Unusual routes to lovely and amazing places near Bologna.

FERRARA

About 40 Km. far from Bologna, lying in the middle of the Po Valley, Ferrara still has the atmosphere of the past, which harmoniously blends with the lively atmosphere of the present.
Ferrara's grand Renaissance, the Estense age, have left indelible signs of splendour everywhere: churches, palaces, galleries. A city to experience and where to relax walking around shops and cafeterias or to discover by bike.

Worth seeing: the monumental walls, the Cathedral, the Estense Castle, the Schifanoia Palace, the City Theatre.

Since1995, UNESCO has included the historical centre of Ferrara in the list of World Heritage Sites as a wonderful intact Renaissance town.

Tourist Information Office - Provincia di Ferrara
Castello Estense - Ferrara - tel. +39 0532 299303
Useful Links
Città di Ferrara
Siti Unesco
Ferrara Arte e Cultura 
How to get to Ferrara
By car: A13 Highway Bologna-Padova >> Exits Ferrara Nord / Ferrara Sud
By coach: Bus Station - Via Rampari di San Paolo - tel. +39 0532 599492
By train: Ferrara Railway Station  

MANTOVA

Home to Andrea Mantegna and to the Gonzaga court, the town of Mantua is rich in art and history. A fascinating historic town to be admired for the Renaissance architecture and to be discovered not only in its most famous places.
Mantua is worth a journey even only for the genuine taste of its wines and the food.

Worth seeing: the San Giorgio Castle, the Ducal Palace, the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Palazzo Te, Mantegna's House, the San Pietro Cathedral, Piazza Erbe with the adjoining Clock Tower and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo (the oldest church in Mantua).


Tourist Information Office - Provincia di Mantova
Piazza Mantegna, 6 - Mantova - tel. +39 0376 432 432
Useful links
Comune di Mantova 
Provincia di Mantova Sistema Museale
Centro Internazionale d'Arte e di Cultura Palazzo Te
MuMM Mantova Ufficio Musei e Monumenti 
How to get to Mantova
Mantua is about 120 Km. far from Bologna
By car:  A1 Highway Bologna-Milano to Modena then
>> A22 Brenner Highway >> Mantova Nord Exit
By coach: Bus Station APAM Mantova - tel. +39 0376 230346
By train: Mantova Railway Station


RIMINI, SAN LEO and SAN MARINO

Rimini is not only fifteen kilometres of renowned beaches, but also 2000 years of history, art and culture. The city, home to Federico Fellini, shows the signs of the civilisation from the Romans, with the Arch of Augustus, the Tiberio Bridge and the Amphitheatre to the Renaissance, with the Malatestian Temple and the Sismondo Castle.
 
Tourist Council - Provincia di Rimini
Piazza Malatesta, 28 - Rimini - Tel. +39 0541 716380
Council Informaton Desk
Corso d'Augusto 156/158 - Rimini Tel. +39 0541 704704
City Museums - tel. +39 0541 55414

Only 32 km. far from Rimini, rising out of a rocky cliff, stands San Leo, capital of the Montefeltro Region. San Leo offers a suggestive atmosphere of history, art and serenity.
The Arch welcomes you at the entrance and then there's the main place with Palazzo Nardini, the Medicean Palace and the Romanic Church, on the left the Dome and only a few steps forward the panoramic garden; on the other side of the place the street leads to the Fort where to visit interesting arms and old medical tools collections, the torture tools Museum and the Cagliostro prison.

San Leo Tourist Information Desk 
Palazzo Mediceo
Piazza Dante Alighieri, 14 - San Leo
Tel. +39 0541 916306 - Toll free number 800 553800 (from Italy)
Useful links
Città di San Leo


In front of San Leo, on the Titano Mountain, lies San Marino: the oldest independent republic in the world. A number of architectural and artistic beauties joined with the warm welcome of the Sammarinesi, the people of San Marino, make this ancient republic a fascinating place visited by thousands of tourists every year.
Worth seeing: the Fortress Guardsmen Exchange, the Tower, the Government Palace, the Basilica del Santo, the San Francesco Church, the Cappuccini Church and also the Handicraft Exhibit, the Wax Museum and the Rarity Museum.

San Marino Tourist Desk
Contrada Omagano, 20 - Repubblica di San Marino
Tel. +39 0549 882914

How to get to Rimini, San Leo and San Marino
Rimini is about 120 km. far from Bologna.
By car: A14 Highway Bologna-Ancona >> Rimini Nord Exit

 
VERONA
Home to Shakespeare's characters Romeo and Juliet, Verona made and makes visitors fall in love with her. Verona is also the city of the Arena, world famous house for the lyric opera. Veronese gastronomic delights and fine wines are world renowned too. 
Verona has been included by UNESCO in the list of  World Heritage Sites.

Worth seeing: the Arena, Piazza delle Erbe (open air market surrounded by historical buildings, once site of the Roman Forum), the Arche Scaligere, Piazza Bra, the San Giorgio Maggiore Church and, of course, Juliet's House.

Verona Tourist Information Desk
Via degli Alpini, 9 - Verona - Tel. +39 045 8068680

Useful links
http://www.tourism.verona.it/
http://www.comune.verona.it
Siti Unesco
http://www.veronaforkids.it
http://www.chieseverona.it
www.veronafortificata.it

How to get to Verona
Verona is about 160 Km. far from Bologna
By car: A1 Highway Bologna-Milano to Modena 
>> A22 Brenner Highway >> Verona Nord Exit
By train: Verona Porta Nuova Railway Station



FIRENZE
Worldwide famous and loved, Florence needs no introduction.
The artistic treasures and architectural masterpieces attract numbers of visitors every year. In addition to the beauty of the historical centre the hills around Florence offer a unique charming landscape, with villas, churches and evocative small villages. 

Worth seeing: The Dome, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Santa Maria Novella Church and the Uffizi Museum.

Florence Tourist Information Office 
Via A. Manzoni, 16 - Firenze - Tel. +39 055 23320

Useful Links
Florence Tourist Information Website
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
www.provincia.fi.it

How to get to Firenze
Florence is just 100 Km. far away from Bologna. The two cities are efficiently linked by the motorway and railway network.
By car: A1 Highway Bologna-Firenze
By train: Santa Maria Novella Railway Station (in the city centre) - Campo di Marte Railway Station.

 
VENEZIA

Venice is one of the most famous Italian cities.

If you haven't been there before, you must take the chance to visit the enchanting city on the water, only 115 Km. far from Bologna.

Worth seeing: San Marco Place, the Basilica of San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, the Rialto Bridge, the Canal Grande with the view of its palaces, the Ca' D'Oro, the San Donato Church in the island of Murano and the Lace Museum in the Island of Burano.

Venice Tourist Board
F.ta S. Lorenzo, Palazzo Ziani - Castello 5050 - Venezia - Tel. +39 041 5298711

Useful Links
http://www.turismovenezia.it/eng
Città di Venezia
www.venezia.net
www.hellovenezia.it
www.meetingvenice.it
Assessorato alla cultura
www.cadoro.org
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Musei civici veneziani 

How to get to Venezia
By car: A13 Highway Bologna-Padova >> A4 Highway Padova-Venezia >> Piazzale Roma Parking or Tronchetto Parking
By train: S. Lucia Railway Station - Venice