We chose this city because it perfectly embodies the spirit we want to celebrate: the creation of meaningful places, born of participation, memory, and a vision for the future. Reggio Emilia stands as a dynamic intersection of history, innovation, and inclusivity.

The City of the Tricolour
Reggio Emilia is, first and foremost, the city of the Tricolour. Did you know that the Italian flag was born right here? On January 7, 1797, inside the City Hall—in what is now called the Sala del Tricolore—the Parliament of the Cispadane Republic adopted the tricolour banner as the flag of the newborn republic. Those colors—green for the fields, white for the snow-capped mountains, and red for the blood spilled in battle—symbolized the republic born under the protection of the French army. It was Reggian women who sewed the flag on that occasion. Every year on January 7, the Tricolour Festival is officially celebrated here. Visiting the Sala del Tricolore and its museum (with free admission) is a powerful way to dive into this cornerstone of Italian identity. The museum has recently been updated to include dialogue with contemporary art and creativity. Reggio Emilia teaches us that places can be stages for foundational moments, where ideas take form and become lasting symbols.
Memory and Resistance
But Reggio Emilia is also, deeply, the city of the Resistance. For its crucial role during Italy’s War of Liberation, the city was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour for the Resistance on April 25, 1950. Walking its streets, you’ll find tangible traces of this legacy of the fight for freedom. There’s the Monument to the Resistance in Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio, a bronze sculpture depicting the final moments of some victims of Nazi-Fascist violence. Nearby, next to the Municipal Theatre, stands a memorial wall listing the names of the local Resistance fighters. There are walking routes through the historic centre focused on the Resistance and the Nazi-Fascist repression between the Armistice (September 8, 1943) and Liberation (April 25, 1945). You’ll also find speaking walls, like the murals at Casa Bettola, which recall the terrible 1944 massacre and heroic figures such as the Cervi brothers and Commander Sirio. Near the highway, at Casa Manfredi, a large mural celebrates the “Partigiano Reggiano.” Resistance here is not only history—it’s a living value expressed through places that tell stories of courage and justice. The partisan trails of the Reggio Apennines (sixteen in total) and the CAI 672 “Freedom Trail” along the River Enza let you explore beautiful landscapes while retracing the steps of the resistance. The memory of places like the Cervi brothers’ farmhouse, now a Museum and Agro-environmental Park, offers a powerful resource to address today’s challenges. Reggio Emilia shows us how places of memory can inspire fundamental values and strengthen the sense of community.

Reggio Emilia’s Educational Philosophy
And speaking of community and the future, we must mention the Reggio Emilia Approach. This educational philosophy, born here after World War II, has become a worldwide reference. It is based on the idea of a strong, capable child, full of potential and rights, who learns through the “hundred languages” and grows in relationship with others. Key features like collaborative educator work, the daily presence of multiple teachers, the atelier and atelierista role, the environment as an educator, and documentation of learning processes make this approach unique. The Loris Malaguzzi International Centre is the heart of this educational experience, where the approach is practiced, shared, and promoted globally. Choosing Reggio Emilia means recognising the value of investing in human potential and building communities that foster learning, creativity, and relationships—fundamental principles for placemaking as well.
Urban Spaces and Historic Architecture
As you walk through Reggio Emilia, you’ll be enchanted by its architecture and urban spaces. The historic centre has a distinct hexagonal layout, a legacy of its old city walls. You’ll see buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The squares are the heartbeat of the city. Piazza Prampolini, the old “Piazza Grande,” features the Cathedral, the Town Hall, and the Sala del Tricolore. Piazza San Prospero boasts a basilica, an octagonal bell tower, and marble lions. Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio and Piazza della Vittoria host the splendid 19th-century Municipal Theatre. And Piazza Fontanesi, with its linden trees, comes alive with markets and evening events. The Via Emilia, laid out 2,200 years ago by Consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, is considered the city’s “mother road.” Then there’s the Basilica della Ghiara, a baroque treasure filled with frescoes and altar pieces by 17th-century Emilian artists.

Contemporary Vision and Urban Innovation
Reggio Emilia also looks ahead with the waves and arches of Santiago Calatrava, whose three highway bridges mark the new city gateways. The Mediopadana High-Speed Train Station, in use since 2013, is an architectural marvel of glass and steel—one of the most beautiful in the world. The Innovation Park, located on the site of the former Reggiane mechanical factories, is now the largest street art laboratory in Europe. The city is an open-air museum of contemporary art created for specific places. Nature also plays a key role, with numerous parks and green areas, the Rodano, Crostolo, and Modolena rivers, and riverside parks inviting people to enjoy outdoor life. Reggio Emilia is also a bike-friendly city, with over 250 km of bike paths—perfect to explore on foot or on two wheels. And it’s the home of the inimitable erbazzone.
Reggio Emilia is a city of people, where everyone is welcome. It is a place committed to inclusion and accessibility, with institutions and spaces designed for people with disabilities and for social integration. It’s a city of dance and music, where Luciano Pavarotti made his debut, and where artists like Zucchero and Ligabue were born.
Urban Challenges and Opportunities for Growth
Yet, like any city looking toward the future, Reggio Emilia faces challenges. The city is rethinking how mobility, urban design, and social welfare can create a more connected, resilient, and inclusive urban ecosystem. There is a need to balance the historic centre with the demands of an innovative district. This includes the challenge of adapting welfare systems to meet the changing nature of urban marginalisation. Urban health is also a concern, as access to social services, green and peaceful spaces, and healthy environments becomes limited for many—making it vital to invest in solutions that improve quality of life and promote equitable, sustainable development. The push to move away from car dependency and build more accessible, integrated transportation systems is another major area of focus. These are not just problems—they are opportunities that push the city to innovate and evolve, using events like Placemaking Week Europe to accelerate growth and learn from global experience.

Reggio Emilia is an open-air lab of history, resilience, educational innovation, and cultural and urban vitality. A place where past and present meet, where the community takes centre stage, and where placemaking has deep meaning. We couldn’t have chosen a better backdrop for Placemaking Week Europe 2025.
Now it’s your turn to explore and be inspired.
See you in Reggio Emilia this September!