In this beautiful region, the only place to start your journey is from its capital, Bologna, a dynamic city of art and culture. Explore the city with its many bars and restaurants, but also places of great architectural and historical interest, such as Piazza Maggiore or the building of the oldest university in the Western world.

Then fasten the seat belts of your Maggiore car and drive to Modena, a fascinating town just 50 km away along the A1 and E35 motorways. Modena’s Romanesque Cathedral, Town Tower and Piazza Grande of Modena are well worth a visit and were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997; but Modena also attracts car enthusiasts from all over the world. This is also the home of the Enzo Ferrari Museum, a truly fantastic example of modern architecture, where visitors will remain spellbound by the beautiful Ferrari car models on show.

And if after the thrill of seeing so many fast cars you want to slow down a little, travel 80 km on the E45 and A13 motors, to reach the city of bicycles. Under the towering Este Castle, Ferrara is the perfect place to relax, take photographs or go on romantic tour. Visitors should not miss a stroll along the suggestive medieval Via delle Volte, named after its many arches and suspended passages.

The 40 km drive along Motorway ring road 8 for a visit to Comacchio is also highly recommended. Built on a lagoon in the Middle Ages, Comacchio was once one of the most important salt producers in Italy, and is a surreal labyrinth of streets and canals where visitors will experience an atmosphere of times gone by. Comacchio is the perfect place to relax, enjoy a good meal and take a quiet boat ride on its famous “Batana” boats.

If you want to end your journey in style, get back behind the wheel of your rental car to drive 69 km along provincial road SP610 to the painted town of Dozza. High on a hill of the Sellustra river, protected by Fortress Sforza, this village is famous all over the world for the colourful murals that decorate the walls of its houses, streets and squares.

Dozza is truly an open-air museum where each and every wall is a work of art. Fans of fantasy literature just cannot miss a visit to Dragon's Den, the first study centre in the world dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".