Bologna is an old university city with luxurious arcaded walkways and squares, fine historical buildings and an interesting medieval center. The city is known for its beauty, excellent cuisine and left-wing politics, home to the former Italian Communist Party and its newspaper, L’Unita .
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It’s less than an hour inland from the east coast and roughly halfway between Florence and Milan. Bologna can be visited at any time of the year, although it can be quite cold in winter and hot in summer.
Arriving in Bologna
Bologna is a transportation hub for several train lines with easy access to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and both coasts. The historic center is a short walk from the train station, but you can also take a bus. Most of the compact historic center is closed to traffic and ideal for walking. There is good public transport within the city and a small airport on the outskirts of Bologna.
Food Specialties
Handmade egg pasta and stuffed pasta, especially tortellini , are Bologna specialties and of course there is the famous Bolognese pasta , tagliatelle con ragu (a meat sauce cooked for a long time). Bologna is also known for its salami and ham. The cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region is one of the best in Italy. If you’d like to take a cooking class, Passionate about Pasta includes a market tour, pasta making, and lunch.
What to see and do
- The compact medieval center of Bologna has several beautiful churches, monuments and civic buildings. Its many arcaded sidewalks are ideal for walking and window shopping.
- Piazza Maggiore is one of the central squares, lined with arcades. It is a good place to sit in an outdoor cafe. Around the square are the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio , the Palazzo dei Notai and the Archaeological Museum.
- Piazza del Nettuno , next to Piazza Maggiore , another of Bologna’s main squares, has an ornate 16th-century fountain in the center and is surrounded by medieval civic buildings. Enter the library and admire its beautiful interior.
- Via Clavatura , to the east of the squares, has a number of interesting little food stalls.
- You can climb the steep staircase to the top of the Torre degli Asinelli , one of the few surviving medieval towers, for an excellent view of Bologna. The Torre degli Asinelli and another leaning tower are located in Piazza Porta Ravegnana, where seven medieval streets converge.
- In Piazza Santo Stefano you will find an unusual group of four interlocking Romanesque churches. The oldest, the church of SS. Vitale e Agricola , has parts of temples and Roman columns. There is also an interesting courtyard with a maze of small chapels.
- The Pinacoteca Nazionale is one of the best galleries in Italy with several important works of art.
- The university, one of the oldest in Europe, is worth a visit. Palazzo Poggi has two interesting museums. Sometimes you will see student demonstrations or lively graduation celebrations.
- Take a Guided Tour of Bologna: Discovering Bologna is a 3-hour private guided tour offered by Select Italy .
Nightlife and events
Bologna has many summer entertainment options in July and August. There is a daily open-air disco in Parco Cavaioni, on the outskirts of the city, and the Bologna Sogna series, sponsored by the city, with concerts in museums and city buildings. During the rest of the year, there is a lot of nightlife for young people in the university area.
New Year’s Eve is traditionally celebrated with the unusual Fiera del Bue Grasso (fat ox fair). The ox is decorated from horn to tail with flowers and ribbons and there is a procession that ends just before midnight in Piazza San Petronio, followed by fireworks. In Piazza Maggiore, there is live music, performances, and a street market. At midnight, the effigy of an old man is thrown into a bonfire.
Tourist information
Bologna’s large tourist information office is located in Piazza Maggiore . They have many maps and information about Bologna and the region. Two organizations offer 2-hour guided walks in English from the tourist office. There are also small branches at the train station and the airport.
