The city is home to the oldest university in the world and numerous students who enrich its
cultural and social life. Famous for its towers and long porticoes Bologna has a beautifully
preserved historic centre. Its artistic importance and its importance in terms of landmarks is based
on a homogenous mixture of monuments and architectural examples (medieval towers, antique
buildings, churches, the layout of the historical centre) and works of art resulting from a first class
architectural and artistic history, which can be seen in the city’s important museums and art
galleries. In 2000 Bologna was appointed the “European Capital of Culture” and in 2006 it was
named a UNESCO “City of Music”. But Bologna is also a city of water. Hidden beneath the porticoes
of the city centre there is a network of canals and locks that can be glimpsed from certain vantage
points in the historic centre. But Bologna does not live on culture alone: the Bologna cuisine (as
well as the Emilian cuisine in general) is famous for its variety and opulence.
What to eat in Bologna.
Meat (in particular pig) and fresh egg pasta form the basis of the most typical
dishes: mortadella, tortellini, lasagne and ragù (typically served with tagliatelle) to name just a few.
Bologna’s nickname of la grassa (the fat one) goes hand in hand with its other nickname la dotta
(the learned one). Bologna is only 25 km away and it can easily be reached in half an hour with the
Savena valley road, that links Lodole Country House with the city centre.

Ferrara, located in the low Emilian flatland, rises on the banks of the Po river. Appointed a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 for its importance as a Renaissance city, it was once again
recognised in 1999 for the Po delta and the Estense sites. Ferrara is also one of 4 regional capitals
(along with Bergamo, Lucca and Grosseto) whose historic centre is almost completely encircled
by walls that have maintained their original layout almost completely intact over the centuries.
Amongst its most notable events there are the exhibitions at the Palazzo di Diamanti and the
unique Buskers’ Festival at the end of August, which brings together street artists from across
the world. Ferrara is less than an hour away along the A1 and A13 motorways.

Florence, considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, is universally acknowledged as one of the
cradles of art and architecture, as well as being famous for being one of the most beautiful cities in
the world thanks to its numerous monuments and museums. The city is the regional capital of
Tuscany and a world capital of art. It is home to an important university and it is also a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The enormous artistic wealth of the city is displayed in its many important
museums and art galleries, that contain some of the most famous and valuable works of art in the
world. Florentine cuisine is characterised by four fundamental elements: Tuscan bread (flat,
saltless, well baked with a crusty crust and a soft inside); extra-virgin olive oil; meat (grilled,
Florentine beef steaks, game roasted or braised with wine such as wild boar, rabbit or deer); and
finally Chianti wine. Florence can be reached from Lodole Country House in about an hour along
the A1 motorway from Rioveggio, which is about 10 km away.
Bed and Breakfast near Florence.
How far Lodole from Florence?
From Lodole Country House you can reach Florence in an average time of about an hour along the
A1 motorway entrance to the highway exit Rioveggio, just 10 km away.

The city of Lucca, gateway to the Garfagnana region, is situated in a vast, fertile plain in northwest Tuscany, 15 km north-east of Pisa. Lucca, one of Italy’s main art cities, is famous the world
over for its splendidly preserved city walls, built between the 15th and the 17th century. Together
with Ferrara, Grosseto and Bergamo, Lucca is one of Italy’s 4 provincial capitals to boast a centre
surrounded by intact Renaissance-era ramparts. These city walls are recognized as being some of
the best preserved in the whole of Europe, thanks to the fact that they were never actually used to
defend the town, and in the latter half of the nineteenth century they were transformed into a
pleasant promenade that can still be enjoyed today. Like its walls, the historical centre of the city
is still very much the same as it would have been centuries ago. There are numerous buildings of
considerable historical and architectural importance including many medieval churches. For this
reason Lucca has even been called the “city of 100 churches”, but there are many other
architectural gems to be enjoyed here too, such as towers, belfries and a number of monumental
Renaissance palaces. The immense wealth of the city’s history and architecture is demonstrated by
the recent proposal to add its historical centre to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. The
province of Lucca also boasts the splendid Versilia Riviera, famous the world over for its beaches
and nightlife. The nearby town of Viareggio is also well-known for its stunning Carnival where
spectacularly decorated floats parade along the Seaside Promenade. Lucca can be easily reached
from Lodole Country House in about an hour and a half by taking the A1 motorway as far as
Florence and then continuing on the A11 “Firenze-Mare” motorway.

As of July 2008 Mantua, along with Sabbioneta with which it shares its Gonzaga history and which
has made it one of the main centres of Italian and European Renaissance, became a Unesco World
Heritage Site. Full of monuments, historic buildings, churches, squares and museums, Mantua
is well known for the Palazzo Tè by the architect and painter Giulio Romano and for being
the birthplace of the poet Virgil. The most important tourist event is the Concorso dei
Madonnari which is held every year in August in the town of Curtatone: dozens of painters, from
all over the word, use crayons to paint the surface of the Santuario square during the Fiera di
Ferragosto. This picturesque city surrounded by water offers visitors delicious dishes such as the
famous pumpkin tortelli, the pot roast and the “sbrisolona” cake. Mantua can easily be reached
from Lodole Country House in a little over an hour, with the A1 motorway from Sasso Marconi as
far as Modena and then along the A22 Brennero motorway

Pisa in Tuscany, famous across the globe for its monuments, sits in a flat area called the Valdarno,
a few kilometres from the mouth of the Arno river. The centre of Pisa is home to the
famous piazza del Duomo, also known as the Piazza of Miracles, which became a Unesco World
Heritage Site in 1987. The square is home to the Cathedral, built in marble and with an important
bronze portal and the famous 56 metre tall Leaning tower, a campanile built in theXII century,
whist started leaning ten years after it was built.It is now one of the most well-known Italian
buildings in the world. Pisa is also home to the prestigious University of Pisa and the Scuola
Normale Superiore, famous for its studies and scientific research. The city’s most famous event is
the Regata of the repubbliche Marinare, which is held every four years: the rowing race pits the city
against Genoa, Venice and Amalfi. From Lodole Country House Pisa is about an hour and a half’s
drive along the motorway A1 from Rioveggio towards Florence and then, from Firenze Nord, the
A11 motorway towards Pisa.
Bed and Breakfast an hour from Pisa: relax in the Bolognese Apennines.
If you travel by motorcycle, stay at this bed and breakfast is ideal, because from Lodole Country
House Pisa is reached in about an hour and a half highway driving before taking the A1 motorway
at the Firenze Nord Rioveggio, then continue along the A11 Pisa direction.

Due to the traces of its ancient glory Ravenna is one of the few cities in the world to boast eight
UNESCO World Heritage monuments. Famous for its mosaics the city has a rich artistic heritage
displayed in its museums and churches dating from the Byzantine period. Of particular interest
there is Dante’s tomb, which rises in the centre of Ravenna, where the poet lived the final years of
his life until his death in 1321. Ravenna can be reached in a little over an hour along the A1
motorway as far as Bologna and then the A14 motorway.
How far is Lodole Country House from Ravenna?
From Lodole Country House Ravenna is reached in just over an hour along the A1 motorway to
Bologna and then along the A14 motorway exit to Ravenna passing Imola.

Visit Siena
Siena is located in central Tuscany, in the heart of a vast series of rolling hills, between Chianti and
the Crete Senesi area. The city is universally famous for its artistic heritage, the architectural unity
of its medieval cityscape and its celebrated “Palio” horse race. In 1995 the city’s historic centre was
officially declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The “Palio”, a traditional bareback horse race
between the various districts, or contrade, in Siena, is held in the city’s main square, Piazza del
Campo, on July 2 and August 16. During these periods the city speaks of nothing else as the Palio
is not merely a tourist event or the reconstruction of a historical medieval joust, it is the expression
of an ancient and deeply-rooted Sienese tradition. The race is organised with maniacal precision
by the city contrade, each of which has a proud and distinctive character that is maintained by
numerous social events that bond its members together throughout the year. Siena can be easily
reached from Lodole Country House in about an hour and a half by taking the A1 motorway as far
as the Firenze-Certosa exit and then continuing along the Firenze-Siena highway.
Visiting Siena and sleep at Lodole
From Lodole Country House you can easily reach Siena, take the A1 highway exit at
Firenze-Certosa then take the motorway Florence-Siena it will take about an hour and a
half.

With its unique urban layout and inestimable artistic heritage Venice is universally considered one
of the most beautiful cities in the world and, along with its lagoon, it is a UNESCO world heritage
site. This has made Venice the second most important Italian city, after Rome, in terms of foreign
visitors. Many internationally important events are held in Venice throughout the year, such as the
art Biennale and the International Venice Film Festival, which is held between the end of August
and the beginning of September at the Venice Lido. Venice is just one hour and forty five minutes’
drive from Lodole Country House, with the A1 and A13 motorways.
How long does it take to reach Venice from Lodole?
From Lodole Country House Venice it can be reached easily in one hour and forty minutes along
the motorways A1 and A13.

Verona in the Veneto region, close to Lake Garda, is visited every year by almost 3 million tourists
drawn by its artistic and architectonic wonders, which led to it being declared a Unesco World
Heritage Site. Amongst its most famous monuments there is the Arena, a Roman amphitheatre
and Romeo and Juliet’s world famous romantic balcony. Verona holds numerous international
events and shows. The most famous one is the Opera Festival which has been held every summer
in the Arena since 1913, when the festival was inaugurated with Giuseppe Verdi’s, to celebrate the
centenary of the composer’s birth and which was attended by people from across the world. The
Arena is also used in the summer for numerous concerts by the most important Italian and
international singers. Verona can be reached in about an hour and a half along the A1 motorway
from Sasso Marconi as far as Modena and then the A22 Brennero motorway.
How far it is from Verona Lodole?
From Lodole Country House Verona is reached in about an hour and a half by taking the A1
highway from the entrance of Sasso Marconi as far as Modena, then A22 Brennero.