Summer is the perfect time for those who love going to the beach but do not give up the charm of the hinterland. Among rolling hills and lush landscapes, Bassa Romagna welcomes visitors with its villages rich in history, art and traditions. This itinerary leads to the discovery of three precious places, surrounded by greenery, among unmissable events and evocative atmospheres.
Lugo was the birthplace of Francesco Baracca, Italian aviation ace, and where the music talent of Gioachino Rossini was born.
Cotignola stands out for its creative soul: a place where the tradition of papier-mâché meets the modernity of street art, turning the village into a true open-air gallery.
Finally, Bagnara di Romagna guards its majestic Rocca Sforzesca, a witness to centuries of history, and tells the story of the romantic affair between chorister Anna Lolli and composer Pietro Mascagni.
Three villages, three unique experiences, for a summer journey of culture, excitement and beauty.
PRACTICAL INFO
INFO
- Interests: Art and culture
- Duration: 48h
- Target: Groups, Friends, Couples
- When: In summer
ITINERARY
FIRST STOP, Lugo
In the heart of Bassa Romagna, Lugo is a town rich in history and culture, also thanks to two great Italian figures: aviation ace Francesco Baracca and musical genius Gioachino Rossini.
Francesco Baracca, the most famous Italian pilot of the 20th century, was born here. His birthplace now houses an evocative museum, which tells the story of both the man and the hero, tracing the history of his prancing horse and how it became intertwined with that of Enzo Ferrari, later becoming the symbol of Maranello’s red cars. Inside you can see an original Spad VII, a combat aircraft of the time, and a flight simulator for an immersive experience.
Lugo, however, is also the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini’s father, and it was here that the composer took his first steps in music. The Casa-Museo Rossini is a multisensory experience that engages the five senses, letting you discover his music and his passion for gastronomy. For a further dip into the past, the Chiesa del Carmine still preserves the ancient organ on which the young Rossini practiced.
If you love big outdoor summer events, it might be worth checking the Ravenna Festival calendar before you leave: you might get lucky and discover the town just when its squares and historic buildings turn into a big stage giving guests a unique cultural experience.
SECOND STOP, Cotignola
The journey continues to Cotignola, a small town with an amazing artistic soul, where tradition and innovation come together in a unique route.
The visit can begin at the Museo Civico Luigi Varoli, an authentic treasure chest of creativity that preserves the works of the artist from Cotignola, known for his magnificent papier-mâché masks. These artifacts, with their expressive and theatrical appearance, represent one of the city’s most fascinating traditions.
The itinerary then continues through the streets of the village, where street art transforms walls into real canvases. Over the years, the “Dal museo al paesaggio” project has given numerous nationally and internationally renowned artists the opportunity to paint facades and hidden corners with murals inspired by local history.
Following the path, we arrive at a truly evocative place: the Senio River floodplain, where one of the most fascinating events in Romagna comes to life every summer.
If traveling in July take note: here, in fact, stands the Arena delle Balle di Paglia, a unique amphitheater built entirely out of hay bales. This rural setting becomes the stage for theatrical shows, concerts and artistic performances that provide an immersive and out-of-the-ordinary experience.
A visit to Cotignola is a real surprise.
THIRD STOP, Bagnara di Romagna
The itinerary ends with an unmissable stop: Bagnara di Romagna, one of Borghi più belli d’Italia since 2021, a splendid example of a perfectly preserved medieval “castrum”.
The beating heart of the village is the majestic Rocca Sforzesca, one of the finest 15th-century’s fortification works in Italy. With its imposing keep and striking loggia, the fortress is the symbol of a past of military strategies and powerful seigniories. Inside, the Museo del Castello traces the history of the city, focusing on the figure of Caterina Sforza, a powerful woman and icon of the Renaissance.
A few steps from the fortress, the Museo Pietro Mascagni reveals a more intimate and romantic side of local history. Through a precious epistolary of love, the museum tells the bond between the famous composer and Bagnara chorister Anna Lolli, interweaving their personal story with the history of Italy in the early 1900s.
If the trip takes place in late June, the village will be enlivened by the sounds, tastes and colors of Popoli Pop Cult Festival, which transforms the streets into a multicultural stage, perfect for those who want to experience history in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
