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Bologna

GETTING THERE

AIRPORT
Bologna's airport is Guglielmo Marconi Airport, located 6 km from the city. It is connected to the city centre by frequent shuttle bus service. Many airlines fly out of the airport connecting the city with all major Italian and European destinations.

LOW COST FLIGHTS
www.myair.com
www.eurofly.com
www.germanwings.com
www.aerlingus.com
www.meridiana.com
www.blu-express.com
www.centralwings.com
www.blueair.com
www.vueling.com

TRAIN
Bologna is one of the main Italian train junctions, and is easy to reach from all other important Italian towns. For time schedule visit the official website www.ferroviedellostato.it

MOTORWAYS
The A1 connects Bologna to Milan on the North and to Florence and Rome on the South.
From Venice or Padua take the A13.

MUSEUMS

Pinacoteca Nazionale
This important museum houses a wide collection of 13th to 18th century paintings by Bolognese and other artists, including Giotto, Raphael (Santa Cecilia), Parmigianino, Vitale da Bologna, Carracci, Il Guercino, Guido Reni.
Address: Via Belle Arti 56

Palazzo d'Accursio
It houses the Collezioni Comunali d'Arte (Art Collections) and it is located in the city centre, in Piazza Maggiore
Telephone: +39 051 203526

Morandi Museum
Entirely dedicated to Bologna painter Giorgio Morandi, with a wide collection of 250 works, including paintings, watercolors, drawings and etchings.

Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna (Modern Art Gallery)
It displays avant-garde works and temporary exhibits dedicated to different forms of artistic expression.
Address: Piazza Costituzione 3
Telephone:+39 051 502859

Museo Civico Archeologico (Archealogical City Museum)
It contains Etruscan and Roman Age sections and also has an extensive ancient Egypt section.
Address: Via dell'Archiginnasio 2
Telephone: +39 051 233849

Museo Civico Medievale (City Museum of Middle Ages)
Housed in the beautiful building called Palazzo Fava-Ghislardi, it contains Middle Ages and Renaissance manuscripts, ivories, weapons and sculptures.
Address: via Manzoni 4
Telephone: +39 051 352655

ATTRACTIONS

University
Bologna is the seat of the most ancient university in Europe, Alma Mater Studiorum, founded in 1088. The Law Faculty and the Astrological Observatory are particularly appreciated. Visitors also appreciate the University Museums which have free entry and is located in Via Zamboni 33: it contains many interesting exhibits and collections of scientific teaching aids from the 1500s to today.

Piazza Maggiore
It represents the very heart of the historical centre and is an authentic living room surrounded by the typical “portici”, elegant arcades which are a landmark of the city. It is a wide pedestrian square, lined by many Renaissance and Medieval beautiful buildings. Close to this square are numerous cafés, bars, street performers, musicians, that contribute to its vibrant atmosphere.

Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)
It is situated in Piazza del Nettuno, designed by Tommaso Laureti and sculpted in marble and bronze by the Flemish Giambologna in 1563.

The Two Towers
Torre degli Asinelli (Asinelli Tower) and Torre della Garisenda (Garisenda Tower) are the most popular among the 20 towers which characterize the centre of Bologna. They stand close one to the other in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana and are characteristically leaning in opposite directions.
The Asinelli Tower is the only one opened to visitors; built in the 10th century, it is the highest tower of the city with its 97 metres. From the top you can admire an amazing view of the city.

Palazzo Bevilacqua
It represents one of Bologna's most remarkable buildings and it was built between 1477 and 1482 by jurist Niccolò Sanuti.
The building shows a  Tuscan Renaissance style. The charming internal courtyard with its two loggias one over the other is decorated with sculptures and terra cotta relief work.

CHURCHES

Basilica San Luca
The arcade which climbs up the hill path to the Basilica di San Luca is really breathtaking; it dominates the city from above (220 metres) and protecting it. Every year lot of pilgrims visit this suggestive place and it is believed that the arcades were built to shelter pilgrims from winter rain and cold.

Basilica San Petronio
The Basilica of S. Petronio is dedicated to the city's patron and represents the most important and the biggest church in Bologna. The main portal contains the Stories of the Old and New Testament, sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia, painted between 1425 and 1438.

San Pietro
It is the cathedral of Bologna and its construction dates back to the 10th century: it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1141, with the original Romanesque-Gothic design. The interiors house important paintings by Lodovico Carracci.

Santo Stefano Square
This beautiful square is located in the centre of Bologna and is a charming triangular square famous for the Sette Chiese Complex, which are actually four. They are the church of Crocefisso, the church of Calvario and the church of Santi Vitale e Agricola (the oldest).

San Domenico
The interiors houses several magnificent paintings by Guercino, Luca Cambiaso, Lodovico Carracci e Giunta Pisano. The arch was sculpted by famous artists like Nicolò Pisano and Michelangelo whereas the wood chorus is a work by Fra'Damiano da Bergamo (1528-51).

SHOPPING

The most important Bologna's shopping area is enclosed by Via Rizzoli, Via D'Azeglio, Via Farini and Via Castiglione. Here you can find shopping windows of the most glamorous Italian and international stylists and designers, revealing the fashion and elegant nature of the city.
Via Indipendenza is another golden mile of shopping, actually the most popular in Bologna. There are tons of shops, with a wide range of goods and affordable for everyone. If you are looking for a more original and refined style, the right address is Via San Vitale. Via dell'Archiginnasio, which flanks Piazza Maggiore, is famous for jewelry, whereas Strada Maggiore, Corte Isolani and Via S. Stefano are popular streets for antiques and furniture.
Mercato di Mezzo is an unmissable goal for food shopping, located between Via Drapperie, Via Clavature and the surrounding alleys. The city's best gourmet shops are grouped around this area.
The more popular Mercato delle Erbe, a covered markets with all kinds of stalls, is located in the central Via Ugo Bassi.

RESTAURANTS

Few cities in the world boast a heritage of gourmet tradition like Bologna; many of the most famous Italian dishes in the world come from this city. Some examples include famous pasta dishes like tortellini, tortelloni and the famous tagliatelle and lasagne.
Cold cuts are another prerogative of Emilia: the glory of Bologna is mortadella. The wines are also famous products of this area, like the whites Albana, Pignoletto, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco and Riesling or reds Lambrusco, Barbera, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Osteria dall'Orsa
This restaurant offers some of the best ragú alla bolognese in town, occupies a 15th-century building near the university. Most diners opt for the high-ceilinged, medieval-looking main floor, though an informal cantina-like cellar room is open for additional seating.
Address: via Mentana 1F
Telephone: +39 051 231576

Ristorante Al Pappagallo
It offers a superb selection of typical Bologna's dishes in a stunning Gothic ambience. Lasagne al forno (baked lasagna) is the specialty.
Address: via della Mercanzia 3C
Telephone: +39 051 232807

Da Cesari
In business for more than a century, this rustic, two-floor restaurant stands in the heart of the historic district. The dishes overflow with fresh ingredients deftly handled by the kitchen staff. The restaurant serves an excellent Bolognese cuisine, with all the typical dishes, accompanied by a wide selection of wines.
Address: via de' Carbonesi 8
Telephone: +39 051 237710

NIGHTLIFE

Bologna is famous in Italy for its vibrant nightlife, an hedonistic city, thanks to the massive presence of students. But every generation has its typical way to have fun in Bologna!
The evening starts with the "aperitivo" time, usually a glass of good wine accompanied by the tastiest appetizers of the local cuisine.
Bologna is characterized by its traditional "osteria" (wine bars), which once represented the center of the city's social life. There are many of them scattered throughout the city. Most of these typical locals are concentrated in via del Pratello and, near the university, Via Zamboni and Via delle Belle Arte.
Bologna has some theatres, offering all you want from opera and symphony to experimental performances, dance and musicals.

Teatro Comunale
Address: Largo Respighi 1
Telephone: +39 199 107070

Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna
Address: via Guerrazzi 13
Telephone: +39 051 222997

If you are interested in jazz, two are the most important clubs to visit: Cantina Bentivoglio and Chet Baker.

Osteria de Poeti
It is Bologna's oldest osteria and opened since the 16th century. The brick-vaulted ceilings, stone walls, and ancient wine barrels provide just the sort of ambience you would expect to find in such a historic establishment. Stop in to enjoy the live jazz and folk music that's on tap most nights.
Address: via Poeti 1B
Telephone: +39 051 2364416

Cassero
It represents Bologna's most popular gay bar, with a noisy, discolike atmosphere and floor shows. The club occupies one of Bologna's medieval gates, the top of which serves as a roof garden and open-air dance floor in good weather.
Address: via Don Minzoni 18
Telephone: +39 051 6494416

EVENTS

Bologna Motor Show
It take places every year in December, at the Fiera di Bologna. Is is an important appointment for those who love international car and motorcycle trade show. The best of two wheel and four wheel international production, with numerous debuts and a thrilling race and exhibition schedule.

Bologna Jazz Festival
Bologna's Teatro delle Celebrazioni is one of the main stages for the Bologna Jazz Festival, offering 100 hours of fine music each year since 1938. Along with concerts, art exhibitions take place in jazz clubs around Bologna and nearby towns.

Artefiera
It is an international exhibition and market of contemporary art, one of the longest running shows in Italy for the art market, with more than 250 exhibiting galleries.
It takes place at the end of January at the Fiera di Bologna.