17+ amazing things to see in Bologna, Italy

Bologna is the city of arches, of the many preserved medieval gates and of the oldest operating university in Europe. The article below is devoted to the most interesting things to see in Bologna. We saw them all during our two-day stay in the city. We visited it at the end of last November. It was still autumn there, the leaves of the deciduous trees and bushes were bright yellow. At the same time, preparations for Christmas in the form of festive decorations had already begun. Apart from these colors, we happened to have very cold and gray weather. However, it did not prevent us from fulfilling everything we had planned.

Contents

Why is Bologna worth visiting
My quick tips for visiting Bologna
Things to see in Bologna for one or two days
How to get to Bologna
How to get from the airport to Bologna city center
How to get around Bologna
Where to stay
Where to eat
Final thoughts

Why is Bologna worth visiting

I can think of at least 5 reasons to visit Bologna. First of all, it is a city with a rich history, including the oldest active university in Europe. Secondly, Bologna has its own look – the porticoes and reddish buildings. Bologna is considered the culinary capital of Italy. Last but not least I’d put two more facts –  there are convenient flights to the city from many European airports, and trains pass through the central railway station in Bologna, leading to various points of Italy.

In conclusion, based on the facts and my personal impressions, I definitely think that Bologna is worth visiting and I’d recommend to spend there at least one whole day or better two. Continue reading for more specific and useful tips.

Things to see in Bologna for one or two days

Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and the province of Bologna in Italy. Most of the things to see in Bologna are free – arches, gates, churches, including the magnificent church of San Stefano, which will be discussed below. It’s enjoyable to wander through the city and spotting them.

The Arches of Bologna

The arcades of Bologna are long rows of arches, supported by columns, on almost every building. They are like the entrances to the buildings. In fact, they are called porticos. They can also be called covered sidewalks. On one hand, this narrows the streets a little, but on the other hand, it is purely convenient – the porticos protect pedestrians from heavy street traffic and rain. We have established the latter by our own experience.

The porticoes are a very special and distinctive feature of Bologna. Their total length in the city is over 60 km, with 40 km of them falling in the central part of the city. In 2021, the porticoes of Bologna were declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Along with the porticoes, another distinctive feature of Bologna architecture (or at least that of the central part) is the predominant red-tiled color of the buildings.

Little Venice (La Piccola Venezia)

In the 11th century, a network of canals was built in Bologna, diverting the waters of two nearby rivers to the city. This provided water for mills, agricultural areas, and even factories, which significantly contributed to the economic development of the area. Today, the canals are still there, but most of them are hidden underground. However, there is a street not far from the central city square where two of the canals can be seen. The street is called Via Piella, and the place is marked on Google as Finestrella di Via Piella – Canale di Reno (Window of Piella Street – Reno Canal). From our walk there, I can confirm that the location is correctly marked on the map, although the location is not so obvious.

How to find it? First you need to go to Piela Street, where Google takes you – the point is somewhere in the middle in a section between two side streets. Look for a narrow empty space without buildings on one side of the street. There, a stone railing has been built on it, instead of the porticoes on duty. Through this railing, one of the canals, which has penetrated the narrow space between the buildings, is clearly visible. Finestrella, or The Window in other words – is located across the other sidewalk. There may be a queue of people in front of it, and you can orient yourself by that.

If you go early in the morning, as we did, there may be no one there. Look carefully at the wall. The window is covered with a slab similar to the surrounding wall. During our visit, there were no people on the street. We looked around and saw the window. We looked, took pictures, a few minutes passed. During this time, two groups of tourists gathered behind us.

Unfortunately, the canals were empty. Apparently, the recent drought had left its mark, or rather, it had left nothing at all. Nevertheless, it was interesting to search for and see them.

Independence Street (Via dell’Indipendenza)

This is one of the main central streets in Bologna and connects Piazza Maggiore with Porta Galliera, which is very close to Bologna Central Station. The street is quite lively, full of shops and people. There is an impressive monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi on it. Little Venice, which I told you about above, is very close to the monument, although it is on a back street.

The Main Square (Piazza Maggiore)

Piazza Maggiore is the symbol of Bologna. It is large and often crowded and is home to the Palazzo d’Accursio, the Palazzo Podesta, the Fountain of Neptune and the Church of San Petronio. It dates back to 1200 y., when the Municipality began to acquire houses and land to build a square that would unite all the important activities of a city – administration, commerce, services.

Neptune Fountain (Fontana del Nettuno)

Very elegant. It is located in the Main Square with the Town Hall and the Church of San Petronio, although the square around the fountain is known with the name Neptune Square. The fountain was made of marble and bronze between 1563 and 1566 and is the work of the sculptor Giambologna, a native of Flanders and who worked for many years in Florence. A curious fact is that the Neptune Fountain brought its author his first large fee. Moreover, the bill was paid by the pope himself – at that time Pius IV. In addition, the sculptor became known as John of Bologna and from there – Giambologna.

The fountain symbolized the power of the pope, who ruled the world as Neptune ruled the seas. At the feet of the statue lie four angels, personifying the great rivers Ganges, Nile, Amazon and Danube.

D’Accursio Palace (Palazzo d’Accursio)

The earliest building of the palace was the residence of a lawyer named (or surname) Accursius. It was later extended and expanded, and housed administrative offices. In 1336, the palace became the seat of the highest magistrates of the municipality, the so-called Anziani (“Elders”) and then the seat of government. Today it is the Town hall building, impressive and beautiful. It is equipped with a clock tower. It also houses an art museum and a library.

When we were walking around Piazza Maggiore, we saw people walking on the high platform of the tower. Unfortunately, we did not have time for this. but I mention it so that you keep it in mind as an opportunity to look from above.

Podesta Palace (Palazzo del Podestà)

It was built around 1200 as the seat of the local mayor and municipal officials. It is located right on the square. In one corner of the building is located the office of the Bologna Tourist Information Center, where you can stop by for information.

Basilica of San Petronio (Basilica di San Petronio)

Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, it is located in the main square and you can’t miss it, because it is majestic and huge. When I was looking for information on the Internet, I saw a lot of “the” things related to it: the largest church in Bologna and the 5th largest in Italy, the largest brick Gothic church in the world, it houses the oldest musical organ in the world, which is still in use… Its construction began in 1390 and although it continued for quite a long time, its facade remained unfinished, being only partially covered with marble.

There are many chapels in the church of San Petronio. Its entrance is free. Only one of the chapels costs 5 euros. It is located to the left of the entrance and is called the Chapel of the Three Magi or Bolognini. Its walls are richly painted by Giovanni da Modena with scenes from heaven and hell.

For your information, the Basilica of San Petronio may be the largest church in Bologna and stands in the main square of the city, but it is not the cathedral of Bologna. The Cathedral of San Pietro is located on Via dell’Indipendenza near Piazza Maggiore. We walked past it, but never went inside.

The Archgymnasium (Archiginnasio di Bologna)

The University of Bologna is the oldest operating university in Europe and among the oldest in the world. According to publications “the oldest document attesting to its existence dates back to 1088.” Some of the greatest figures in science and culture in ancient Europe studied there, including Dante Alighieri, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Umberto Eco. The old university building is located not far from the main square and the church of San Petronio. It is completely free to enter its courtyard and admire its beautiful porticoes and ornamentation.

Today it houses the Archiginnasio municipal library with a huge collection of works in various fields of science and literature. The most interesting part of it is the Anatomical Theater, which was once used for teaching anatomy lessons. This is a room shaped like an amphitheater and decorated almost entirely in wood. In its center stands the former marble autopsy table. The walls are decorated with wooden statues of famous doctors of the time in different clothes and poses. One of the statues, for example, is of the ancient Roman physician and researcher Galen. Wooden figures of constellations are placed on the ceiling, and in its middle is the god of medicine Apollo.

The autopsy table itself is fenced off, but you can easily sit on the benches of the amphitheater and imagine that you are a medieval medical student.

For entrance to the anatomical theater, a ticket of 3 euros is charged, which you can buy on site. We did so. Otherwise, you can also buy a ticket online here. Please note that online tickets have a fixed date and time. On the ticket site that I mentioned, you can monitor availability for different days. The working hours of the Anatomical Theater are from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Sunday.

The Quadrilateral (Quadrilatero)

This is a square in the center of Bologna with narrow streets, markets, shops and restaurants. The latter looked cozy and pleasant, wonderfully decorated for the upcoming Christmas (in our case).

The Two Towers of Garisenda and Asinelli (Le due Torri: Garisenda e degli Asinelli)

They are located in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana and are among the symbols of the city. Both are leaning. In the past, the Asinelli Tower was accessible, but during our visit to Bologna it was fenced off and inaccessible due to renovations to strengthen them. We still passed by them several times. From one perspective, they looked quite leaning, from another – not so much.

Basilica of Santo Stefano (Basilica di Santo Stefano)

The church is beautiful and fairly different – ​​it consists of several churches, one of which leads into the other. It is also known as the “Seven Churches”. The complex is located on a beautiful square a little away from Piazza Maggiore.

From the square, you first enter the main basilica “St. Stephen”, built in the 8th century. To the left of it is the oval church “Holy Sepulchre”. According to legend, Saint Petronius, bishop of Bologna in the 5th century and patron saint of the city, built a basilica on a temple of the goddess Isis. The saint wanted it to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre “Resurrection of Christ” in Jerusalem. Next is the oldest building in the complex – the church of “St. St. Vitale and Agricola” from the 4th century. The relics of the two saints are kept there. From it you exit into a beautiful courtyard with olive trees and a baptismal font. It also has a name – Pilate’s Courtyard.

The other two buildings are the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Chapel of the Bandage, dedicated to the mourning band that the Virgin Mary wore on her head.

In the complex you can see old frescoes, sarcophagi, fragments of mosaics.

The “Seven Churches” are free to enter. This is another must see thing in Bologna.

Basilica of San Domenico (Basilica di San Domenico)

This is another important landmark in Bologna that I recommend you visit, although it is not among the popular things to see in Bologna. It dates back to the 13th century and is of impressive size. It is located south of Piazza Maggiore, about a ten-minute walk from it. You can see a lot of interesting things in the basilica, including several early works by Michelangelo. The founder of the Dominican Catholic order, Dominic de Guzmán (1170-1221), is buried in the basilica, who was canonized after his death under the name of Saint Dominic (1234). The relics of the saint are in the chapel of the same name, San Domenico.

The chapel itself is remarkable. It houses an exquisite sarcophagus, decorated with an abundance of marble sculptures. Among them are sculptures by Michelangelo, Nicola Pisano, Alfonso Lombard and other Renaissance artists. Instead, in a small frame there are photographs with inscriptions about the authorship of the works.

A large number of paintings are exhibited in the church. The many columns inside are also impressive. There is also a museum at the Basilica of San Domenico. Entrance to the church is free, as is the museum, but people have put up signs asking for donations and it is nice to leave a few euros.

Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca (Santuario della Madonna di San Luca)

As its name suggests, it is a religious place of pilgrimage associated with the Virgin Mary. It is located on a hill called Guardia, about 5 km southwest of Piazza Maggiore. The hill is home to a cathedral complex, which offers wonderful panoramic views of Bologna and the surrounding area.

The sanctuary is approached by a portico about 4 km long, the longest one in the world. The portico consists of over 600 arches and, together with the other porticoes in Bologna, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You can get to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca in three ways:

• by car (there is a parking lot next to it),
• on foot for about an hour and 20 minutes from Piazza Maggiore, or
• by the tourist train San Luca Express.

The latter, in my opinion, is the most attractive option. The trains leave from Piazza Maggiore. It is best to check their timetable on the spot. During our stay in Bologna, the train costs 13 euros per person in both directions.

We chose to go to the hill by train. It was a real adventure. We traveled to the sanctuary for about 35 minutes. We started from Piazza Maggiore and passed several interesting sights on the way to the sanctuary. All seats on the train were equipped with an audio guide in about a dozen languages. On the audio on the way there was a talk about the places we passed. We left the central part of Bologna through the medieval Zaragoza Gate. The longest portico begins from it and accompanies the road all the way to the sanctuary.

Up on the hill we had enough time to walk and explore until the train returned. We entered the cathedral, enjoyed the views back to Bologna and forward to the hills. There we met the sunset. We managed to walk a little bit under the famous portico known as the longest covered walkway in the world. It is just a portico, it is not attached to a building.

On the way back, the talk on the train was about the history, culture and culinary traditions of Bologna. In terms of time, the whole adventure took us 2:30 hours. I definitely recommend it. It was very interesting.

Montagnola Park (Parco della Montagnola) and the Pincio Staircase (Scalinata del Pincio)

For a change of pace on your walk in Bologna and to relax on a more secluded bench, you can go to Montagnola Park. Independence Street (Via dell’Indipendenza) leads to it on the way to the train station. The park is one of the oldest and central gardens of the city of Bologna, first opened in the 17th century. The park has a large fountain with many stone statues. There was no water during our visit unfortunately.

From the station side of the park, you descend an impressive staircase – Scalinata del Pincio. Very close to it you will see part of the fortress wall of medieval Bologna, and on the other side of Independence Street (Via dell’Indipendenza) – one of the gates – Porta Galliera.

The Gates of Bologna

During the Middle Ages, the city was surrounded by massive fortress walls, and its interior was accessed through 12 gates in the walls. Today, part of the city walls and 10 of the gates are well preserved. Listed clockwise, these are:

• Porta Galliera,
• Porta Mascarella,
• Porta San Donato,
• Porta San Vitale,
• Porta Maggiore,
• Porta Santo Stefano,
• Porta Castiglione,
• Porta Saragozza,
• Porta San Felice,
• Porta Lame.

• 

• 

• 

If you look at the map, almost every main street leading out of the center has a gate. I recommend that you walk to at least 2-3 gates. We managed to get to six. You will see Porta Zaragoza on the way to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Santa Luca, and Porta Galliera – towards the train station. If you are interested and have time, you can visit them all by bus 33.

How to get to Bologna

You can get to Bologna by plane, by train, by bus, or by car.

By plane

Bologna has an airport called Guglielmo Marconi Airport that is about 6 kilometers from the city center. There are convenient flights to the city from many European airports

By train

A lot of train lines pass through the central railway station – Bologna Centrale, leading to different parts of Italy, including Rome and Florence.

By bus

Bologna bus station (Autostazione) is very closed to the train station. You can use for example the services of FlixBus or Itabus to get to Bologna.

By car

Bologna is easily accessible by Italy’s highways. However, bear in mind that the traffic is restricted in the city center and finding a place to park can be hard. It’s a good idea to park in special areas outside the central part and take the bus or walk to where you want to go.

If you need to rent a car, have a look here for a variety of car rental options from and to Bologna on the Discover Cars platform.

How to get from the airport to Bologna city center

The most convenient way to get from Bologna airport to the city center is by train or taxi. I have personal impressions from the both options.

We took a taxi when we arrived in Bologna. Our plane landed at around 9:30 pm. We left the airport 20 minutes later. We took a taxi to our hotel. There was no traffic at that late time and the taxi costs us 24 euros.

On the way back, we took the Marconi Express because we had to be at the airport at 7:00 pm – a time with heavy traffic. It took us about ten minutes.

By train

You travel by Marconi Express, which takes you to the central train station Bologna Centrale, which is within walking distance of the city center. Details:

• price: 12.80 eur / 23.30 eur in both directions;
• travel time: 7 minutes;
• interval: 7 (10) minutes during the day, 15 minutes early in the morning and late in the evening.

Bologna airport and the train station have clearly visible directions to where to catch the Marconi Express. From Bologna Central Station, the airport is the second and last stop, i.e. there is one stopover.

If you need to travel during rush hour, it is best to use the train.

By taxi

Details:

• price: between 20 and 30 euros;
• travel time: 15-20 minutes, if there is no traffic.

If you are three or four people, it is more cost-effective to take a taxi.

How to get around Bologna

Most of the sights in Bologna are located in the center and are within walking distance of each other. Therefore, it is best to move on foot. This is also the best way to feel the atmosphere of a city.

You can experience an interesting and high-rating guided walking tour to fastly get known with the city center. See the prices and availabilities here.

If you need to use public transport, keep in mind that the ticket price is 1.5 euros for zone 1 (center), it is purchased at newsstands or tobacconists. One ticket is valid for 60 minutes.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Hotel University, a 3-star pretty good hotel in the university part of Bologna. We enjoyed a good breakfast and services. In addition, the hotel is within a short walking distance of both the train station and the main city square.

See current offers for accommodation in Bologna in the box below.

Booking.com

Where to eat

There are many restaurants in the central part of Bologna, including those for a quick bite. We got sandwiches from one on the main street opposite the square and they were not bad at all. One day we had dinner at the Belle Arti pizzeria, it is on Belle Arti street and was very close to our hotel. There we had lasagna Bolognese, homemade pasta, pizza capricciosa. Everything was very tasty and at reasonable prices – each of the dishes cost us between 12 and 14.5 euros, a glass of wine 5 euros, a small beer 4 euros.

You can also enjoy a Classic Bologna Food Tour. See the availabilities here.

Final thoughts

I can briefly summarize my impressions of Bologna in a few sentences. Porticoes here, porticoes there, porticoes everywhere. Most of the buildings are in red tiles and at times look quite similar. Lots of young people walk the streets because of the university. There are lots of churches, the most beautiful of which is the church of San Stefano that actually consists of several churches. And also – a beautiful, huge city square, well-preserved medieval gates and a fortress wall.

And finally, my main advice: if you have one day in Bologna, do things that will make you remember the city for a long time – take a long walk under the porticoes, because they are a characteristic feature of Bologna, see the church of San Stefano, because it is different, travel on the tourist train for thrills and beautiful views from the hill of San Luca.