Imola is a town within Bologna Metropolitan District, best known for its motor-racing circuit, which hosts Formula One and other big events.
Understand
[edit]Until 200 BC, Rome only controlled a small part of Italy. The broad fertile plain of the River Po was obviously worth seizing, so they built Via Aemilia as a great trunk road, with a line of colonies, fortresses and towns along it. Imola was one of these towns, established by the dictator Sulla around 82 BC. Other despots also thought it worth seizing, so Imola was at various times held by the Lombards, the Pope, and the warring Italian great families. It particularly enjoyed patronage in the 15th century and again in the 18th, with many fine buildings created or embellished. The town's main trades were agriculture and ceramics, like nearby Faenza.
Imola in 2025 had a population just under 70,000; it's a commuter town and has excellent transport along the valley, so you could use it as a base to explore everywhere from Bologna to Ravenna. But what made its name famous was the racing circuit, set up in 1953 as the home circuit of the Ferrari racing team.
Get in
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By air, Bologna (BLQ IATA) and Forlì (FRL IATA) airports are the closest and have budget flights by Ryanair. Venice Marco Polo (VCE IATA) has a wider selection of flights and is little over an hour's drive.
Multiple regional trains run each hour from Bologna Centrale, taking 20 min to Imola and continuing southeast to Faenza, Forli, Rimini and on down the coast to Ancona. Inter-city trains don't stop here, you can change in Bologna.
TPER Bus 101 takes 75 min between Bologna and Imola, running every 15 min M-F and hourly Sa-Su.
1 Imola railway and bus station is on the north side of the town centre.
By road follow A14 Autostrada Adriatica.
Get around
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The central sights are all in walking distance, including the racing circuit - head south down via Dante Alighieri. Buses 101 and 140 run by Piratello, for the sanctuary.
See
[edit]- 1 Duomo (Basilica Cattedrale di San Cassiano Martire), piazza Duomo 10. Built 1187 to 1271, the cathedral was repeatedly restored in the following centuries, especially 1765–1781. The façade dates to 1850.
- 2 Chiesa di San Michele e Convento dell’Osservanza, via Venturini 2.
- 3 Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Servi, piazza Mirri 2.
- 4 Palazzo Comunale, via Mazzini 4.
- 5 Palazzo Sersanti (Palazzo Riario Sersanti), piazza Matteotti 8.
- 6 Museo di San Domenico, via Sacchi, 4. Incorporates the Guiseppi Scarabelli archaeology and natural history museum.
- 7 Rocca Sforzesca.
- 8 Palazzo Tozzoni, via Garibaldi 18.
Further out
[edit]- 9 Santuario della Beata Vergine del Piratello, via Emilia Ponente 27, Piratello. On 27 March 1483 a pilgrim named Stefano Manganelli witnessed a miracle at Piratello in which a vision of the Madonna requested that the people of Imola build her a shrine. This led to the establishment of a monastery (suppressed under Napoleon) and the sanctuary; the cemetery was added a few years later.
- 10 Dozza is a small town with a castle, but best known for its elaborately painted walls.
Do
[edit]- 1 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Autodromo di Imola). The motor-racing circuit hosts Grand Prix / Formula One and other races. The next F1 is 16-18 May 2025.
- Carnevale dei Fantaveicoli is a whacky races themed carnival in February.
- Imola in Musica is a weekend-long music festival in summer.
- Imola Mostra Scambio (also known by the name of the organizing association, CRAME) is a motor show and trade fair at the racing circuit in September.
- Baccanale is a food festival in November.
Buy
[edit]- Lots of convenience stores in town centre. Lidl and Aldi supermarkets are on via Selice north of the railway station.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Ristorante San Domenico, Via G. Sacchi 1. Two Michelin Stars restaurant in the city centre
- 2 Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo, Via Codronchi 6.
- 3 Quattro Quinti, Via Marsala 18.
- 4 Ayaki Sushi, Piazza Alessandro Bianconcini 2.
Drink
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- The main strip for bars is along via Mazzini.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Ziò Imola, via Nardozzi 14, ☏ +39 0542 35274. Convenient mid-range place near railway station and other central sights. B&B double €80.
- 2 Rivazza and 3 Olimpia are near the race track.
Connect
[edit]Imola has 5G with all Italian carriers.
Go next
[edit]- Bologna is a beautiful and historic city needing several days to explore.
- Faenza gave its name to faience ceramics.
- Ravenna is another fascinating old city.
