9 Unexpected Ways to Spend Summer in Emilia-Romagna

When most people think about summer in Italy, they picture crowded beaches, long lines for gelato, and packed piazzas in famous cities.

But after spending several summers in Emilia-Romagna, I’ve discovered that some of the most memorable experiences happen away from the obvious tourist trail.

This is the side of summer that locals know well: quiet evenings spent stargazing in the hills, food festivals in medieval villages, bike rides through the countryside, and lazy weekends in agriturismi surrounded by vineyards and olive trees.

If you’re looking for a slower, more authentic way to experience Emilia-Romagna in summer, here are nine ideas worth adding to your list.

1. Spend a Day at a Wild Beach

While many visitors spend summer in Emilia-Romagna at the region’s popular beach resorts, not every beach comes with neat rows of sunbeds, beach clubs, and umbrellas.

In fact, during the height of summer, the Riviera can get so busy that finding a free sunbed sometimes feels like a small victory.

So when you want the sea without the crowds — or simply a quieter place to sunbathe, read, and breathe a little — I would recommend heading to one of the region’s wild beaches instead.

Along certain parts of the coast, especially around Ravenna and Cervia, you’ll find long stretches of free beach where nature is still allowed to take up space. 

Here, the atmosphere is completely different from the polished beach resorts: there are dunes, pine forests, and wide sandy shores.

Bring a picnic, a good book, plenty of water, and maybe your own umbrella if you plan to stay for a few hours. 

Where to go: Spiaggia libera di Lido di Classe, Spiaggia libera di Lido di Dante.

2. Go Fishing at Sunset

Fishing is a popular pastime in Emilia-Romagna, especially in rural areas where life tends to move at a gentler pace.

Even if you are not an experienced angler, spending an evening by the water can be a surprisingly lovely way to experience another side of local life.

When I was invited to go fishing for the first time in Italy, I imagined something completely different.

In Estonia, where I’m from, fishing usually means going somewhere wild. No toilet, no bar, no food nearby. Just you, the water, the trees, and silence.

In Italy, of course, even fishing somehow becomes more social, comfortable, and delicious.

Here, people often go to a laghetto di pesca sportiva — a small lake set up for recreational fishing. And the experience is wonderfully Italian. 

There is usually a little kiosk where you can buy something to eat or drink, and in some places, someone even rides around the lake on a bicycle taking orders from visitors.

So you can sit by the water, keep fishing, and order a cold beer, a piadina, or a refreshing drink without even leaving your spot.

These places also sometimes organize small fishing tournaments. And the prize? Not an ordinary, but a food trophy — the winner who catches the biggest fish gets a huge piece of prosciutto.

One detail I still find funny: Italians use Emmental cheese as bait. I’m not sure who discovered that fish enjoy Swiss cheese, but let me tell you, it works.

Where to go: My favourite is Lago di Monteleone, but you can find similar places depending on your location by searching on Google for “laghetti di pesca sportiva”.

3. Watch the Stars from the Apennine Foothills

One of my favourite things about summer in Emilia-Romagna is how different it feels once you leave the cities behind. Summer evenings in the hills can feel like a quiet secret.

For a different kind of night in Emilia-Romagna, leave the city lights behind and head towards the Apennine foothills — or, even better, towards the Montefeltro hills on the edge of Romagna and Marche.

This is where the night feels wider, darker, and much more alive. On a clear evening, you may even see the Milky Way stretching across the sky, turning an ordinary summer night into something you will remember long after you leave.

I went to Osservatorio Astronomico Monte San Lorenzo, and it became one of those experiences that reminded me how much beauty there is in doing something simple, slowly, and with full attention.

During the night, the guides explain the stars, planets, and constellations, pointing them out with a laser across the dark sky. You can bring a blanket, lie back, and spend the evening listening to fascinating stories about the universe.

It is peaceful, slightly magical, and very different from the usual idea of a summer night out. No crowds, no noise, no rushing from one place to another — just the cool air, the silhouettes of the hills, and an endless sky above you.

It is best to call and book your stargazing evening in advance, as visits are usually organized on specific dates and often in smaller groups. You can usually find updated information on their Facebook page.

Where to go: Osservatorio Astronomico Monte San Lorenzo, near Monte Grimano Terme. To find similar places nearby, search on Google for “osservatorio astronomico”.

4. Attend a Candlelight Concert

If there is one summer event in Emilia-Romagna that I would genuinely recommend adding to your itinerary, it is a candlelight concert.

There is something almost unreal about listening to live music outdoors after sunset, surrounded by hundreds of small lights.

These concerts are often held in historic settings — medieval villages, castle courtyards, old piazzas, gardens, or panoramic terraces — where the place itself becomes part of the performance.

I went to a candlelight concert in Torriana, a small medieval village in the hills near Rimini, and it was truly magical.

The stage was covered in candles, the orchestra played under the open sky, and in the distance, I could see the lights of San Marino glowing across the hills.

If you are visiting the region this summer, keep an eye out for candlelight concerts. They are absolutely worth planning an evening around.

5. Follow the Food Festivals

Summer in Emilia-Romagna is not only about beach days, hilltop sunsets, and long evenings outside. It is also sagra season — the time of year when villages, small towns, and countryside communities gather around food.

A sagra is a local food festival, usually dedicated to one specific ingredient, dish, or regional tradition.

It might be cherries, handmade pasta, shallots, piadina, seafood, or a recipe that belongs so deeply to one town that you would probably never find it in quite the same way anywhere else.

These festivals are not just about eating. They are about long communal tables, paper placemats, handwritten menus, volunteers carrying plates back and forth and families gathering together.

If you want to experience Emilia-Romagna beyond restaurants, this is one of the best ways to do it.

6. Explore Emilia-Romagna’s Countryside by Bike This Summer

For active travellers, cycling is one of the best ways to experience summer in Emilia-Romagna, especially when the countryside is at its greenest and local food festivals are in full swing.

Cycling here is not only about sport. It can be a quiet way to understand the rhythm of the region. And you do not need to be an expert cyclist to enjoy it.

Emilia-Romagna has plenty of serious routes for road cyclists, but there are also softer ways to explore.

You can make it an enogastronomic experience and stop for a delicious meal along the way.

You can also choose a ride through medieval towns called borghi, where the pleasure is not only in the route but in the villages you reach along the way.

Then there is the coast. Around Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella, and Tagliata, cycling becomes flatter and more relaxed. This is where you can ride through pine forests, follow quiet paths near the salt pans, or plan an easy morning route before the beach gets too hot.

A few cycling routes and areas worth looking into

Cervia and the salt pans
A gentle option for slow cycling, especially if you like nature more than hills. The landscape here is flat, open, and full of quiet details: water, birds, pine forests, sea air, and the history of salt production.

Cervia to Bertinoro
A more challenging route that takes you from the coast into the hills. Bertinoro is known for its panoramic views, and reaching it by bike makes the view feel even more rewarding.

Romagna Bike routes through the Spungone hills
These routes are better suited to people who want a longer ride through the inland side of Romagna, with villages, vineyards, thermal towns, and hill landscapes along the way.

Cesena and the Romagna hills
A lovely area for an e-bike excursion, especially if you want scenic roads, countryside, and small villages without going too far from the coast.

Imola to Dozza
A beautiful choice if you like the idea of combining cycling with history, painted village streets, wine, and a slower countryside atmosphere.

Modena countryside and Castelvetro di Modena
Perfect for a food-focused ride, especially if you are interested in balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, vineyards, and the softer hills of Emilia.

7. Spend a Day at Mirabilandia

While Emilia-Romagna is usually praised for its food, history, beaches, and hilltop villages, it also has plenty of easy, family-friendly fun — and Mirabilandia is probably the best example.

Located near Ravenna, Mirabilandia is Italy’s largest amusement park, and it makes a great summer day out if you are travelling with children, teenagers, or anyone who enjoys roller coasters, water rides, shows, and a little bit of adrenaline between cultural stops.

A few practical tips can make the day in Mirabilandia much easier:

• Buy your tickets online in advance, as prices are usually better than at the ticket office.
• Before booking, check exactly which ticket you need: some tickets are only for Mirabilandia, while others may include Mirabeach or the water park area.
• It is also worth checking the official calendar before you go, because opening days, closing times and shows can change depending on the season.
• In July and August, the park can be busier, so weekdays are usually a better choice than weekends if your travel dates are flexible.
• Bring sunscreen, hats, refillable water bottles, comfortable shoes, and, if you plan to enjoy water attractions or visit Mirabeach, swimwear and a towel.
• Check tickets, opening hours, parking information, and show schedules on the official Mirabilandia website before visiting.

8. Wander Through Medieval Borghi

One of the loveliest ways to experience Emilia-Romagna is to leave the bigger cities behind for a few hours and spend time in its small historic villages.

The pleasure is in wandering without much of a plan: following a narrow stone street, stopping for a coffee in a quiet piazza, noticing an old doorway, climbing towards a viewpoint, or finding a small trattoria that feels like it has been serving the same local dishes for generations.

In the evening, many of these villages come alive with outdoor dinners, local festivals, and residents gathering in the piazza. Summer is often the best time to experience them, when life spills out onto the streets after the heat of the day.

I also have an article about the most beautiful borghi of Emilia-Romagna, so you might find it useful when choosing which town to explore.

Where to go: My all time favourites are Brisighella, San Leo, Sant’Agata Feltria, Longiano, Bertinoro, Verucchio.

9. Spend a Weekend in an Agriturismo

If there is one experience that captures the feeling of summer in Emilia-Romagna, it is staying at an agriturismo.

An agriturismo is usually a working farm, vineyard, or countryside estate that also welcomes guests.

Some are simple and rustic, others are beautifully restored with pools, gardens, and elegant rooms, but the idea behind them is the same: you are staying close to the land, the seasons, and the food traditions of the area.

The beauty of an agriturismo is that it does not ask you to do very much. You can use it as a base for exploring nearby borghi, vineyards, castles, beaches, or hiking routes — or you can stay almost entirely still.

Swim, read, nap, eat slowly, watch the light change over the hills. Sometimes that is the whole point.

It is also a lovely option if you want to experience Emilia-Romagna beyond the cities. Bologna, Ravenna, Parma, and Modena are wonderful, of course, but the countryside shows you a different rhythm: quieter mornings, slower meals, darker skies, and a stronger sense of place.

Final Thoughts: Why Summer in Emilia-Romagna Is Worth Experiencing

What I love most about summer in Emilia-Romagna is that it doesn’t feel like a destination trying to entertain you every minute of the day. Instead, it invites you to slow down.

You can spend one day stargazing in the hills, another exploring a medieval borgo, and the next sharing a long meal at a local food festival.

Whether you come for the beaches, the countryside, the food, or the villages, summer in Emilia-Romagna offers a more authentic side of Italy—one that many travellers never discover.

FAQs

Is Emilia-Romagna worth visiting in summer?

Absolutely. Summer in Emilia-Romagna offers much more than beaches and city sightseeing. Alongside popular destinations like Bologna, Ravenna, and Modena, you’ll find food festivals, medieval villages, countryside cycling routes, agriturismi, stargazing experiences, and countless opportunities to enjoy a slower side of Italian life.

What are the best things to do in Emilia-Romagna during summer?

Some of the most memorable summer experiences include visiting local food festivals, exploring medieval borghi, cycling through the countryside, spending a weekend at an agriturismo, attending candlelight concerts, stargazing in the hills, and enjoying the region’s beaches and nature reserves.

Are there food festivals in Emilia-Romagna in summer?

Yes. Summer is one of the best times to experience Emilia-Romagna’s food culture thanks to the many sagre held across the region. These local festivals celebrate everything from piadina and handmade pasta to cherries, shallots, seafood, and traditional regional recipes, often accompanied by live music and community events.

Is Emilia-Romagna crowded in summer?

Some coastal destinations can become busy, particularly in July and August. However, many inland villages, countryside areas, hill towns, and lesser-known attractions remain surprisingly peaceful.

Where can I stay in Emilia-Romagna for a relaxing summer holiday?

Agriturismi are one of the best options for travelers seeking a slower and more authentic experience. Many are located among vineyards, farms, and rolling hills, offering a peaceful setting while still providing easy access to nearby towns, beaches, and cultural attractions.

Is Emilia-Romagna a good destination for families?

Yes. Families can enjoy a mix of outdoor activities, beaches, nature reserves, food festivals, cycling routes, and attractions such as Mirabilandia. The region offers a good balance between cultural sightseeing and family-friendly entertainment.