Monaliza Tours: Bologna

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Bologna Italy

People have exerted themselves over the years inventing nicknames for the remarkable Bologna: la Dotta, the learned, for being the home of Europe’s oldest university, an institution which still draws in thousands of students; la Grassa, the fat, for being a culinary wonder with more and superior restaurants than many world capitals; finally Bologna Rossa, due to its leftist politics. Wander among the endless miles of porticos that adorn the burnt-orange buildings, and feel the energy that quietly vibrates in the streets. Explore the elegant galleries of vie dell’Indipendenza and via Ugo Bassi. At piazza Nettuno and Maggiore the crowds gather under the Corinthian columns of the Palazzo del Podestà, moving in the afternoon with the shade to the steps of the Basilica of San Petronio, a massive Gothic structure with a spectacular entrance. In the fountain outside, the bronze Neptune and Attendants splash joyfully. The two towers to the west of piazza di Porta Ravegnana are considered the symbol of the city. You can ascend the taller of the two for a fantastic view of Bologna and the Po valley. The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is rich in history, art, culture, cuisine and music, and is often overlooked in favour of the country’s more famous tourism hotspots nearby but is all the more attractive for it.

Recommended airport

Bologna Airport (BLQ)

Points of interest

Nearby destinations