Casalecchio di Reno

Day Trips

Arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport and take a short taxi ride to your hotel in Casalecchio di Reno. Settle in, drop off your luggage and enjoy a cappuccino at a nearby café on Piazza della Repubblica. Stroll along the Reno River banks to get your first taste of the town’s serene atmosphere.

Head to the Museum of Prehistory “P. Ghini” to admire archaeological finds and learn about the region’s ancient inhabitants. Take a guided walk through the Parco della Chiusa, crossing the historic Ponte della Chiusa. Finish with a light lunch of local salumi and cheese at a trattoria overlooking the river.

Enjoy your first Italian aperitivo at a wine bar in Via Porrettana, sampling local Pignoletto wines. Dine at a family-run osteria serving traditional Emilian dishes like tagliatelle al ragù. End the night with a leisurely stroll under the softly lit arcades of the historic center.

Visit the vibrant Mercato Contadino in Piazza dei Caduti and wander stalls filled with seasonal fruits, vegetables and artisanal products. Chat with farmers to learn about heirloom varieties of tomatoes and peppers grown in the Reno valley. Sip a fresh fruit juice while browsing local cheeses, cured meats and honey.

Join a cooking class led by a local nonna who teaches you to make fresh tortellini from scratch. Eat your own creations accompanied by a simple green salad and a glass of local Lambrusco. Afterward, take a leisurely walk through the nearby vegetable gardens to see where your ingredients came from.

Dine at a family-run trattoria specializing in homemade pasta and regional wines. Sample cured ham, crescentine with lardo and finish with zabaglione topped with fresh berries. Take an after-dinner stroll around the illuminated medieval walls for atmospheric views.

Set out on foot or rent a bike to explore the Parco Talon along the Reno River. Spot native wildlife such as herons and kingfishers while pedaling on flat, shaded paths. Pause at scenic overlooks for photos of the sparkling water and surrounding hills.

Enjoy a riverside picnic with focaccia, local prosciutto and fresh mozzarella purchased earlier at a nearby deli. After lunch, hike uphill toward Monte Adone for panoramic views of the Reno valley and the city skyline. Rest at a hilltop café with a refreshing gelato before descending back to town.

Head to a riverside trattoria for fresh fish risotto paired with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Relax on the outdoor terrace as the sun sets over the water. Finish the evening with a nightcap at an intimate cocktail bar in the historic center.

Tour the historic church of San Martino in Casalecchio to admire its frescoes and Baroque altarpiece. Visit the small Museo della Ceramica to see local pottery traditions from the 18th century onward. Learn about the region’s artisanal legacy in ceramics.

Take a short drive to Villa Ghigi’s art studio for a private workshop in mosaic making. Create your own small piece under the guidance of a local artist. Enjoy tea in the villa gardens while soaking up views of the Reno valley.

Dine in a chic bistro showcasing modern reinterpretations of Emilian classics. Try pumpkin tortelli with sage butter and get a tasting flight of regional grappas. Cap off the night with live jazz at a nearby cultural venue.

Catch the regional train from Casalecchio di Reno to Bologna and start at Piazza Maggiore admiring Palazzo d’Accursio and Basilica di San Petronio. Climb the La Torre degli Asinelli for sweeping views of the red-tiled cityscape. Enjoy a coffee break at an elegant café on the square.

Wander through the narrow porticoes to the Quadrilatero district and sample local delicacies like mortadella and tigelle. Tour the historic University of Bologna, the oldest in the world, and browse its ancient lecture halls. Stop by a gelateria for artisanal gelato made with Emilian milk.

Return to Casalecchio di Reno and dine at a riverside restaurant offering seasonal tasting menus. Sip on a Frizzante Bianco as you savor octopus carpaccio and pesto alla bolognese. End with a stroll under the starry sky by the riverbank.

Drive into the Reno foothills to visit the medieval village of Sasso Marconi and explore its narrow cobblestone lanes. Tour the birthplace of Guglielmo Marconi and learn about the inventor’s wireless telegraph experiments. Enjoy views from the hilltop chapel overlooking the Reno valley.

Continue to the fortified hamlet of Borgo di Molino del Pallone for an olive oil tasting in a centuries-old mill. Learn about traditional pressing methods and sample extra virgin olive oil on bruschetta. Have a light lunch of panini and local olives in the village piazza.

Return to town and have dinner at a rustic agriturismo on the city outskirts. Feast on porcini risotto and roasted rabbit, paired with a robust red from the Colli Bolognesi. Relax by a crackling fireplace before your drive home.

Rent e-bikes and set off along the Reno River cycle path toward Monte San Pietro. Pass through olive groves and sunflower fields as you climb gentle slopes. Stop for panoramic photos at scenic viewpoints overlooking Casalecchio.

Reach a hilltop farm specializing in artisanal wine and join a guided vineyard tour. Sample their Pignoletto and red Sangiovese alongside local salami platters. Enjoy a farm-to-table picnic under the olive trees.

Cycle back at a leisurely pace, arriving in Casalecchio di Reno for sunset. Have dinner at a pizzeria known for its wood-fired sourdough crust. Toast the day’s adventures with a cold birra artigianale brewed locally.

Participate in a cheese-making workshop at a nearby dairy farm producing Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn the stages of curd formation and taste wheels aged 12, 24 and 36 months. Enjoy freshly pulled caciotta on warm bread with farm honey.

Return to town for a pasta workshop focused on filled specialties like cappellacci and ravioli. Master decorative shapes and flavor combinations such as pumpkin with amaretti. Sit down to a communal lunch paired with Rosso dell’Emilia.

Spend the evening at a family osteria offering a multi-course tasting menu. Pair each course with local wines and end with panna cotta topped with berry coulis. Enjoy live folk music for a festive atmosphere.

Take a short trip to the thermal spas of Castel San Pietro Terme for a morning of detoxifying mud baths and thermal pools. Savor herbal teas in the spa garden while breathing in fresh air. Book a gentle massage infused with local lavender.

Enjoy a light Mediterranean lunch at the spa’s wellness café featuring salads, soups and infused waters. Spend the afternoon lounging by the pool or exploring the spa’s holistic therapies. Join a guided yoga session overlooking the countryside.

Return to Casalecchio di Reno and dine al fresco at a riverside trattoria. Choose a light fish dish or grilled vegetables with a glass of sparkling white. Wander the illuminated streets for a peaceful evening cap.

Stroll through local artisan shops seeking last-minute souvenirs like ceramic plates and olive oil. Stop at a bakery for fresh pastries and take them to a nearby park bench to enjoy with coffee. Reflect on your journey as you watch morning life awaken.

Gather for a farewell lunch at a historic villa-turned-restaurant on the Reno River. Indulge in an elaborate Emilian feast with antipasti, fresh pasta, meat specialties and dolci. Raise a toast with friends old and new, celebrating ten days of discovery.

Spend your final evening at a rooftop bar overlooking Casalecchio di Reno, sipping on a signature cocktail. Enjoy views of the river illuminated by soft lights and distant hills. Say arrivederci with live music echoing through the night air.