Bologna
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Latest update: 15 February 2024
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By Dion Protani
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Dubbed La Grassa (the fat one), La Dotta (the learned) e La Rossa (the red), Bologna lies at the very heart of life in Emilia Romagna; a beautiful regional capital that packs a heavy punch with its medieval porticoes, piazzas bursting with life and a gastronomic culture the envy of the world.
Occupying an area just to the north of the Apennine Mountains at the edge of the Po Valley, Bologna is flanked to its east and west by the fellow historic cities of Modena and Ravenna while a short distance to its north east is the UNESCO-listed Ferrara. |
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Bologna takes its nickname from three of its principal characteristics: La Grassa (the fat one) relates to the city's abundance of gastronomic delights, La Dotta (the learned) is a nod to its University which is the oldest in the world, and La Rossa (the red), relates in part to the colour of its buildings but also to its socialist political leanings.
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Bologna: La Grassa, La Dotta e La Rossa
Bologna, often dubbed "La Dotta" (the learned), "La Grassa" (the fat), and "La Rossa" (the red), is a city brimming with history, culture, and gastronomy in northern Italy. Its historical center, a maze of narrow medieval streets and elegant squares, is home to stunning architecture such as the iconic Two Towers, symbols of the city. Piazza Maggiore, the main square, hosts notable landmarks including the Basilica of San Petronio and the Palazzo d'Accursio, housing the city hall.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, boasting a rich collection of Renaissance masterpieces by artists like Raphael and Carracci. For a taste of Bologna's culinary prowess, head to the Quadrilatero, a vibrant market area teeming with local specialties like tortellini, mortadella, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Venture beyond the city center to explore the picturesque hills surrounding Bologna, dotted with medieval villages like Dozza and Monteveglio, offering breathtaking views of the countryside. Foodies shouldn't miss a trip to nearby Modena, renowned for its balsamic vinegar and traditional balsamic tasting experiences.
Bologna's strategic location also makes it an ideal base for day trips to other Italian cities such as Florence, Venice, and Milan, easily accessible by train. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine, Bologna offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, boasting a rich collection of Renaissance masterpieces by artists like Raphael and Carracci. For a taste of Bologna's culinary prowess, head to the Quadrilatero, a vibrant market area teeming with local specialties like tortellini, mortadella, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Venture beyond the city center to explore the picturesque hills surrounding Bologna, dotted with medieval villages like Dozza and Monteveglio, offering breathtaking views of the countryside. Foodies shouldn't miss a trip to nearby Modena, renowned for its balsamic vinegar and traditional balsamic tasting experiences.
Bologna's strategic location also makes it an ideal base for day trips to other Italian cities such as Florence, Venice, and Milan, easily accessible by train. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine, Bologna offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication.
Comune di Bologna
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Province: Metropolitan City of Bologna
Region: capital of Emilia Romagna Population: 387,842 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 141 km² Elevation: 54 metres Top sights: Basilica di San Petronio, Two Towers, Piazza Maggiore Close by: Dozza, Imola, Vignola, Modena, Faenza, Brisighella Recommended accommodation: Art Hotel Commercianti |
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Porticoes of Bologna
Year: 2021
The Porticoes of Bologna
Year: 2021
What are the most popular tours and activities in Bologna?
- Bologna Walking Tour: Explore the city's historic center, including Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers, and Neptune Fountain, with a knowledgeable guide.
- Food Tour: Delight in Bologna's culinary delights on a food tour, sampling local specialties such as tortellini, mortadella, and gelato.
- Cooking Class: Learn to prepare traditional Emilian dishes like tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini in brodo in a hands-on cooking class.
- Day Trip to Modena and Parmesan Cheese Factory: Discover nearby Modena's UNESCO-listed historic center and visit a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory.
- Balsamic Vinegar Tasting: Visit a traditional balsamic vinegar producer in Modena to learn about the production process and sample aged balsamic vinegar.
- Ferrari Museum Tour: Motorsport enthusiasts can visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, just outside Bologna, to see iconic Ferrari cars and memorabilia.
- San Luca Sanctuary Hike: Hike up to the San Luca Sanctuary, perched atop a hill overlooking Bologna, for panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.
- Bologna Segway Tour: Glide through the city streets on a Segway tour, covering more ground and seeing sights like Portico di San Luca and Basilica di Santo Stefano.
- Gelato-Making Class: Learn the art of making authentic Italian gelato from a master gelato maker in Bologna.
- Wine Tasting in the Emilia-Romagna Countryside: Take a guided tour of local wineries in the scenic Emilia-Romagna countryside, tasting regional wines like Lambrusco and Pignoletto.
Bologna Gallery
Bologna in-depth
Sightseeing Bologna
This is an area particularly rich in medieval architecture and Bologna's extraordinary 38 kilometres of covered streets are just one such example. From Piazza Maggiore in the city centre you only need to tip your head slightly skywards to find more dramatic examples of medieval construction such as the Due Torri (Two Towers), Bologna's own leaning towers.
For those energetic and courageous enough, a great starting point for any tour of Bologna is one these towers, the Asinelli Tower which is the taller of the two and affords an extravagant view of the city and its layout.
From this lofty perch you can pick out the Via dell'Indipendenza which leads from the train station at the city's edge right into its central piazzas, Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. Other visible sights include the eye-catching dome of the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita and the cavernous Basilica di San Petronio, one of the ten largest churches in the world.
This is an area particularly rich in medieval architecture and Bologna's extraordinary 38 kilometres of covered streets are just one such example. From Piazza Maggiore in the city centre you only need to tip your head slightly skywards to find more dramatic examples of medieval construction such as the Due Torri (Two Towers), Bologna's own leaning towers.
For those energetic and courageous enough, a great starting point for any tour of Bologna is one these towers, the Asinelli Tower which is the taller of the two and affords an extravagant view of the city and its layout.
From this lofty perch you can pick out the Via dell'Indipendenza which leads from the train station at the city's edge right into its central piazzas, Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. Other visible sights include the eye-catching dome of the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vita and the cavernous Basilica di San Petronio, one of the ten largest churches in the world.
Food in Bologna
Not everyone plans their holiday around gastronomy but many of those that do make a bee-line for Bologna. The city's culinary delights are among the most celebrated in the world with famous dishes such as Lasagne emanating from here, along with the vast local production of Parmigiano (Parmesan cheese), Mortadella (a type of pork sausage) and Prosciutto Parmigiano (Parma Ham).
It can often come as a shock how little "Spaghetti Bolognese" is to be found in the city - instead of spaghetti the favoured pasta to be eaten with the meat sauce Ragù is in fact Tagliatelle or another Bologna favourite, Tortellini which is usually eaten with a broth.
Not everyone plans their holiday around gastronomy but many of those that do make a bee-line for Bologna. The city's culinary delights are among the most celebrated in the world with famous dishes such as Lasagne emanating from here, along with the vast local production of Parmigiano (Parmesan cheese), Mortadella (a type of pork sausage) and Prosciutto Parmigiano (Parma Ham).
It can often come as a shock how little "Spaghetti Bolognese" is to be found in the city - instead of spaghetti the favoured pasta to be eaten with the meat sauce Ragù is in fact Tagliatelle or another Bologna favourite, Tortellini which is usually eaten with a broth.
Bologna University
Despite the city's medieval architecture and roots, Bologna retains a youthful exuberance which is partly thanks to its University; established in 1088 making it the longest continuously operative in the world, providing aninteresting contrast between the old and new.
During the summer there are festivals held in the city centre and throughout the year rock bands play gigs at various venues in and around the city. Perhaps in part a consequence of having the world's oldest university, Bologna has traditionally been associated with left-wing politics.
Despite the city's medieval architecture and roots, Bologna retains a youthful exuberance which is partly thanks to its University; established in 1088 making it the longest continuously operative in the world, providing aninteresting contrast between the old and new.
During the summer there are festivals held in the city centre and throughout the year rock bands play gigs at various venues in and around the city. Perhaps in part a consequence of having the world's oldest university, Bologna has traditionally been associated with left-wing politics.
Porticoes of Bologna
Nowhere is Bologna's exuberance more greatly demonstrated than on its unique network of porticoed streets. The first of these covered walkways were introduced to the city around the 13th century and there are still some examples of these wooden structures standing today. A century later and having received wide-ranging acclaim, an edict was passed that all new streets in the city had to be covered with the porticoes, made out of brick or stone and tall enough to accommodate riders on horseback.
In 2021 Bologna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the heading "The Porticoes of Bologna". The inscription justly recognising the importance of the porticoes to the city's trade and its architecture. The seemingly endless archways of these walkways with their autumnal-coloured plaster work of reds, ambers and oranges are a defining feature of Bologna and of the Emilia Romagna region as a whole.
Nowhere is Bologna's exuberance more greatly demonstrated than on its unique network of porticoed streets. The first of these covered walkways were introduced to the city around the 13th century and there are still some examples of these wooden structures standing today. A century later and having received wide-ranging acclaim, an edict was passed that all new streets in the city had to be covered with the porticoes, made out of brick or stone and tall enough to accommodate riders on horseback.
In 2021 Bologna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the heading "The Porticoes of Bologna". The inscription justly recognising the importance of the porticoes to the city's trade and its architecture. The seemingly endless archways of these walkways with their autumnal-coloured plaster work of reds, ambers and oranges are a defining feature of Bologna and of the Emilia Romagna region as a whole.
Bombs from above and below: 20th century Bologna
Away from the medieval centre there's a more modern aspect to the architecture; one reason for this is the heavy bombardment that Bologna suffered during World War Two, particularly during during 1943 when successive Allied bombing raids devastated almost half of the city.
Nearly 50 years later in 1980 the city suffered perhaps its greatest tragedy when a Neo-Fascist terror organisation planted a bomb at Bologna Central train station killing 85 people and wounding a further 200. A memorial now stands in the station at the point where the bomb was detonated.
Away from the medieval centre there's a more modern aspect to the architecture; one reason for this is the heavy bombardment that Bologna suffered during World War Two, particularly during during 1943 when successive Allied bombing raids devastated almost half of the city.
Nearly 50 years later in 1980 the city suffered perhaps its greatest tragedy when a Neo-Fascist terror organisation planted a bomb at Bologna Central train station killing 85 people and wounding a further 200. A memorial now stands in the station at the point where the bomb was detonated.
Bologna Travel
The same Stazione Centrale is still the city's main transport hub, connecting it to the other major cities in the region and further afield with high-speed services available. By road Bologna sits along A14 motorway linking it to the region's fellow provincial capitals of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Forlì and Cesena while Ferrara to the north is connected by the A13.
Bologna also has its own airport called Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport with a wide range of international destinations serviced. There are various ways of getting around the city itself including a Metro Railway system, buses and trams.
Bologna also has its own airport called Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport with a wide range of international destinations serviced. There are various ways of getting around the city itself including a Metro Railway system, buses and trams.
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Public transport: Metro, trams, buses
By car: Ravenna - 1 hour (78 km), Florence - 1 hour 25' (105 km) |
Fly to: Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport - 17 mins by car (9 km)
Connected to the Italian High Speed Train Network |
