Dozza Italy: The Painted Village Near Bologna (Day Trip Guide)

Dozza is a small medieval village sitting on the hills near Imola, just 35 minutes away from Bologna. It’s one of those places most tourists completely miss because they stay glued to the classic Florence-Venice-Rome train route.

Why do I keep going back?

Simple: in a 10-minute walk, you get a permanent, open-air street art museum, a 13th-century fortified castle, and the regional winery for the entire Emilia-Romagna region hidden right in the castle’s cellar.

Plus, the food here is top-tier.

Here is everything you need to know to visit Dozza, whether you have a car or rely on public transport.

Yes, especially if you want to escape the crowded center of Bologna for a half-day.

Dozza isn't a fake tourist trap with plastic souvenir shops and tour buses blocking the view. 
It’s a real, quiet village where locals play cards at the bar, kids run around the cobblestone streets, and every building wall doubles as a canvas for contemporary art.

If you like good wine, medieval history, and weirdly contrasting modern art, Dozza is a no-brainer.

Since 1960, Dozza has hosted the Biennale del Muro Dipinto (Painted Wall Biennale).

A festival held during the third week of September, in odd-numbered years, where invited artists paint directly onto the walls of the village. 

The murals themselves are permanent, so you can visit and see all of them any time of year; the festival itself is what adds new ones.

There are over 100 murals scattered throughout the alleys. You don't need a map or a ticket: just start walking from Via XX Settembre and look up with your camera ready.

At the top of the village sits the Rocca Sforzesca, a medieval fortress built in 1250 and later upgraded by Catherine Sforza.

It costs a few Euros to get inside, and it’s well worth an hour of your time. 

You can walk through the fully furnished noble rooms, check out the old kitchens with giant fireplaces, look down the terrifying "cutting well" (pozzo rasoio), and head up to the towers for a 360-degree view of the surrounding vineyards.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best castles near Bologna. 

Located right inside the atmospheric dungeons of the castle, the Enoteca Regionale is the official promotion center for all wines produced in our region.

They store over 800 labels here. You can walk in, browse the vaulted brick rooms, and sit down at the wine bar for a guided tasting of Albana, Sangiovese, or Pignoletto paired with local cured meats.

A small selection of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale of Modena and a wine bar with guided tastings complete your journey into local flavors.

Dozza is surrounded by rolling hills covered in peach orchards and vineyards. 

If you come by car or bike, take a quick drive down the backroads toward the Valle del Sillaro. 

It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a Tuscan landscape right on Bologna's doorstep.

Dozza sits right on the border between Emilia and Romagna. 

That means you get the best of both worlds on your plate: rich Emilia-style ragù alongside Romagna classics like Garganelli pasta and dry Albana white wine.

Which brings me to the most important part of any trip here: where to sit down and actually eat.

You won't find bad food here, but these two places are my personal favorites depending on what you're looking for:

• La Scuderia

  Location: Via XX Settembre, 53 (Right in front of the castle)

  Why go: Cozy, warm, and focused on quality regional ingredients. Order the tagliata steak with Cervia sea salt or pasta with seasonal porcini mushrooms and truffles.

  Website: lascuderiadozza.it | Tel. +39 0542 678103

   

• Ristorante Canè

  Location: Via XX Settembre, 27

  Why go: The view. Ask for a table overlooking the hills and the castle walls. It’s a classic spot for regional handmade pasta like Garganelli (which originated nearby in Imola).

  Website: ristorantecanet.it | Tel. +39 0542 679200

Taking a car gives you the most flexibility. 
Take the A14 highway toward Ancona, exit at Castel San Pietro Terme, and follow the SP19/Via Emilia toward Imola. Once you reach Toscanella, turn right following the signs for Dozza.

• Drive time: ~35 minutes.
• Parking: Park right outside the medieval gate (Piazza Zotti or Piazza Fontana). Dozza is entirely pedestrianized inside.

You don't need a car, but you do need a bit of patience.

1. Go to the main Bologna Bus Station (Autostazione) near the train station.
2. Catch Bus 101 heading toward Imola.
3. Get off at the stop Toscanella.
4. From Toscanella, switch to local Bus 147 up to Dozza (check the schedule on tper.it as run times vary depending on the season).
    

• Total travel time: ~1 hour 15 minutes.

• Half-Day (3-4 Hours): perfect. Walk the painted streets, tour the castle, hit the Enoteca for a glass of wine, and have lunch or dinner.
   
• Full-Day Idea: combine Dozza with another stop along the Via Emilia to make a complete day trip from Bologna:
  • For art & craft lovers: with a morning trip to Ravenna (to see the Byzantine mosaics)Spend the morning in Faenza to visit the MIC (International Museum of Ceramics), the world's most important ceramics museum.
  • For motorsport fans: Head to Imola (just 15 minutes away from Dozza) to see the legendary Enzo e Dino Ferrari F1 racetrack.