Bologna is a city that is not one of the most touristy in Italy. The competition is very great, but since it is a city where one of the oldest universities in Europe, it becomes a place frequented by students from all over the world, who can tell about everything there is to see in this beautiful city.
La city of bologna It is known for its porticoes and towers, but it is also known as the 'Dotta, the Rossa e la Grassa', or the Learned, the Red and the Fat. The Learned for its university, the red for the color of its roofs, and the fat for the fame of its food. So we are going to see everything that interests the city of Bologna in Italy.
How to get to Bologna
The city of Bologna has its own airport, although from Spain we will surely have to go to a larger one like Fiumicino in Rome and from there take a link to this smaller airport. From the airport there are about six kilometers to the center that can be done by bus or taxi. In Bologna there is also a train station where trains from other places such as Rome or Milan arrive, so it is also a good option if we arrive to any of these cities by plane and want to connect with Bologna.
What to eat in Bologna
If you like pasta, you should know that the famous Bolognese pasta He left here, just as the name suggests. Although spaghetti is often used for this dish, in Bologna, noodles are used, which are more typical, with the Bolognese sauce of tomato and meat. A dish that is almost obligatory to taste in a typical cuisine restaurant in Bologna.
Main square
La Piazza Maggiore It is the central square of the city, which continues to preserve the same appearance as it did in the XNUMXth century. This charm of a city that is preserved and that mixes the new with the traditional is what brings a lot of charm to a visit to Bologna. In this square we will find the famous Neptune Fountain, with its trident, which is the icon of the city. In this place we will find many of the main buildings and monuments of the city, so it is a good starting point. In it we find the Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Tonai or the Palazzo del Podestà.
Santo Stefano Square
In this square is the Santo Stefano church, which has the curiosity to house seven churches. This is so because the building is a complex made up of seven different buildings. Inside we find another curiosity, and that is that it houses a three-dimensional reproduction of the body of Jesus Christ taken from the holy sheet. This square is very beautiful at night, when it is illuminated and you can walk through its arcades, let's not forget that this city is known for them.
Basilica of San Petronio
This was to be the church greatest of all Christendom but it turns out that it is still unfinished. It ended up being the sixth largest church in Europe and the third in Italy, which is already something. Inside it is quite a lot prettier than outside, which gives that unfinished look. In addition, it must be taken into account that you cannot enter with a backpack and they do not have a left luggage space in it.
The towers of Bologna
In this city he came to have more than 100 towers, so it was known for them and for its porches. Today there are 24 towers left, of which the most famous are known as the two towers, the Torre degli Asinelli and the Garisenda. You can only climb the Asinelli to see the city from above. The downside is that there are almost 500 steps without a lift, so it is only for those who are willing to make the effort.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca
In the colle della Guardia, one of the hills that surround the city of Bologna, is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Luca, which is reached by a slope with 666 arcs which is always full of people. Inside we can find an icon that shows the Madonna with the Child from the XNUMXth or XNUMXth century, below which there is another even older Madonna. On the Saturday before the fifth Sunday after Easter, a pilgrimage is celebrated to venerate this icon.
National Picture Gallery
Although it is located in Bologna and is not the most touristic city, this Pinacoteca is one of the most important museums in Italy with works that they start from the thirteenth century and artists like Raffaello or Carracci. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. and is an essential visit for art lovers.