Dozza

Dozza is a tiny hilltop medieval village near Bologna whose stone walls are covered in world-class outdoor murals by international artists, creating a living open-air gallery. It also houses Emilia-Romagna's regional wine cellar in a Renaissance fortress.

Things to do

• Explore the Open-Air Mural Museum — Over 80 murals cover the village walls — pick up the free map at the fortress and follow the painted route.
• Visit the Rocca Sforzesca — The well-preserved 15th-century fortress hosts the Enoteca Regionale and a small museum — stunning views from the tower.
• Wine Tasting at the Enoteca Regionale — The regional wine cellar stocks over 1,000 Emilia-Romagna wines — staff give knowledgeable guided tastings.
• Walk the Medieval Village Lanes — The entire historic center takes under an hour to walk — every corner reveals another painted wall surprise.
• Attend the Biennale del Muro Dipinto — Held every two years in even-numbered years, this festival sees new murals added live by invited international artists.

Food to try

• Tagliatelle al Ragù — The classic Bolognese meat sauce on handmade egg tagliatelle is done beautifully at Dozza's handful of trattorias.
• Local Charcuterie Board — Paired with Enoteca wines, a board of mortadella, prosciutto and local cheeses makes a perfect light lunch.
• Piadina Romagnola — Thin flatbread stuffed with squacquerone cheese and rocket, the quintessential quick bite of the Romagna area.
• Sangiovese di Romagna — The local Romagna red wine grape produces rustic, food-friendly bottles well represented in the Enoteca collection.

Local customs & good to know

• Murals are artworks, not graffiti — Each painting was commissioned and approved — locals are very proud of the distinction and appreciate visitors showing respect.
• The village is tiny and parking is limited — Park at the lower car park and walk up — the village has essentially one main street and gets busy on weekends.
• Combine with a Bologna day trip — Dozza is only 30 minutes from Bologna by car, making it an ideal half-day excursion combined with the city.