WHAT TO VISIT

Must-see is Piazza Maggiore, in the heart of Bologna, one of the locals’ favourite spots. This square is overlooked by two relevant buildings: Palazzo d’Accursio, headquarters of the City Hall and home of the Collezioni Comunali Art Collections, and the San Petronio Cathedral, where the world’s largest sundial is preserved. Palazzo d’Accursio also hosts the famous Clock Tower and its massive mechanical clock, marking the time in the city since 1444. Another important monument is the Neptune’s Foutain, crafted by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna.

While wandering in the heart of Bologna, it happens to stumble upon further hidden gems. Among those is the San Domenico Church, hosting a marble ark where the San Domenico’s body remains are guarded, as well as some sculptures made by a young Michelangelo.

On a higher perspective, the Two Towers dominate Bologna’s skyline and represent a further symbol of the city. Built in the Middle Age as defensive lookout, the Asinelli and the Garisenda Towers offer spectacular overviews of the city.

Another majestic view of Bologna can be found on the Colle della Guardia, where the San Luca Sanctuary is located. Popular pilgrimage destinations among locals, it is connected to the city centre through Porta Saragozza and the Meloncello Arch: a 4 km-long colonnade worth being named UNESCO World Heritage Site.

LOCAL TASTES AND FLAVOURS

Bologna’s cuisine is definitely one of the features that make this city so popular in the world. Its fresh egg pasta recipes based on eggs, flour, water and pasta roller have been handed down for centuries, and still give life to some of the most appreciated flavours of the area such as tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagna. Worldwide renowned are the “Spaghetti Bolognese”, with the typical meat ragù topping.

Among Bologna’s flagship dishes, tortellini are the most popular: a pasta sheet filled with minced meat, sealed by overlapping the two corners. They are usually served with broth to distinguish them from the larger tortelloni, which are paired with butter- or tomato-based sauces, or anything else according to each own taste.

Besides pasta, mortadella is also very appreciated: it’s a sausage made from pure pork in a cylindrical or oval shape, stuffed with peppercorns grains. Mortadella di Bologna has been a PGI (Protected Geographical Identification) product since 1998.

HISTORY

The Bologna area has been inhabited since the 9th century B.C. and was also an important hub during the Roman Empire. However, Bologna’s rise occurred in the Middle Ages, between the late 10th and early 11th centuries, when it repopulated and grew an important cultural and political ferment that led in 1088 to the founding of the University. This establishment played the role of one of the world’s leading institutions for many centuries, so much so that it led to the name “Bologna, la dotta”, Bologna, the educated city.

From 1530 Bologna was then incorporated into the Papal States until its admission into the Italian Kingdom in 1859. During World War II, the importance of its railway hub made it a sensitive target, and repeated bombing raids took place from July 1943 until the liberation, by the Partisans troops, on April 21, 1945. Bologna is recognized as one of the cities where the Partisan resistance was the most tenacious.

After World War II, the name of Bologna is linked to one of the most tragic moments in recent Italian history: the Bologna Massacre of August 2, 1980. A bomb exploded in a train station waiting area, killing 85 people and injuring more than 200, one of the most serious terroristic attacks to ever occur in Italy.