What Italian region is lasagna alla Bolognese from?

Lasagna alla Bolognese is from Emilia-Romagna, the northern Italian region that includes Bologna. The dish is especially associated with Bologna, Emilia-Romagna’s capital, and is traditionally made by layering pasta with ragù, béchamel, and grated cheese.

Bolognese-style lasagna often uses green pasta sheets colored with spinach. Its ragù typically combines beef and pork with onion, carrot, celery, butter, and tomato. Bé ch amel adds creaminess, while Parmigiano-Reggiano contributes a salty, nutty finish.

Lasagna has older Mediterranean and Roman precedents, but the layered baked dish recognized today developed through several regional traditions. A written reference to lasagne appears in Bologna in 1282, although that early mention does not describe the modern recipe.

A common mix-up is confusing the dish’s regional identity with Naples, which has its own lasagna tradition using ingredients such as ricotta and sometimes mozzarella. “Lasagna alla Bolognese” specifically points to Bologna and the culinary culture of Emilia-Romagna.