One advantage of buying a museum pass in each area we visit (our current ones for Bologna cost only €25 each for one year) is that, anxious to visit as many of the included sites as possible, we occasionally hit upon an under-publicised gem.
So it was on Saturday, when we ventured to Imola to visit Palazzo Tozzoni. Nothing much is written about Imola in the guide books, and less about its Palazzo. It will be a quick visit, we thought, particularly after arriving in Imola at 2pm, to find it all shut up, everyone resting. Our plan had been to arrive, find a pizzeria for a late lunch, then meander to the Palace for its 3pm opening (The Palazzo is only open for limited hours at the weekends) but we ended, instead, by grabbing a sandwich at a bar, the only place open. “Are you staying for the music festival this evening?” the owner asked.
Two weeks of informal concerts, appealing to a multitude of musical tastes, was coming to an end (the tourist office in Bologna had said nothing about it). We decided that if we could find enough to amuse ourselves until the evening, we would stay.
Palazzo Tozzoni was created from two ancient houses in the early eighteenth century, and remained in the same family for five centuries when the last heiress, Sofia Serristori Tozzoni, donated the building to the city of Imola on her death in 1978.
An audio guide led us through its many rooms, all with furnishings and decoration as it had been left.
The tub in the foreground is for a ‘shower’. One would stand in the tub while water was poured from above.
After the Palace, a quick drink and onto our second stop, La Rocca Sforzesca di Imola, a castle.
By the time we exited the castle, the local population was enjoying its evening stroll and stopping to listen to the many groups of musicians who had set up on the streets. Italian folk, didgeridoo, Afro beat, and blues were all on offer, but unfortunately rather drowned out by the over-amplified bass of the several rock groups (mostly our contemporaries in years).
We were able to enjoy our delayed pizza though, drinking in the atmosphere, before getting the train back to Bologna.
Tortoise Travel 
You’re making me want to sell our house and travel around Italy! Can’t wait for next April when we’ll travel to Puglia – hopefully by train and with loads of tips from you and Mark! Xxxx
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Sounds like a great day- and look at that sunshine! It has been raining all day here.
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Yes, we now have the sort of weather we’ve been dreaming of. Hope it dries up at home.
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We haven’t been to Puglia, but would love to go. When we do get there (don’t know when yet) we are thinking of hiring a car to get around as we understand public transport isn’t great that far south. We feel as if we’re only scratching the surface – Italy is such a huge country.
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