Parco delle Acque Minerali

The Parco delle Acque Minerali is a historic public garden in Imola, laid out in 1871 around Monte Castellaccio.

Why it matters

The park's history connects medicinal springs, public recreation and the development of Imola's motor-racing circuit. The hill at its centre also preserves evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area.

What to notice

The grounds include a mixture of native and introduced trees, a pond, the Naturalmente fountain and a memorial to Ayrton Senna. The park sits within the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit, whose Acque Minerali corner takes its name from the grounds.

Context and history

Doctor Gioacchino Cerchiari identified sulphurous springs at the site in 1830. The municipality acquired the grounds and established a public park in 1871. The autodrome was built around the park in the early 1950s, and a renewal project completed in 2000 added new landscape features while retaining historic planting.