Bologna.
Your next chapter?

Overview

Bologna (Emilian: Bulåggna) is a beautiful and historic city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northeast Italy. It has the oldest university in the Western world, a lively student population, excellent food, a striking brick terracotta-roofed cityscape, and lots to see and do. The city had a population just under 395,000 in 2020. Until 2015 it was part of a "Province of Bologna" but this was absorbed into a metropolitan area, population 1,017,000. This page therefore covers the entire metropolis, with the exception of Imola, described separately.

Understand

Bologna is famous for its cuisine (la cucina Bolognese). It is also viewed as a progressive and well-administered city. It has one of the largest and best preserved historic centres among Italian cities. Its architecture is noted for its palette of terracotta reds, burnt oranges, and warm yellows, hence the name of Bologna la rossa (Bologna the red). The extensive town centre, characterised by miles of attractive covered walkways, known as "porticos," is one of the best-preserved in Europe.

Bologna is the seat of the oldest university in continental Europe, founded in 1088. A significant portion of its population consists of away-from-home university students. In common with other Italian university towns, it is in parts marred by excessive graffiti on its historic palaces.

History The strategic location of the city molded its history. Inhabited since the 10th century BC during the Iron Age, it was fortified by the Celts and became a municipality under the Romans. The presence through the centuries of the Huns, Goths, Lombards, Franks, Austrians and French, have each left traces which are still visible in the city today.

Bologna struggled for autonomy, having been dominated by emperors, kings, and the Church. It was ruled by the Pepoli and Bentivoglio families, and was a papal fiefdom. The papal power made it a city of the Guelphs, while many of its residents supported the anti-Papal Ghibellines. Bologna had the first city council in Italy, and was, with the Liber Paradisus law in 1256, one of the first cities in the world to abolish slavery. This political activity was rooted in the lively environment surrounding the Alma Mater, as the university was known.

Bologna was the home of such personalities as Father Martini, a collector, composer and master of counterpoint who was a notable and complex protagonist of European music of the thirteenth century. Among his students were Johann Christian Bach (son of J.S Bach) and the young W.A Mozart. During the 19th century the Philharmonic Academy drew important personalities such as Rossini, Verdi, Brahms, Wagner, Puccini and Liszt.

Bologna was named a Creative City of Music by UNESCO in 2006. Music is performed throughout the city: in the Teatro Comunale (the Opera Theatre), by the Orchestra Mozart youth orchestra, founded and directed by Claudio Abbado, and in clubs and inns where jazz is regularly played. There are open-air concerts and music can be heard at the Conservatory, the Opera School, and hundreds of music associations operating within the territory.

Bologna's scientists have included Galvani and Marconi. Native or visiting painters and artists have included Morandi, Guido Reni, Guercino, the Carraccis, Leonardo (one of the legends about the Mona Lisa tells that this was where he painted his famous masterpiece), Giotto (there was a chapel in Piazza XX Settembre entirely painted a fresco by Giotto which was destroyed when Bologna was fighting against the Pope), Cassini (who made the world’s longest sundial, now located inside Basilica S. Petronio), and Michelangelo (on the arc in Basilica S. Domenico can be found his sculpture of an angel holding a candelabra). Napoleon re-arranged the urban plan of the city and Carlo V was crowned emperor in Bologna's Basilica S. Petronio.

When to visit Bologna is at its best from March/April to October, when it is warm and there is much outdoor sipping and dining, or just sitting in squares such as Piazza Santo Stefano and Piazza Maggiore. However, during July and August it can be very hot and sticky. In August, as is the case in much of Italy in the summer, many shops and restaurants are closed for the summer vacation.

Winter can be cold, but Bologna is beautiful the two weeks before Christmas. January and February often feature cloudless blue skies, but the clear weather is often the coldest: you will need a coat, scarf, hat and gloves.

Get in

By plane Bologna's airport is approximately 6 km NW from the centre of the city:

Services: WiFI – free, registration required.

Connections to the city: Marconi Express monorail service connects the airport with the Bologna Centrale railway station in 7 minutes. Waiting time for the train can be quite long (sometimes over half an hour), as there are not enough carriages for the amount of people. Contactless card payments accepted at the gate, no need to buy a ticket, but each passenger will require a separate card. Does not accept Google/Apple Pay cards, physical cards only. It's highly recommended that you pay by contactless at the ticket gate if you are able, as the ticket vending machines are right at the start of a long tunnel where you can't see the queue. (April 2025) Bus #54 goes towards the west suburbs of Bologna, and will get you on to the other routes. Change to #81 or #91 at the first stop after the airport in Birra Buses #81 and #91 could be taken from the bus stop Birra on other side of the elevated motorway, which is within 10 min. walk distance from the airport. Both buses terminate at the Bologna Centrale station. (frequencies every 15 min weekdays, 30 min Saturdays, 60 min Sundays and at night). Traveltime Birra to Bologna station 30 min.

There are also direct bus connections to: Marche, Ravenna, Cervia, Ferrara, Florence, Modena, Rimini.

By train Bologna's main railway station is north of the historical centre of the city, a moderate walk or a 15-minute bus ride away.

Due to its central location and geography, Bologna has been developed into one of the major railway transport hubs of northern Italy, making it very well-connected with other major Italian centers. Modern high speed railway lines arrive in Bologna from Florence in 37 minutes, from Milan in 65 minutes, from Rome in 2 hr 20 min, from Venice in 2 hours, and from Ferrara in 30 min -1 hour.

There are Eurocity trains from Munich (Germany) and overnight Nightjet services from Munich (Germany) and Vienna (Austria).

When leaving, watch out to go to the right platform: for example, 3, 3-West, and 3-East are separate platforms in different areas of the station.

While taking the train south from Milan, don't forget to catch a glimpse of the Duomo perched above Bologna in the south. It is especially interesting at sunset.

Flixbus, Baltour and Marino are the main bus companies.

By car The most convenient way to get to Bologna is certainly by car. Its strategic position allows you to get here from Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples with the A1 motorway. The city is at the junction of the A1, A14 and A13 highways, and so is easily accessible from anywhere in Italy. Most traffic from Milan would exit the A1 and take the Tangenziale, but beware of this road at rush hour because it is horrendously packed. Expect to use 2 hours from the A1 exit to the Tangenziale to the center at certain peak times over summer busy weekends, especially at the beginning and end of August. To get there from Ferrara, Padua and Venice, take the A13, while as regards the coast, the A14 is also used. The city is also crossed by the Via Emilia which connects Milan with the Adriatic coast.

Get around

By bus TPER manages public transport in Bologna. Their information and ticket centres/vending machines are available at some central locations in the city, including the railway station Bologna Centrale and Autostazione di Bologna, the intercity bus station. Bus maps are available there (also at the web site). Single tickets and some other types of bus tickets can be also purchased at many other resellers around the city (newspaper sellers, tobacconists, cafés, etc.). "Roger" is an app available for Apple and Android devices (replacing Muver) where you can buy discounted multi-trip tickets, but it's very poorly rated.

Mi Muovo is an integrated public transport pass for the region: short-stay visitors might use "Mi Muovo Multibus", a 12-trip bus ticket, see Emilia Romagna#Get around.

Single-journey tickets may be purchased before boarding the bus or on board at a ticket machine or tabacchi. There are 2 types of such machines on a bus, usually painted in red and green: red ones sell plain tickets (coins only), while green ones are used to validate pre-purchased tickets (or allow you to pay by contactless credit card).

By bicycle Bikes are most popular among the people of Bologna. They are available for rent on various location around the city (ExDynamo, the bicycle parking station, can be found nearby the train station). You can ride on the many bike trails and on the side of the road. Be sure to lock them safely with a good lock, as they get stolen all around town, especially around the University.

There are also the RideMovi bikes that are available for hire through the app 'App RideMovi'.

On foot Bologna is a great place around which to travel on foot, as getting around the city is quite easy: the streets are well marked. It is also a great way to find hidden gems which are frequented by locals. Some care has to be taken crossing roads: the city centre swarms with scooters and small motorcycles (cars banned during the day) and they ride them everywhere.

See

Layout of the city The iconic leaning towers (Due Torri) provide a useful central landmark. They are marked in the centre of the free map available from the Tourist Information Centre in the main square, Piazza Maggiore. The central area around Piazza Maggiore (including the Due Torri and Piazza Santo Stefano can be thought of as the hub of a wheel, with other roads leading out like spokes to the old city gates (Porte) that stud the Viali—a heavily trafficked beltway that surrounds the historical centre of the town. The northeast quadrant of the map is the university district (an integral part of the town rather than a separate campus). The two southern quadrants of your map are residential sections of the city, and not common tourist areas. However, Bologna's main park, the Giardini Margherita, is just outside the center (across the Viali from Porta Santo Stefano or Porta Castiglione), beneath the surrounding hills. Also to the south, an extended portico (with 666 arches and almost 4 km long) leads out from the Viali (at Porta Saragozza) up to the baroque Sanctuary of San Luca, which provides another iconic landmark.

Around Piazza Maggiore Large pedestrian square in the old part of the city's monumental center, surrounded by a number of grand buildings.

Basilica di San Petronio. It had to be the largest church in the world and in the shape of a huge Latin cross, but was only completed the long arm and with the unfinished façade. The basilica is still one of the most beautiful examples of Italian Gothic style and is one of the greatest monuments in the city. The Basilica houses an invaluable number of treasures such as the sundial by Cassini and Guglielmini, which indicates the exact period of the current year at all times, the "S. Rocco" by Parmigianino and the marvelous Bolognini Chapel. From the left nave of the basilica, the visitor can gain access to the Museum where many bas-reliefs are collected. There is a rare and controversial depiction of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, which is why the building is under armed watch 24/7.

Palazzo del Podestà. The first seat of the city government.

Palazzo Re Enzo. The palace was built between 1244-1246 as an extension of the nearby Palazzo del Podestà. It takes its name from Enzio of Sardinia, Frederick II's son, who was prisoner here from 1249 until his death in 1272. The current Gothic appearance dates from the restoration of 1905 due to Alfonso Rubbiani.

Fontana di Nettuno. A fountain built in 1563 by Tommaso Laureti of Palermo, later embellished by Jean de Boulogne (called Giambologna). It is considered to be one of Bologna’s symbols, and renovated in 2017.

Scavi Romani di biblioteca salaborsa. A compact basement-level field of ruins from Bologna's past, from 2nd-century BCE Roman roads and buildings, to a 16th-century CE cistern. Metal walkways take you on a 100-m course over and around the ruins. But this thoughtful display is all the more interesting for its location: under a 19th-century stock exchange hall ("salaborsa"), which has been converted to a 21st-century library. Enjoy this airy, pleasant room on your way down to the ruins. A colourful flyer gives context in English and Italian. An easy excursion right on Piazza Maggiore.

Palazzo dei Banchi. The last palace to be built in Piazza Maggiore. Its current Renaissance-style palace façade dates to the 16th century.

Palazzo d'Accursio. Bologna's city hall, with a very rich collection of Renaissance paintings, sculptures and antique furniture, is a 14th-century palace. Don't miss its enormous main staircase, which was designed to be used by horse drawn carriages.

Palazzo dei Notai. The old seat of the Notary's guild. It was built in 1381 and completely restored in 1908 by Alfonso Rubbiani. Inside there are some frescoes 15th century.

Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio. Once the main building of the University of Bologna, it houses the Biblioteca comunale dell'Archiginnasio (Archiginnasio Municipal Library). The major attractions of the palace which can be visited are the amazing Teatro Anatomico (Anatomical Theatre) and the Sala dello Stabat Mater (Stabat Mater Hall). Both are well worth visiting.

Corte de' Galluzzi. The medieval Torre Galluzzi (Galluzzi Tower) dominates this tiny square.

Via Rizzoli. One of the main streets of Bologna. It is a meeting point and strolling area. It opens up to Piazza di porta Ravegnana, where the two towers rise.

Tombe dei Glossatori. Named for the lawyers who used to add glosses (notes) to documents. The tombs, which date from the end of the 13th century, are home to many of Bologna's famous scholars.

Via Santa Caterina. With small houses built in the 16th century.

San Michele in Bosco. Architectural complex comprising the church and adjacent former convent of the Olivetans, with an amazing panoramic view of the city that's great at sunset. Get the number 30 bus if you don't like walking up hills!

Sanctuary of San Luca. Impressive mountain-topped church with a panoramic view which is reachable by a walkway (portico) starting from Porta Saragozza, with over 600 archways - the longest in the world.

Towers of the Asinelli and Garisenda the iconic symbols of Bologna.

Torre degli Asinelli. Closed to the public since October 2023, the tower (built between 1109 and 1119) is 97.20 metres tall (330 feet), with 498 steps and an incline of 1.3 meters (4 feet). Until 2023 you could climb the 498 steps of this tower for spectacular views of the city, but that month it was closed to the public for safety reasons and renovations are expected to take ten years.

Torre dei Garisenda. Torre dei Garisenda is 47 m (162 feet) tall and has a lean of over 3m (10 feet). It was built in the 12th century.

Torre Prendiparte. 60-m tower, the second largest in the city. Presumably it used to be higher than its current height. It's a B＆B and room for events, also hosts shows and presentations.

Torre Azzoguidi. 47 m, built in the 13th century. It's built into the Palazzo del Podestà.

Arcades I Portici (arcades) – visitors can walk under the typical arcades of Bologna for a total of 38 km. The arcades were built by order of the town authorities to house temporary visitors. They had to be wide enough that a man could lie down under them to sleep.

Portico Walk to San Luca. Walk through the historic 666 porticos – the longest portico passage in the world, leaving from the Porta Saragozza at the end of Via Saragozza.

Santuario della Madonna di San Luca. Built in mid-18th century, it offers a panoramic view of the city, although offering only a glimpse of the old historic city. It can be reached by walking along the 666 arches of its unique portico. It has a peculiar layout, being of a round shape. A widely city-known icon, the Madonna di San Luca, is held there.

Finestrella di Via Piella. A little window on the Moline Canal — the Little Venice of Bologna.

Civic museums Istituzione Bologna Musei is a circle of civic museums in the city.

Museo Civico Archeologico. In the Palazzo Galvani – a 14th-century building. This building, an old hospital, houses a comprehensive collection of antiquities from civilizations and cultures including ancient Egypt (mummies and sarcophagi), Iron Age Villanova culture, artifacts from Etruscan Velzna, funerary art, terracotta urns, ancient vases and items from Roman times. Do not miss the bronze Certosa jar, which is over 1,500 years old.

Collezioni Comunali d'Arte. A painting collection of works from various historical periods. Features include works by Giuseppe Maria Crespi (Ritratto del cardinale Lambertini- Portrait of Cardinal Lambertini), Ludovico Carracci (S. Caterina in Carcere – St. Catherine in Prison), and Guido Cagnacci (Cleopatra e Lucrezia), Francesco Hayez (Ruth).

Museo Civico Medievale. Part of Musei Civici d'Arte Antica.

Museo Davia Bargellini. A most curious collection, including religious art of the 1500s, a marionette theatre, an 18th-century gilded carriage, and antique keys and door hardware. Housed in a 17th-century palazzo.

Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna. A nice collection of modern art, if you want a break from the more classical pieces that abound in Italy.

Museo Morandi. Opened in 1993, the museum houses most of the works by the Bolognese painter Giorgio Morandi.

International museum and library of music. A spectacular collection of music scores, historic instruments, and opera artifacts from 1500 to the early 1900s. There is the first printed score, a 1501 Petrucci. There is the original Clavemusicum Omnitonum of 1606, with 125 keys playing 31 quarter-tones per octave. There is a portrait of Farinelli, perhaps the greatest opera singer of all time. The library was kickstarted in the 1700s by Padre Martini, a Bolognese composer and music teacher, who in addition to teaching students like Johann Christian Bach and Wolfgang Mozart, was a voracious collector of scores and books. The museum highlights the best of the extensive library. Look for unobtrusive drawers in display cases, marked only by finger-holes; a pull lights up the drawer, and reveals some precious, and light-sensitive, book within. The eight rooms of the museum are also painted with beautiful 19th century trompe l'oeil frescos. Classical music fans will go nuts.

University museums Sistema Museale di Ateneo (SMA) is a museum system of the University of Bologna. It consists of a number of small but interesting museums which are located at the around via Zamboni. The University of Bologna is the Europe's oldest university, founded over 900 years ago. Plethora of bars and cafés around.

Palazzo Poggi. The building houses the headquarters of the University of Bologna. The interior is decorated with frescoes by Pellegrino Tibaldi, on the ground floor is the Hall of Hercules with a statue by Angelo Piò (1730). On the northern side of the Palace is the monumental Aula Magna (1756). Also Palazzo Poggi hosts numerous University Museums. In the University Library of Bologna it has preserved the "Picture Gallery" with over 600 fine portraits of an iconographic collection began in 1754. The museum's collections are organised into sections: Natural History, Anatomy and obstetrics, Physics and chemistry, Military architecture, The Library, Geography and Nautical Science, East Asian Art.

Museo della Specola. At the Specola, an astronomical tower built in the beginning of 18th century over Palazzo Poggi. The material exposed illustrates the evolution of the astronomic instrumentation through the centuries.

Museo Europeo degli Studenti. The Museum of European Students is about the history and culture of university students from the thirteenth to the twentieth century. Closed on Monday; Admission free. Don't miss this when you are interested in student life. It's unique.

Museo Geologico e Paleontologico "Giovanni Capellini".

Museo di Mineralogia "Luigi Bombicci". Rocks, precious stones, rare minerals and meteorites

Collezione di Chimica "G. Ciamician".

Museo delle Cere anatomiche "Luigi Cattaneo". If you think Bologna's towers are crooked, then you'll want to see the deformed spines and diseased oddities at this gross-out Wax Museum. Although dedicated to the history of the art of medical anatomical models of the 19th century, the real fun are the conjoined twins and tumor-laden lepers on which showcases the art.

Museo di Antropologia. Bones, and artefacts of prehistoric Italians.

Museo di Anatomia degli Animali Domestici.

Museo di Anatomia Patologica e Teratologia Veterinaria.

Orto Botanico ed Erbario. Created in the mid-16th century for medicinal herbs. The Botanical gardens are home to over 5,000 plant species. Some of the highlights include a full-grown sequoia, and a greenhouse for cacti and carnivorous plants.

Genus Bononiae museums Genus Bononiae is yet another circle of museums in the city. It is operated by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio.

Palazzo Fava Ghisilieri. 16th-century building decorated by frescoes by Carracci. It hosts temporary exhibitions.

Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio. The Museum of the history of Bologna is located there.

Oratorio di San Colombano. It hosts the Tagliavini Collection.

Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita. This church contains "The Lamentation", a life-size terracotta group sculpture, Renaissance masterpiece by Niccolò Dell'Arca.

Casa Saraceni. 16th-century building which hosts temporary exhibitions.

San Giorgio in Poggiale. A former 16th-century church. It hosts the Biblioteca di Arte e di Storia di San Giorgio in Poggiale (Art and History Library).

Santa Cristina. A former church contains works of Carracci and Guido Reni. It is used for concert performances.

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. Containing the city's most important art, it offers an interesting panorama of the Emilian and Venetian painting from the 13th to the 18th century. A must: the works by Giotto, Raffaello, Parmigianino (Madonna col Bambino/Virgin Mary with Baby and the Saints Margaret, Girolamo and Petronio), Perugino, Tiziano and Tintoretto (Visitazione/Visitation and Saints Joseph and Zacharias).

Museo Ebraico. Located in the area of the former ghetto, this museum covers the history of Bologna's Jewish population.

Accademia Filarmonica. The Philarmonic Academy of Bologna was established in 1666. Since then it has become a reference point for the city musical life and its fame has spread throughout Europe. Here are preserved the works of many illustrious students, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1770) and autographed documents by Puccini, Verdi and Beethoven

Galleria d'Arte Moderna “Raccolta Lercaro”. Houses about 2000 works by Italian and foreign artists with special attention to the sculptures by Manzù, Messina, Rodin and Giacometti.

Museo Ducati. Represents the evolution of the Bolognese motorcycle firm. An exposition of motorcycles, period materials, projects, mechanical components, pictures and videos.

Museo Lamborghini is away out in Sant'agata Bolognese, see below.

Parks and gardens Many parks used to be private gardens of nobility.

Giardini Margherita. Bologna's main park created in 1875. The chalet converts to a nightclub in the summer evenings.

Giardino della Montagnola. The oldest park in the city. A public park since the 17th century. Much of the current landscaping dates from the early 19th century. The pond in the center of the park was added in 1888.

Villa delle Rose. Donated to the city in 1916, the gardens had been owned by the Cella family. The 18th-century Villa delle Rose, which was the Cella's residence, hosts art exhibitions throughout the year

Villa Spada. On the grounds of the Palazzo Ravone an 18th-century villa, it was opened to the public in 1970.

Villa Guastavillani. Designed and built by Tomasso Martelli in the 16th century.

Parco Cavaioni. A large park featuring meadows, fields, wooded areas, and a lake.

Certosa. Bologna's main cemetery, with beautifully carved tombstones, built over the ruins of an ancient Etrusan necropolis.

In 2021, 12 porticoes in and around the city were listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. A portico is a porch with pillars supporting a roof structure over a building's entrance or a corridor or passageway with an arched ceiling and pillars supporting it.

There's more than enough to see and do in the city, but it's just the core of the Metropolis of Bologna (which was a province until 2015). , Via Modena, 12, Sant'agata Bolognese (50 min by bus #576 from Bologna bus station towards Crevalcore, get off at “S. Agata Bolognese Chiesa Frati”, then 5 min on foot). This famous car maker in Italy has been producing some of the most sought-after luxury sports cars in the world for decades is a small town 15 km east of the city amidst a landscape of orchards. The main sight is the 16th century Bentivoglio castle. There's also an art gallery and the churches of San Domenico del Rosario, San Lorenzo, and Santi Gervasio e Protasio. is a town with pungent thermal springs and a dozen old churches. The Cassero fort, which controlled travel on the Via Emilia, has been turned into a theatre. 27 km south of Bologna has the remains of the Etruscan city of Kainua from 5th century BCE. Outside the modern town hall, a monument commemorates the massacre of 29 Sep 1944, when the Waffen SS killed at least 770 local civilians in reprisal for resistance activity. is a town of just under 70,000 population, 43 km southeast of Bologna. It has lots of accommodation and eating places. You're probably here for the motor-racing, but other sights include the Sforza castle, Tozzoni mansion, cathedral, convent, and the sanctuary and cemetery of Piratello.

Do

Bologna Fiere. An Exhibition Centre near Bologna, that among other things has an International Automobile Exhibition every year.

There are many exciting events that are worth taking part of during your stay in lively Bologna. If you plan on spending the onset of the winter holidays in Bologna, you can complete your vacation with a visit to the Motorshow Bologna and to the museums that showcase the automobile masterpieces of Italy.

And just nearby lies the three museums you must visit in order to do this. These are the Ducati Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, and the Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. To fully appreciate the Ducati Museum you can join guided tours by obtaining advanced reservations. The museum is open daily except on Sundays and holidays. To enter, you will need to join a tour, you can choose from the 11:00 or the 16:00 schedule. Next, you can make your way to the Lamborghini Museum, which is in the area that connects Bologna with neighboring city Modena. It lies at about 21 miles from Bologna and can be easily driven to. The museum was established in 2001 and aims to celebrate one of the most expensive Italian cars in the world. To complete your unique museum-hopping, head over to Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. The museum is in Maranello, a town just outside Modena and around 55 km (34 miles) from Bologna. Although the museum is part of Ferrari’s headquarters, it has its own building separate from the Ferrari factory. Of the three museums in your itinerary, the Ferrari Museum is the oldest, dating back to 1990. The museum spans an amazing 2,500 m² and is divided into four sections, namely the Formula One collection, the special exhibits, the technological innovation exhibit, and the photo exhibits.

The Formula One collection displays the extraordinary race cars that have played a monumental role in making Ferrari the most famous automobile maker in the world. One of the most remarkable cars is the first Ferrari 125 S that was built in 1947 and won a race in the same year. And to give you a glimpse of what F1I racing is all about, you can check out the Fiorano test track next to the museum where you might even see a Ferrari racing past.

Imola Circuit (Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari) is a motor-racing circuit in the town of Imola. It hosts Formula One and other races.

Music Bologna is an Italian hub for rock, electronic and alternative music. There are almost a hundred concerts every year by international bands. Unfortunately many of these locations have moved outside the city centre. The main places to check out are Covo Club, Estragon and Link .

Estragon. A big ex-industrial hangar, features dj-sets and concerts by international rock bands almost every night.

Livello 57. Now only seldom open. It mainly features raves and techno gigs in an industrial, darkish atmosphere.

TPO. Another occupied location that mostly features experimental music festivals and rock concerts.

XM24. An occupied ex-agricultural market where Punk-hc, rock and electronic concerts are often featured. A very cheap place, great if you don't mind the punk atmosphere. Every Thursday from 17:30, it is an organic market. The place also has plenty of free and self-managed workshops: bike repair (Wednesdays and Sundays from 18:00 to 22:00), a school of Italian (Monday and Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00), a hacklab (Wednesday 21:00 to 00:00), yoga, silk-screening, boxing and others.

VAG61. An historical occupied location that host a wide variety of activities. Every Tuesday from the late afternoon there's an organic market.

The Link. A large, 2-floor club that features mostly avant garde electronic, techno and hip-hop gigs and dj-sets. A little book shop, mainly on "alternative" subjects, can be found inside. By bus: Linea 20, 55 or 35.

Covo Club. "storied and legendary Italian indie-punk venue" (Pitchfork), Covo Club is the most renowned indie rock club, features rock djsets and concerts by a number of interesting international bands. Born in 1980, open on Fridays and Saturdays only, Covo Club has hosted in its life more than 1000 concerts including bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines, Mumford & Sons, The Gossip, Animal Collective, Black Lips, Wild Nothing, The Undertones, Refused, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Jay Reatard, Beach House and Teenage Fanclub

Kindergarten. Next to the "Fiera", is a club that features techno, and sometimes punk and new wave concerts.

Other Football: Bologna FC play soccer in Serie A, Italy's top tier. Their home ground Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (capacity 38,000) is 2 km west of city centre.

Events There's a great film festival with restored silent and sound films throughout July in Piazza Maggiore. In the past, these have included especially Italian and French film, animation shorts from Annecy, archive footage of Bologna (e.g. of its liberation by British and American troops) and modern classics such as The Third Man, Raging Bull, Apocalypse Now and The Pianist. In November there's a chocolate festival in Piazza Maggiore or Piazza XX Settembre.

Buy

Please take note that the hours listed usually specify a closure in the afternoons. There is no one place to get the perfect pair of shoes or the perfect ties or the perfect anything: you have to look all over, but this is half the fun.

Don't miss the chance to buy local food, such as hand-made pastas, gorgeous cheeses and sausages, from any of the hundreds of small vendors and shops to be found in the city. At least half the experience of visiting Bologna is the gastronomic pleasure! The Quadrilatero district, the old market immediately to the east of Piazza Maggiore, is a good place to buy food, or sit down to eat and drink something. Quadrilatero consists of several streets and alleys lined with small stores and eating spots.

If you have money to spend (a lot perhaps...) you have to go in 'Galleria Cavour', near 'Via Farini' with a lot of chic high fashion shops and trendy outlets (Armani, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, etc.)

Another "shop street" is "via San Felice" near "via Ugo Bassi" with a lot of small shops that made artigianal dresses (sugarbabe), artshop (elzapoppin), art galleries and (as usual) shoes and dresses shop.

Eataly Bologna. Eataly is a gourmet grocery store associated with Slow movement. It styles itself as a place to "savor high quality traditional Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products." Many different products are for sale, including not only produce but cheese, wine, olive oil, and sweets, and there are also a few smaller restaurants. Anyone who enjoys shopping or window-shopping for food-related products is likely to enjoy walking through.

Eat

There are many choices for where to eat, as Bologna is generally considered to be the gastronomic centre of Italy.

For local dishes, try: Da Gianni in Via Clavature, Mariposa in Via Bertiera or Meloncello in Via Sargozza.

For more contemporary stylish dining try the excellent and good value Casa Monica in Via San Felice.

Via del Pratello has lots of bars and restaurants/osterie for young people. There's lots to choose from here. Walk past, look at the menus. It is located towards the middle of the 'western' part of the map. Fantoni, with its checkered red and white table clothes and scribbled menus, is much frequented by students and serves fantastic fish secondi and an excellent ragù. Via Mascarella/Largo Respighi is another zone with a lot of osterie.

Although many foreigners have heard of spaghetti bolognais or bolognese, the dish is not a traditional dish of Bologna but a French (and subsequently British and American) adaptation, with non-Italian versions of bolognaise sauce bearing little resemblance to the local ragù alla bolognese. The closest local dish to spaghetti bolognese is tagliatelle al ragù, which uses a different type of pasta from spaghetti. Besides tagliatelle, ragù alla bolognese is also used to make lasagne alla bolognese.

Likewise, while bologna sausage descends from mortadella Bologna, the original is flecked with cubes of pork fat and often flavored with pepper.

Osteria del Sole. If you feel like picnicking on some of the cold cuts (salumi), cheeses and other fresh foods on display in the delicatessens and market stalls off Piazza Maggiore, then Osteria del Sole at a tiny street could be a perfect venue. This traditional wine-drinkers' osteria (something of a rarity nowadays) invites you to bring along your own food. Popular with locals and travelers alike, it can get full, especially on Saturday (and don't expect to find soft drinks).

Tigellino. Excellent tigelleria. Good ingredients and excellent bread. Characteristic, all kinds of menus including vegetarian.

Nectare. A small vegetarian restaurant, choose between prepared dishes. Good healthy bowls and burgers.

Centro Natura. Excellent lunches with the self-service mode, fast and practical, but also beautiful dinners on Friday and Saturday with table service. Vegetarian, organic, good food with large portions, relaxing environment and kind staff.

Pizzeria Altero - via Caprarie. Historic recipe, for over 40 years the same unmistakable flavor. You can enjoy pizza and aperol spritz with a beautiful view of the tower. The pizza is delicious, great variety, always fresh.

Trattori Fantoni. With its checkered red and white table clothes and scribbled menus, Fantoni is much frequented by students. It serves fantastic fish secondi and an excellent ragù. The bread is homemade.

I Matti Della Polenta. An unassuming family-run fast food restaurant with delicious, inexpensive polenta in several variations. Get it griglia (grilled), fritta (fried), or spillata. Choose between several sauces, cheeses, and Nutella toppings. Also tigella (small round bread) and piadina (flatbread sandwich). The friendly owners will be happy to explain, in Italian or English.

Ristorante È Cucina Leopardi. Healthy and satiating cuisine rich in vegetables and fish for just : welcome appetizer. Excellent food, seasonally produced and interesting ingredient combinations.

Trattoria Da Vito. Pictures of singer-songwriters such as Lucio Dalla and other local legends performing and soaking up the atmosphere. (Just don't expect anything too ritzy!)

Central area These spots are within a few hundred metres of Piazza Maggiore and the Two Towers, joined by Via Francesca Rizzoli. In addition to the listings below, tiny Via Pescherie Vicchie is teeming with restaurants.

Trattoria da Gianni. Down to earth, home-style cooking.

Mercato di Mezzo. There are different local options for food and tables where you can sit down and enjoy your meal. There are many people at all times of day.

Trattoria Del Rosso. Traditional Bolognese dishes seven days a week at very reasonable prices. Owned and operated by chef Stefano Curvucci.

La Salumeria Bruno e Franco. One of Bologna's best delis. Features fresh pasta.

Tamburini. A reasonably priced self-service lunch. Queues can get long during the peak lunch hour.

Ristorante Teresina. Excellent food. Fish and meat menus, which can change daily, plus a set of traditional Bolognese dishes which are always served.

Ristorante Gusto Chengdu. Delicious and spicy Szechuan Chinese food. Vegetarian options available.

West central area This is the area west of Piazza Maggiore. It includes Via del Pratello, which has lots of bars and restaurants/osterie for young people. There is plenty to choose from here. Walk past, look at the menus.

Ristorante Casa Monica. More contemporary stylish dining, excellent and good value.

North central area This is the area north of Piazza Maggiora, starting a few hundred metres north of the piazza and continuing to the Bologna Centrale train station.

Ristorante Diana. It is probably the most famous restaurant in the city but now it is a pale shadow of what it once was, though still high on old world atmosphere. Elderly Bolognese, tourists and businessmen dine here. The traditional regional cuisine like Lasagne Bolognese, Tortellini in Brodo and Tagliatelle with Ragu are the best choice here and the service is top notch. Diana is a favorite of Mario Batali but has fallen out of favour with many locals.

Enoteca Italiana. It has twice been voted best in Italy. Great for a stand up sandwich (Pancetta with Balsamic or a Mortadella Panino) and an excellent glass of the wine of your choice.

Trattoria Mariposa. Down to earth home style cooking.

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Bologna. Pizza is a Naples thing, but this outpost of one of the best pizzerias of Naples brings their soft, salty heaven to Bologna. The focussed but offers little more than pizza Margherita with normal, double, or no cheese. Pick one, and the crust and sauce will delight.

Trattoria Tony. A down to earth, reasonably-priced place with simple Bolognese food—truly excellent.

North-east area This area is north-east of the two towers, east of the Bologna Centrale train station, and in the vicinity of the University. It includes Via Mascarella and Largo Respighi, streets with a lot of Osterie.

Matusel. Matusel is renowned for good fish dishes.

East area This area is starts a few hundred metres east of the two towers, between Via San Vitale and Via Santo Stefano.

Osteria Broccaindosso. Cozy dining room with bolognese traditional dishes, such as tortellini in brodo. Try the mixed vegetables appetiser: a half-dozen bite-sized portions of heaven. The ricotta appetiser melts sweet and soft, like pudding.

Trattoria Leonida. This trattoria is hard to fault, with its excellent food and service at fair prices. They promote their vegetarian options. But service can be slow: it could take you a while to get your bill.

L'Antica Trattoria Spiga. A bit hard to find, but make the effort. It has a very good risotto, and wonderful traditional Cucina Bolognese. If you are blessed to visit on a Wednesday, don't miss out on the day's special, a platter with crescente bread served with cold cured meats and cheeses for savoury, and nutella and jams for dessert. Be prepared to know a little Italian.

Other areas These are listings for areas not listed above.

Trattoria Meloncello. Down to earth home style cooking.

L'Antica Osteria Romagnola. It is very pretty and does good food but refuse the abundant (and expensive) antipasto or have that and just one other course.

Ristorante Al Pappagallo. It was a famous haunt of the stars during the 1960s and '70s and still attracts an exclusive clientele. Many other restaurants offer the same food for a lot less, but you get a lot of space between the tables here and the historic building is impressive if that is what you want. They offer both meat-based and vegetarian tasting menus, but the whole table must order them.

Grom. Consistently superb gelato, from the local outpost of an Italian chain. Try the pistachio, and the almond "granita".

Caffè Terzi. Features single estate coffees.

Caffè Zanarini. Best terrace in town. Stylish waiters serve quality food. Good value for your money.

Gamberini. Some of the finest appetizers in town; great pastries (paste) too.

Pasticceria Antica Bologna. A smart but not particularly expensive bar and patisserie which also does an excellent pre-dinner aperitivo. Good coffee.

Il Gelatauro. Superb pistachio and chocolate gelato, and many unique gelato flavors, like Parmigiano with Pears, or Fig and Almond, or Watermelon and Jasmine. Considered one of the best gelaterie in all Italy.

Stefino. A contender for the title of Bologna's Best Gelato. Largely organic. Try the wonderful pistachio, and the almond "granita".

Cremeria Cavour. This new arrival on the gelato scene is giving everyone else a run for their money with many excellent flavor combinations.

La Sorbetteria Castiglione. Excellent gelato (ice cream). Once upon a time, the best in town, but there are others are in the running. There is a second branch at Via Saragozza, 83.

Drink

Consider visiting the many pubs and clubs of Via Zamboni (university zone); some, such as "The Irish Pub", popular with students and foreigners, give happy hours on Tuesday/Wednesday. "Al Piccolo" down the road in Piazza Verdi is another famous student haunt, a live DJ playing techno into the early mornings. Otherwise, the Via Pratello has many bars and is the center of the city's alternative scene. Worth a look in particular is "Mutanye", whose owner is reputed to have been part of the Red Brigade in his youth, hence the many soviet posters. Via Mascarella, in the northeast area of the city, has plenty of nightspots, among them two jazz clubs. And, finally, check out the many bars and pubs hosting music contests and concerts, from rock to jazz to "liscio", the traditional folk songs in Emilia-Romagna.

Ai Vini Scelti. A good enoteca (winery), just outside the center in Via Andrea Costa and only a few moments from Via Pratello, is considered one of the best in Bologna, though there are many others in the center, providing everything from a quick aperitivo to proper wine-tasting. Another good winery is "Vini d'Italia" in Emilia Levante street (Viale Lenin corner), which is one of the oldest on in the city.

Enoteca Italiana (see above, in EAT) has excellent and non pretentious Sommeliers on hand to advise and guide you. Great place for a lovely glass of wine.

Sleep

Bologna has always been famous for its hospitality: its welcoming service is very effective and makes Bologna a perfect place for tourists. Bologna cultural heritage as well as its wine and food makes it an ideal destination to spend a weekend or a holiday different times of the year.

Collegio Universitario S. Tommaso d'Aquino a Bologna. A part of San Tommaso's college but available for booking to everyone. Good location, cheap, free and high-speed Wi-Fi. Reception is not 24 hours!

Il Nosadillo. Beds in shared rooms with a private locker for each guest, access to kitchen & public computer, breakfast, free WiFi and map of the city. Has 1 mixed 4 bed dorm and 1 mixed 5 bed dorm. Two bathrooms. In the heart of historical city center. Easy access to public transport.

Amadeus Hotel. The Amadeus Hotel is near the Bologna airport, in the city's nearest suburban area. 99 rooms. About 15 minutes by car or bus from the central station.

B&B Bologna nel Cuore. Two bedrooms and two studios. An intimate and stylish bed & breakfast located in an ancient building in the historic center of Bologna.

Beatrice B&B Bologna. Three rooms each with a private bathroom. B&B is in an elegant apartment attic with elevator in the centre of Bologna, next to the railway station, university, and all bus lines. A rich breakfast is served by friendly owners.

Hotel Fiera. A very nice hotel in the Merchant district with 99 rooms. If you are lucky enough to get a room with a balcony, you will be rewarded with an outstanding view of the Apennines in the distance. Friendly staff, and a very nice little restaurant. Breakfast here is lovely. If you want a place on the outskirts from which to plan your stay, you could do much worse, but at a significant distance from the center, public transport is a must. All rooms have a minibar at very reasonable prices. Very clean rooms.

Hotel HC3 Bologna. Located near the City Fair and a few minutes from downtown. 37 rooms, four stars. Free wi-fi internet connection, modern gym and a comfortable meeting room. Peculiar to the hotel is courtesy coffee around the clock available for free on every floor.

Hotel Imperial. Hotel with meeting rooms, wellness center and gym, a good choice for business travelers or for a relaxing holiday. Located near a bus no.25 stop, which takes you straight to the railway station. 49 rooms, three stars.

Mercure Bologna Centro. The Mercure is a rather conspicuously aged former Sofitel, with inoperative trouser presses and bathrooms straight out of the early 1980s. It remains very popular, however, due to its location right in front of the Bologna Centrale railway station.

NH Bologna de la Gare. Within a few steps of Bologna Centrale and right at the grand stairs of Parco Montagnola. The more expensive rooms have been refitted to current NH standards, the cheapest ones retain their Italiante looks and fixtures from the times this used to be a Jolly Hotel.

NH Bologna Villanova. The other NH in Bologna is a modern hotel is located within a commercial estate to the west of the city, with limited access by public transportation. Relatively attractive prices offset its remote location. It is best suited for business travellers with interest in the immediate vicinity or those arriving by car.

Hotel Porta San Mamolo. A much-loved small hotel, lauded for its lovely staff, comfortable and prettily decorated rooms, and central but quiet location. 43 rooms, three stars.

Hotel University Bologna. Close to the “Universitá degli Studi”. 22 rooms, three stars.

Residence alle Scuole. Relaxing country hotel near Bologna. 14 rooms, three stars.

Residence Porta Saragozza. Elegant suite and apartments comfortably furnished in every detail, placed in quiet Bologna zone. Close to public transport and shops. Apartments to rent in Bologna and Pontecchio Marconi Sasso Marconi.

Residenza Ariosto. Elegant residence in the center of Bologna. Close to public transport, shops, university and hospital.

Grand Hotel Baglioni. A grand large fairly elegant hotel

I Portici Hotel Bologna. A luxury property in the heart of town, walking distance from the main train station, the city centre shopping area and nearby to Bologna fair exposition area. Four stars.

Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta. A stylish little hotel that has been fitted into a small restored church. Four stars.

Relais Villa Valfiore. In a park of century-old trees in an enchanting corner of the hills in the Municipality of San Lazzaro di Savena, just a few kilometres from Bologna.