This town, with 53 000 inhabitants, is located on the Via Emilia, the old link road between North and South Italy, midway between Bologna and Ravenna. The town has an ancient atmosphere, with many palaces, villas and monuments, primarily from the Renaissance and Neo-Classicism.

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Emilia-Romagna is the strongest economic region of Italy. There are more than 6 400 "production units" in Faenza, 95 percent of which are small and medium-sized businesses, as well as research centres.
Faenza can look back on a centuries-old tradition in the manufacture of high quality ceramic products. There are numerous craftwork businesses, but also large ceramic industrial companies that operate world-wide, such as La Faenza, Monoceram or Cerdornus. And as well as having the most important ceramic museum in the world, Faenza is also home to the most important research institutes for ceramic materials nationally and throughout Europe.

Wine and Formula 1
Faenza's economy is also characterised by farming and food processing, mechanical engineering and the metal-processing and metal-working industries, as well as the textile and clothing industry, with brand names such as Germano Zama or Marina Babini.

However, the Faenza town council is also looking to the future – and in 1995 conceived a "programmed spin-off" model for growth-oriented young companies, which is already bearing fruit in the fields of ceramics, multimedia and plant engineering. Also not to be forgotten is the fact that Faenza is just 15 km away from the racetrack in Imola and home to the Minardi racing stable.

The agricultural panorama of Faenza includes fruit and wine growing, organised into cooperatives. The "Terre Naldi" offers innovative services – e.g. "turnkey" set-up of vineyards and fruit groves.

Culture is high on the list of priorities in Faenza. Young people from around the world study at the state Art Institute for Ceramics or at the College for Design or Industrial Art.  

Festivals, folklore, sport
Of the many festivals in Faenza, one is particularly noteworthy: "Palio del Niballo" or "Barbarossa's Tournament". The challenging parties are horsemen from Faenza's five districts. This circular race was organised for the first time in 1164, on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Friedrich I. Sport is also important; athletes from Faenza are in the top international league in wrestling and tennis, and football and basketball are played at a high level. The Gmünd half-marathon also has its counterpart: thousands of endurance athletes take part in the 100 km mountain run from Florence to Faenza.

 http://www.racine.ra.it/faenza/

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