Day trips by car / Bologna and its province

Half day Motors Technology

Motor Valley: Ducati and Lamborghini

The Ducati Museum and factory at Borgo Panigale, then the Lamborghini Museum at Sant'Agata Bolognese with the Miura and Countach.

Two brands that have taken the name of Bologna around the world, half an hour from each other. Ducati, founded in the city in 1926 by the Cavalieri Ducati brothers as a manufacturer of radio components, is celebrating its centenary. Lamborghini was born in 1963 because a tractor manufacturer wanted to build the perfect grand tourer.

Length from Cesenatico6 h 25 Long half day
Driving3 h 35 · 263 km there and back
Visits and stops2 h 50
When to goAll year round (Ducati closed on Wednesdays; factory tours usually on weekdays)

Long half day: leave early or skip one visit.

The plan from Cesenatico

08:00
Leave Cesenatico for Borgo Panigale1 h 20 driving, 109 km
09:20
Borgo Panigale1 h 25 of visits: Museo Ducati
10:45
Drive on to Sant'Agata Bolognese30 min driving, 24 km
11:15
Sant'Agata Bolognese1 h 25 of visits: Museo Automobili Lamborghini
12:40
Drive back to Cesenatico1 h 45 driving, 131 km
14:25
Back in Cesenatico

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.

What you will see

1Borgo Panigale

Museo Ducati 75 min

Inside the Borgo Panigale plant. The route starts with the history: the Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati, founded in 1926, the condensers and radios, then after the war the Cucciolo, the little engine to mount on a bicycle. Then comes the gallery of production motorcycles that marked different eras and the parade of racing bikes, from Superbike to MotoGP, with designs, engines and footage.

Closed on Wednesdays (except August) and on certain dates: tickets online only. The factory tour is at fixed times, with compulsory booking and closed shoes required; the ticket includes the museum.

2Sant'Agata Bolognese

Museo Automobili Lamborghini 75 min

Ferruccio Lamborghini, from Renazzo di Cento, had made his fortune with tractors; in 1963 he founded his car company here, and the bull in the logo is his zodiac sign. The museum, next to the factory, lines up the cars that made history: the first 350 GT, the 1966 Miura, the Countach, the LM 002 off-roader, right up to the extremely limited series like Veneno, Centenario and Sesto Elemento. There is also a driving simulator.

Open every day, booking recommended. The tour of the production lines starts from the museum and must be booked separately, on the factory's working days.

Tips

Factory tours are the highlight but places are limited: book them before organising the rest.
If you still have time, you can add the Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini at Funo di Argelato, dedicated to the man and his tractors: check opening times.

The same trip from other towns

How long it takes from each town, the drive back included. Tap a town to see the plan from there.

Ravenna, Faenza and Cervia

Rimini and the Riviera

Forlì and Cesena

Bologna and its province

Comacchio and its beaches

Pesaro and Fano

With your own car

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

This trip with a driver

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.

Ask Romagna Transfer

More trips in the Bologna and its province area

All the trips

Trips 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.