Summer in the villages of Bassa Romagna

In the heart of Bassa Romagna, Lugo is a town rich in history and culture, also thanks to two great Italian figures: aviation ace Francesco Baracca and musical genius Gioachino Rossini. 

To see

• Francesco Baracca Museum - Francesco Baracca's childhood home is a must-see stop and now houses a fascinating museum that retraces the life of the most famous Italian pilot of the 20th century, through personal belongings and historical memorabilia. Among the most captivating pieces is an original SPAD VII, a fighter aircraft from the era, as well as a flight simulator that offers an immersive experience.
• Casa-Museo Rossini - Lugo, however, is also the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini's father, and it was here that the composer took his first steps in music. The Casa-Museo is a multisensory experience that engages the five senses, letting you discover his music and his passion for gastronomy. 
• Chiesa del Carmine - It still preserves the ancient organ on which the young Rossini practiced.   

To know
The Casa-Museo Rossini is generally open on weekends, so it is advisable to plan your visit in advance.

Curiosity
One of the most fascinating stories linked to Lugo concerns Baracca’s prancing horse symbol. This emblem, originally painted on the pilot’s aircraft, was later given to the family of Enzo Ferrari and eventually became the famous logo of Ferrari cars.

Events
If you love big outdoor summer events, it might be worth checking the Ravenna Festival calendar before you leave: you might get lucky and discover the town just when its squares and historic buildings turn into a big stage giving guests a unique cultural experience. 

The journey continues to Cotignola, a small town with an amazing artistic soul, where tradition and innovation come together in a unique route. 

To see

• Museo Civico Luigi Varoli - an authentic treasure chest of creativity that preserves the works of the artist from Cotignola, known for his magnificent papier-mâché masks. These artifacts, with their expressive and theatrical appearance, represent one of the city's most fascinating traditions. 
• Street art - through the streets of the village, the street art transforms walls into real canvases. Over the years, the "Dal museo al paesaggio" project has given numerous nationally and internationally renowned artists the opportunity to paint facades and hidden corners with murals inspired by local history.  

Events
Following the path, we arrive at a truly evocative place: the Senio River floodplain, where one of the most fascinating events in Romagna comes to life every summer. If traveling in July take note: here, in fact, stands the Arena delle Balle di Paglia, a unique amphitheater built entirely out of hay bales. This rural setting becomes the stage for theatrical shows, concerts and artistic performances that provide an immersive and out-of-the-ordinary experience.  

A visit to Cotignola is a real surprise.

The itinerary ends with an unmissable stop: Bagnara di Romagna, one of Borghi più belli d’Italia (most beautiful towns in Italy) since 2021, a splendid example of a perfectly preserved medieval “castrum”. 

To see

• Rocca Sforzesca and Museo del Castello - it is the beating heart of the village and is one of the finest 15th-century fortification works in Italy. With its imposing keep and striking loggia, the fortress is the symbol of a past of military strategies and powerful seigniories. Inside, the Museo del Castello traces the history of the city, focusing on the figure of Caterina Sforza, a powerful woman and icon of the Renaissance.  
• Museo Pietro Mascagni - a few steps from the fortress, the museum reveals a more intimate and romantic side of local history. Through a precious epistolary of love, the museum tells the bond between the famous composer and Bagnara chorister Anna Lolli, interweaving their personal story with the history of Italy in the early 1900s. 

To know
The Mascagni Museum is generally open on weekends by appointment, so it is advisable to plan your visit in advance.
 
Events
If the trip takes place in late June, the village will be enlivened by the sounds, tastes and colors of Popoli Pop Cult Festival, which transforms the streets into a multicultural stage, perfect for those who want to experience history in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.