This list of the best places to visit in Bologna It will help you prepare a trip to one of the least known and most beautiful cities in Italy, which we are sure, will surprise you.
Located in the north of the country, this city nicknamed "The Red City" Due to the color of the buildings and the roofs, it has been one of the great surprises in our travels and as such, we always recommend investing at least two days to enjoy it to the fullest and take advantage to know one of the best preserved medieval historical centers, one of the oldest universities and one of the best gastronomies in the world.
Based on the experience of the time we spent in the city during our trip to Bologna, Rimini and San Marino, we have made this selection of what we believe are, the 10 places to see in Bologna essential. We start!
1. Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore or Plaza Mayor is the epicenter of the old town and one of the most essential places to visit in Bologna. Most buildings in the square have been preserved since medieval times and among them are the Basilica of San Petronio, the Communal Palace, the Palace of Podestá, the Palace of King Enzo and the impressive Fountain of Neptune.
The Basilica of San Petronio dedicated to the patron of Bologna, was to be the most imposing church in the world until the papal authority stopped its construction when it saw that it would surpass the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and although it ended up being the fifth largest in the world , it is worth visiting its immense interior to see several masterpieces such as the Mystical Marriage of Santa Caterina and the frescoes of Giovanni de Modena, in addition to its huge polychrome stained glass windows.
Another of the buildings in the square that you can not miss is the Communal Palace with several spectacular rooms such as the Farnese Room, the Community Council, the Vidoniana Gallery, the Urban Hall, the Library or its interesting Pinacoteca.
After taking a walk through the square seeing historic buildings and their beautiful arcades, you can say goodbye by taking two turns to the impressive Fountain of Neptune, which they say brings luck.
Piazza Maggiore
2. The Two Towers
The twin towers of Garisenda and Asinelli are the only two that are conserved of the more than 200 that the city had in medieval times. Of these two towers, which initially had defensive functions, only Asinelli's remains in good condition and visits are allowed. Although the climb to its almost 98 meters is hard, we assure you that when you reach the top and see the incredible views of the city, you forget any kind of effort.
Visiting hours: every day from 9am to 6pm. In winter it closes an hour before.
Views from the Asinelli Tower
3. Il Quadrilatero
In the historic center, next to Piazza Maggiori, you will find a series of narrow cobbled streets that form the so-called Quadrilatero, another of the places to see in Bologna more beautiful. In this area, which becomes pedestrian on weekends, the best shops are located to buy fresh and typical products of the city such as tortellini, bolognese bolognese, Bolognese sauce or crescentine e tigelle bread.
In addition to local shops, among the four streets Via degli Orefici, Portico del Pavaglione, Via Clavatura and Via Castiglione, which delimit the Quadrilatero, there are also some of the best restaurants in the city among which we recommend you try the sausages of the Salumeria Simoni and the Sfoglia Rina, the appetizers of The Osteria del Sole and a good pasta in the Mercato di Mezzo.
Il Quadrilatero
4. Piazza de Santo Stefano, one of the best places to visit in Bologna
The Piazza de Santo Stefano is one of the best preserved medieval corners and another one of the essential places to visit in Bologna. The jewel of the square, surrounded by palaces and buildings with beautiful porches, is the Basilica of Santo Stefano known as "The 7 churches". This basilica really is a medieval religious complex formed by the union of 4 churches, which formerly had to add 3 more churches. It is worth visiting inside, where you will find a replica of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem of the 5th century, the medieval cloister and the beautiful Pilate's Courtyard.
As a curiosity, in one of the palaces of the square, there is one of the 7 secrets of Bologna: the sculpted face of the devil that we recommend you to look for and thus know a little more about the place.
A great option to know the history of the city and all its curiosities is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish or this bike tour through the most interesting places in the city.
Piazza de Santo Stefano, one of the places to see in Bologna
5. Archiginnasio Palace
The Archiginnasio Palace, built in the 16th century by Cardinal Carlo Borromeo is another of the jewels to see in Bologna. This building, headquarters of the old University, has a beautiful inner courtyard where you can see on its walls numerous shields and a small tower with bell tower and clock.
During the tour of the interior rooms, do not miss the Anatomical Theater and the Stabat Mater Classroom, although the most impressive place in the palace is its Library, which highlights the space with wooden shelves that preserve codices and books from centuries ago and that It is a real wonder.
It is interesting to know, when you visit this building, that the University of Bologna originates in 1088, making it the oldest university in the western world. This prestige has lasted until today, placing Bologna in one of the most important university cities in the world, with more than 100,000 students spread across its 23 schools.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm.
Archiginnasio Palace
Our recommended hotel in Bologna
Our recommended accommodation in Bologna is the Hotel Nuovo Porto, located 15 minutes walk from the historic center and 10 minutes from the central train station. In addition to its magnificent location, it has a good varied breakfast, friendly staff and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
6. The 7 secrets of Bologna
Keep in mind that medieval cities such as Bologna keep countless mysteries and legends, in addition to secret corners with a special charm and therefore the route of the "The 7 Secrets" It is one of the most interesting routes that will make you discover little known corners of the city such as the Finestrella in Via Piella, The Three Arrows near the Corte Isolani passage, The Attributes of Neptune at the source of the same name, The Arch of Whispers in Piazza Maggiore, Medieval Cannabis in the Canton of Fiori, La Luz de Petronio in the Basilica of San Petronio and the Face of the Devil in the Piazza de Santo Stefano.
Finestrella, one of the places to visit in Bologna
7. Mercato delle Erbe
The Mercato delle Erbe is the largest covered market in the historic center and another of the essential places to visit in Bologna. This local market, little visited by tourists, is located a few minutes walk from the Piazza Maggiore and in addition to selling a wide variety of fresh products such as vegetables, cheeses, fruits, wine, cold cuts it has small stalls and restaurants where you can try all These gastronomic delights.
Visiting hours: Monday to Thursday from 7 am to midnight. Friday and Saturday close at 02h.
Mercato delle Erbe
8. Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca
The sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca, located on a 300-meter hill, is one of the most charming places in the city. This church, surrounded by a natural environment, is a place of pilgrimage thanks to a legend that said that at this point the Virgin Mary appeared with her son in her arms. This appearance gave rise to a chapel and over time to this huge sanctuary.
The exterior architecture of the Baroque style and the interior with beautiful altarpieces in addition to the image of the Virgin with the Child make it another of the places to see in Bologna We recommend you not to get lost.
If you do not want to make the hour and a half of the road that is walking from Piazza Maggiore, you can take bus 20 at the Farini stop and transfer from Villa Spada to bus 58, which will take you to Monte Albano.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca
9. Porches
One of the pleasures of visiting Bologna is strolling looking at shop windows of lifelong stores, under its endless porches. Keep in mind that the city has more than 40 kilometers of arcades and therefore are considered the longest in the world.
One of the most essential is the Portico de San Luca of 3.7 kilometers that connects the old town with the Sanctuary Madonna di San Luca, along 666 arches. Another of the porticoes to visit in Bologna is that of Casa Isolani in Strada Maggiore, supported by very high wooden beams.
The construction of the porches dates back to the Middle Ages as a result of the large number of students who came to his renowned university and unable to accommodate them all, the houses were enlarged gaining ground to the street, without harming pedestrians.
The Portals of Bologna
10. Basilica di San Domenico
Only knowing that in this church a young Michelangelo intervened in its construction already places it in another of the places to see in Bologna. His work with other students of Nicola Pisano focused on the construction of the Ark of Santo Domingo, where the remains of the famous Santo Domingo de Guzmán, founder of the Dominican order, rest.
In addition to this masterpiece, it is worth entering into its baroque interior that contrasts with an austere exterior.
Basilica of Santo Domenico
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to visit in Bologna, add yours in the comments.
