Bologna is the seventh-largest city in Italy, but it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Almost all of the city of Bologna is lined with arcades. Another critical point is the homogeneity of the city. All the walls of the town are in ocher or orange-yellow. Finally, Bologna is one of the towns where we eat best in Italy. Discover all the things to do in Bologna for a weekend.
Discover the towers of Bologna
The twin towers
The towers in Bologna are everywhere. The tallest of them is the Asinelli tower. It measures 97 meters high for almost 500 steps to climb before reaching its summit. Just next to it is the Garisenda tower which measures 48 meters. An inclination of nearly 4 degrees characterizes this tower. To avoid total destruction, the tower was truncated around the 14th century. It was therefore shortened by a little more than twelve meters. These two towers are located in the same place and are distant from each other by about thirty meters. That’s why is why they are called the twin towers. They are also the emblem of the city of Bologna.
The “finestrella”, like a Venetian air
When we head towards via Piella, we come across a window and a small wooden shutter that has been installed in a wall. And on the other side of the wall, you can see the Rino canal and colorful facades. It was enough to rename this district, Little Venice.
Visit the Santa Maria Della Vita church.
This splendid Italian church in the Baroque style is one of the architectural gems of the city of Bologna. Outside the church seems quite sober, but when one enters inside doubt is no longer allowed. The Church of Santa Maria Della Vita is extraordinary, but this church is also famous for its collection of Italian Renaissance statues.
Discover the city and its galleries along the facades
Day and night, you never tire of walking in Bologna under its arches which line practically all the buildings in the center of the city. Why are there so many arches and galleries in Bologna? If you are going to Bologna, you will have the opportunity to ask yourself this question a thousand times. Indeed, if there are so many covered passageways and as many arches, it is quite simply because Bologna was once a vibrant medieval city. If the arcades are so numerous in Bologna, it is quite simply because they made it possible to protect the passers-by from the rains in winter and from the sun in summer.
These galleries also allow traders to protect their shops from lousy weather. Because these arches and covered passages are a great classic of medieval architecture, these long galleries were also wanted by the city authorities to establish absolute equality and a particular architectural homogeneity. The long galleries, therefore, form long corridors without distinction between the wealthy bourgeois residences, the palaces, or the churches as well as the modest residences. The city of Bologna is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. As proof, its galleries extend over almost forty kilometers, and it has been more than a thousand years.
The Old University of Medicine
In this Bologna palace is a lovely museum that the Italians call: “el Teatro Anatomico”. The anatomical theatre of Bologna is, in fact, the place where “the first autopsy of a body” was performed. We now know that civilizations have already performed autopsies. But by the first autopsy, we mean that the autopsy performed by the University of Bologna marks the birth of modern medicine.
The central market, is one of the things you should do in Bologna
A stone’s throw from the main square – Piazza Maggiore in Italian – there are small pedestrian alleys that have been colonized by bars where people come to taste Italian gastronomy. Between these “trattorias” are some market gardeners, butchers, and other cheesemakers who have managed to resist.
Market address: via Pescherie Vecchie, Bologna
The Palace of Accursio is not to be missed under any circumstances.
This palace formerly occupied by a cardinal and his prelates is today a magnificent museum. We walk from room to room in an extraordinary Palace which has been entirely mysteriously deserted by tourists. Even if you do not like museums, you will be amazed by the dimensions and the architecture so distinctive of the Palace of Accursio. Looking up, you can admire splendid paintings on the ceilings. From the windows of this Palace, you can admire the city and its stunning perspectives.
Discover Italian gastronomy in Bologna
When you want to discover Italian gastronomy, you have to go to Bologna. Besides, the city’s nickname is “the big one”, about this characteristic of Bologna. One of the best places to eat in Italy, if you go to Bologna to taste Bolognese pasta, it won’t be straightforward. Because here we speak instead of tagliatelle stew, “al ragu” in Italian in the text. Because here, perhaps out of modesty, almost no sauce bears the name of the city. Note that the other strong point of the town is its wine bars. Indeed Bologna, the largest city in Emilia-Romagna, is located on the edge of Tuscany. A vast wine region not far at all from the city of Firenze.
Practical advice to discover Bologna
First of all, if you arrive by car, you must imperatively request an access plan from your host or the hotel that will welcome you. Why? Simply because the city applies the rule of limited traffic. It is an excellent initiative to liberate towns and to make the air more breathable.
Where to sleep in Bologna?
In order not to waste time during your stay, it is essential to book accommodation in the center. Especially if you only stay for a few days. There are many addresses in Bologna and many hotels. But the last time I came, I was accompanied by my cat. So I had to choose a beautiful place, located in the center which also accepts pets. B&B, Casa Ilaria is located at 8 Largo Respighi street. This establishment has four rooms. It is a stone’s throw from Piazza Verdi, the city’s theatre, and a five-minute walk from the central square.
Where to eat in Bologna?
When you are in Bologna, you have a lot of choices. However, there are a few inexpensive establishments that caught our attention. These are the following establishments: Bella arti The Vicolo Grosso Montanara The Dirty Grosso 051, a stone’s throw from the market, via Pescherie Vecchie. Eataly (it’s a chain, and on the ground floor there is a bookstore). Address 19 Via Degli Orefici. Please note there is a side entrance via Pescherie Vecchie.
photo credits: Yann Ve