to Duchess Maria Luigia.

The city centre is about a ten-minute walk from the station. The first monumental stop is the Palazzo della Pilotta, an architectural complex commissioned by the Farnese family and now home to several museums, including the majestic Farnese Theatre, the National Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the Palatine Library and the Bodoni Museum.

Nearby is the Teatro Regio, which hosts the most important opera performances and the Verdi Festival. Also close by is the city’s main square, Piazza Duomo, which is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The cathedral is famous for its dome, which was frescoed by Correggio. Another notable attraction is the octagonal marble Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, designed by Benedetto Antelami.

Another attraction that is less well known but also worth a visit is the Chamber of Saint Paul. This is located in the former Benedictine monastery of San Paolo and features a late Gothic umbrella vault frescoed by Correggio in 1519.

For lunch, we recommend stopping at a tavern to sample the local tortelli di erbette, Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano.

In the afternoon, you can take a stroll through the centuries-old trees and fountains of the Ducal Park, or explore the Oltretorrente, Parma’s most popular and bohemian neighbourhood.

From Parma, it takes about 20 minutes by Trenitalia Tper regional train to reach Reggio Emilia, known as the city where the Italian flag was born.

From the station, a 10-minute walk takes you to the Chiostri di San Pietro, a 16th-century monastery that is now a spectacular city venue for exhibitions and displays.

Another 10-minute walk takes you to Piazza Prampolini, the heart of the city, overlooked by the Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, the Baptistery and the Palazzo del Comune, which houses the Museum dedicated to the history of the Italian flag.

A short distance away, passing under the Broletto, you arrive at Piazza San Prospero and the basilica of the same name, an important example of Emilian Baroque.

Don’t miss a visit to the so-called Piazza dei Teatri (Theatre Square) – formed by the union of Piazza della Vittoria and Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio, overlooked by three theatres – and the Palazzo dei Musei, a former Franciscan convent that now houses the private collection of the great naturalist Lazzaro Spallanzani.

Before leaving, be sure to stop and taste the typical local dishes, including the unmistakable and delicious erbazzone, accompanied by a glass of local Lambrusco wine.