Vacation In Bologna
In my experience, there is no better place to get a feel for Italian culture than Bologna. In this article I examine the benefits of visiting Bologna on holiday and suggest some of my favourite places that can be enjoyed on vacation in Bologna.
Take the organized, hassle-free way to explore Bologna, downtown’s interesting and lively neighborhood.
When you talk about Italy you can’t skip Bologna you’re gonna love this city it’s got a balanced combination of every single thing that make a city such as: art, history, nightlife and nature tourism but Bologna isn’t one of the cities where most of tourist will arrive. The truth is that lots of people come to Bologna just for school or business events because mainly everyone wants to be in city like Rome or Florence, since some years ago the turism has been rising up for sure, but still Bologna it’s not among the places that most people know from the country of bel paese.
Italy is an excellent country for a vacation. Bologna is a fantastic city, with a long history and plenty of tourist sites to visit. Furthermore, in Bologna you’ll find a vibrant night life and delicious food everywhere. Should you go, you will not regret it.
Vacation In Bologna
Every year, millions of people visit Bologna. The city attracts family and groups of friends. It offers unique spaces within the historical centre together with large green areas such as the parks, “Il Prato” and “ZooPark”. These aim to promote the pleasure of being outdoors through games and activities that are suited to all ages.
It might not have the canals of Venice, the quaint cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, nor the ancient ruins of Rome, but that certainly hasn’t held Bologna back from being one of Italy’s most unique, beautiful, and underrated cities.
Often overlooked in favour of Italy’s other tourism heavy hitters, Bologna, capital of the northern Emilia Romagna region, is where some of the country’s best food, architecture, and people can be found.
In fact, Bologna’s nicknames sum it up beautifully: La Dotta, or the learned, for its university – Europe’s oldest – and the educated that flock there. La rossa, the red, for its beautiful UNESCO-protected terracotta-hued medieval buildings and porticoes, and progressive left-leaning society. La Grassa (the fat), a nod to its richly delicious standing as Italy’s gastronomic capital.
What’s more, the city remains almost undiscovered by the foreign tourists that flock elsewhere in Italy, which makes for a beautifully authentic, immersive local experience as you wander the streets shoulder to shoulder with locals, not flag-waving tour groups.
We’ve already shared our favourite things to do in Bologna, so to help you plan your ideal visit to one of our favourite cities in Italy, we’re sharing a few useful tips to know before visiting Bologna.
14 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BOLOGNA
#1 BOLOGNA IS A PAINFULLY BEAUTIFUL CITY
We’re very well aware that Italy is home to some of the most beautiful cities and towns anywhere in the world, but we’ve not seen anywhere quite as stunning as Bologna.
Miles of medieval UNESCO heritage-listed porticoes paint the streets with lights, shadows, and deep architectural perspectives, while the terracotta buildings that span the old town give Bologna its nickname, La Rossa (The Red).
At the heart of this town is the imposing main square of Piazza Maggiore which stands proudly surrounded by the most important buildings of the medieval city, including the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo dei Notai, and Palazzo dei Banchi. Just off the Piazza Maggiore are block after block of colourful picturesque streets, including the quaint market district of Quadrilatero,
Then there’s the view from above; the ancient, if not slightly tipsy, Le Due Torri (Bologna’s twin towers) provide the best panorama in town.
What’s more, there’s a distinct lack of foreign tourists sharing these beautiful streets with you, which makes for a beautifully authentic, immersive experience.
Yep, Bologna’s beautiful alright.
beautiful bologna | the best things to see and do in bologna
#2 BOLOGNA IS HEAVEN FOR FOODIES
In a country famed for its cuisine, Bologna reigns supreme as the gastronomic capital of Italy. Eating here is quite simply one of the best things to do in Bologna.
Bologna is the birthplace of bolognese, or tagliatelle al ragù, the delightful flat-ribboned pasta with subtle meat-sauce (head to Trattoria Anna Marie for the most authentic, homemade Tagliatelle al ragù), while the broader region, Emilia Romagna, gifted the world glorious Parmigiano Reggiano, or parmesan, tortellini, tortelloni, mortadella, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, and many other delicacies.
All of which can be found on the streets and laneways of Quadrilatero, just off Piazza Maggiore.
While in Bologna we recommend trying these essential meals:
- Tagliatelle al ragù
- Tortellini in broth
- Pumpkin Tortelli with parmesan
- Butter and sage Tortelloni
The sweets aren’t forgotten either, with some of the best Gelato in Italy (our opinion, but we stand by it!) found at Cremeria Cavour.
Fortunately, consuming all this incredible food won’t break the bank (see #6 below!), with prices the most reasonable we’ve found in Italy.
BOLOGNA FOOD TOURS | If you’re keen to discover more of Bologna’s food culture, this awesome takes in the very best of the city’s food secrets, with your own local guide. Alternatively, take a self-guided food tour of Bologna.
BOOK | Book your Bologna food tour
#3 BOLOGNA IS SUUUUPER HIP AND COOL
Due to its liberal, progressive inhabitants and world class university, Bologna is brimming with some of the coolest people on the planet.
We’re talking good looking, stylish, intelligent people who also somehow manage to look super elegant while riding their bikes everywhere too. In short, people we aspire to be, but will never actually be!
All of this stems from Bologna’s university, the oldest in Europe, which has been enticing Europe’s intellectual forward-thinkers to the city since 1088. The city favours education over the church, and is one of only two left-leaning cities in the whole of Italy. These progressive, creative, and forward-thinking people make this city what it is.
Don’t let this put you off; the city doesn’t have any of the arrogance of London or Paris – the people are cool, but they don’t necessarily flaunt it.
Home to Bologna’s uber-cool is Ghetto Ebraico, the former 16th century Jewish Ghetto. Here, the city’s most hipster shopping, bars and restaurants, and street art, coupled with picturesque narrow streets, tiny windows and curious corners make it a great place to explore.
hiking in emilia romagna | a photographic journey through italy’s picturesque emilia romagna
#4 BOLOGNA IS COVERED (BY HISTORIC PORTICOES)
In a sign of Bologna’s intellectual successes, in the Middle Ages the growth of the University created an urgent need for extra space. Rather than narrow down the already-narrow streets, the decision was made to build porticoes over existing walkways to allow the footprint of the uni to be extended on top of them.
During the Middle Ages, almost all of Europe’s developed cities had porticoes, however due to population booms and the invasion of ‘public’ space, authorities quickly put an end to porticoes. Many were demolished, but thankfully Bologna’s were spared. In fact, they were so revered they’ve been mentioned in all local regulations from the 13th century until today.
Now, Bologna’s porticoes take pride of place on UNESCO’s world-heritage list. There are close to 40kms of these beautiful tunnelled passages throughout the city of Bologna, each with their own unique style and structure. Strolling through them feels like you’re getting to know the city and its history, one step at a time.
Some of the best porticoes to check out include:
- The porticoes of Piazza Maggiore and the seat of the old University
- The original wooden porticoes of Via Marsala
- The porticoes of Piazza Santo Stefano
