Tower House Gombola

Activities at Oasi delle Piane (35 minutes’ drive) include mountain biking, archery and treetop adventures – plus, in the winter months, cross-country skiing and sledding. An animal park is home to ponies, goats and Highland cows, and there are inflatable structures for younger visitors. On your way to Modena (an hour), stop at the Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti, where the renowned tenor spent the last few years of his life. On display are stage costumes, awards and photographs. In Modena city, check out the 17th-century Palazzo Ducale and the Enzo Ferrari Museum, with sports cars galore. At the Museo del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia (an hour and 10 minutes), you can learn all there is to know about the Italian flag. Afterwards, stroll through the elegant town centre, stopping for espresso at Piazza Camillo Prampolini. In the evening, catch a concert or a dance performance at the ornate Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre.