European region tipped to be big holiday hotspot in 2025 dubbed ‘motor valley’ with famous racetracks and huge F1 event
IF YOU’RE looking for some holiday inspiration, you might want to consider spending a weekend exploring Emilia-Romagna.
The Italian region has been nicknamed “motor valley” for decades thanks to its ties to car manufacturing and motor racing.
Despite being an automotive hub, Time Out named the region one of the most underrated places to travel in 2025.
While the travel experts praised the region’s ancient sites, world-class food and sandy beaches, it’s also a must for car fans.
Emilia-Romagna boasts an array of car and motorcycle museums and race tracks like the Imola Formula One circuit.
There are thought to be 13 automotive museums, 188 motorsports teams and numerous race tracks in the region.
It’s the beating heart of Italian automotive passion with famous brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati all having a presence in Emilia-Romagna.
A must-visit for any car enthusiast is the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
The museum showcases Ferrari’s history, with models like the Ferrari 166 M on display.
A 35-minute drive away from Modena lies the Maranello Museum, a huge space that’s another tribute to some of Ferrari’s most iconic models like the Ferrari F40.
It’s another must for Formula One fans with cups won by racing legends Lauda and Schumacher.
Further afield in the Modena countryside, there’s also the Umberto Panini Collection, which has one of the biggest Maserati collections in the world.
Other important racing museums include Museum Stanguellini and the Lamborghini Factory.
Not only is the Lamborghini Factory a manufacturing site, it also charts the brands evolution, with some pretty sleek racing cars on display.
Meanwhile, the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum celebrates the founder of the iconic brand.
If you prefer two wheels over four, there’s also the Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale – a district in northern Bologna.
Holidaymakers should aim to align their visit with the Formula One Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna in 2025.
The next race will take place from May 16 to May 18, 2025.
And it could make for an interesting watch as Sir Lewis Hamilton has joined the Ferrari team for the 2025/2026 season.
The Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team trains at the Fiorano Circuit in Maranello, Italy.
It means fans visiting the Italian region might be glimpse drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc when they’re visiting the Ferrari team base – although they’re likely to be on the road.
Modena is a just over an hour’s drive from Bologna, and it can also be reached on a direct train that takes just 28 minutes.
Both Ryanair and British Airways operate direct UK flights from London to Bologna, with one-way fares starting from £33 per person.
What is it like to visit Emilia-Romagna?
TRAVEL reporter Hope Brotherton has visited the Italian region, here’s what she thought…
I visited the region on a week-long trip in 2018, visiting three Italian cities and one landlocked country in just seven days.
Holidaymakers who like relaxing at the beach will want to head to Rimini.
Its main draw is its nine-mile stretch of shoreline, which is said to be the country’s biggest beach resort on the Adriatic Sea.
But just like other Italian cities, Rimini is packed with historical attractions and places of interest.
One of those is Borgo San Giuliano, a trendy neighbourhood that’s home to colourful houses and murals.
There’s also the Ponte di Tiberio, an ancient bridge, dating back 2,000 years, which is reminiscent of Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, except it’s a lot quieter.
I used Rimini as a base to explore other parts of the region because of these cheap hotels.
For example, from Rimini, it’s an easy train ride to Ravenna – the former capital of the Western Roman Empire.
Ravenna is my favourite place to visit in Italy thanks to its winding cobbled streets and unique mosaics.
The early Christian mosaics are hidden inside unassuming churches and baptisteries in the city, all of which were given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996.
An hour away from Ravenna lies Bologna – Italy‘s self-proclaimed food capital.
Brits typically refer to the Ragu sauce as Bolognese sauce, serving the dish with spaghetti instead of tagliatelle.
We ordered the dish as the Italians intended – with a slow-cooked sauce and tagliatelle.
The fresh pasta was heavenly and the sauce ruined our weeknight spag bol recipe.
And an added bonus of visiting Emilia-Romagna is being able to explore San Marino – a small micro-state that lies around one hour away from Rimini.
Founded in 301AD, San Marino is celebrated as the world’s oldest surviving republic.
I also travelled to another underrated city that’s set to be big in 2025 – and it’s said to be the happiest in the world.
An often-ridiculed city was named one of the best places to visit in 2024 by Time Out.
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