Day Trips

Highlights: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Senna monument, Rocca Sforzesca, Palazzo Tozzoni

Photo: Motorsport history, the racetrack, the fortress.

Best visited: Race weekends or quiet weekdays. The Senna memorial at Tamburello is a moving pilgrimage.

Highlights: Museo Enzo Ferrari, Ferrari museum and factory at Maranello, Pavarotti's home, acetaie (balsamic)

Photo: Cars, the Romanesque Duomo, food culture.

Best visited: Any day; combine museums. Under-19 and regional-train discounts apply at the Ferrari museums.

Highlights: Teatro Farnese, Battistero, prosciutto and Parmigiano

Photo: Elegant streets, the baptistery, food.

Best visited: A full day. The food capital rival; eat well.

Highlights: Byzantine mosaics (UNESCO), Dante's tomb, Basilica di San Vitale

Photo: The greatest mosaics in the world; gold and color.

Best visited: A full day. San Vitale and Galla Placidia are unmissable.

Highlights: Castello Estense, Palazzo dei Diamanti, Renaissance streets by bike

Photo: The moated castle, the diamond-faced palace, cyclists everywhere.

Best visited: A relaxed day. A flat, bikeable Renaissance city.

Highlights: Beaches, Fellini Museum, Roman Rimini

Photo: The Adriatic, Fellini's world, summer crowds.

Best visited: Summer for beach, any time for Fellini. Fellini was born here; the museum is excellent.

Highlights: Leonardo's canal port, fishing boats, seaside

Photo: The historic port, boats, the coast.

Best visited: Summer. A charming Romagna seaside town.

Highlights: MIC ceramics museum, majolica workshops

Photo: Ceramics, craft, color.

Best visited: A half day. The world capital of faience ceramics.

Highlights: Canals and bridges, Po Delta, eels and lagoon

Photo: A little Venice in the lagoon, birdlife, water.

Best visited: Spring or autumn. Combine with the Po Delta nature.

Highlights: Painted-wall village, Rocca Sforzesca, Enoteca Regionale

Photo: Murals across the whole village, hill views.

Best visited: A half day. An open-air mural museum.

Highlights: Via degli Asini, clock tower, thermal hills

Photo: The elevated covered street, medieval atmosphere.

Best visited: A relaxed day. One of Italy's prettiest villages.

Highlights: Lambrusco hills, medieval towers, wine

Photo: Vineyards, towers, the chessboard square.

Best visited: Autumn harvest. Lambrusco Grasparossa country.

Highlights: Etruscan city of Kainua, WWII massacre memorial

Photo: Ancient ruins and the weight of memory.

Best visited: A reflective day. Site of one of Italy's worst Nazi massacres; treat with care.

Highlights: The republic on the rock, three towers, views

Photo: Cliffs, towers, the long view to the sea.

Best visited: Clear days. An independent microstate; reached via Rimini.

Highlights: Hiking, winter skiing, mountain light

Photo: Mountains, fog, snow, the wild edge of the region.

Best visited: Summer hiking or winter snow. Bologna's mountain escape.