Italy > Car Hire > Bologna > Mirabilandia
If you are planning a holiday to Bologna, in Italy, you’ll find plenty to do in the city itself, but there are also some great places that you can visit on a day-trip if you hire a car. Mirabilandia is a theme park with its own beach area and beautiful gardens, making it the perfect place to visit on a family car hire holiday.
Getting to Mirabilandia from Bologna
It will take you about an hour to drive to Mirabilandia from Bologna in your car. Head out of Bologna on the RA1/Tangenziale partial toll road and then take the ramp signposted for Ancona to get onto the A14 toll road. Follow this road for 33.8km and take the exit for Ravenna in order to get onto the A14dir partial toll road. Continue along the A14dir for 28.5km and take the exit for Ravenna Centro in order to get onto the SS16. Follow this road for 14.8km and then take the first exit at the roundabout to get onto the SP101. Turn right to get to Mirabilandia. There is a car park at Mirabilandia where you can leave your car for a small charge while you explore the park.
Mirabilandia Attractions
Mirabilandia has more than 25 rides, ranging from rides for young children to extreme thrill rides, so you should be able to find plenty to entertain you.
Extreme thrill rides in Mirabilandia include Katun, an inverted rollercoaster that reaches a speed of 110mph, and Columbia and Discovery, two tower rides. A new rollercoaster, iSpeed, is due to open in June 2009.
Younger children will enjoy taking a trip on the Santa Fe Express train, spinning around on the tea cup-style Colazione da Papere ride, or a ride on the Leprotto Express junior rollercoaster. Other rides in the park include the Niagra log flume ride, the Rio Bravo rapids ride and the Explorer runaway mine train style ride.
There are a range of shows that you can watch in the park, including a pirate-themed diving show (L’Isola del Tereso), a stunt show (Scuola di Polizia), a show featuring the music of the 70s (Juke Box Live) and a laser show in the evenings.
The Mirabilandia Beach area of the park features water chutes, water slides and golden sands, and is the perfect place to cool off in the summer. Entrance to the main Mirabilandia park doesn’t include entrance to Mirabilandia Beach, so you will need to buy separate tickets.
If you would prefer something a bit less active, you can take a stroll in the park’s Enchanted Garden, which features more than 140,000 flowers, palm trees, pine trees and water features. It’s also home to Canada Geese, herons and other types of bird.
There are restaurants and cafes throughout the park, and there are also a number of gift shops where you can buy souvenirs.
Mirabiliandia is usually open daily between early April and mid-September and at weekends only from the end of September and October, whilst Mirabilandia Beach is open daily from the middle of June and then end of August. However, opening days and opening hours vary, so check with the park travelling there in your hire car.
Hiring a Car in Italy
One of the easiest ways to book a car for your Italy car hire holiday is to use an online car rental specialist. You can book your hire car online and pick it up from Bologna airport. With car rental offices in many locations, including many other popular Italian holiday destinations, as well as in Bologna, you’ll soon be driving in Italy
