Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
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Bologna is the capital of the eponymous metropolitan city and of Emilia-Romagna, one of the twenty regions of Italy. While the Province of Bologna has a population of 1,007,644, making it the twelfth most populated province of Italy, Emilia-Romagna ranks as the sixth most populated region of Italy, with about 4.5 million inhabitants, more than ...
Fusing haughty elegance with down-to-earth grit in one beautifully colonnaded medieval grid, Bologna is a city of two intriguing halves. One side is a hard-working, high-tech city located in the super-rich Po valley where suave opera-goers waltz out of regal theatres and into some of the nation's finest restaurants.
- Via delle Belle Arti, 56, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy
- 051 420 9411
- Try the Local Specialties. The cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region is some of the best in Italy, and Bologna is one of the best places to sample its range.
- Seek Out Architecture. Bologna's compact medieval center has several beautiful churches, monuments, and civic buildings. As you explore the city, you can also enjoy its many porticoed sidewalks, which make window shopping all the more pleasant.
- Explore the Main Squares. While visiting Bologna, you can square-hop between the beautiful central squares like Piazza Maggiore, which houses the Gothic Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Notai, and the Archaeological Museum.
- Try New Flavors Along Via Clavature. Address. Via Clavature, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy. Get directions. East of Piazza Maggiore, the area along Via Clavature has several small, interesting food stalls, where you'll find a number of small markets on side streets.
- Contents
- Where Is Bologna, Italy?
- What Is Bologna Known for?
- Foodie Things to Do in Bologna
- Historic Things to Do in Bologna
- Places to Run Or Walk in Bologna
- Day Trips from Bologna
- More Things to Do in Bologna
- Where to Eat in Bologna
- Cheap Eats in Bologna
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagnaregion in northern Italy. It’s located between Florence (to the south) and Venice (to the north) and is easily accessible by train. Towards the end of this post, there are details on how to get to Bologna from major cities in Italy. Back to Contents
Bologna has three nicknames that reflect what it is best known for. La Dotta (The Learned) Bologna University, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in the western world and students came from all over the world to study there. There is still a large student population which adds to the city’s vibrant atmosphere, especially at aperitivo time. L...
1) Take a Bologna Food Tour
The cuisine is one of the main reasons to visit Bologna, and it’s well worth taking a food tour at the beginning of your trip to learn more about the food culture. It’ll help you make the most of the rest of your stay. We did this four-hour Classic Bologna Food Tour with Sara of Taste Bologna. We started at the city’s best coffee shop sampling unusual flavours like Caffè allo Zabaione, which was like a dessert in a mini cup, and even I, a non-coffee drinker, enjoyed it. We continued our tour...
2) Go Food Shopping in the Quadrilatero
The Quadrilaterois one of the most atmospheric areas of the city. This cluster of narrow streets off the main square has been Bologna’s market since the Middle Ages and is still full of delis and stalls selling giant wheels of parmesan, legs of ham, and pristine piles of fruit and vegetables. Via Pescherie Vecchieis one of the cutest streets with terracotta and yellow buildings, old signs and ornate street lamps, and restaurant tables spilling onto the pavement. The shops used to sell fish fr...
3) Eat Your Way Around the Mercato Delle Erbe
While the Quadrilatero is a good place to pick up cheese and cured meats, for fresh produce I preferred the Bologna food market, Mercato Delle Erbe. The fruit and vegetables here are beautiful and most of them come from Italy. I was excited that strawberries from the Basilicata region were already in season in April. There’s also an upmarket food court where you can snack on sandwiches, piadina, slices of pizza, or even have a whole meal. We stayed in an apartment right across the road from t...
6) Climb Asinelli Tower
I love climbing Italian towers! Bologna’s beautiful terracotta tiled roofs are best admired from above, so make your way up the 498 steps of the medieval Asinelli Tower—one of the top things to do in Bologna. From the top you can enjoy stunning 360º views of the smaller Garisenda tower, which leans precariously next to it, Piazza Maggiore, and the hills surrounding the city. You must book your ticket in advance (€5 adults/ €3 children)—we booked on the Due Torri websiteabout three hours befor...
7) Stroll through Piazza Maggiore
Piazza Maggiore is the main square and one of the top Bologna attractions. Here you’ll find the Basilica di San Petronio, which was started in 1390 and is oddly unfinished—the bottom section ornate marble and the top stark brick. Depending on the story this is either because the church ran out of money or the pope stopped construction as he didn’t like the idea of the plans for a cathedral bigger than Rome’s St Peter’s. On the other sides of the square are grand palaces including Palazzo d’Ac...
8) See the Neptune Fountain
Next to Piazza Maggiore is the 16th-century Neptune Fountainbuilt by Flemish sculptor Giambologna. It is so beautiful that many cities across Europe copied it. Despite representing a pagan god, the pope approved of the statue because Neptune is the god of water. There used to be a port and canals in Bologna and water meant power and riches—it was an extremely rich city (and is still one of the wealthiest in Italy).
If you are wondering what to do in Bologna to burn off all that pasta and gelato, there are some beautiful parks to the south of the city, perfect for walking or running as long as you don’t mind hills.
It’s worth spending a week or more in Bologna as it’s a great base for exploring the Emilia-Romagna region. We visited Modena and Ferrara, both a 30-minute train ride from Bologna. You could also visit the elegant city of Parma (1 hour on the train) where Parma ham and Parmesan cheese originate and Ravenna (1 hour on the train) known for its exquis...
On our list for next time are these other Bologna activities: 1. Hands-On Home Cooking Class– Learn to make tagliatelle and tortelloni. 2. Gelato Museum– It’s a 30-minute drive out of the city, but it’s ideal for foodies who want to learn more about gelato and even try making their own. Reservations are essential. 3. Visit a Vineyard– Take a tour o...
You don’t need a list of the best restaurants in Bologna—you really can go almost anywhere and get a fantastic meal. That said, here are our favourites, all of which have vegetarian options (most places do but the choice can be limited). If you’re not familiar with restaurant etiquette in Italy, see our guide to eating in Italy.
Ca’Pelletti was the cheapest sit-down meal we had and the following are faster food options with a few seats or you can get takeaway.
Things to Do in Bologna, Italy - Bologna Attractions. Explore popular experiences. See what other travelers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings. See All. Walking Tours (111) Culinary Tours (13) Points of Interest & Landmarks (77) Day Trips (53) Cooking Classes (37) Historic Sites (60) Dining Experiences (35) Street Food Tours (12)
Jan 26, 2020 · Bologna occupies a central location in Italy and lies to the north of Florence, to the South of Venice and to the South East of Milan. Throughout history, Bologna has served as a major cultural and economical hub in Italy and has been ruled by the Etruscans, Celts and Romans respectively.
While crowds of tourists fill Venice, Florence and Rome, Bologna remains relatively quiet in comparison. This medieval university town is charming, historic and fun to explore… and you'll find Bologna's local cuisine is light-years away from the American deli meat bearing the city's name.
