If you intend to visit Imola in the company of your dog and are looking for the right place to let him/her run free, or if you’re simply passing through and are looking for a stopover, we’ve got a range of solutions and opportunities just for you.
Imola and its surroundings have plenty to offer animal lovers: B&Bs, farmhouses, pet-friendly restaurants and bars, plus numerous, well-distributed dog walking areas. One of the most popular is the area that runs along the banks of the Santerno river on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack side.
Here are some tips on how to get the best out of a weekend in Imola with your pet.
First, we suggest spending a few hours in the beautiful Parco delle Acque Minerali where your pet can enjoy exploring the paths that criss-cross the park.
However, please remember to keep your dog on a leash so as not to disturb the peacocks, black swans, geese and other animals that inhabit the park.
About 14 km from Imola, in the direction of Florence, lies Tossignano, a hamlet in the municipality of Borgo Tossignano.
Perched on a hilltop, the village is the gateway to the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park. A UNESCO world heritage site, the park is full of hiking trails through woods and chestnut groves, simply perfect for dog walking. It covers a vast 6,063 hectares that contain several captivating, looping trails where dog lovers sometimes organise group outings.
Continuing along the Via Montanara towards Florence, about 19 km later you reach the town of Moraduccio, a district of Castel del Rio. We recommend you park opposite the La Cascata restaurant.
After walking about 200 meters up the road, turn right and drive down via Castiglioncello. About 400 metres further on you come to a narrow bridge, which offers a great view of the Moraduccio waterfall: this is where the Rio dei Briganti stream leaps spectacularly more than 30 metres into the River Santerno. Beneath the waterfall, an inviting natural pool has formed: the perfect place for a cooling dip for you... and your four-legged friends.
Please observe any signs indicating any changes to river access routes.
