Modena and Bologna in the Fall: Taste and See!

For your first stop, surround yourself with the lushness of nature in the Villa Gandini Park in Formigine (Modena Province). 

The park is home to two extraordinary examples of the Ginkgo biloba, enormous trees that originate in China. In autumn, the Gingko wears its finest colors. 

The splendid setting offers a marvelous, postcard landscape in which to lose yourself. Majestic, dazzling, and draped entirely in yellow, the two Ginkgo biloba stand side by side, overlooking a peaceful pond where ducks swim. Behind the trees is the elegant Villa Gandini, a remarkable example of neoclassicism designed by the Duke’s architect, Francesco Vandelli.

After you’ve had a chance to walk around, head out for another destination that needs to be on your list in fall: the hills between Levizzano and Castelvetro di Modena where the grapes for Lambrusco Grasparossa wine are grown. 

Spend a day visiting historic towns and enjoying breathtaking views for an experience of Fall in all its beauty. 

You can always count on the hills for extraordinary scenery, but in fall they take on colors that are especially intense and exhilarating. After lunch in one of the local restaurants, we’d suggest a visit to the spellbinding Castello di Levizzano, which looks out over the beautiful Levizzano hills. The castle is the home of the Rosso Graspa Museum of Wine and Rural Culture. 

The Museum is dedicated to the local farming life, history, and culture of Castelvetro and its star product: Lambrusco Grasparossa wine. The museum’s displays are a testament to life in the fields, and extraordinary photographs illustrate farm life and the finest agricultural practices of the men and women who worked there. 

The next day, we recommend a trip to the Modenese Apennines, another spectacular vantage point for views of the foliage. The many thickly wooded areas are home to a wide variety of trees and plants, including firs, beech, and blueberries, all of which make these mountains a constantly shifting palette of colors.

One of the most beautiful places in the Apennines is the Lago della Ninfa (“Nymph Lake”) in Sestola. The lake and its surrounding area are tinted all the colors of fall, from intense yellow to orange and red, and they shift quickly from one day to the next. To best appreciate the beauty around you, treat yourself to a walk and admire the area from different perspectives. One path you might enjoy takes you from Pian del Falco to the lake.

We’d also mention that, in fall—generally in mid-October—an important event takes place in Fanano: ‘Ste Sroden, a festival dedicated to the traditions and flavors of autumn.

Make your next stop a visit to the part of the Apennines nearer to Bologna to explore the unique natural setting of the Labante caves and waterfalls, a hidden jewel. 

The fall foliage here takes on unexpected, even more intense shades for a surreal atmosphere that will leave you speechless. If you’re traveling with children, this is a great place where you can all enjoy water games and nature trails.

On your last day, our suggestion is a visit to Villa Ghigi, an oasis of peace and tranquility on the slopes of the Bologna hills. 

From here, the view is unique: a panorama of urban greenery and the city from above, with fall colors decorating it all. To make the experience complete, take a break for a picnic in a gorgeous natural setting — bring your four-legged friend, if you have one. You’ll be rewarded with pure delight.

The last stop of this itinerary will take you out of town to the Bosco della Frattona Natural Reserve, near Imola, for an experience of unspoiled nature. 

Walk along the paths beneath majestic trees whose leaves dance delicately in the air. Be sure to bring a camera: every step is an opportunity to capture the beauty of the fall foliage.