Experience Imola
Imola is much more than just a race track: the city combines top-class cuisine, cultural monuments, and traditional producers to create an experience that delights connoisseurs, Italy fans, and curious travelers alike. From 2-star gastronomy at Ristorante San Domenico to creative pizza experiences and slow food osterie to historic libraries, palazzi, and award-winning wineries: this guide shows you the best places for cuisine, culture, and shopping—authentic, high-quality, and with real added value for your next visit to Imola.
1) Culinary delights – Imola's flavors between tradition and fine dining
Imola cooks differently. Between iconic 2-star cuisine, artisanal pizza artistry, and slow food classics, the city shows how diverse the flavors of Emilia-Romagna can be. Here you will find restaurants that are making history—and dishes you won't soon forget.
- Tip 1: Two-star dining at Ristorante San Domenico
Ristorante San Domenico is one of Italy's great culinary destinations – and since chef Max Mascia took the helm at this traditional establishment, it has been combining family history with modern lightness. Mascia, who has been with the restaurant since his youth, has completely reimagined the kitchen: sustainable, energy-efficient, and accessible to guests for the first time. The restaurant's signature dish is a must-try: the “Uovo in Raviolo” – a large, delicate ravioli with liquid egg yolk, ricotta, and fine truffles. A dish that has represented the soul of San Domenico for decades and still gives guests goosebumps today.Added to this is one of Italy's largest wine cellars with over 15,000 items, perfect for tastings and aperitifs. A must for anyone who wants to experience top-class Italian cuisine with real soul.
- Tip 2: Quattroquinti – Creative pizza with provenance and attitude
If you want to immerse yourself in Imola's culinary scene, Quattroquinti is a must. The pizzeria combines traditional craftsmanship with modern creativity – without losing sight of its roots. The dough is left to rise for up to 48 hours and is made from carefully selected flour from the Molino Denti mill and Riserva del Mare di Nubia slow food salt. The result is an exceptionally light, aromatic, and easily digestible base that provides a fine foundation for every pizza. The pizza tasting is particularly recommended: Several pizzas are served pre-cut – ideal for sharing and sampling the variety on the menu. From classic interpretations to surprising combinations such as porcini mushrooms, yellow Trapanese pesto, or burrata with 24-month Parma ham, Quattroquinti offers an experience that shows how exciting pizza can be when origin, product quality, and creativity come together. A culinary fixture in Imola – perfect for anyone who wants to rediscover pizza. - Tip 3: Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo – Imola
If you're looking for a place in Imola that puts the whole soul of Emilia-Romagna on your plate, then there's no way around Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo. Since 1983, it has been not only a restaurant but also a cultural treasure—awarded by Slow Food for decades and deeply rooted in the region's craftsmanship. Be sure to try the double ravioli with faraona & squacquerone—a signature dish that perfectly combines tradition, technique, and character—and the tagliatelle Donna Rosa, rolled out with a mattarello, a piece of living history. The wine list turns out to be a treasure trove: small winemakers, lots of attitude, authentic terroir voices. And: the cuisine has been so consistently good for over 30 years that it has long since become an institution. A place for everyone who not only wants to eat, but also understands why Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy's great culinary regions. - Tip 4: Breakfast & sweet treats: a visit to Sebastiano Caridi
For anyone looking for a special place to enjoy breakfast, brunch, or a stylish afternoon break in Imola, Sebastiano Caridi's store is a must. In the former Caffè Bacchilega, the award-winning pastry chef combines historic elegance with modern design: restored wooden elements, warm lighting, and a space that perfectly blends tradition and contemporary patisserie. The display cases are filled with iconic mignons, delicate tartlets, croissants made with lievito madre, and seasonal signature creations that show why Caridi is one of Italy's most exciting pastry chefs. Ideal for a delicious breakfast, a little break in between – or a sweet treat after a stroll through the old town.Be sure to try the panettone. 72 hours of natural fermentation, lievito madre vivo, and the finest ingredients make it a small masterpiece and one of the most sought-after panettoni in the region. Perfect to take away—or to fall in love with immediately.
- Tip 5: Semplice – Mixology, cuisine, and “le bon vivre” in the heart of Imola
A place that shows how good simplicity can taste. Semplice is a modern bar with soul – half mixology hotspot, half bistro with honest, seasonal cuisine. What makes this place special? The atmosphere: warm, elegant without pretension, and full of people who enjoy good drinks, good food, and good living. The large bar is a great place to start the evening in a relaxed manner – or spend the whole evening there. Here, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks are taken just as seriously as classic signature cocktails, accompanied by small, sophisticated dishes that have a surprising amount of personality. The wine selection includes around 150 labels – from fine bollicine to full-bodied reds. Perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy themselves without compromising on quality. Semplice is a place you want to arrive at immediately: inclusive, lively, hospitable – and with a culinary style that shows how exciting “simple” can be. Whether for a drink at the bar, a light dinner, or an after-dinner stop: a fixture in Imola's evening program.
2) Producers – wine, olive oil, and genuine regionality
If you really want to understand Imola, visit its producers. From organic wineries with decades of history to modern olive oil mills and family businesses that tell the story of their region with every product, this is where the flavors that characterize Imola are created.
- Tip 1: Monticino Rosso – the hills of Romagna as they should taste
If you really want to understand the terroir of the region, this is the best place to start: Monticino Rosso is a traditional family winery since 1965 – where the frizzante soul of Emilia merges with the characterful Romagna. Two generations of the Zeoli family now produce organic wines that clearly show how much heritage can be found in a glass.Must-taste:
- Albana di Romagna “Codronchio” – a tribute to the historic owners of the land, excitingly mineral and dry.
- Sangiovese Superiore – powerful, charming, classic Romagna. The organic winery is beautifully situated in the hills near Dozza – ideal stops for tastings, direct sales, and wine shopping, especially if you are looking for typical varieties without any tourist hype. - Tip 2: Vini Giovannini – Romagna from an enologist's perspective
The organic winery Vini Giovannini is the perfect counterpart: smaller, more refined, more focused, with a philosophy that is entirely dedicated to origin. The family has been working in the Colli Imolesi for generations – and together with star oenologist Dr. Giancarlo Soverchia, they produce wines that combine tradition and high standards.Must-taste:
- Pignoletto Frizzante – typical of the region, light, vibrant.
- Sangiovese Riserva – deep structure, classic signature.If you love stories that tell of the earth, generations, and a clear commitment to terroir, this is the place for you. Perfect for a quiet, private tasting with a real family connection.
- Tip 3: Frantoio Valsanterno – Olive oil from Imola, where olives shouldn't actually grow
Many people are surprised to learn that Imola also produces olive oil – and that's exactly what makes Frantoio Valsanterno so special. Over 3,000 olive trees grow on nine hectares of land; the mill is the only one in the entire greater Bologna area. A young team runs the business with a passion that can be felt in every product.Good to know:
- Olives are processed within 6–12 hours – a level of quality you can taste.
- Ionized water is used for cleaning – extremely modern and rare.
- Production exclusively with olives from the region – genuine Santerno Valley terroir oils.
- State-of-the-art 4.0 mill technology (since 2022).Must-taste (perfect for shopping):
- Monte di Nola – intense blend of Ghiacciola, Nostrana, Leccino & Frantoio; distinctive, bitter-spicy, very characterful.
- Terre di Rocche (organic) – fragrant, strong organic blend with limited & numbered bottling.
- Rivalta (Monocultivar Nostrana di Brisighella) – artichoke, grassy, tomato leaf – a pure experience on bread.
- Giro d'Olio – Special Edition for Formula 1 fans: Tosa, Rivazza & Tamburello.Tip: Guided tours of the grove & mill, tastings of the various oils and – my tip – be sure to try the chocolate cream with olive oil. And yes: there is even olive oil gin.
3) Culture & Sports – Between Renaissance, Race Track & Roman Secrets
Imola is full of surprises. Behind its historic walls lie libraries full of treasures, museums with archaeological finds – and one of the most legendary race tracks in the world. A city where speed, history, and art seamlessly intertwine.
- Tip 1: Adrenaline rush – A lap at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Imola thrives on the myth of motorsport. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is one of the most iconic racetracks in the world. Normally, the engines roar here, but visitors can experience the track for themselves in a surprising number of ways. The driving experiences are particularly exciting: Accompanied by professional instructors, you drive a high-performance sports car around the legendary track – a moment that gives even motorsport novices the famous goose bumps.The guided tours offer deeper insights: they take you to areas that are normally only accessible to drivers and racing teams – from the pit lane to the media rooms to the exclusive team areas. At the same time, the team recounts the great stories of this racetrack, which is marked by triumph, tragedy, and motorsport legends.
A visit that shows that Imola is much more than just a pretty Italian town. Here, speed becomes tangible – and history comes alive.
- Tip 2: Biblioteca Comunale di Imola – A universe of books full of secrets
Anyone who thinks a library is just a place to read has not yet experienced the Biblioteca Comunale. Around 550,000 books are stored here, many of them centuries old – some even printed on silk. The library is housed in a former Franciscan monastery and resembles a labyrinth of hidden doors, historic corridors, and rooms that breathe history. A guided tour is highly recommended. This is the only way to learn how the collection grew together from various monastery libraries, why it was confiscated during French rule, and what extraordinary works are hidden between the shelves today. A quiet highlight for culture and history lovers. - Tip 3: Palazzo Tozzoni – A leap back in time into the life of an aristocratic family
A visit to Palazzo Tozzoni feels like embarking on a cinematic journey through time. The historic town house of the Tozzoni family is an intact house museum world in which furniture, paintings, porcelain, and everyday objects from over five centuries have been preserved. Baroque chambers, Empire rooms, and later halls merge into a multi-layered panorama of aristocratic life. The atmosphere is particularly impressive: you get the feeling that the residents could return at any moment.Regular guided tours, lectures, special exhibitions, and workshops make the palace a lively cultural meeting place—ideal for anyone who wants to experience Imola behind the facades.
- Tip 4: Museo San Domenico – Art, archaeology, and a Roman surprise
The Museo San Domenico is located in a former Dominican monastery from the 13th century, including two beautiful cloisters. Today, it displays the city's art collections – over 600 works from the Gothic period to the present day, including sculptures, ceramics, medals, and paintings. A particular highlight is the section dedicated to the natural scientist and archaeologist Giuseppe Scarabelli. This collection is almost like a historical “cabinet of curiosities” and combines archaeological finds with natural history objects.Brand new and definitely worth seeing: the Domus del Rasoio, an excavated and museum-secured Roman residence directly beneath the museum – with mosaics, finds, and traces of the eras that have overlapped at this site over the centuries.
4) Event tip: Baccanale – When the whole of Imola becomes a stage for culinary delights
If you visit Imola at the right time of year, you can experience a cultural highlight that extends far beyond the region: Baccanale, an annual culinary and cultural festival that focuses on a new, creative theme each year.
What's particularly fascinating is that the whole city gets involved – museums, libraries, cultural centers, producers, and restaurants all pull together to transform Imola into a lively culinary landscape for several weeks.
This includes:
- Special exhibitions that interpret the annual theme from an artistic, historical, or social perspective
- Tastings, workshops, and talks that bring regional knowledge to life
- And around 40 restaurants that create exclusive menus that are only available during the Baccanale—a culinary journey that tastes different every year but always bears a clear signature: Imola celebrates enjoyment as culture.
An event that shows how impressive it can be when an entire city dedicates itself to a theme – and culinary identity becomes a great, shared experience.
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