Things to Do & Must-See Attractions in Emilia-Romagna

This iconic castle located in the heart of Ferrara dates back to the 1300s and stands as an homage to an ancient era that still attracts travelers and history lovers to its towering gates. Visitors who want to explore this scenic destination will find restored prisons, barracks and weapon stores, in addition to gardens, a council hall, and dozens of other restored and renovated rooms that showcase what life here was like thousands of years ago.

Travelers say the idyllic drawbridge, Giants’ Room and the old school dungeon are some of the spots in this massive castle that are not to be missed. And while the castle’s interior is still covered with frescos, visitors say some are badly in need of restoration to return them to their original beauty.

UNESCO-listed with all the other glorious Roman mosaic masterpieces in Ravenna, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is testament to the days when the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Galla Placidia was the powerful sister of Honorius, the last emperor of Rome; she married Ataulf, King of the Visigoths, acted as regent for 12 years, died in Rome in 450 AD and is probably buried there, but nevertheless her official mausoleum is found in a terracotta-colored brick chapel among neat gardens behind Ravenna’s San Vitale Basilica. Unassuming on the outside, the chapel’s entire vaulted interior glitters with Byzantine mosaics dating from around 430 AD and representing the star-strewn night sky and intricate Biblical scenes, decorated with highly colored geometrical patterns. Gently lit by shafts of light from narrow windows, depictions of the Good Shepherd and the Martyrdom of St Lawrence adorn the niches, with figures of the Apostles floating on the upper walls. Three marble sarcophagi are reputed to contain the bodies of Galla Placidia, her second husband and son, but these were placed in the mausoleum in medieval times.

Perched on Colle della Guardia 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) southwest of Bologna’s historic center, the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca (Santuario della Madonna di San Luca) was built to house a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. Its portico, running from the city’s Porta Saragozza to the hilltop sanctuary, is the longest covered arcade in the world.

More than 100 towers stood guard over Bologna in the Middle Ages, but only 20 survive today. One of the few left standing is Torre Prendiparte, the second-highest in the city, soaring almost 200 feet (60 meters) above street level. Climb the internal staircase to the panoramic rooftop for bird’s-eye views over the historic center.

Only four churches of the original seven that once made up this stylistic jumble of buildings remain, but a visit to the Bologna’s Basilica of Santo Stefano (Basilica di Santo Stefano) is still a fascinating stroll through centuries of religious architecture. With winding passageways linking chapels and cloisters, this is one of the city’s most captivating churches.

Giambologna’s 16th-century Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno), also known as Il Zigànt, or The Giant, is one of the most famous landmarks in Bologna. A bronze Neptune stands watch from atop the ornate Renaissance fountain in Piazza Maggiore, a popular and picturesque gathering spot for locals and visitors.

Behind its understated Romanesque façade and distinctive rose window, the Basilica of San Domenico (Basilica di San Domenico) is teeming with Renaissance treasures, as well as ranking among Bologna’s most important churches. The church was built in 1221 to house the tomb of San Domenico, Founder of the Dominican Order of Preachers, and the Ark of St. Dominic remains the church’s grand centerpiece – a magnificent marble shrine created by Nicola Pisano and Niccolò dell’Arca.

The church’s elaborate interiors also include colorful frescoes and paintings by Michelangelo, Filippino Lippi, Guido Reni, Ludovico Carracci, and il Guercino, while one of its three grand organs was once played by Mozart. Other priceless artifacts are on display in the basilica’s small museum, including a terracotta bust of St. Dominic by Niccolò dell’Arca and a gothic-style reliquary once belonging to French King Louis IX.

The 15th-century Palazzo dei Diamanti (Diamond Palace) is one of the top places for art in the Renaissance city of Ferrara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is home to two of Ferrara’s most important art museums and holds temporary art shows throughout the year.

Tucked away in Via Zamboni Portico, just moments from the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore, the Oratory of Santa Cecilia (Oratorio Di Santa Cecilia) hides a wealth of artistic treasures behind its simple façade.

The Romanesque church was built as a family chapel for Bologna Lord Giovanni II Bentivoglio, and is most renowned for its exquisite series of frescos. Dating back to 1505, the frescos showcase the mastery of some of Bologna’s most important Renaissance artists, including Lorenzo Costa, Francesco Francia, Amico Aspertini and Raffaello Sanzio. Stretching over ten panels, the elaborate scenes depict the life of Saint Cecilia and her husband Valentine, while the church’s main altarpiece was so impressive, it’s now on display in the National Art Gallery of Bologna.

Parmesan cheese, officially known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, has been handcrafted in a specific area between the northern provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia for centuries. Learn about the history and production of this famously sharp aged cheese, one of the pillars of Italian cuisine, at this small museum just outside of Parma.

Mirabilandia is an amusement and adventure park located in Ravenna, Italy. The main park covers an area of 30 hectares, and there’s an additional water park known as Mira Beach. Both sections include high­octane rides and slides, plus various shows, attractions, and facilities.

Some of the most popular rides at Mirabilandia include Divertical, which at 60 meters tall is the highest water coaster in the world, plus the new Legends of Dead Town, which lays claim to being the biggest horror house in Europe. There’s also the high­speed Katun inverted roller coaster and the iSpeed launched coaster, plus El Dorado Falls, which features a 27-­meter water jump and a final 15-­meter high wave. Mirabilandia also boasts the 90-­meter tall Eurowheel, the second tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.

The park has plenty of gentle rides and attractions for younger children too, as well as various shows, shops, and restaurants.

Beat the summer heat at Aquafan, one of the most famous water parks in Italy. With almost 2 miles (3 km) of slides, as well as rapids, a wave pool, and kiddie areas, there are enough attractions to keep the entire family entertained for a few hours or a full day.

Step into the world of Nobel Prize winner and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi at Bologna’s fascinating Marconi Museum (Museo Marconi). Housed in the imposing Villa Griffone, Marconi’s former home and the site of many of his scientific experiments and discoveries, the museum is devoted to Marconi’s life and works.

Inside the museum, a series of interactive, multi-media exhibitions allow visitors to discover the physicist’s groundbreaking work in electricity and radio communication, which included early experiments in wireless telegraphy and the first transmission of radio signals across the Atlantic Ocean. Highlights include film clips, a notable collection of historic equipment and scientific instruments (including a working spark gap transmitter), and a recreation of Marconi’s laboratory. Visitors can also stroll the villa grounds and beautiful gardens, where Marconi’s tomb and memorial can be seen.

Many of Bologna’s most important works of art are gathered at city’s the National Gallery (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna). The lion’s share of the collection comprises works by painters from the early Renaissance and baroque periods from the surrounding region and rest of Italy, including Giotto, El Greco, Titian, Raphael, and Tintoretto.