Bologna
Why visit?
A much underrated Italian city, Bologna holds treasures from centuries ago that are amazing to see. From a tower that leans more than Pisa's to the oldest university in the world, Bologna is full of history and sites. Located in the middle of northern Italy, Bologna is a great centralized place to stay for your next visit to northern Italy. With a great train station that provides routes across the country, it's extremely easy to jump on a train and be in another city in just a few hours or less.
Highlights
Bologna is known for it's towers. While the city used to hold possibly over 180 towers, it is now recognizable by two of its most distinguishable towers still standing, the towers Garisenda and Asinelli. These towers can be seen in the photo above. During the mediaeval times wealthy families in Bologna would build towers to show their power and to protect themselves against rival families and governments. Today it is amazing to see these structures that were built centuries ago still standing and imposing their power on the city.
Piazza Maggiore. The city centre of Bologna houses multiple restaurants, cafes, and shops and is a daily hangout spot for many. It even hosts multiple festivals throughout the year. Some of the most impressive attributes of the Piazza are it's statue of Neptune and its Basilica San Petronio. A little known fact is that the Maserati logo is modeled after the trident of Neptune from this fountain.
Palazzo Poggi Museum. This museum holds everything from military strategies, to an exhibit demonstrating the birth of a child all held within walls and ceilings painted by famous painters centuries ago. You have a good chance of finding anything you could want to learn about in this museum.
University of Bologna. Bologna is proud to boast that it holds the title for the oldest university in the world. This university was established in 1088. It is a great site to see from its centuries old paintings of family crests of graduated students to its beautiful anatomy class room.
Portico di San Luca. Starting in the city and leading to the beautiful Santuario di San Luca, this portico holds the title for the longest in the world, spanning nearly four kilometers. Along this walk you will get amazing views of the city, the surrounding area, and the Sanctuary.
Secrets of Bologna. Bologna is a city of many unique and interesting sites. After staying here a month we were able to discover some of its most fun quirks and features. Some of my favorite included the amazing fresh fruit and vegetable markets, the secret window that revealed a canal flowing through the city, and the horse steps. I was lucky enough to get to attend a Bologna soccer match which was quite a fun experience to say the least!
Food. Last but absolutely not least, the food in Bologna was amazing. While they are known for their mortadella and their spaghetti bolognese, these are definitely not the only delectable dishes that this city has to offer. Food plays a huge role in Italian culture and while staying here I feel that we got to experience this. From stoping at the local coffee shop to grab an espresso and a croissant, to relaxing after a long day with an aperitivo, I felt like a true Italian.