The 7 things to do in Bologna

Visit Bologna: what are the best things to do and see in the seventh largest city in Italy?

Visiting Bologna is always a good idea. This lesser-known middle-sized city of Italy’s classic tourist circuits contains all the jewels characteristic of the country. Basilicas, sunny places, colourful facades, tasteful cuisine, all the pleasures of Italy are in Bologna.

The one that is surnamed “red” because of the color of the bricks of its buildings has an atmosphere well to it. Student city, it hosts about 80,000 for a total of 400,000 inhabitants. Its emblematic arcades make the walks soft and peaceful in this city of the Emilia-Romagna region to the north of the country, about halfway between Florence and Venice .

If you have planned a stay in northern Italy here is a list of things to do in Bologna.

1. L’incontournable Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore or main square of Bologna marks the heart of the city. It is therefore a good starting point to visit Bologna especially since this place is considered one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Flanked with sumptuous palaces, its major asset is probably the San Petronio Basilica, the fifteenth largest church in the world! A jewel of Gothic architecture not to be missed. Enjoy being Piazza Maggiore to the monumental Neptune fountain located on an adjacent square.

2. Visit the oldest university in Bologna

Near the Piazza Maggiore of Bologna is the Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio, the oldest university in the city. This Renaissance-style building is the work of architect Antonio Morandi. His impressive anatomical theatre built in cedar and fir wood in the 17th century was the place of autopsy practiced by the faculty of medicine to teach anatomy to students.

3. Climb up the Asinelli tower

Visit Bologna is also raising your eyes to the sky. The city is indeed famous for its towers and especially those of Asinelli and Garisenda, the highest towers you can find. Do not hesitate to climb the 498 steps of the Asinelli Tower (the ticket is 3€) for a breathtaking view of the city and a photo shoot with the ideal panorama.

4. Walk to the Madonna di San Luca Shrine

This beautiful basilica is located at the top of Mount Guardia a few kilometers from the historic centre. Even if you will find buses to take you there it is recommended to walk to pass under a monumental arcade of 3.5 km long and not less than 666 arches that serves to protect the icon during processions towards the sanctuary. This is the longest covered arcade in the world!

5. Bologna, gastronomic city

To get back from your pilgrimage it is time to discover the culinary riches of the city. Spread among the small markets of fresh products that populate the streets. Choose your restaurant and taste Bologna specialities. On the menu: tagliatelle and tortellini "al ragu", a mixture of meat and tomato sauce, mortadelle, Parma ham, parmesan and balsamic vinegar of Modena. It’s not for nothing that we also surname Bologna “fata”!

6. Also to be seen in Bologna

If you extend your stay and are still looking for what to do in Bologna here are some suggestions:

• La Pinacothèque Nationale (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna), the largest art museum in Bologna
• The Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna
• Bologna canals and especially the hidden channel visible from Via Piella
• The Palazzo Poggi
• Piazza Santo Stefano, its basilica and its stubborn faces
• The Cathedral of Bologna

7. Things to do in the vicinity of Bologna

If you own a car and think about staying for about a week in the Emilia-Romagna region, don’t hesitate to visit the following places:

• Ferrarara 30 minutes from Bologna, UNESCO Heritage Site
• Ravenna a little over an hour, city centre registered at UNESCO
• Modena and its balsamic vinegar factories
• Parma, a gastronomic city of more in the region of Emilia-Romagna!

How to get to Bologna?

Guglielmo Marconi Airport in Bologna is served by Air France, Hop!, Vueling, easyJet... in short, you will not have trouble going to this beautiful city. To find cheap flights to Bologna, you can search our partner's website Ulysses .

Where to stay in Bologna?

The Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno, the Basilica, the excellent archaeological museum and the two towers represent the main tourist attractions to visit in Bologna, and they are all grouped at very short distance from each other. Two major churches, Santo Stefano and San Domenico, are only a few blocks away, making it easy to visit Bologna from any one housing in the old center . To find a cheap hotel in Bologna, search this Compare hotels .