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Sightseeing in Bologna

Le Due Torri. The symbol of Bologna, the two tall leaning Asinelli (97.2 metres) and Garisenda (47 metres) towers have stood in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana since the 12th century. Today only the Asinelli tower is open to the public and offers an amazing view over the red rooftops and hills, once you have climbed its 498 steps.

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna: Founded in 1885, the National Art Gallery of Bologna is housed in a Jesuit school for novices dating to the 15th century. Its important collection is spread out over 30 rooms and covers all the major schools of European painting (14th-19th centuries), with an emphasis on artists from Bologna and Emilia-Romagna. The exhibits include masterpieces by the Carracci brothers (among the founders of Italian baroque) as well as works by the great Renaissance teachers, such as Raphael (The Ecstasy of St Cecilia), El Greco (The Last Supper) and Titian.

The Museo d’ Arte Moderna di Bologna (Bologna Modern Art Museum)– known also as MAMbo – is a relatively new museum dedicated to the promotion of the visual arts and artistic experimentalism. Its permanent collection traces the history of Italian art from the end of the Second World War till today and is divided into nine thematic areas. Its amazing temporary exhibitions, dedicated to Italian and foreign artists of the avant-garde, are not to be missed.

The Civical Archaeological Museum (Museo Civico Archeologico), which is housed in the stunning 15th-century Palazzo Galvani, contains, among other items, an impressive collection of Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Etruscan antiquities. The collection of finds from over 4000 Etruscan tombs is considered one of the finest in Italy.

Unesco has given Bologna the title of Creative City of Music. Continue your tour at the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica (International Music Museum and Music Library). Housed in the Palazzo Sanguinetti, it charts six centuries of European musical history, with wonderful collections of musical instruments that have now “disappeared”.

Inside the church of San Colombano, you will find the Tagliavini collection, comprised of 80 musical instruments dating from 1500.

It is worth visiting the huge house of Lucio Dalla in the 15th-century Palazzo Casa Fontana poi Gamberini, which just opened in 2019 and plans to exhibit an excellent art collection.

During your tour of the old town, you will encounter some very ornate churches. Visit the Basilica di San Petronio. This is the sixth-largest church in Europe, the original plan of which aspired to exceed the size of even the basilica of St Peter in Rome. Its construction began in 1390 and lasted for almost four whole centuries. The full plan was never implemented but it is still the most emblematic church in Bologna, built in the Gothic style and dedicated to the city’s patron saint. It is distinguished for its marble façade, with its ornate sculptures, as well as for its fantastic interior with 22 chapels and wonderful frescoes.

Continue with the Basilica di Santo Stefano, the most atmospheric religious building out of all Bologna’s ecclesiastical riches. Incorporating elements of Early Christian, Romanesque and Gothic architecture, it formed a complex of churches known as the Seven Churches (Sette Chiese), of which only four survive, including the oldest one of Santi Vitale e Agricola (5th century).

It is worth visiting the Basilica Santuario della Madonna di San Luca, perched on the verdant Guardia hill. Built in the 18th century (on the ruins of another church), it houses the Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child (by Luke the Evangelist) and has been a sacred place of pilgrimage since the 12th century. To get to it, follow the Portico di San Luca, the world’s largest covered portico at 3.8 km long and which connects the hill with the city walls. This impressive church (1674-1739) has 666 apses and 15 chapels.

The Basilica di San Domenico is dedicatedto the founder of the Dominican monastic order and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Inside you will find many valuable works of art, such as the marble angel created by Michelangelo at the age of 19, and the 16th-century wooden choir, a splendid example of Renaissance art.

Don’t miss the Salaborsa, Bologna’s central library. It was opened only in 2001 in the Palazzo d’Accursio, although the archaeological finds indicate that this spot was always an important site in the public life of Bologna. Entrance to the library is free for the public.

Teatro Anatomico. One of the city’s most amazing spectacles is to be found in the superb Palazzo dell’ Archiginnasio, the former site of the University of Bologna (1563-1805) and today’s Municipal Library (1838). This was the first anatomy lecture theatre in the world. Explore this 17th-century building, with the central orthogonal hall adorned with cedar wood panels and delightful decorative details.

Giardini Margherita. The largest park in Bologna, it first opened its gates in 1879, inspired by the romantic landscapes of English gardens. Broad avenues, a small artificial lake and oak forests create an idyllic scene. Etruscan tombs have been excavated within the park.

Excursions around Bologna

Bologna is located right in the centre of the region of Emilia-Romagna, making it a perfect place from which to go on excursions to the surrounding cities, all equally exquisite.

Ferrara: 53 kilometres from Bologna, Ferrara is a beautiful and wonderfully preserved medieval city – which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – that is still surrounded by its ancient walls. The city can easily be walked, and it also has a strong cycling culture. Do not miss the Castello Estense and the Cathedral of Ferrara.

Parma. The hometown of Giuseppe Verdi and of parmesan cheese is, perhaps, a little less pretty than the large towns in the region. In one day, you should be able to see its sights, the highlights being the Palazzo Della Pilotta, the church of San Giovanni and the cathedral of Santa Maria della Steccata.

Modena. This town is famous as the seat of many sports car makers (the founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari, was born in Modena) as well as for its hearty cuisine. There is a medieval atmosphere here too (like Bologna, Modena is home to one of the world’s oldest universities), with the impressive Biblioteca Estense and the beautiful central Piazza Grande.

Ravenna. The traces of the Byzantine period, more than anything else, have made Ravenna a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital of the Byzantine empire on Italian soil can boast of many wonderful churches – such as the basilica of San Vitale and of Sant’ Apollinare – adorned with exquisite Late Christian mosaics. Don’t forget to visit Dante’s tomb.

Food and Entertainment in Bologna

Just the fact that food contests are held in Bologna is confirmation enough that its nickname of La Grassa (the Fat) is more than appropriate.

The proud homeland of mortadella, parmesan, Bolognese sauce, tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagne will serve you a large variety of dishes, based on fresh local ingredients, in one of the traditional trattorias or chic osterias in the historic centre.

Try the famous local specialities, such as tagliatelle al ragù (with the addition of pork fat) and tortellini in brodo (tortellini filled with pork, mortadella and prosciutto cooked in meat sauce).

These dishes pair perfectly with the excellent Colli Bolognesi wines from the hills of Bologna.

If you fancy a bite to eat during your exploration of the city, then pop into one of the numerous piadinerie for a piadina (cheese, ham or salami and rocket sandwich), the locals’ favourite snack.

The city’s covered markets, the Mercato di Mezzo and the Mercato delle Erbe, are truly wonderful foodie destinations.
The markets in the historic centre of Il Quadrilatero have been identified with the consumption of food since the Middle Ages. The Quadrilatero is bound by Via Rizzoli in the north, Via Farini in the south, Via dell’ Archiginnasio in the west and Via Castiglione in the east. Here you will find delicatessens, bakeries, greengrocers, fishmongers and many restaurants and places where you can pick something up on the go.

Nights in Bologna begin, as in all the towns and cities of Italy, early with the traditional aperitivo. The large student population means that a night out in Bologna lasts until the early hours. In the university district around via Zamboni and via delle Belle Arti you will find atmospheric cocktail bars and pubs while for live jazz clubs head to via Mascarella. In the industrial zone of Bologna, you will find most of the underground places for dancing and DJ sets.

Shopping in Bologna

In every Italian city, shopping is a part of everyday life, although in Bologna the shopping list for the visitor becomes longer with the addition of edible souvenirs. The city that has made its gastronomic culture its trademark, invites you to return home with authentic Bolognese delicacies. Buy handmade tortellini, tagliatelle, mortadella, cheeses, salami, bread and local wines. The historic Mercato di Mezzo was the first covered food market in Bologna and is open daily from 12 pm until midnight. The Mercato delle Erbe is the largest covered food market in Bologna.

For more conventional yet more expensive shopping, explore the boutiques stocking Italian and international brands and the ateliers of Bolognese designers in the streets around Piazza Cavour. In the atmospheric Corte Isolani (an impressive network of inner courtyards within the historic 15th-century Palazzo Isolani) you will find arty boutiques, cute shops selling handicrafts and wine shops.

The Galleria Cavour shopping mall has been the height of luxury shopping in Bologna since 1959, with 30 boutiques belonging to major Italian luxury brands.

Shoe lovers must go to Via San Felice, although there are also clothes shops and many gold jewellery workshops there too. Everyone can find what they are looking for in Via dell’ Indipendenza, Bologna’s main shopping street: beneath the endless porticoes you will find some of the cheapest clothes shops as well as the stores of famous designers.

Getting from the airport to Bologna

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is located 6 kilometres from the city and can be reached by bus or taxi. To reach Bologna, take the local public Aerobus BLQ, which connects the airport directly to the city centre (Mille) and the central railway station (Stazione Centrale) of Bologna. Buses run daily from 05.00 am to 23.55 pm, every 25 minutes. If you decide to take a taxi, the journey time is 20 minutes at the most.

Book your tickets for Bologna at the Olympic Air site and discover a vibrant student town that foodies will love!