Christianity and Italian heritage
Italy has many churches, saints and shrines of the Christian world. In Emilia-Romagna, several churches are dedicated to holy figures who have walked the soil of the region, be they local bishops or holy martyrs, starting with St. Apollinaire: originally from Antioch, this disciple of St. Peter followed him to Rome and then went to evangelize the people of Ravenna; it was in the port of Classe that he suffered martyrdom at the time of Vespasian. Two basilicas are consecrated to the saint: one in Ravenna, the other in Classe, built on the site of his torture. Several bishops of the first centuries of the Christian era were elevated to the rank of patron saints of their respective cities: this is the case of San Gemignano, Bishop of Modena, San Prospero in Reggio Emilia, San Gaudenzio in Rimini, San Petronio in Bologna, etc. It is also in Bologna that the sanctuary of St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order in the 13th century, is located. His sepulchre is preserved in the Basilica of San Domenico.
The territory of the region is also dotted with sanctuaries dedicated to the Marian cult. The sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, near Bologna, is particularly scenic with its 3 km long access portico consisting of 666 arcades.
Pilgrims have always crossed the area, either to embark for the Holy Land from the port of Classe or to reach Rome or Assisi. A portion of the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route taken as early as the 10th century to reach Rome from Canterbury, runs through the west of the region, passing through Piacenza and Fidenza.Other religions
Although Catholicism is in the majority in Emilia-Romagna, it coexists with other religions. The Muslim community numbers about 182,000 people and its representatives are from Eastern Europe and the Maghreb. Orthodox Christians, also from Eastern Europe (Romania, Ukraine, Moldavia), come next, with more than 150,000 individuals, ahead of the members of the Jewish community. The cities of Bologna, Parma, Ferrara and Modena have active Jewish communities, and it is still possible today to stroll through the alleys of the ancient ghettos of Ferrara and Bologna.
Legends and popular beliefs
Ancient myths and popular beliefs, whose memory has been perpetuated by oral culture, still belong to the collective memory.
Starting with the fantastic beings that populate the towns and countryside of Emilia-Romagna and can be beneficial, like fairies, or evil, like witches and demons. In Romagna, the Mazapegul is a facetious elf who likes to tease the peasants and disturb the sleep of young girls. He presents a hybrid aspect, half cat, half monkey. As for castles and fortresses, they are haunted by ghosts.
Popular beliefs are often tinged with superstition: for example, all students attending the University of Bologna know that they should avoid crossing Piazza Maggiore diagonally, as this could jeopardize their academic year.
Finally, if you are a woman in search of love, go to the Museo d'Arte in Ravenna to kiss the funeral statue of the beautiful knight Guidarello Guidarelli: you will be sure to get married within the year!
