What to visit
4° STAGES NOT TO BE MISSED
Here is a brief guide to Emilia-Romagna, a region rich in culture, delicious food and interesting events. The region is famous for its cuisine, historic cities, and many cultural activities.
1° STOP NOT TO BE MISSED
Autodromo di Imola and MAICC: The town of Imola is best known for the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodrome, which was officially inaugurated on April 25, 1953, on the occasion of the Coni Grand Prix. Right from the start it hosted the most important international motorsport events until, in 1963, it became a Formula 1 circuit. It is the racetrack that hosts the Italian Superbike Grand Prix, along with other internationally important motorcycle and automobile races. At the entrance to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, you can visit the MAICC - Museo Multimediale Autodromo di Imola Checco Costa, the innovative museum space inaugurated on April 10, 2019, dedicated to cars and drivers, with amazing displays and evocative films.
2° STOP NOT TO BE MISSED
Bologna historic center: the bustling capital of Emilia Romagna, it is called the Red because of the color of the bricks with which the towers and palaces were built and the political alignment of the inhabitants, the Learned because it houses the oldest university in the world, and the Fat because of its rich traditional cuisine. It is an easy city to visit even in one day. Starting the walk from Via indipendenza, which connects the station to the wonderful Piazza Maggiore, under the porticoes that make the city unique and unmistakable, you pass the Arena del Sole, to be admired from across the street, under the shadow of the statue of Garibaldi on horseback, then you meet the cathedral of St. Peter to arrive on Piazza Nettuno, adjacent to Piazza Maggiore, in the heart of the city, dominated by the Sala Borsa, the Neptune Fountain and the Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo Re Enzo. A stroll through the characteristic alleys of the center shows the beauties of the Mercato Antico of fruits and vegetables, typical products and handicrafts. Directly from the market, coming out on Via Rizzoli, there is the very famous Torre degli Asinelli, or rather, the two towers that of the Asinelli and the Garisenda. Taking Via Santo Stefano from the two Towers, we reach the Basilica of Santo Stefano, a complex of several buildings known as the Seven Churches, with very interesting architecture.
3° STOP NOT TO BE MISSED
Parco Regionale dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa: This park is located near Ozzano dell'Emilia and offers an immersive experience in nature. You can hike, trek, and mountain bike along the park's trails and enjoy breathtaking scenery.
4° STOP NOT TO BE MISSED
Rocca Sforzesca is an imposing fortified structure that stands in the center of Imola. Built between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it was used as a military fortress to protect the city from enemy attacks and as a home for the Alidosi, Visconti, Manfredi and Sforza families. Nine quadrangular towers stood on the perimeter of the original structure; only a tenth tower, the keep, still stands out in the center of the inner courtyard. Restored in 1958 and opened again to the public in 1973, it became a museum for two important collections of weapons and ceramics. Today the Rocca Sforzesca of Imola is open to the public and hosts cultural events and temporary exhibitions.