BolognaStory N° 37
Bologna Motor Valley & Pistoia
Ferrari and Lamborghini museums, an Apennine trattoria from 1918, and a Pistoia wind-down across the hills.
The itinerary.
3 days · 11 stops
Friday
Day One
Land in Bologna, drop bags, then drive west to Maranello — the Ferrari pilgrimage. Evening tagliatelle in the porticoes.
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Museo Ferrari Maranello
Two-floor Ferrari museum next to the historic Fiorano test track — book ahead musei.ferrari.com
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Pista di Fiorano (optional)
Adjacent factory test circuit — short factory + Pista bus tour add-on with the museum ticket
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Piazza Maggiore
Bologna's main square — Basilica di San Petronio, Fontana del Nettuno, evening passeggiata under the porticoes
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Trattoria Anna Maria
Old-school Bolognese — handmade tagliatelle al ragù, tortelloni in brodo trattoriaannamaria.com
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Hotel
Hotel Corona d'Oro hco.it · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- Fly into Bologna (BLQ)
- Marconi Express monorail BLQ → Bologna Centrale (~7m)
- Pick up rental car for Maranello day trip (Bologna → Maranello ~35m via A1/A14)
Saturday
Day Two
Lamborghini in the morning, then a slow climb into the Apennine hills for dinner at La Grotta — a trattoria from 1918.
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Museo Lamborghini
The factory museum at Sant'Agata Bolognese — current models, racing heritage, factory tour bookable lamborghini.com
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Quadrilatero Market
Bologna's medieval market quarter — mortadella, parmigiano, aperitivo on Via Pescherie Vecchie
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Le Sette Chiese (Santo Stefano)
Romanesque complex of seven interconnected churches just off Piazza Maggiore
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Antica Trattoria La Grotta dal 1918
Michelin-listed family trattoria up in Sasso Marconi — book well ahead, ~30m drive from Bologna lagrotta1918.it
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Hotel
Hotel Corona d'Oro hco.it
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Getting around
- Bologna → Sant'Agata Bolognese ~35m (A14/SP4)
- Bologna → Sasso Marconi ~30m via SS64 — head south for dinner
- Return same night to Bologna or stay nearby in the hills
Sunday
Day Three
Cross the Apennines south to Pistoia — quieter than Florence, Della Robbia friezes, long Tuscan lunch.
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Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia
Cathedral, baptistery, Palazzo dei Vescovi — one of the most complete medieval squares in Tuscany
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Ospedale del Ceppo
Glazed terracotta frieze by Giovanni della Robbia (1525) — seven works of mercy along the loggia
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Trattoria dell'Abbondanza
Tiny family Tuscan kitchen — pappa al pomodoro, tagliata, no fuss
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Getting around
- Bologna → Pistoia ~1h45 via A1 across the Apennines (scenic descent toward Tuscany)
- Drop rental at Florence (FLR) airport ~50m from Pistoia
- Or loop back to Bologna ~1h45
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Bologna Motor Valley & Pistoia?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 11 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Bologna Motor Valley & Pistoia cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Bologna Motor Valley & Pistoia?
Hotel Corona d'Oro is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Bologna Motor Valley & Pistoia itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 11 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Bologna.
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