Sometime around 82BCE, theRoman dictatorL. Cornelius Sulla founded the city, which was originally known eponymously in ancient times asForum Cornelii ("Forum of Cornelius"). The city was an agricultural and trading centre, famous for itsceramics.[citation needed]
The name Imola was first used in the 7th century by theLombards, who applied it to the fortress (the present Castellaccio, the construction of which is attributed to the Lombard Clefi), whence the name passed to the city itself. According toPaul the Deacon, Imola was in 412 the scene of the marriage ofAtaulf, King of theVisigoths, toGalla Placidia, daughter of EmperorTheodosius the Great. In theGothic War (535–552), and after the Lombard invasion, it was held alternately by theByzantines and barbarians.
With theexarchate of Ravenna, it passed under papal authority. In the ninth century, Fausto Alidosi defended the city against the Saracens and Hungarians. In the tenth century, Troilo Nordiglio acquired great power. This and the following centuries witnessed incessant wars against the Ravennatese, the Faentines and the Bolognese, as well as the internecine struggles of the Castrimolesi (fromCastro Imolese, "castle of Imola") and theSancassianesi (from San Cassiano). Amid these conflicts, the republican constitution of the city was created. In the contest between pope and emperor, Imola was generallyGhibelline, though it often returned to the popes (e.g. in 1248). Several times, powerful lords attempted to obtain the mastery of the city (Alidosi, 1292;Maghinardo Pagano, 1295). PopeBenedict XII turned the city and its territory over toLippo II Alidosi with the title of pontifical vicar, the power remaining in the familyAlidosi until 1424, when the condottieroAngelo della Pergola, "capitano" forFilippo Maria Visconti, gained the supremacy (see alsoWars in Lombardy). In 1426 the city was restored to the Holy See, and thelegate (later Cardinal) Capranica inaugurated a new regime in public affairs.[citation needed]
Variouscondottieri later ruled in the city, such as theVisconti; several landmark fortresses remain from this period. In 1434, 1438, and 1470, Imola was conferred on theSforza, who had become dukes ofMilan (Lombardy). It was again brought under papal authority when it was bestowed as dowry onCaterina Sforza, the bride ofGirolamo Riario, nephew ofPope Sixtus IV. Riario was invested with the Principality of Forlì and Imola. This proved advantageous to Imola, which was embellished with beautiful palaces and works of art (e.g. in the cathedral, the tomb of Girolamo, murdered in 1488 by conspirators of Forli). The rule of the Riarii, however, was brief, as PopeAlexander VI deprived the son of Girolamo,Ottaviano, of power, and on 25 November 1499, the city surrendered toCesare Borgia. After his death, two factions, that of Galeazzo Riario and that of the Church, competed for control of the city. The ecclesiastical party was victorious, and in 1504 Imola submitted to PopeJulius II. The last trace of these contests was a bitter enmity between the Vaini and Sassatelli families.[citation needed]
In 1797, the revolutionary French forces established a provisional government at Imola. In 1799, it was occupied by the Austrians, and in 1800, it was united to theCisalpine Republic. After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, TheCongress of Viennareturned Imola to the papacy, where it would remain until joining itself to the rapidly expandingKingdom of Sardinia in 1860 (which became theKingdom of Italy the following year).
Imola is increasingly recognized as a multifaceted tourist destination combining motorsports, cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and culinary experiences. The city is part of the Imola–Faenza tourism district, which promotes sustainable and integrated tourism across the Emilia-Romagna region.[4]
One of Imola’s most renowned attractions is theAutodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, home to major motorsport events such as theFormula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix,European Le Mans Series, andWorldSBK. Guided tours are available throughout the year, offering access to areas such as the paddock, pit lane, and the Ayrton Senna memorial. Visitors can choose between classic walking tours or narrated bus tours that include a lap around the circuit.[5]
In April 2025, the venue hosted the6 Hours of Imola endurance race, attracting over 65,000 spectators. The race was won by Ferrari drivers Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and James Calado.[6]
The city hosts several festivals and public events that integrate the local landscape, sustainability, and performing arts. Among them:
In Mezzo Scorre il Fiume ("The River Runs Through It") is a summer festival celebrating music, nature, and environmental education through open-air concerts and community workshops.[7]
Imola Green, held at the Autodromo, is a public exhibition focused on sustainable mobility, featuring electric vehicles, talks on green innovation, and local eco-businesses.[8]
Imola is known for its culinary heritage and offers various food experiences throughout the year:
Il Piatto Verde is an annual event dedicated to the culinary use of medicinal herbs. It includes contests between chefs, public tastings, and themed dinners featuring regional ingredients.[9]
Guided food tours in the historic center offer tastings of traditional specialties like garganelli pasta, Romagna salumi, local cheeses, and Sangiovese wine.[10]
The city has two professional basketball teams, Virtus Imola (founded in 1936) andAndrea Costa Imola (founded in 1967). Both of them play in the "PalaRuggi" sports hall.[citation needed]
The city's professional soccer team,Imolese Calcio 1919, plays in a stadium located inside the Circuit, "Stadio Romeo Galli".[citation needed]
The city has two swimming pools and from 2020 until 2024 will host the Italian Federalbreaststroke swimming training center.[13]
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola Circuit), an internationally renowned motor racing circuit located in the southern part of the town. It hosts the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and various other motorsport events throughout the year.
Palazzo Tozzoni (Tozzoni Mansion), constructed between 1726 and 1738 by architect Domenico Trifogli. Since 1981, it has served as a civic art museum.
Duomo (Cathedral), dedicated to San Cassiano. Erected between 1187 and 1271, it has undergone multiple restorations over the centuries. A major renovation was carried out from 1765 to 1781, while the current façade dates to 1850.
Convento dell'Osservanza, which includes the church ofSan Michele (1472), later expanded with a convent and two cloisters. It contains the sarcophagus ofLucrezia Landriani (1496), mother of Caterina Sforza. The interior features a nave and aisles completed in 1942, and a fresco attributed to Guidaccio da Imola (1472). In the apse is a 15th-century Byzantine-style crucifix. The first cloister, dating to 1590, originally included 35 frescoes depicting the life ofSt. Francis, of which 15 have been lost. In the adjoining garden is a notablePietà interracotta, attributed to the late 15th-century Bolognese orFaenza school.
Santuario della Beata Vergine del Piratello and the adjoiningCimitero del Piratello. On 27 March 1483, a pilgrim named Stefano Manganelli reportedly witnessed a miracle at Piratello, in which a vision of the Madonna requested that the people of Imola build her a shrine.[14] This led to the founding of a monastery and the construction of theSantuario della Beata Vergine. The monastery was dissolved during the Napoleonic suppressions in the early 1800s.[15] TheCimitero del Piratello was authorized in 1817 and opened several years later, occupying the former convent cloisters adjacent to the sanctuary.[16] It was designated a basilica byPope Pius XII in 1954. The cemetery was further expanded in 1916 with the addition of theCampo Monumentale.[17]
Other buildings include the Farsetti and the Communal palaces. In the latter is a fresco representingClement VII andCharles V (1535) passing through the city. The public library was established in 1747 by theConventual priest Setti. In the 16th century, the Accademia degli Industriosi flourished.
Main straight and pit lane of the Imola Circuit (1998)
The Acque Minerali Park, located next to Santerno river, on the hills of the city. The park was established in the early 20th century; the discovery of mineral water occurred in 1830.[18]
The Tozzoni Park, located on a big hilly area on the side of the city; it became a public area in 1978. The Tozzoni family bought the park in 1882 and used it as a hunting reserve, naming it "Parco del Monte" (Italian: "Park of the Mountain").[citation needed]
Luca Ghini, scientist of the 16th century who founded the first botanical garden (Orto botanico) at the University of Pisa and the Bologna.[citation needed]
On 2 June 1971, the city was awarded theMedaglia d'oro ai benemeriti della scuola della cultura e dell'arte (Gold Merit Badge of the Art and Culture School).[citation needed]
