Bologna Food Themed Park to Open In Italy

In a bid to turn disused public real estate into profitable tourist attractions, the municipality of Bologna and Eataly, the internationally known Italian food chain, announced plans to open a large-scale food-themed park in what is often referred to as the food capital of Italy. The project reflects a broader strategy to revitalise underused urban spaces while reinforcing Bologna’s global reputation for gastronomy.

A €400 Million Investment in Food Tourism

It was estimated that the proposed food theme park would cost around €400 million to develop, with an opening date initially projected for 2015. The site was planned on approximately 80,000 square metres of former warehouse space, transforming an otherwise neglected industrial area into a major tourist destination. The initiative emerged as part of a national push by the Italian government to convert unused public assets into revenue-generating attractions.

Reviving Italy’s Image Through Food

According to Paolo Scordino, chief executive of Prelios SGR, fundraising efforts were already underway at the time of the announcement, with approximately €85 million secured in the early stages. The ambition was not merely economic. The project was also framed as a cultural response — an attempt to reconnect visitors with a vision of Italy rooted in craftsmanship, regional identity, and everyday pleasures, rather than the narrative of decline that dominated international headlines at the time.

Bologna, long celebrated for its traditional markets, trattorias, and artisanal producers, was seen as the ideal location for such an initiative. Even outside large-scale developments, visitors continue to explore the city through hands-on culinary experiences and guided gastronomic itineraries that connect producers, markets, and local traditions, reinforcing Bologna’s role as a living showcase of Italian food culture.

A National Strategy for Tourism Growth

This project was not an isolated case. Similar initiatives were being explored across Italy as part of a broader effort to stimulate tourism and investment. In Venice, for example, plans were announced to transform an abandoned island into a theme park featuring a 55-metre Ferris wheel alongside other leisure attractions. These developments aimed to diversify Italy’s tourism offer beyond its traditional pillars of art cities, beaches, and culinary travel.

Officials involved in these projects expressed hope that theme parks could attract a different demographic — visitors accustomed to large-scale entertainment destinations such as Disneyland. As one official noted, “Each square metre will be linked to a business line and will directly or indirectly produce revenue, as happens in Disney’s parks.”

Food, Culture, and the Future of Italian Tourism

Whether through ambitious developments or smaller, experience-driven initiatives, food remains central to Italy’s tourism strategy. In cities like Bologna, where culinary heritage is woven into daily life, the challenge lies in balancing commercial innovation with authenticity. As long as food tourism continues to be rooted in real traditions, local producers, and regional identity, it will remain one of Italy’s most powerful cultural and economic assets.