Fast cars and haute foods in northern Italy

JOAN SCOBEY/Special Contributor

Sports car fans will want to zoom to the surprisingly quiet Lamborghini factory..

If you know Emilia-Romagna at all, it's probably for ham and cheese, like Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A trip through this northern Italian region will introduce you to several other best-of-class glories: great Italian racing cars, traditional food products, ceramics museums and hand crafts.