The Via Emilia, one of the most important historical arteries in northern Italy, represents a symbol of continuity between past and present, a route that has traversed the centuries, contributing to the cultural, economic and social development of the regions it crosses. Among the many cities along this historic road, Voghera stands out for its role as a crossroads and strategic connection point between the Po Valley and the Apennines, and between Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.
The Via Emilia was built in 187 BC at the behest of the Roman consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, from whom it takes its name. The main objective was to connect the colonies of Piacenza and Rimini, thus facilitating the control and administration of the territories conquered by the Romans in the Po Valley. This road axis soon became fundamental not only for military movements, but also for trade and cultural diffusion between the various cities of northern Italy.
In the Middle Ages, with the decline of the Roman Empire and the subsequent period of instability, the Via Emilia lost some of its importance, but it never disappeared completely. Voghera continued to be a reference point for anyone passing through the region. The town was in fact in a strategic position along the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route that connected northern Europe with Rome, the capital of Christianity.
During this period, the city became an important religious and commercial centre, enriched with churches, convents and markets. Although the Via Emilia was no longer the main artery of communication, it remained a fundamental route for local traffic and for connecting the various communities in the region.
With the advent of the Renaissance and the subsequent economic and cultural rebirth of Italy, the Via Emilia once again played a central role in the region‘s road network. Voghera, which in the meantime had become part of the Duchy of Milan, experienced a period of great development.
Today, the Via Emilia, with its millenary route, is a road that tells the story of the towns and people that passed through it. In Voghera, this past is still visible in the architecture, monuments and local traditions that testify to a deep and lasting bond with the history of the road.
The Via Emilia in Voghera is a living testimony to how communication routes can influence the development of a city and an entire region. This ancient Roman route has seen armies, merchants and pilgrims pass through, and today it continues to be a fundamental link between cultures and territories. For Voghera, the Via Emilia is not just a road, but a true historical and cultural heritage, a symbol of identity that links the past to the present and projects the city into the future.
