The medieval village with the Rocca Viscontea, the walled town among the vineyards, then the fairytale village built by the Visconti di Modrone
The hills around Piacenza are dotted with dozens of castles, guarding the valleys that led from the Po plain towards the Apennines. In the morning, Castell'Arquato, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, with its upper square, the Collegiata and the Rocca Viscontea. Then Vigoleno, an entire village enclosed within walls, among the vineyards. In the afternoon, Grazzano Visconti, a village that looks medieval but was built in the early twentieth century.
Times are a guide: driving times are worked out without traffic, then come the visits and ten minutes at every stop to park. In summer towards the coast and at rush hour allow extra time.
At the top of the village stands one of the finest medieval squares in Emilia: on one side the Palazzo del Podestà, from the late thirteenth century, with its loggia and external staircase; on the other the Collegiata, a twelfth-century Romanesque church with a cloister and a museum of sacred art. The square opens out over the Arda valley.
The square and church are free; the museum charges admission.
The Visconti, lords of Milan, built it in the fourteenth century to control the valley. From the patrol walkway and the tower you can see the whole town and the plain. The village has been chosen for many period films, including Ladyhawke. In the village there's also a geological museum with fossils of whales and dolphins from when the sea covered this area, millions of years ago.
Admission charged. Check opening days, which vary with the season.
Vigoleno is a small village entirely enclosed within the castle walls, with the entrance gate, the keep, the little square with its fountain and the Romanesque parish church of San Giorgio. All around are the vineyards of the hills between Piacenza and Parma, where they make Vin Santo di Vigoleno, a sweet wine produced in limited bottles. From the walls the view stretches across to the plain.
The village is free; the keep and walkway charge admission, with opening times that vary with the season.
The castle dates from the fourteenth century, but the village around it is a twentieth-century creation: from 1905 Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone, father of the film director Luchino Visconti, had it built in medieval style, with craftsmen's workshops, little squares and houses with exposed beams. It looks like a film set, and has been used as one. You can wander among the workshops and visit the castle's large park, with its gardens and tree-lined avenues.
The village is free; the castle park charges admission, and the castle can only be visited on certain days.
How long it takes from each town, the drive back included. Tap a town to see the plan from there.
Almost every old town has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) with cameras: park outside and walk in. The fine reaches your home, abroad too. ZTL and car parks town by town
Romagna Transfer picks you up at your hotel, drops you in front of every stop and brings you back: no parking, no ZTL, and the wine is yours to enjoy.
The centre on foot in the morning, the sanctuary of San Luca, the Certosa and the Arca di San Domenico in the afternoon
9 h 25 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale, the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese, then Maranello and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
10 h 00 from Imola Full day
The plan
The UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral and Ghirlandina tower, the Albinelli market, a vinegar cellar and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
8 h 30 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet's house and the Scaliger Tombs in the morning, San Zeno and Castelvecchio in the afternoon.
10 h 15 from Imola Full day
The plan
Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, the squares and Leon Battista Alberti's Sant'Andrea in the morning, Giulio Romano's Palazzo Te in the afternoon.
9 h 15 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Pilotta with the Teatro Farnese, the Cathedral with Correggio's dome and the pink Baptistery in the morning, the castle in the prosciutto hills in the afternoon.
9 h 25 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Duomo with the Piccolomini Library and Duccio's Maestà in the morning, Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia in the afternoon.
9 h 50 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Duomo with the Piccolomini Library and Duccio's Maestà in the morning, Piazza del Campo and the Palazzo Pubblico in the afternoon, and on the way back the walled village of Monteriggioni.
10 h 50 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Scaliger Castle, a boat trip and the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione in the morning, the walled village of Lazise on the Verona shore in the afternoon.
10 h 05 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Rocca Scaligera, a boat trip and the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione in the morning, Lazise and Bardolino, the wine town, on the Verona shore in the afternoon.
11 h 20 from Imola Full day
The plan
Medieval towers, the frescoed Collegiata and views over the Val d'Elsa, then the walled village of Monteriggioni.
9 h 45 from Imola Full day
The plan
Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery in the morning, Lucca with its tree-lined walls, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and Torre Guinigi in the afternoon.
10 h 35 from Imola Full day
The plan
Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery in the morning, the centre with Piazza dei Cavalieri, Borgo Stretto and Santa Maria della Spina on the Arno in the afternoon.
9 h 50 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Rocca Sanvitale in its moat with Parmigianino's little room, the fortress of the Meli Lupi princes, then the lands of Giuseppe Verdi.
10 h 30 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Torrazzo, the Cathedral and the Violin Museum in Cremona in the morning, the Gonzaga ideal city of Sabbioneta in the afternoon.
10 h 10 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Teatro Olimpico and Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza in the morning, Palladio's wooden bridge and grappa in Bassano in the afternoon.
10 h 05 from Imola Full day
The plan
Take the funicular to the old town: Piazza Vecchia, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel and the walls, then the Accademia Carrara
10 h 55 from Imola Full day
The plan
The Legend of the True Cross and Piazza Grande in Arezzo in the morning, Cortona on the hill above the Val di Chiana in the afternoon.
11 h 00 from Imola Full day
The plan
The castle where the emperor begged the pope's forgiveness, the red fortress of Rossena, then the mountain mentioned by Dante.
9 h 50 from Imola Full day
The plan
Colourful seaside villages in Liguria, one after another by train: the view of Manarola, the harbour of Vernazza, the beach of Monterosso.
11 h 00 from Imola Full day
The planTrips written by our editors from the facts of our monument pages and the official sites. Opening days and hours change: the note under every place tells you what to check before you leave. No prices: you find them on the museums' sites.
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