The Romagnola is a traditional Italian breed of dual-purpose chicken from the Emilia-Romagna region.
In early 2012 the population was recovering and the breed was awaiting official recognition by the Federazione Italiana Associazioni Avicole, the federation of Italian poultry associations.
It was once widespread in central Italy, particularly in the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Bologna in Emilia-Romagna.
[1] In the mid-twentieth century, selective breeding by the Stazione Sperimentale di Pollicoltura – or experimental chicken breeding centre – of Rovigo, in the Veneto, and the Ispettorato Provinciale dell'Agricoltura, or provincial inspectorate for agriculture, of Ravenna produced two well-defined colour varieties, a silver and a golden.
A breeders' association, the Associazione Razze e Varietà Autoctone Romagnole, was formed in 2007 and a pilot production programme begun.