Brisighella is located in the hills of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, along the Lamone Valley, 40 km from Ravenna and situated on the Faenza-Florence railway line.
Brisighella is a medieval village nestled among the rocks of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Park, a rich and diverse natural environment that has shaped the history of this location, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cobbled alleys, colorful houses, and small squares offer a peaceful setting for a stroll among shops, taverns, and small restaurants, all within a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The main monuments and the town center stand in direct contact with the gypsum walls and spurs, offering incredible panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, characterized by olive groves, calanchi (badlands), caves, sinkholes, woods, and gypsum outcrops.
Brisighella is one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy (Borghi più Belli d'Italia)," a destination for slow and mindful travel, featuring historic paths, cultural itineraries, and unforgettable sporting routes to be explored on foot or by bicycle.
An ideal stop for a sustainable holiday blending nature, culture, and zero-km products, Brisighella is certified with the Italian Touring Club's Orange Flag (Bandiera Arancione).
It is a land rich in food and wine excellence, where the PDO extra virgin olive oil represents the flagship product, embodying all the authentic and generous flavors of these hills.
The local gastronomic tradition offers a reason to visit Brisighella at any time of the year. Here, the cuisine and the events that celebrate it follow the rhythm of the seasons: from spring, with the first fruits of the hills, to autumn, to closely observe the olive harvest and taste the new oil.
From March to November, you can immerse yourself in a calendar full of nature excursions among suggestive paths and mysterious caves. It is a perfect opportunity to explore the geological, cultural, and scenic treasures that make this land unique.
The village develops from Piazza Marconi, overlooked by the historic Via degli Asini (Donkey Alley), a covered and elevated walkway embedded within a colorful row of houses and the hillside itself. This was where carters used to transport gypsum from the local quarries, using their donkeys which found shelter along the way.
Ascending a staircase carved directly into the gypsum, you can reach the three main monuments of Brisighella on foot, perched atop gypsum pinnacles overlooking the Lamone Valley. The Rocca Manfrediana (Fortress), the Clock Tower, and the Sanctuary of Monticino are the places to discover the history of the village and serve as excellent panoramic viewpoints.
Behind the sanctuary lies the Monticino Geological Museum, a site of great naturalistic interest where you can observe the main formations of this section of the Apennines up close. This is the gateway to the heart of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Park, with its breathtaking views and underground landscapes. The starting point is the Visitor Center - Ca' Carnè Refuge, from which you can reach the Tanaccia Cave to be explored via a speleological tour.
Along the Oil Path (Sentiero dell'Olio), you can immerse yourself in the agricultural landscape that gives this land its "green gold"—the PDO extra virgin olive oil—among historic olive groves and white gravel paths. Along the route, you will find the Romanesque Pieve di San Giovanni in Ottavo, which houses an olive millstone dating back to the 2nd century.
For art enthusiasts, the Giuseppe Ugonia Civic Museum hosts the collection of the local lithographer and a selection of paintings from local churches, including Guercino's altarpiece, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Louis of France. The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli at the Osservanza Convent preserves Marco Palmezzano's Madonna and Child Enthroned with Three Angels and Four Saints, which stands out from a large wooden choir featuring white and gilded stucco statues.
The gastronomic tradition of Brisighella is rich in high-quality products, made even more intriguing by the PDO extra virgin olive oil.
Moretto artichoke, Mora Romagnola meats and cold cuts, "volpina" pears, truffles, and other hillside delicacies can be found on the menus of local festivals and restaurants, according to the season.
A dish not to be missed is "spoja lorda," a typical pasta filled with cheese from the peasant tradition, served in broth or with other savory sauces.
To accompany these delicacies, a glass of good wine is a must, particularly the Romagna Sangiovese DOC, produced here according to the nuances of the Brisighella subzone, and the Albana di Romagna DOCG, which is excellent in its Passito version.
Several cultural itineraries and paths pass through Brisighella, offering the opportunity to practice sports while immersed in nature: alongside the trail network within the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park, you can find Cammino di Sant'Antonio, Cammino di Dante, and the Via Misericordiae.
In Brisighella, gastronomy dictates the events calendar:
Faenza, a UNESCO Creative City renowned for its ceramic production, is located just a short distance from Brisighella and can be reached on foot along the CAI 505 trail or by train.
Casola Valsenio is situated about 20 km away, a destination that sports enthusiasts can reach by bicycle through the scenic landscapes of the Vena del Gesso.
