Bologna and Emilia Romagna: Lonely Planet Europe's best destinations for 2018!

Via CNN Trabel: "Lonely Planet names Europe's best destinations for 2018, It's perhaps no great shock that an Italian region has been named the most exciting European destination for 2018. But the region in question may well come as a surprise. Sidestepping the likes of Tuscany, Campania and The Veneto, Emilia-Romagna took first place on Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2018 list. The culinary hotspot, home to Osteria Francescana, regularly acclaimed as one of the world's best restaurants, is fast becoming "the nation's number one destination for food lovers," according to the popular guidebook. FICO Eataly World, the world's largest culinary theme park, which opened in regional capital Bologna in 2017, is also noted as a thrilling addition to the birthplace of ragù, prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese as well as Ferrara's National Museum of Italian Judaism and Shoah, and Rimini's restored Cinema Fulgor.

While Lonely Planet's annual list is usually made up of exciting and underrated European destinations, the issue of "mass tourism" has been taken into account this time, meaning the spotlight is focused on lesser-visited regions and hidden gems around the continent".