Emilia Romagna is made up of the provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, ModenaFerrara, Bologna (the capital), Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini. Inside the territory there is the ==Repubblic of San Marino=?=
The Villanoviana civilization, one of the oldest civilizations that inhabited the Italian peninsula, developed in Emilia, a village near Bologna, in the 2nd millennium B.C. . In the 4th century B.C. the Etruscans and Galli Boi established themselves in the region.
During the Roman Empire, the region was crossed by the Emilian way, making Emilia a province of Italy, and in the 4th century, the city of Ravenna became the capital of the Western Roman Empire (402).
The Longobards, who invaded Italy in 568 A.D., occupied the territory of Emilia for a long period of time. This occupied region was then divided with the opposing forces of the Byzantines and of the Franchi. From this moment on, Bologna and the territory of Romagna became part of the ==Vatican=?=.
The count-bishops, in the 10th century, had almost complete power over the whole region. But then the communes and the signiorities asserted their authority with the Visconti family in Parma and Piacenza and the Estensi family in Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara. In Bologna during that period, the most prestigious university for Law studies was built, and still today distinguishes the city of Emilia for its reputation.

In 1521 Parma and Piacenza became dukedoms of the Farnese family. Due to the pope Paul III and due to the absence of the Este and Farnese families, Parma and Piacenza became territories of the Borbons from Spain, while the cities of Modena and Reggio Emilia became territories of the Austria-Este family.

During the second Italian war of Independence in 1859, Emilia was reunited by Luigi Carlo Farini who voted annexation of the region to the Reign of Sardinia, helping the unification of the whole Italian peninsula. This way, in 1860, it finally became a part of the new born Reign of Italy under Vittorio Emanuele II.