Trip ideas · Festival Verdi, Bologna, Urbino truffles and Ravenna
Festival Verdi, Bologna, Urbino truffles and Ravenna: a One-Week Road Trip in Italy
Best in October, also good in September and November
From Bologna and back: seven nights, 636 km, the longest day about 2 h 55 at the wheel. Driving costs €60–€120 + 2 tolls not priced.
Festival Verdi, Parma (Teatro Regio): 1–25 October 2026. Watch for: Bologna ZTL: 07:00–20:00 every day; hotels register guests' plates.
Use this route in my plan Your checklist for Italy: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.
Day by day
Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.
Day 1
Bologna → Parma 104 km · about 1 h 30 driving
Verdi's home ground: Teatro Regio and Festival Verdi in October; Parma ham and Parmigiano country. Source
Day 2
A day out from Parma No long drive
Day 3
Parma → Bologna 104 km · about 1 h 30 driving
Emilia-Romagna's capital; Modena is a short side trip. Source
Day 4
A day out from Bologna No long drive
Day 5
Bologna → Urbino 199 km · about 2 h 55 driving
Renaissance hill town, UNESCO since 1998; Sant'Agata Feltria (about 38 km straight-line) holds its truffle fair on October Sundays. Source
Day 6
A day out from Urbino No long drive
Day 7
Urbino → Ravenna 143 km · about 2 h 20 driving
City of Byzantine mosaics; last night before the short run back to Bologna. Source
Day 8
Ravenna → Bologna 86 km · about 1 h 15 driving
Why go in October
- Festival Verdi, Parma (Teatro Regio): 1–25 October 2026. Source
- National White Truffle Fair, Sant'Agata Feltria (province of Rimini): Sundays 4 October – 1 November 2026 (4, 11, 18, 25 Oct and 1 Nov). Source
What to watch for
- Bologna ZTL: 07:00–20:00 every day; hotels register guests' plates (all year). Source
- Ravenna ZTL: ask your host whether the hotel is inside the zone and for a permit (all year). Source
- Parma ZTL: permits through the Comune's Infomobility service (all year). Source
- Urbino ZTL: request access through the Comune's online service; the page lists the access hours (all year). Source
What the week costs to drive
| Item | Cost | Worked out from |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for 636 km | €69–€120 | Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices |
| Driving the week | €60–€120 + 2 tolls not priced | Rounded to €10 |
Not included: A1 Bologna–Parma (Autostrade per l'Italia) (operator); A14 Bologna–Pesaro (for Urbino) and A14 Cesena–Bologna (from Ravenna) (operator); hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.
The rules on this route
Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.
Next on the road
Sources
- Festival Verdi, Parma (Teatro Regio)
- National White Truffle Fair, Sant'Agata Feltria (province of Rimini)
- Bologna ZTL: 07:00–20:00 every day; hotels register guests' plates
- Ravenna ZTL: ask your host whether the hotel is inside the zone and for a permit
- Parma ZTL: permits through the Comune's Infomobility service
- Urbino ZTL: request access through the Comune's online service; the page lists the access hours
- A1 Bologna–Parma (Autostrade per l'Italia)
- Renaissance hill town, UNESCO since 1998; Sant'Agata Feltria (about 38 km straight-line) holds its truffle fair on October Sundays.
Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.