Bologna region holidays - self-catering

Independent travel - Italian suggestions, please?

I want to drive down to (probably) Emelia-Romagna area in August, for a couple of weeks in a self-catering apartment/house/cottage for 4 people. We think we'd like to do a trip focusing on Bologna because of the lure of Ducati. We like cities, too.

We've found it a bit tricky looking in Bologna. We need somewhere with safe-ish car parking and good transport links to the city centre. We live in London underground zone 2 and fancy a Bolognese equivalent. I've found very little self-catering accomodation anywhere in the area on the web.

Ideas, suggestions, websites, contacts please.

Many thanks, Harry