{"id":9762,"date":"2022-04-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yollacalls.com\/temp\/bologna-part3\/"},"modified":"2023-02-06T13:55:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:55:30","slug":"bologna-part3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yollacalls.com\/blog\/bologna-part3\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 8 Bologna Attractions – Historic sights of Bologna, Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luckily, the perfectly preserved historical center of Bologna is easy to discover on foot and all the must-visit <\/span>Bologna attractions<\/b> are within walking distance from one another. But you may want some help deciding where to go and what to try first. In this article, you’ll find the most historic Bologna attractions<\/em>. We’re going to take you on a personalized tour<\/span>\u00a0of restaurants, parks, historical points and more, share the stories behind the sights and show you how the locals live.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What to Do in Bologna Italy – Top Tourist Attractions in Bologna Italy<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is the second article in our three-article series on Bologna, prepared by our Italy-loving PR and marketing manager Natalie. Bologna is one of the most energetic and youthful Italian cities that is (luckily) not found on the list of common Italy tourist destinations. This means you can enjoy it with no haste.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, Natalie not only shares with you the best things to do in Bologna, but she uncovers the most traditional Bologna attractions \u2013 ones that reveal the history of the city and its special place in Italian culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get to know Bologna on your own – Top Bologna Attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Firstly, It\u2019s important to point out that Bologna attractions include a wealth of wonderful, interesting, delicious and beautiful places and things to experience. I strongly encourage you to take a day or two sightseeing in Bologna to explore all the magnificent places with no hurry and no particular agenda.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want some general ideas for where to stroll, have a look at Part 1<\/a> of our Bologna series. It gives you a quick overview of the history and top sights of Bologna city.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re ready to dive into the history of Bologna city now and explore traditional Bologna attractions, then read on. I\u2019m going to share my own perfect path that I would use to show the most traditional Bologna attractions to anyone coming here for the first time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin!<\/span><\/p>\n

Top 8 Bologna Attractions – Personalized journey through Bologna<\/span><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s take the first step off the Bologna Centrale, one of the biggest railway stations all over Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n

(By the way, a little hint: traveling using the railways is so cheap and easy in Italy, especially compared to my experience in France. I\u2019d strongly recommend taking this into account while planning your Italian vacation).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Parco Della Montagnola – Bologna Attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Turn left and in a couple of minutes, you\u2019ll see one of the most beautiful Bologna attractions \u2013 a flourishing garden soaring up in front of you. That\u2019s the Parco Della Montagnola. A nice place to jog in the morning (though, not somewhere I\u2019d go at night) and one of the best places to visit in Bologna.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, you can sip in the fresh air, take a moment to enjoy the calmness after the train ride (if you took one), and then go back to Via dell\u2019Indipendenza. That\u2019s the main shopping vein of the city, a place where there are plenty of local boutiques, ZARA, Mango and other international giants, overpriced bars, and touristic shops. If you want to know where to go in Bologna Italy for contemporary shopping, this is your best choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Feel lucky if you\u2019re there on Saturday or Sunday: the street is restricted to pedestrians every weekend so people can fully enjoy all the ancient buildings, portici (porticos) and the entire view.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you don\u2019t make any turns, Via dell\u2019Indipendenza will lead you right up to several traditional Bologna tourist attractions \u2013 the <\/span>Piazza del Nettuno<\/b> with the famous <\/span>Fontana del Nettuno<\/b> in the middle, <\/span>Palazzo Re Enzo<\/b> on the left, <\/span>Biblioteca Salaborsa<\/b> on the right, and the queen of the city \u2013 <\/span>Piazza Maggiore<\/b> a bit further ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Piazzo Maggiore – Heart of Bologna<\/span><\/h2>\n

While approaching Piazzo Maggiore, stop and take a look around inside the <\/span>Palazzo Communale<\/b> gardens. They are beautifully authentic and truly feel like a traditional Bologna attraction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being the heart of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore has countless small veins and vessels branching out from it. Choose any little street you like and enjoy the path, which will definitely take you to the coziest restaurant or a breathtaking view.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, be sure not to miss the main tourist places during your first visit, even these are steeped in history and represent a key point in the art history of Bologna city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can go back on Via Rizzoli and head off to Le Due Torri.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Towers of Bologna – Bologna attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

The towers of Bologna are an especially unique thing to see and do in Bologna. They are of the most traditional Bologna attractions. While I mentioned them in Part 1<\/a> of this Bologna series, I\u2019m going to share some of the history, so you\u2019re aware of it when you visit them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The legend is, Bologna used to be a city of towers. Each family with a high income had to build a tower to show its power and wealth. One day, there turned out to be way too many towers \u2013 the city had a lot of wealthy families. It became dangerous to stay on the streets as one of the towers could collapse at any moment from an earthquake or something else. To avoid a domino effect, it was decided to take most of them down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The other legend is that you\u2019ll never graduate if you don\u2019t climb all the way up the tallest one \u2013 Torre degli Asinelli \u2013 498 steps up a semi-exposed wooden staircase. A diploma in Bologna is a tough puzzle to crack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana with the towers, you can see the trident of major city center streets. A short walk through Via Zamboni \u2013 and you find yourself in the middle of the University of Bologna.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. University of Bologna – Bologna attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since Bologna embodies as much of the past as it does the present, a stop at the University of Bologna may be worth considering. Libraries, museums, coffee shops, students sitting right on the ground preparing for another exam \u2013 that\u2019s Alma Mater Studiorum. Imagine that you\u2019re still a student (or maybe you really are one?) and take as much time as you need to feel the atmosphere of the first university in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then go back to the towers the same way so as not to get lost, take a quick look at Via San Vitale and Strada Maggiore so you remember how to get back there when you have some free time. And head to Via Santo Stefano, Piazza Santo Stefano, and Basilica di Santo Stefano.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Via Santo Stefano, Piazza Santo Stefano, and Basilica di Santo Stefano – Top Bologna attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is a unique structure of seven different churches, built next to each other. Wander inside, imagine the priests praying there centuries ago, listen to all the mysterious noises and smell the antiquity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s continue our stroll. <\/span>One of my personal favorites is the market street area close to Piazza Maggiore \u2013<\/span> Via degli Orefici, Via Caprarie, Via Clavature<\/b> and all the rest in between.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Market Streets off Piazza Maggiore – Bologna attractions<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the daylight, there are noisy Italian grannies buying the freshest ingredients for their <\/span>tortellini<\/b>, arguing (actually, shouting is a better word) men drinking espresso standing at the high tables right on the street (where you can hardly move, by the way). This is indeed a uniquely Bologna attraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

The air is a mixture of bakeries, coffee, meat and fresh fish scents. Suddenly, you can pop into flower shops with bouquets or the famous <\/span>Eataly<\/b> (but the local market in front of it with the same goods is way better). Oh, here you\u2019ll see all the reasons people adore Italy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But at night, when the market is closed, new versions of Bologna attractions emerge. Small cozy restaurants appear out of nowhere. Tables stand right on the streets, and you probably won\u2019t be able to tell which restaurant they belong to. Prosciutto, parmesan and mortadella plates, bustling talks, sincere laughing, bunches of friends. Italy is love, and you fall in love with it right here. My personal favorite is 051 \u2013 <\/span>Osteria<\/b>. There\u2019s no place like this, to feel more Italian.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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After such an afternoon or evening, it can be a great idea to stroll through another of Bologna\u2019s refreshing parks. One spot I love is <\/span>Giardini Margherita<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Giardini Margherita<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is a park located away from hustle and bustle of the central streets but is still within walking distance from Piazza Maggiore. Bologna is stony and rocky, and this place is an oasis for anyone who misses nature, making it a must-see Bologna attraction. Plus, it\u2019s one of the most expensive areas to live in Bologna!<\/span><\/p>\n

And remember, the spirit of Bologna isn\u2019t only one of youth, food and Italian history. Of course, not a single car driver should miss a chance to visit the <\/span>Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati<\/b> factories and museums in the suburbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati Factories and Museums<\/span><\/h2>\n

These are fun to visit even if you don\u2019t drive \u2013 they are located in the villages outside of the center of Bologna, where you can see more luxury cars than people around. An interesting experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then go to the nearest cafe \u2013 you deserve an <\/span>orzo<\/span><\/i><\/a> after such a busy day!<\/span><\/p>\n

At night, Bologna isn\u2019t boring. I really mean it. If you feel like visiting the city at night, the recipe is: Visit<\/span> Piazza Verde<\/b> and take a seat in a free spot (feel lucky to find one). Talk with crowds, meet lots of people you know and don\u2019t know, then visit one of your favorite restaurants or stroll through the city. Fun, guaranteed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Top Tourist Attractions in Bologna Italy – More than architecture<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is a short list of the must-visit top things to do and see in Bologna if you\u2019re interested in traditional <\/span>Bologna attractions<\/b>. In my opinion, they are some of the best in Bologna, Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite short \u2013 bear in mind to study some other places of interest on your own. I can\u2019t name all the back streets, lanes and alleys \u2013 the experience of finding them by yourself is too precious. But there are some corners I insist on checking out \u2013 so that Bologna opens up its real face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, what about Bologna cuisine? If you want to learn about the cuisine of this area, then you\u2019re in luck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bologna Cuisine – Other things to do in Bologna<\/span><\/h3>\n

The list of traditional <\/span>Bologna attractions<\/span><\/i> doesn\u2019t end at architecture and parks. Check out <\/span>Part 3<\/b><\/a> of our series to dive deeper into the history of Bologna and find some exquisite, traditional Italian dishes to try when you visit Bologna city.<\/span><\/p>\n