- Bologna square
- Religious buildings
- Landmarks and Monuments
- In the silence of the museum halls
- Bolognese shopping
- Delicious points on the map
What do waterproof raincoats, delicious pasta sauce and the breed of small dogs that are renowned as exceptional companions for ladies of venerable age have in common? All of them first appeared in Bologna, a city often referred to as the culinary capital of Italy.
The administrative center of the province of Emilia-Romagna became famous also thanks to its university: the university has the longest history in the Old World and has been accepting students since the 11th century. Did you understand that the question of where to go in Bologna is not a question for a tourist? Once in the city, whose history goes back 2, 5 millennia, you will fully enjoy educational excursions, a variety of shopping and culinary skills of local restaurateurs.
Bologna square
The two main squares of the capital of Emilia Romagna are located next to each other: just turn around the corner of Piazza Neptune and find yourself in Piazza Maggiore, and vice versa:
- A fountain depicting a sea lord appeared on Piazza Nettuno in the 16th century. It was created by the sculptor Giambologna, a famous artist from Florence, who worked in the early Baroque style. Other attractions on the square are two palaces built in the XII-XIII centuries. in the gothic style. The king of Sardinia was once imprisoned in Palazzo di Re Enzo, and the adjacent Palazzo del Podestà was significantly rebuilt during the Renaissance in the 15th century. The palace of the Podestà is decorated with a high keep - a watchtower.
- A couple of palaces on Piazza Maggiore appeared in the XIV-XV centuries. One was intended for the needs of notaries who had their own society in Bologna. The second mansion, Palazzo dei Banchi, was where bankers sat. Here you can also see the facade of the Basilica of San Petronio, the construction of which lasted almost three hundred years, but the work was never completed.
The municipality of Bologna, facing the common side for the squares, looks more like a fortified fort and is called Palazzo Communale.
Religious buildings
By tradition, every Italian city boasts a huge number of churches, and Bologna, in this sense, does not lag behind its neighbors.
Among the cult buildings, the Duomo stands out especially. It was first built on this site in the 10th century, but 200 years later a fire destroyed the temple. The newly rebuilt Romanesque cathedral was again practically lost by believers after a terrible earthquake in 1222. This time the Duomo was restored using Gothic techniques. In the future, the temple was rebuilt more than once, and new trends in architecture brought new features and features to the appearance of the Bologna cathedral. The frescoes of Fontana and Carrachi of the 16th-17th centuries are worthy of attention in the temple. and sculptural masterpieces by Alfonso Lombardi.
Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican monastic order, was buried in Bologna, and a church was built on the site of his burial. The temple was decorated by Michelangelo and Niccolo Pisano, who is called the founder of the Italian school of sculpture.
Paintings by Lorenzo Costa and Amico Aspertini adorn the walls of another beautiful Bologna church. It is called San Giacomo Maggiore and is the temple of the monastery of the Augustinian monks. The monastery was founded in the 13th century, and it existed for about 600 years. Costa's frescoes can be found in the Bentivoglio Chapel. The most famous are "Madonna Enthroned" and "Triumph of Death".
The Santo Stefano complex is located on the eponymous square of Bologna. It is worth going here to see one of the oldest temples - the Church of Sts. Vitaly and Agricola (martyrs of Bologna), dating from the 4th century, rebuilt in the 12th century. Santo Stefano was built on the site of the ancient sanctuary of the goddess Isis.
On the southwestern outskirts of the city, you will find another important pilgrimage site, centered around the Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary. The icon of Madonna di San Luca was first mentioned in a 15th century legend about a hermit from Greece. Having made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he brought to Bologna an image painted by the Evangelist Luke. To venerate the icon, a sanctuary was built, to which a gallery with 666 arches and 15 chapels leads. The total length of the portico is almost 4 km, which makes it the longest of its kind on the planet.
Landmarks and Monuments
Already during a sightseeing tour of Bologna, the guides will draw the tourist's attention to the main city attractions, but each monument requires a closer independent study.
For example, the leaning towers, preserved from the Middle Ages and often called the hallmark of the capital of Emilia-Romagna. There are two towers - Azinelli and Garisenda. The first one occupies the highest step of the podium in the world among inclined towers. Its "height" is 97 m. Garisenda is less than half, but the deviation of its top from the base is equal to 2 m, which is very noticeable visually and inspires an indispensable awe for a tourist who sees the tower for the first time. The stone guards of Bologna are only two of those that existed in the XII-XIII centuries. hundreds of similar skyscrapers. Their dimensions served as a symbol of the power and might of the owners.
Another famous city attraction is the university, which laid the foundation for all European education. The Alma Mater of Bologna Students appeared in 1088 and was originally a law school. Astronomer Copernicus and humanist Ulrich von Hutten studied at the university. The Anatomical Theater of the University of Bologna is a must-see museum for anyone interested in the history of medicine. The first scientific anatomical discoveries in the Old World were made in this university auditorium.
In the silence of the museum halls
Bolna could not have been called an Italian city if it had not had the opportunity to give guests the joy of meeting with picturesque and sculptural masterpieces. Bologna museums are rightfully famous and significant, because among their exhibits there are real pearls of world art, and archaeological finds preserved in their halls allow you to touch the ancient history:
- The Municipal Museum of Archeology has its origins in the private collection of the local artist Palaggi, which the city bought from his heirs. Having added to the collection the rarities kept at the University of Bologna, the organizers of the museum have created an interesting platform for acquaintance with the stages of the long journey traversed by human civilization. The museum has several halls, including Egyptian, Greek and Roman exhibitions, a numismatic collection and an exposition of finds from the Etruscan era.
- The Bologna Academy of Arts exhibits works by recognized masters of European painting schools from different eras. The museum offers an acquaintance with the canvases of Francia (15th century), Carracci (16th century) and Guercino (17th century).
- The Museum of Modern Art displays works by artists who painted in the second half of the twentieth century, and masters who continue to create paintings today. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna organizes traveling exhibitions of art and installations. The reputation of an experimental center and a leading creative platform in Europe makes MAMbo very interesting for both authors and visitors.
Bolognese shopping
Along with Milan, Rome and Florence, Bologna is one of the centers of Italian and world fashion, and therefore shopping in its outlets and department stores gives tourists an incomparable pleasure.
In the city center, on via dell'Indipendenza, Corte Isolani, Piazza Cavour and via Farini, you will find boutiques of all the world's renowned designers and fashion houses. Massimo d'Azeglio stores shops for the stronger sex: both Italian brands and boutiques with foreign names on the signs.
The huge size of the retail space and the varied list of brands of clothing, footwear and accessories presented on them is a good reason to go shopping at the Barberino outlet. True, it will take about an hour to get to it, because the shopping center is located 60 km from the city. You won't have to regret the time spent, especially if you get to the Bologna outlet during the season of Christmas or summer sales. You will save up to 70-90 percent of the original price on your selected items.
The whole family can have a great time at Nova Center. In this shopping paradise, in addition to dozens of boutiques and souvenir shops, there are playgrounds and a solid food court with restaurants and cafes.
Delicious points on the map
You can enjoy the cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region in any city restaurant. In Bologna's establishments, you can always find pizza and pasta, fruit salads and delicious desserts, and the wine list will easily turn your head both in the number of items and the quality of the drinks served:
- At Osteria Del Pesce Rosso, guests will find classic national cuisine in all its splendor. You will find a variety of seafood dishes on the menu, from fresh oysters to fried mussels. Pasta with shrimp and lobster is a real hit from the chef, and the sommelier will be happy to help you choose the right wine for the occasion.
- Italian classics await visitors Serghei, which hospitably opens its doors every day near the city park of Montagnola. Opt for baked rabbit, veal goulash, and squash stuffed with herbs and ham.
- The signature mascarpone ice cream completes any meal at Pepperoni. You can start with a salad and seafood appetizers, and choose traditional pasta as a main course with any of a dozen sauces to choose from.
A family dinner or lunch can be arranged by the staff at Nuova Epoca. The highlight of their menu is just pizza, but you will hardly find so many different options for preparing the beloved Italian fast food anywhere else. For younger guests, Nuova Epoca offers a variety of cakes, desserts and fruit platters specially designed for the little sweet tooth.
