What to See Around Bologna
The natural, historical, and cultural wonders around Bologna
Bologna does not end beneath its famous porticoes. Just outside the ancient walls, an extraordinary territory unfolds, made of intact medieval villages, Apennine peaks to be explored on foot, and gentle hills combed with vineyards.
From the culinary excellence of peasant tradition to the speed legends of the Motor Valley, the Bolognese province offers unmissable stops capable of surprising every traveler.
Here is our selection of the absolute wonders not to be missed around the city during your stay.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca and the Longest Portico in the World
Perched on the Colle della Guardia, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca has watched over Bologna for centuries and is one of the city’s most beloved spiritual and landscape symbols.
To reach it, you walk through a unique architectural masterpiece: the longest continuous portico in the world, which with its 666 arches winds for nearly 4 kilometers starting from Porta Saragozza.
This extraordinary route was born to be tackled entirely on foot, combining its monumental aspect with a deep intimate and spiritual dimension.
This evocative covered walkway, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accompanies those who cross it on a fascinating uphill journey that culminates in the churchyard of the Baroque basilica. From up here, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view that sweeps from the red roofs of the city to the peaks of the Apennines and the surrounding plain, offering a reward of pure beauty at the end of the journey.
The Village and the Sforza Castle of Dozza
Immersed in the hills of Imola, Dozza is a true open-air museum, counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy (Borghi più belli d’Italia).
Its charm lies in the perfect combination of medieval history and contemporary art: the facades of the houses are decorated with splendid murals painted by internationally renowned artists during the famous Biennale of the Painted Wall (Biennale del Muro Dipinto).
Dominating the village stands the majestic Sforza Castle (Rocca Sforzesca), a perfectly preserved medieval fortress that contains furnished rooms, prisons, and sentry walkways. In the evocative undergrounds of the fortress, you will also find the Enoteca Regionale dell’Emilia-Romagna (Emilia-Romagna Regional Wine Shop), an unmissable stop to taste and purchase the finest wines of the region.
Ferrara: The Estense Castle and the Renaissance Walls
A short distance from Bologna lies Ferrara, a splendid city of art with an aristocratic atmosphere suspended in time, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The monumental heart of the city is dominated by the grand Estense Castle, an imposing 14th-century fortress surrounded by a water moat, once the home of the cultured court of the Este family.
Strolling through Ferrara means getting lost among the medieval alleys of the ghetto and the geometric perspectives of the Erculean Addition (Addizione Erculea), Europe’s first modern urban planning project. Everything is enclosed by nine kilometers of Renaissance walls perfectly preserved, which today form an evocative linear park to be explored on foot or by bicycle.
Ravenna and its Byzantine Mosaics
A capital of three empires in the past, Ravenna preserves a historical and artistic heritage of inestimable cultural value.
The city treasures eight early Christian and Byzantine monuments inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, world-famous for the astounding beauty of their mosaics.
Stepping inside the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, or Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, you are literally enveloped by a cascade of gold tessere and vibrant colors that seem to glow with their own light.
Beyond its immense artistic wealth, Ravenna offers a welcoming and relaxing historic center, enriched by the presence of the tomb of the supreme poet Dante Alighieri.
Modena: The Cathedral and the Ferrari Museum
Modena is a city of a thousand souls, capable of combining the monumental elegance of the past with the adrenaline of technological innovation.
Its ancient heart beats in Piazza Grande, where the Ghirlandina tower and the wonderful Romanesque Cathedral rise—a masterpiece of medieval sculpture protected by UNESCO.
But Modena is also the world cradle of speed and the “Motor Valley”: motoring enthusiasts cannot miss a visit to the Enzo Ferrari Museum (MEF), a futuristic pavilion with a bright yellow design built next to the Founder’s birthplace, where the cars that made the history of the Prancing Horse are exhibited amidst myth, design, and engineering.
Parma: The Pilotta, the Baptistery, and Culinary Excellence
Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and an ancient ducal capital, Parma enchants visitors with its refined atmosphere and unmistakable flavors.
The historic center revolves around the monumental Pilotta Complex, an imposing palace that houses the wonderful Farnese Theatre, entirely built of wood.
A few steps away lies the splendid Piazza Duomo with the famous octagonal Baptistery in pink Verona marble, a masterpiece by Benedetto Antelami.
This immersion in art pairs perfectly with the culture of good food: Parma is the undisputed homeland of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma, excellences to be tasted in the historic salumerie (deli shops) and osterie of the center.
Faenza and its Famous Ceramics
Situated along the ancient Via Emilia, the city of Faenza is globally synonymous with majolica, a refined art passed down since the Middle Ages whose name gave rise to the international term “faience”.
The hub of this tradition is the MIC, the International Museum of Ceramics, which hosts one of the most extensive and important collections in the world, with masterpieces ranging from classical antiquity to works by Picasso and Chagall.
Strolling through the elegant neoclassical squares of the center, you can still encounter dozens of active artisan workshops where master ceramicists shape and hand-paint unique objects, guarding the secrets of a centuries-old tradition.
The Castles and Fortresses of the Bolognese Territory
The territory surrounding Bologna is dotted with historic fortifications that once defended the borders of the municipality and local signorias. Exploring these fortresses means embarking on a fascinating journey into medieval and Renaissance architecture.
Among the unmissable jewels stands out the Rocchetta Mattei in Grizzana Morandi, a bizarre castle with eclectic architecture that blends Moorish, medieval, and modern styles in a labyrinth of towers and staircases.
Equally fascinating are the Castello di Serravalle, an ancient fortified village nestled among vineyards, and the majestic Roxca di Bentivoglio in the plains, once a luxurious holiday residence of the most powerful Bolognese family.
The Vena del Gesso Romagnola
Recently inscribed in 2023 among the UNESCO World Heritage sites within the project “Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines”, the Vena del Gesso Romagnola is a natural spectacle unique in Europe.
It is a spectacular silver ridge of crystalline gypsum that stretches for about 25 kilometers in the hinterland between Imola and Faenza.
This regional park protects a breathtaking geological landscape characterized by imposing cliffs, gullies (calanchi), and a very rich system of over two hundred caves and underground abysses.
It is a paradise for hikers, who can walk along the ridge paths or explore the underground world through guided speleological visits, such as the one in the famous Re Tiberio Cave.
Imola: Between History, Art, and the Legendary Racetrack
Imola is a dynamic city capable of combining a rich historical past with the adrenaline of international motorsport.
Its elegant city center is dominated by the 14th-century Sforza Castle (Rocca Sforzesca) and dotted with splendid noble palaces and historic buildings such as the Palazzo Tozzoni Museums.
However, the name of Imola is indissolubly linked worldwide to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. This historic and legendary street circuit, immersed in a large public park just steps from the center, hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix and major musical events every year.
A walk to the historic Acque Minerali curve and the monument dedicated to the legend Ayrton Senna is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting the city.