The epicentre of the strongest quake, measuring a 4.9 magnitude, was registered at around 9 am (0800 GMT) near the city of Reggio Emilia, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics in Rome.
There were no immediate reports of injury or major damage, but officials said they intended to close schools as a precautionary measure.
Overnight, a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck an area near the city of Verona and was followed by an aftershock measuring 2.9 magnitude.//DPA