Travel Guide to Imola, Italy

Imola is a relatively small provincial town that attracts visitors by its ancient architectural places of interest, wonderful museums and unforgettable landscapes. However, these facts are not the reasons for popularity of this place. There is a highway that is used in one of stages of Formula 1 competition nearby the town. When the compatition takes place in this region, the population of the city increases in several times. Fans of this sport come to Imola from different parts of the world. In 1988 a tragedy happened on the highways of Imola. A famous driver Ayrton Senna died there after a car accident.

When describing the sights of the town, we simply cannot fail to mention Castelli Rocca Sforzesca di Imola located on the central square of the town. The building of the castle started in 1332. Prior to this this area was occupied by the town’s fort tower. During the Renaissance period new military facilities started appearing on the territory of the city and their protection required more large-scale buildings. The building of the castle was ruled by the famous military persona Gian Galeazzo Sforza. The castle was named to honor its creator. This powerful facility managed to survive up to our days; it managed to survive after numerous attacks and many times the castle played the crucial role during protective activities. In the beginning of the 20th century the castle played the role of a prison used to keep the Nazi criminals. Today the building is fully turned into a museum complex.

Santo Domenico Church is also worth the attention of tourists. It was built in the middle of the 15th century. This is an elegant gothic building, which main decoration is a magnificent portal. San Cassiano Cathedral is the oldest building in Imola. Its building was finished in the 11th century. During such a long history the church was rebuilt several times, but it managed to keep its original shapes. A library is opened nearby the church. If you decide to visit it, you will be able to see first editions of ancient books and priceless manuscripts.