Imola (Forum Cornelii in Latin) is a town of 70 thousand inhabitants, the most common extension (and second by population) in the province of Bologna.

The earliest traces of civilization discoveries date back to prehistoric and proto but the birth of the urban sprawl that today is called Imola probably dates back to Roman times.

After the barbarian invasions that greatly damaged the city, Imola accepted the protection of Frederick I Barbarossa (ca 1159) and, only in 1471, the city became the domain of the Sforza, the new lords of Milan, who settled in the beautiful fortress restored. After a long period of upheaval and constant changes to the leadership of the city (including a brief French rule), in March 1860 the Regie Emilia provinces were annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, in March 1861, became the Kingdom of Italy. The first mayor of Imola after cessation of papal rule was Giuseppe Scarabelli.