Exploring Brisighella: A Rustic Medieval Village in Italy

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Hidden in plain sight from tourists storming the streets of Bologna and Tuscan villages, is the quaint medieval town of Brisighella.

Located in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, Borgo di Brisighella is magical rather than flashy.

Filled with historic remains of an ancient quarter, a web of narrow alleyways, and quintessential village charm, Brisighella is the underrated Italian town you’ve likely never heard of.

Come for the age-old history, stay for the world-class gastronomy, and leave knowing you found the Italian hidden gem everyone’s been looking for.

In this guide, discover how to visit Brisighella, where to stay and the best things to do.

borgo di brisighella
Borgo di Brisighella Panoramic View
Old Church Walls in Brisighella
Old Stone and Brick Walls in Medieval Brisighella

Essentials for Visiting Brisighella

Is Brisighella Worth Seeing?

It would be a mistake to pass on visiting Brisighella, just because it is small in size. While it is compact, don’t be fooled into thinking there isn’t anything to see and do there.

The town of Brisighella will definitely appeal most to people keen on purposeful travel and discovering a lesser-known corner of Italy.

Visitors who are eager to pack their itineraries with popular tourist attractions may find Brisighella too slow-paced. Brisighella rarely makes the “top 10” lists for places to see in Emilia-Romagna, and frankly, this is what makes it so special.

It is a hidden gem that still manages to offer all the amazing features a traveler could ever want.

Art, history, and culture run rich throughout the small village with its marvelous medieval quarter, Venetian fortress, and handmade crafts passed down through generations.

For the foodies who are seeking the best of Italian cuisine without the crowds, there is no shortage of traditional restaurants to indulge in.

Also known as Food Valley, the Emilia-Romagna region and its gastronomy are renowned for being one of the peaks in Italian cooking.

Ditch the tourist traps of nearby Parma and Bologna and have an authentic experience instead in Brisighella.

Lastly, the Lamone Valley isn’t a bad place to spend time outdoors with its scenic hiking trails and a wondrous national park (Parco Regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola), which includes mineral cliffs and archaeological ruins.

Things to Do in Brisighella

Explore the Centro Storico

Unquestionably, the historic center of Brisighella is the town’s most intriguing feature. Brisighella’s foundations are said to stem from the late 1200s and developed through the interchanging hands of various leaders. Naturally, most of the medieval quarter was built with one purpose – defense.

Fast forward a few years later, and we’re now left with one of the most picturesque medieval villages in Italy. Its core is very well preserved and even inhabited to this day, something that is a growing rarity in ancient towns across the country.

Walking among the medieval buildings, cobblestone paths, admiring beautiful architecture, and discovering secret arched walkways is the best way to experience Borgo di Brisighella.

Best Old Towns in Italy
Medieval Buildings

Do as the Donkeys Did Through Via Degli Asini

Within the centro storico (historic centre) is an elevated passageway known as Via Degli Asini, or Donkey Street. It may not seem like it now, but at one point, the main street of Brisighella’s town was incredibly busy.

To continue the flow of traffic in the 14th century, Via Degli Asini was the solution for moving donkeys and other pack animals efficiently without disturbing the bustle below. The primary purpose of the donkey journeys during this time was to move mineral materials from the quarries above the village and into town.

Throughout the remaining structure, which features stunning archways, are apartment units that have also survived throughout centuries (with a few renovations).

During the donkey era, the upper units of the building were comprised of living spaces with stables and wagon storage at street level. A stroll throughout the passageway gives you a momentary feeling of stepping back into that exact time in history.

Donkey Passageway Brisighella
An Old Donkey Passageway in Brisighella
Beautiful Villages in Italy
Via Degli Asini

Visit the Rocca Manfrediana Fortress

During the Venetian rule, a prominent mark was left on Brisighella in the form of a fortress. Known as Rocca di Brisighella or Rocca Manfrediana, the fortification sits overlooking the village below.

Cylinder towers define the medieval’s strong architecture and presence, along with a defensive wall that wraps around the hill it is perched on.

For under €5, a ticket allows you to explore the interior of the fortress where you’ll find spiral staircases, preserved artefacts, and underground tunnels.

Brisighella Fortress is also an important site where history was shaped around gypsum mining and humankind’s expansion of civilizations.

Evidence shows that activity of this kind became popular in the 19th century, with signs of quarries and kilns. In the present day, gypsum is still used in modern construction, so visiting the origins of such a monumental material is an unexpected tourist surprise.

Aside from visiting a slice of medieval history, Rocca Manfrediana provides panoramic views of the valley beneath. Parking is conveniently available right at the base of the fort, but it’s also possible to hike there directly from the old town.

Rocca Manfrediana Fortress Italy
Main Entrance to Rocca Manfrediana Fortress

Try the Signature Olive Oil

If you’ve visited Italy before, you may have noticed how strict and distinct certain products and their quality are ranked. Specifically, cheese and olive oil are held to a high standard when in the top tier of their class.

Brisighella DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a specific type of olive oil which derives from the hills of Brisighella and a couple of neighboring towns.

It is, as assumed, an oil of its very own kind and made from the olive variety named Nostrana. Its most famous characteristics include a fruity flavor with dashes of artichoke, herbs, and a deep emerald green color.

Olive oil connoisseur or not, this stuff is just damn good and happens to make the perfect souvenir.

olio brisighella
Olive Oil Bottles Sold in Brisighella

Shop for Local Crafts

A beautiful craft that’s original to the Emilia-Romagna region is block printing by hand.

Incredible handcrafted fabrics, ranging from bath linens to tablecloths and kitchen towels, are decorated using a method from many centuries ago. The print is created by using hand-carved blocks of pear wood that act as stamps.

Similar to olive oil, this technique and products are also held to a standard and regulated in order to be certified as the original. As a regional artistry, you’ll naturally find works of art being sold and the opportunity to learn more about it within the town centre of Brisighella.

Additionally, the medieval village’s main street is where you’ll find other boutique storefronts including clothing, floral, herb and jewellery shops.

Handmade Kitchen Towels Brisighella
Hand Printed Fabrics & Kitchen Towels
Places to Visit Emilia Romagna
A Floral Shop in Brisighella

Climb to Torre Dell’Orologio

The best views of Brisighella from atop are found at the watchtower. Known as Torre dell’Orologio, you must walk up a few flights of stairs to reach the very top. As you ascend, views of the historic town rooftops reveal themselves along with the olive groves and vineyards in the valley.

The clock tower has origins from 1290 but was then rebuilt in a Gothic Revival style in the 1350s. To visit Torre dell’Orologio at sunset is particularly the most picture-perfect way to end a day in Brisighella.

Be a Foodie

Nowadays, people travel for all kinds of reasons! One of the most popular motives for getting out into the world is to find and eat the very best that our world has to offer. Emilia-Romagna is world-renowned as one of the best regions in Italy (and perhaps Europe) for its culinary traditions, specialty dishes, and ingredients.

Dining in Brisighella is the perfect place to taste the “Food Valley’s” cuisine at its core.

Restaurants in Brisighella naturally serve well-known classics of the region but also those particular to their village, especially if artichokes or olive oil are included. Dive into a foodie paradise in the sweet and charming Brisighella instead of dining with a swarm of tourists in Bologna or Florence.

Must Try Restaurants in Brisighella:

Restaurants in Brisighella Emilia Romagna
Many Restaurants Fill the Small Town of Brisighella
Forno Brisighella
A “Forno” (Bakery) Storefront in Brisighella

Take a Guided Tour of Grotta La Tanaccia

Located 2 km from the center of Brisighella is the Tanaccia Cave. It is one of the most significant caves within the national park of Vena del Gesso Romagnola and fascinating enough to impress any adventurer.

Archaeological excavations of the underground route uncovered snippets of civilization from the Neolithic Age until the Late Bronze Age.

Although it’s not massive, the cave covers a diverse distance of around 500 meters and is only available to tour with a guide. You can’t ask for a more unique and unexpected tourist attraction while visiting Emilia Romagna.

Lamone Valley Italy
A View of Lamone Valley

The Best Time to Visit Brisighella

As a country, Italy has a beautiful way of highlighting its smaller towns and remote villages. To experience festivals, parades, and celebrations, it’s not necessary to head into major cities.

In fact, we’ve found that it’s quite the opposite, and some of the best events are held in tiny hamlets instead, just like Brisighella.

For such a charming town, its calendar is deservingly packed with things happening throughout the entire year. If you’re the type of traveler who enjoys experiencing a destination while it has something going on, check the town’s calendar beforehand to plan your trip around these events.

Brisighella’s most notable festival, or “sagra,” is its celebration of the Moretto Artichoke. The particular artichoke is specific to Brisighello and grows in a very distinct way due to the town’s climate and geographical features.

The Moretto Artichoke is so highly prized in the town of Brisighella that the festival lasts an entire week, from the end of April through the first week of May.

It is common throughout Italy for the most number of parties and festivals to occur in the summer, especially in July and August. Live concerts, beer festivals, and even regular outdoor dinners known as “Cene nel Borgo” are held.

For the sake of immersing yourself in Brisighella to the fullest, it is recommended to visit during the warmer months from spring through September.

As winter approaches, the small village quiets down, with some restaurants and shops even closing for the season.

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How to Visit Brisighella

Flying

The nearest international airport to Brisighella is located in the nearby city of Bologna. The airport (Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport) is just 75 km (46 miles) away from Brisighella and takes approximately one hour to reach by car.

Being the primary airport for the entire Emilia-Romagna region, there are plenty of flight options available, including direct flights to Bologna from various European cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Prague, Berlin, and London.

Budget airlines like Ryanair offer affordable nonstop flights to Bologna.

Alternatively, Florence Airport is also an option, which is slightly less busy than Bologna’s hub. From Florence Airport, Brisighella is about 100 km (62 miles) away.

Brisighella’s close proximity to the capitals of both the Tuscan and Emilia-Romagna regions make it an excellent day trip choice.

Driving

Whether you’re starting a road trip from Bologna or Florence, making a stop in Brisighella by car is incredibly convenient.

Although the medieval village is tucked away from tourists, it’s still accessible by major motorways and is uncomplicated to drive to in terms of the journey. Additionally, if you are traveling up or down Italy and taking the E45 highway, Brisighella is a brief 20-minute detour away.

Taking the route from Florence to Brisighella is a bit more provincial and one should expect a road with many twists and turns.

As the village of Brisighella is very old, it wasn’t designed with much vehicle movement in mind. You’ll come across a few limited traffic zones (also known as a ZTL) which restricts non-residential cars from accessing certain roads.

To avoid any possible tickets or debates with the local police, do not enter the old town center of Brisighella with a car. There are a handful of large parking lots just outside of the historic quarter in Brisighella which should ease any possible anxiety of having to maneuver through a town center.

Luckily, you do not need experience of driving through small narrow alleyways in order to visit Brisighella by car.

Train

The Emilia-Romagna region is ideal for traveling by train. Fortunately, it is very flat, which allows for efficient railway routes and connections among major cities. To reach Brisighella entirely by train is possible from neighboring major cities.

From Bologna, regular 1.5-hour journeys to Brisighella are possible with a brief connection in Faenza. Similar routes departing from the region’s cities such as Parma, Modena, and Ferrara are inexpensive and accessible.

Travelling to Brisighella from nearly anywhere in Italy is still very practical. From the capital city of Tuscany, a train to Brisighella from Florence takes just over 2 hours and costs under €10 for a one-way ticket.

Even reaching Brisighella from the southern region of Puglia is also possible by train and doesn’t require any driving! From Bari, the train ride to Brisighella takes around 7 hours.

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Rocca Manfrediana Fortress
Rocca Manfrediana Fortress

Where to Stay In Brisighella

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Albergo Brisighella
An “Albergo” (Hotel) in Brisighella, Italy
Via degli Asini Village
Buildings of Brisighella’s Medieval Quarter

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