The F1 season is about to start and it’s a much talked about season. At least thanks to the ongoing Christian Horner drama.
So, away from Red Bull (based in Milton Keynes), is now the perfect time to visit Ferrari’s hometown of Maranello? And why not combine it with a trip to Bologna, Emilia-Romagna’s capital and versatile foodie destination?
Maranello is a great place for a day out; It’s an F1 fan’s dream, but there’s so much more to do in Bologna. It’s just a 50-minute drive away and, thanks to direct flights from London, it’s the perfect base for a long weekend of food and F1 sightseeing.
Here’s what we did in ours…
One day in Maranello
Our full day in Maranello was arguably the highlight of our three-night trip.
It’s a small town that’s very focused on the brand. You can see the Ferrari name everywhere, and occasionally you might spot a sleek red car (and Scuderia Ferrari drivers if you’re lucky) zipping through the streets.
We started with lunch at Ferrari’s fine restaurant, Ristorante Cavallino. The inside is a bit like Architectural Digest meets traditional roadside trattoria; all soft oak paneling and starched white tablecloths, combined with (tasteful) Prancing Horse patterned wallpaper and stylish Vico Magistretti chairs in unmistakable Ferrari red.
Our three-course meal was a celebration of local dishes, with lots of parmesan, balsamic vinegar and tortellini. Particular highlights included soft, olive oil-rich breads studded with fatty, melt-in-your-mouth ham and dessert, a red-coated semifreddo that perfectly resembled a tiny Ferrari. Of course, all accompanied by plenty of wine and 0.0% Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Ferrari’s new partner).
From here we crossed the road (sharing) towards the Ferrari store. One look at the price tag and it’s clear this is no ordinary gift shop (though there is one of those attached to the museum). Ferrari has made a hugely successful foray into fashion recently and you can buy a range of clothes from skintight dresses (£850) to leather jumpsuits (around £5,000) at this luxury store. For the Ferrari enthusiast, there’s everything from Montblanc for Ferrari pens, Puma for Ferrari trainers and even Ferrari sunglasses for around £1,250 a pair.
After this we arrived at the Ferrari museum, the main attraction just next to the Ferrari factory, a few minutes walk away.
Even those who aren’t racing fanatics will enjoy visiting here to learn about Ferrari’s impressive history and marvel at the modern beauty of its cars.
Exhibits are largely on loan from private owners, so the exact collection changes over time. When we visited, there was everything from the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider, the first car to sport the iconic prancing horse in 1932, to the SF71H model driven by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in the 2018 World Championship.
Along the way there were beautiful vintage racing models such as the 1948 166 MM; Its leather seats were so buttery it was a miracle the drivers didn’t slip. There were also contemporary, bespoke supercars built specifically for mysterious loyalists.
There is also a trophy room where the gongs won and helmets worn by famous Scuderia Ferrari drivers are displayed. It also juxtaposes some of the latest F1 models, showing the subtle changes made from year to year to make the cars more streamlined and aerodynamic.
As well as impressive driving simulators, there are also excellent guided tours available in English.
Enjoy the view
After a day in Maranello, which is a bit like Disneyland for F1 fans, it was time to spend a few low-octane days around more picturesque Bologna.
Bologna is everything one would expect from an Italian city – both aesthetically and otherwise. It is known as ‘la dotta, lagrasa, e la rossa’ – ‘the learned, the fat and the red’ – because it is home to the world’s oldest university, its world-famous food and its beautiful red tiles. roofs.
At street level are tall buildings in shades of flaming orange, red and yellow, with dark shutters and grand porches. Bologna has more porticoes than any other city in the world, making it perfect for a loiter even if it’s rainy (London city planners please take note).
There are plenty of upscale Italian shops, combined with small independent shops, quaint, centuries-old osterias and beautiful red-brick basilicas.
At its center is Piazza Maggiore, a huge, grand square that is considered the jewel in its crown.
Take a cooking class
Bologna is famous for its food, so why not go home and take a lesson to show off to your friends?
We found ours through Cesarine, a network of hundreds of local home cooks across Italy who offer authentic cooking classes in their homes.
Our clever teacher, Oriana, took us around the city’s markets, gave us plenty of food and drink to try, and showed us her great bargaining skills when buying fresh ingredients. She then took us back to her tiny apartment where she taught us how to make tortellini as small as a thumbnail; She took turns scolding and praising us.
It was a very difficult job. Within five minutes I had just enough pasta to fill a forkful, and I finally realized why the small types of tortellini I see in stores are so much more expensive than the larger ones.
An afternoon lesson with Oriana costs approximately 129 euros per person, cesarine.com
Visit food markets
There are plenty of food markets in Bologna. Be sure to visit the Quadrilatero, a collection of narrow alleyways lined with shops selling brightly colored fruit and vegetables so perfect they could almost be plastic. Specialty shops selling large, crystalline pieces of parmesan, syrupy aged balsamic vinegar, and delectable prosciutto by the pound.
Taste local food and drinks
Pizza in Bologna isn’t as big a thing as it is in places like Naples. But God, there is so much pasta; The most special one is tortellini, they are available absolutely everywhere.
Tortellini in brodo – tortellini served in a clear, light broth – is a Bolognese specialty and a must-try. There is also plenty of tagliatelle al ragu (Bolognese!). local independent Bottega Portici It is the perfect place to taste pasta served in fast food style in a comfortable environment. Fresh tortellini in Brodo costs around 10 euros.
In terms of drinks there is of course a wide range of excellent local wines. Try pignoletto, a local sparkling white wine that rivals Prosecco. Also try lambrusco, a curly red, quite sweet and fruity, and generally low-percentage, and nocino, a delicious, medicinal-tasting local liqueur made from unripe green walnuts.
Town center Osteria del Sole Claimed to be Bologna’s oldest osteria, dating back to 1465, this place serves excellent pignoletto. It’s the perfect, no-frills spot where guests can bring food purchased from nearby markets.Restaurant Calm It’s also a great option for a more upscale dinner, with menus focusing on seasonal local produce and a great selection of natural wines such as pignoletto and lambrusco.
(If you’re wondering whether to check in, just do it and thank me later.)
We stayed at the four-star Starhotels Excelsior. Located right next to the station, it is within walking distance of the city center and offers an excellent restaurant as well as a very comfortable overnight stay in elegant, modern rooms with queen beds. Prices start from around £140 per night.
BA flies from London Heathrow to Bologna and flights start from around £70.