Seven things to do and see in Imola as Formula 1 visits Italy
Imola is in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy, an hour outside the city of Bologna.
Formula 1 racing has been a staple of Imola, visiting every year around the track since 1980 - with a break from 2007-2019.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan looks at the seven things to do and see in Imola.
Rocca Sforzesca
This restored 14th-century stone castle houses a museum featuring exhibits of ceramics and weapons (even having a wine bar dedicated to regional wines), with a stone wall surrounding the premises.
In the 1500s, the castle was granted by Pope Clement VII to Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggi, and was owned by the Campeggi family (and the Malvezzi family they married into), until 1960 when it was acquired by the Commune.
Palazzo Tozzoni
The Palazzo Tozzoni was built in the 18th century and has been open to visitors since 1981 - formerly being the noble residence of the Tozzoni family.
It houses a diverse collection of art that spans different eras and styles, from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary art installations.
Museo di San Domenico
The Museo di San Domenico is located in a renovated 13th century Dominican convent, and is composed of five buildings housing several artefacts.
It is home to the Pinacoteca Civica di Forlì (a significant collection of art) along with temporary exhibitions, providing visitors with a diverse and ever-changing array of artworks to explore.
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Watch the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
As one of the older tracks on the F1 calendar, the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari was built back in 1950 as a high speed and anti-clockwise track, with 63 laps at its 4.909 km circuit length.
Overtaking can be hard here meaning qualifying is even more important to get right, suggesting McLaren may be the ones to beat yet again in the 2025 season.
Nearby Ferrari’s HQ in Maranello is a key place to visit alongside monuments paying respect to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, who lost their lives at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Comacchio Cathedral
Comacchio Cathedral is a Baroque Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica dedicated to Saint Cassian of Imola, on the site of the ancient Romanesque cathedral built in 708 and torn down in 1694.
Its unique pink exterior entices you to come inside and admire the stunning architecture, with its 12 chapels and interior houses - full of religious paintings and sculptures.
Piazza Matteotti
Walk around this piazza (meaning town/public square in Italian) and immerse yourself in the history this town holds, walking along cobbled streets and admiring the buildings.
The Piazza Giacomo Matteotti holds a farmers market every Saturday, but some surrounding places to visit to enjoy Italian cuisine are Caffè Bologna, Semplice Imola and Contro Corrente.
Basilica Santuario della Beata Vergine del Piratello
The construction of this church began in 1491, with stunning frescos from the 15th century as well as beautiful stained glass.
Located on the property is the Piratello Museum, home to a collection of religious objects linked to the Madonna del Piratello in a wing of the building which houses the Franciscan convent.
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