Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna, a region located in northern Italy most known for the amazing food and beautiful architecture. Commonly overlooked for Florence, Rome and Venice…this beautiful city is quieter and merely a 30-minute train ride from Florence or 2-hours from Rome. Bologna is still a bustling medieval college town today and is commonly referred to as La Rossa meaning “The Red”, referring to the terracotta buildings of its past. While all of Italy has fantastic food, this region is the greatest when it comes to food production, thus another popular Bologna nicknamed is La Grassa or “The Fat One.” If you google tours in Bologna, unlike other cities in Italy, this one doesn’t give an overwhelming number of tours related to history but rather all different food tour options.
Where To Stay in Bologna
Hotel Corona D’ Oro
I spent two nights in this beautiful medieval city and based myself in the heart of Bologna. I stayed at Hotel Corona D’ Oro 1890 which was an outstanding four-star hotel with enchanting accommodations, friendly staff, a delightful breakfast, a bar on site as well as a restaurant for dinner. The location is perfect as it is steps away from the “two towers” of the city as well as a few streets away from the famous Piazza Maggiore and Piazza Grande. I would highly recommend staying at this beautiful hotel.
What To Do in Bologna
Take a guided history tour of the city. Europe is not only beautiful, but each magnificent city has so much history behind the facade. Bologna is no exception. We took a 3-hour private tour, booked through our hotel, where the guide catered to our interests in learning the history of Bologna, pointing out the important monuments, squares and churches and even provided personal suggestions for drinking and eating. I always find it best to book a walking tour at the beginning of a stay so you can know the history and the layout of the city itself…making it easier to explore the remainder of the visit.
Visit one of the many churches. My personal favorite and perhaps one of the most popular is the Basilica di San Petronio. This is located is Piazza Maggiore and can be recognized by the half complete exterior, which we learned went unfinished due to lack of funds. This basilica is impressive in size and for the beautifully stained-glass windows, and individual chapels inside. Kevin and I learned that there is a pendulum on the floor or the basilica which was used to designate the time of day based on where the sun was positioned (very unique!) Another church worth visiting is the Basilica- Santuario di Santo Stefano which is a complex of three churches built at different periods in time, which can be seen with the architecture. There are beautiful courtyards as well which make it for a peaceful visit. The last church which we did not have time to visit but was recommended by our guide was Santuario di Madonna di San Luca located outside of historical Bologna upon a hill and can be located via bus or a long walk.
Visit the Main Square of Piazza Maggiore. This is the heart of Bologna and where visitors and locals gather daily. This square is surrounded by the historical buildings the medieval city including Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo d’ Accursio, Palazzo dei Banchi, Palazzo dei Notai, Palazzo el Podesta and home to the famous Fountain of Neptune. Don’t miss visiting the square and don’t be surprised if an event is occurring! We have the opportunity to see both a dancing fundraiser as well as a 5K in the two-day visit.
Find the Hidden Canals. Bologna has almost 38 miles of covered canals that were created as a hydraulic system for the city as a means of an energy source and for trading. Some of these “hidden” canals can still be seen in specific areas of the city. Our walking tour guide told us to visit the most popular “Secret Window” which allows you to see the long stretch of canals. This may sound a little odd searching for the “Secret Window” but trust me, you wont be the only one…we waited in line to take a peek through the window!
Climb the Asinelli Tower. Now you might be second guessing this idea once you see just how much this tower is leaning but it’s definitely worth it for the views! This is the tallest medieval learning tower in the world and stands directly next to Garisenda Tower, making them known as the “Two Towers” and the symbol of the city of Bologna. The tower is 92.2 meters high with 498 wooden stairs, leaning at 1.2 degrees. I was shocked to learn that the Garisenda Tower actually leans more than the leaning tower of Pisa! The Garisenda Tower leans at 4 degrees while Pisa leans at 3.97 degrees…luckily for those leery about the lean, Garisenda Tower is not open to climb. The views at the top of Asinelli overlook the city and are lovely.
Get Lost Exploring the Streets. Bologna has endless streets to wander, explore history, shop, eat or drink so make sure to spend some time walking around with no plan!
Where To Eat in Bologna
Ristorante San Pietro was a stumble upon lunch and it absolutely delicious! I mean I still stick by my statement that I can’t imagine having a bad meal in Italy but without doing research there is always a little gamble. Lucky for us Ristorante San Pietro shut down any worries! We knew it had to be really great because the outdoor patio was almost completely full, and we saw locals who participated in the 5K early that morning eating here…where the locals go you can’t go wrong. The restaurant is situated on a quite cobblestone street which was delightful! We ordered wine, the caprese salad and two pizzas! I left full and happy!
Da Cesari came highly recommended by Hotel D’ Oro 1890 as well as our photographer who is a local in Bologna. This restaurant is in the historic center near Piazza Maggiore and has been in business for over fifty years. The website details the history as being born an Osteria and wine retailer and becoming a meeting place for Bologna locals and now tourists since 1962. The main dining room seats 60 people and the private room 40 people, and I highly suggest making a reservation. Many groups tried to walk in, and all had to be turned away as they were fully booked. Kevin and I ordered the assorted cold cuts as a starter, homemade pasta with classic Bolognese sauce and fresh ravioli with porcini mushrooms and black truffle.
Incrocio Montegrappa was another recommendation from our photographer who is a local in Bologna and it truly did not disappoint! Also located in the historic center of Bologna, this restaurant is larger with 80 seats inside and an additional 25 seats outside beneath a covering for shade during hot summer days. I thought the décor was very modern and airy compared to many traditionally decorated Italian restaurants. We ordered the fresh caprese salad as a starter, both order the homemade pasta with Bolognese sauce and chocolate cake for dessert. Yes…I had pasta with Bolognese back-to-back nights, but they were definitely different. Da Cesari serves a true al dente style pasta while Incrocio Montegrappa cooks the pasta longer, totally a personal preference, but I was partial to Incrocio Montegrappa!
Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla…yes that gelato! The mission of this gelateria is “It takes passion, love, care and creativity,” and I could definitely tell that all went into this tasty gelato. Besides tasting fantastic, the gelateria is charmingly decorated and even the gelato is served with some extra touches…including the added waffle cookie on top with the name stamped across for branding. Super cute and Instagramable!
