Imola is a town within Bologna Metropolitan District, best known for its motor-racing circuit, which hosts Formula One and other big events.

Understand

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 2017 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

Rocca Sforzesca

By air, Bologna Airport (BLQ ^IATA) is closest and has budget flights by Ryanair. Venice Marco Polo (VCE ^IATA) has a wider selection of flights and is little over an hour's drive.

Regional trains run every hour or so from Bologna Centrale via Castel San Pietro Terme, 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

- and this is Leonardo da Vinci's map of Imola

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

• 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. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Chiesa di San Michele e Convento dell’Osservanza, via Venturini 2. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Servi, piazza Mirri 2. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Palazzo Comunale, via Mazzini 4. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Palazzo Sersanti (Palazzo Riario Sersanti), piazza Matteotti 8. (updated Apr 2021)
• 6 Museo di San Domenico, via Sacchi, 4. Incorporates the Guiseppi Scarabelli archaeology and natural history museum. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Rocca Sforzesca. (updated Apr 2021)
• 8 Palazzo Tozzoni, via Garibaldi 18. (updated Apr 2021)

Further out

• 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. (updated Apr 2021)
• 10 Dozza is a small town with a castle, but best known for its elaborately painted walls.

Do

• 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 17-19 May 2024. (updated Jul 2023)
• Carnevale dei Fantaveicoli are whacky races in February.
• Imola in Musica is a weekend in June.
• CRAME is a motor show at the racing circuit in September.
• Baccanale is a food festival in November.

Buy

• Lots of convenience stores in town centre. Lidl and Aldi supermarkets are on via Selice north of the railway station.

Eat

• Lots in town centre, including Anonima Fornelli, San Domenico, La Tavernetta, Vicolo Nuovo and Forum Cornelii.
• Just for a change, there's Ayaki Sushi on piazza Alessandro Bianconcini.

Drink

The autodrome: it's not just for walking the dog

• The main strip for bars is along via Mazzini.

Sleep

• 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. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Rivazza and 3 Olimpia are near the race track.

Connect

Imola has 4G with all Italian carriers. As of April 2021, 5G has not rolled out in this region.

Go next

• 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.