| It is probably going to take a while 
		for this region of Italy to recover from its infamy as the epicentre of 
		the European coronavirus pandemic.  Before that it had been best 
		known for its role in the Blue Banana, the affluent corridor of 
		industrial power through the heart of Europe. 
		Not untypically of affluent regions, it has long 
		espoused some form of autonomy or even national independence since the 
		times of Napoleon, the Austrian Empire and onwards. Like anywhere in Italy, great local food and 
		wine, phenomenal architecture, museums, art galleries and lovely people!   |