Tourist Guide
What to See
in Imola
Legendary motorsport, medieval history, Emilian food and wine and nature. Discover everything Imola has to offer.
The Attractions
Must-See Destinations
Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack
The legendary Imola circuit, home of the Formula 1 GP, MotoGP and Superbike. One of the most iconic tracks in world motorsport history, set in the green Acque Minerali park.
Rocca Sforzesca
Imposing medieval fortress overlooking the historic centre of Imola. Built in the 14th century, it now houses the Arms Museum and offers a panoramic view over the city and surrounding countryside.
Palazzo Tozzoni
A perfectly preserved 18th-century historic residence, with original furnishings, period paintings and an Italian garden. A journey back in time into Emilian aristocratic life.
Cathedral of San Cassiano
The Cathedral of Imola, dedicated to the city's patron saint. Neoclassical architecture with interiors rich in sacred artwork. Its bell tower dominates the historic centre skyline.
Acque Minerali Park
A large green park surrounding the Racetrack. Perfect for walks, jogging and relaxing in nature. A green lung in the heart of Imola, ideal for families.
Historic Centre and Shopping
The centre's streets offer artisan shops, fashion boutiques and historic cafes. Piazza Matteotti is the beating heart of the city, hosting the weekly market and cultural events.
The Story
Discovering Imola
Imola's history stretches back over two millennia to its founding as the Roman colony of Forum Cornelii in 82 BC, strategically placed along the Via Emilia — the great Roman road that still forms the backbone of the region's geography. Over the centuries, Imola was shaped by the rise and fall of powerful families: the Alidosi lords in the medieval period, the Riario-Sforza dynasty during the Renaissance, and later the papal administration. This layered history has left a rich architectural legacy, from the imposing Rocca Sforzesca built in the fourteenth century to the elegant palazzi that line the streets of the centro storico.
The modern identity of Imola was transformed in 1953 when the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack opened its gates, bringing international motorsport to this quiet Emilian town. The circuit, set amid the beautiful Acque Minerali park, has hosted some of the most dramatic moments in racing history and continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for Formula 1, MotoGP and Superbike events. But Imola is far more than a motorsport destination. The city sits at the geographical and cultural border between Emilia and Romagna, two historically distinct regions with their own traditions, dialects and cuisines, and this dual identity gives Imola a unique character that no other city in the region can match.
Today, Imola is a city that rewards slow exploration. Walking through the porticoed streets of the centre, you encounter medieval churches, Renaissance courtyards, independent bookshops and artisan workshops that have been in the same families for generations. The cultural calendar is rich with events throughout the year, from the internationally renowned Baccanale food festival in autumn to Imola in Musica in summer and the Mostra Scambio vintage fair. The surrounding countryside, with its gentle hills, vineyards and olive groves, offers a landscape of extraordinary beauty that is best experienced at a leisurely pace — on foot, by bicycle or from the terrace of a hillside winery with a glass of Sangiovese in hand.
Food and Wine
Flavours of Emilia-
Romagna
Imola sits on the border between Emilia and Romagna, combining the best of two extraordinary gastronomic traditions. From fresh pasta to hill wines, every meal is an experience.
Tortellini and Tagliatelle
Fresh Emilian pasta is an art form. Try tortellini in brodo and tagliatelle al ragù at the restaurants in the centre.
Piadina Romagnola
Imola sits on the border between Emilia and Romagna. Here you can taste authentic piadina with squacquerone cheese and rocket.
Wines of the Imola Hills
Sangiovese, Albana and Trebbiano: the hills around Imola produce excellent wines. Visit local wineries for tastings.
Market and Local Products
The weekly market in the centre is an unmissable experience. Cheeses, cured meats, fruit and zero-kilometre local products.
Events
The Imola Calendar
Formula 1 GP – Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Spring
The most anticipated event of the year. The F1 circus returns to Imola for a weekend of speed and adrenaline.
Superbike and MotoGP
Summer
The two-wheel world championship stops at the Racetrack with thrilling races and a unique atmosphere.
Concerts and Festivals
All year
The Racetrack and the historic centre host concerts, music festivals and cultural events throughout the year.
Food and Wine Events
Autumn
Fairs, wine festivals and celebrations dedicated to local products enliven Imola and the surrounding hills.
Explore the Region
Day Trips from Imola
Imola's central position in Emilia-Romagna makes it an excellent base for day trips to some of the region's most captivating destinations. Just eight kilometres to the south, the medieval village of Dozza is famous for its painted walls: every two years, artists from around the world are invited to create murals on the facades of the village houses, transforming the entire settlement into an open-air gallery. Dozza also houses the Enoteca Regionale dell'Emilia-Romagna, a wine cellar in the castle vaults where you can taste and purchase wines from across the region. It is an unmissable half-day excursion, particularly during the Settembre Dozzese wine festival.
Brisighella, approximately twenty-five kilometres south-east of Imola, is consistently ranked among the most beautiful villages in Italy. Dominated by three medieval towers — the Clock Tower, the Venetian Fortress and the Sanctuary of Monticino — the village offers stunning panoramic views over the Lamone valley. Brisighella is also known for its thermal baths, its extra-virgin olive oil (one of only a handful in Emilia-Romagna with DOP certification) and the remarkable Via degli Asini, a covered medieval path that runs along the upper level of the village houses. Further afield, Faenza (twenty kilometres) is the world capital of majolica ceramics, with the International Museum of Ceramics housing a collection that spans centuries and continents.
For a full-day excursion, Bologna is just thirty-five kilometres from Imola and reachable in forty minutes by car or thirty minutes by train. Italy's gastronomic capital offers the medieval towers, the endless porticoes (a UNESCO World Heritage site), world-class museums, the oldest university in Europe and a food scene that needs no introduction. Ravenna, forty-five kilometres to the east, holds eight UNESCO World Heritage early Christian monuments with breathtaking Byzantine mosaics, including those at the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Both cities make for memorable day trips that complement the more intimate pleasures of Imola itself.
The Perfect Base for Exploring Imola
Elf Apartments: 2 km from the highway exit, 10 minutes from the historic centre and 5 km from the Racetrack. The ideal location to discover everything Imola has to offer.