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Bologna

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Bologna
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Bologna Travel Guide

  • About Bologna
As a regional economic hub, that sits nowhere near the sea, Bologna isn’t Italy’s most obvious holiday destination, but it’s one of the country’s very best cities for food and culture.With an enchanting blend of Renaissance and medieval-era architecture in the historic city centre, the capital of the Emilia Romagna region is compelling both for its visceral past and lively present.Home to arguably the oldest university in the world, there’s a large student population here, giving the city plenty of verve. Countless bars cater to them on and around the main arteries like Via Zamboni and Via del Pratello. Many roll out generous buffets for aperitivo, where a pre-dinner drink gets you any number of delicious snacks.If you’re careful not to fill up too much, dinner will be memorable. Known as ‘La Grassa’ (the fatty), Bologna has an incredible culinary legacy and is home to some of the finest restaurants in Italy. Choose from dozens of trattorias in the centre serving tagliatelle al ragù – or spaghetti Bolognese to you and me, though the pasta is a little different (1cm-wide strips). Be sure also to try handmade tortelli (filled parcels of pasta) and try the region’s assorted breads, hams and cheeses.Once you manage to drag yourself away from the dinner table, this multi-faceted city has plenty else to offer. Thereare several world-class museums and galleries, including the renowned MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art). There arealso beautiful churches to explore, including the recently restored 600-year-old San Petronio in the beautiful centralsquare, Piazza Maggiore. And you can’t fail to avoid the Two Towers nearby – the soaring brick skyscrapers from the Middle Ages, one leaning precariously towards the other.Set in the picturesque Po Valley, Bologna’s pleasing patchwork of blushing-peach buildings is surrounded by green hills, one of which hosts the impressive Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca – definitely worth hiking up, not least for its views of Bologna below. From here you can take in the city that has everything: beauty, culture, intriguing history and incomparable food.
  • Bologna History
The origins of Bologna can be traced back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age, but it was during the Iron Age that Villanovian villages emerged with a unique culture inhabited by skilled blacksmiths and potters.They fostered trade links with Greeks and the Phoenicians, but by the 6th century the Etruscans dominated the area. Then the Gauls arrived in the 4th century BC, and were succeeded by the Romans in the 2nd century, by which time it was named Bononia.For a time, Bologna was an important Roman city, but with the decline of the Empire it was intermittently sacked and occupied by Byzantines, Visigoths and Lombards. The latter, who ruled it from the 8th century onwards, used it largely as a strategic base for military operations.By the 11th century, Bologna sought free commune status, and in 1088 established what many regard as the world’s first university. Soon came a remarkable era in which Bologna became one of the most prominent medieval cities on the planet. This is when many historic buildings were constructed, some of which are still standing. The tallest are Due Torri, or Two Towers, piercing the sky from the heart of the city.Papal troops seized the city in 1506. Dozens of churches and convents were built, and the university was expanded with the creation of botanical gardens in 1568, one of the oldest in Europe. Papal control continued until Napoleon arrived in 1797, and Bologna joined the newly formed kingdom of Italy in 1860.In 1941, Italy entered WWII as one of the Axis powers. This led to the deportation of Bolognese Jews and the Allied aerial bombardment of the city’s historic centre. After the difficult post-war years, the city became a leading industrial centre, cemented by its growing importance as one of the country’s main railway hubs. It eventually grew into one of the richest cities in Italy, with a strong tradition of leftist politics and an international reputation for culinary mastery.
  • Did you know?
During the Middle Ages, some 180 towers were built by Bologna’s leading families. Apart from their ostentatious display of wealth and power, they allowed the elites to spy on each other. Fifteen towers still remain in the city. Despite Bologna’s leftist tradition, its grand football stadium was built under Mussolini as a symbol of fascist might, and directly contributed to Italy winning the right to host the 1934 World Cup. During the terrorist turmoil known as anni di piombo (Years of Lead), a bomb planted by fascists killed 85 at Bologna station, making it one of the worst tragedies of the post-war era.
  • Weather in Bologna
Even at the height of the season, tourist numbers seldom become too suffocating in Bologna but the weather is a different matter. Summer brings temperatures of 25°C-30°C (80°F-90ºF), particularly in July and August. If you prefer to avoid the heat, the best times to visit are early spring and September. Between November and February, it rains frequently and winters are distinctly chilly, although temperatures never fall below freezing.

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