Bologna, We Visit A Historic City In Italy
Bologna is a real gem located between the Seine River and the Savena, near the Apennines, in Italy. It is one of the best preserved historical cities and has the second largest medieval old town in Europe, second only to Venice. Do you want to visit this treasure with us?
Some data from Bologna
Bologna is just 90 kilometers from Florence, an hour by train from Parma and about 150 kilometers from Venice. Therefore, if you visit any of these cities, it is more than recommended to go to Bologna to enjoy this beautiful city.
It is known worldwide for its university, which is believed to be the oldest in the Western world. It was founded in 1088 and among its students were such prominent figures as Dante Alighieri, Petrarca, Erasmus or Nicolás Copernicus.
Besides that, Bologna has hundreds of places of interest that will delight all visitors who decide on this historic city on their vacations.
What to see in Bologna
1. Pinacoteca Nazionale
On our tour of Bologna, a mandatory stop is this fantastic museum. In it we will find a wonderful collection of artistic works from the School of Bologna, ranging from the Renaissance to the Counter-Reformation.
In its rooms you can admire works from Vitale da Bologna, such as Saint George and the Dragon ; by Parmigiano, like La Virgen de Santa Margarita ; or of the Caracci, like Annibale’s Annunciation .
2. Its fantastic porticoes
If there is something that characterizes this city, it is its arcades. Its old town has no less than 37 kilometers of porticoes. Strolling through them is one of the best ways to get to know the city.
Especially recommended is the portico of San Luca, from which you can see the Padana plain, the Reno Valley, the city and the Apennines.
3. The squares
Another stop would be Piazza Maggiore, the central square of the city flanked by large buildings, such as San Petronio -one of the largest existing churches-, the Palacio de la Podestá, currently the City Hall or the Communal Palace.
And you should not miss the Piazza de Santo Stefano, where the church that gives it its name is located and which is made up of seven independent temples.
4. Other interesting corners
Two towers will catch your eye, the medieval towers of Garisenda and Asinelli. Both have a slight incline and the highest, that of Asinelli, is close to a hundred meters high. Seeing the city from above is a spectacle not to be missed.
In addition, Bologna has a multitude of villas and palaces, including the Palazzo d’Accursio, the Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio, the Palazzo Baciocchi or that of Giustizia. You can also visit interesting museums such as the Collezioni dell’Accademia Clementina e Belle Arti, the Donazione Putti e Raccolta Rizzoli Codivilla, or the Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna).
And there is more, from the basilica of San Petronio, patron saint of the city, to theaters such as the Arena del Sole or the Alemanni Theater, the temple of Bolognese dialect comedy.
The gastronomy of Bologna
Another of the strengths of Bologna is its incredible gastronomy. This was strongly marked by the university, as the mix of students from many parts of the world enriched the gastronomic culture of the city.
Most of the dishes in Bologna are made up of pasta and meat (especially pork), as well as dairy products such as butter, fresh cheese or Parmesan cheese.
Traditional cuisine in Bologna is not only pasta Bolognese . Among the typical products of Bologna are:
- The tagliatelle and the tortellini.
- The ragù bolognese : sauce very commonly used to accompany pasta.
- The passatelli : made with breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, pepper and other spices, they are thick noodles that are cooked in broth.
- Bologna mortadella
- Bolognese cotoletta: breaded veal fillets topped with ham, cheese, tomato and basil.
- The certosino di Bologna : typical Christmas cake with almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate and candied fruits.
- The zuppa inglese: sweet with a sponge base soaked in liqueurs such as alchermes and rosolio, and with pastry cream.
- Mascarpone cream
