Bologna

<< Emilia-Romagna

Bologna is the capital and largest city of Emilia-Romagna, and it has been for centuries one of the main cultural and economic centers in Italy. The area around the city was inhabited during prehistory, and it was the site of the Etruscan town of Felsina, before taking the name Bononia in 189 a.C., when the Romans occupied the region. During the last few decades of the Western Roman Empire and the Early Middle Ages, Bologna was sacked numerous times. The city was revived in the 11th and 12th century, becoming one of the main trade centers of Northern Italy. This period also saw the rise of the University of Bologna, which attracted scholars from all of Europe. Founded in 1088, this is considered the oldest university in the world still in operation. Bologna was thriving in the Late Middle Ages, when local powerful families built hundreds of towers of which only a few survive today. However, the city also saw many wars and a period of political instability, before becoming part of the Papal States in 1506. In the following centuries, Bologna suffered a decline, with a decaying economy. After being interrupted during the Napoleonic Wars, the papal rule over the city finally came to an end in 1860, when it joined the new unified Italy. Bologna thrived after the Italian unification, rising again to become one of the main financial and industrial centers in the country. Now Bologna is one of the largest cities in Italy, famous for its many historic buildings and attractions, its culinary tradition, and its university.

✪ Basilica of San Petronio

The Basilica of San Petronio is one of the largest churches in the world. It was built starting in 1390, but its facade remains unfinished. Among the completed lower part of the facade is the 15th-century Porta Magna, the main doorway adorned with statues and reliefs. One of the greatest works of Gothic architecture in Italy, the basilica features a large amount of artworks in its many decorated chapels. The church’s interior also hosts a long marking of a meridian line, designed by the astronomer Cassini and once used to study the position of the Sun and other astronomical parameters.

✪ Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is the main square of Bologna, surrounded by some of its most notable historic attractions. The southern side is dominated by the Basilica of San Petronio, while Palazzo d’Accursio stands to the west. Between these two is the small Palazzo dei Notai, erected between the 14th and 15th century. The 16th-century Palazzo dei Banchi closes the eastern side of Piazza Maggiore. The complex of Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Re Enzo is to the north, while to the northwest the square continues into Piazza del Nettuno. The Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) is located in the middle of Piazza del Nettuno, and it is one of the most important examples of Italian Mannerist sculpture, completed in 1566.

✪ Palazzo d’Accursio

Also known as: Palazzo Comunale

Palazzo d’Accursio is the town hall of Bologna, located on Piazza Maggiore. The original structures dates back to the Late Middle Ages, but it was expanded and reworked several times, blending different styles. The palace includes many decorated halls adorned with frescoes and sculptures. Palazzo d’Accursio also hosts the Civic Art Collection (Collezioni Comunali d’Arte), an art gallery with works from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, and the Biblioteca Salaborsa, the main public library of the city.

✪ Towers of Bologna

Between the 12th and 13th century, the wealthiest families of Bologna showed their power by erecting towers. During this period, over a hundred towers were built in the city. Some were tall and impressive structures, while others were just used small fortified houses. Most of the towers collapsed or were demolished in the following centuries, and some were repurposed or included in later buildings. The two most famous surviving ones, Torre degli Asinelli and Torre della Garisenda, are now a symbol of the city, known together as the Two Towers (Due Torri). The tallest one is Torre degli Asinelli, which stands at a height of 97 meters. The top of the tower can be reached with a long staircase and it offers great views of the city and the area around it. Around 20 more medieval towers survive around the city, most notably Torre degli Azzoguidi and Torre dei Prendiparte, both about 60 meters tall.

✪ Porticoes of Bologna

Bologna is the city with the longest system of porticoes in the world, to the point that they are considered among the most iconic symbols of the city. They were gradually built since the Middle Ages, when many houses had their upper floors expanded in order to deal with an increasing population. Initially the arcades were made of wood, but they were replaced with stone or brick pillars later. However, some porticoes still have their original wooden arcades, like those of Casa Isolani.

✪ Archaeological Civic Museum

The Archaeological Civic Museum (Museo Civico Archeologico) hosts a large collection with findings spanning a period from prehistory to the Roman age, including large sections dedicated to the Etruscan and Egyptian civilizations. The museum also houses a numismatics collection with over 100,000 pieces from different eras.

✪ Archiginnasio of Bologna

The Archiginnasio is the former main building of the University of Bologna. Inaugurated in 1563, it housed the seat of the university until 1803. Currently, it hosts the Archiginnasio Municipal Library (Biblioteca Comunale dell’Archiginnasio), the largest library in Emilia-Romagna. Among the various decorated halls inside the palace, the most notable one is the Anatomical Theater (Teatro Anatomico). Completed during the 17th century, this place for once used to host anatomy lectures.

✪ Palazzo Poggi

Palazzo Poggi is a 16th-century building serving as the headquarters of the University of Bologna. The palace hosts numerous sculptures and artworks and features several frescoed halls, but it is visited mostly for its museums. The main one is the Museum of Palazzo Poggi, which includes many works of art but also a varied collection with sections on nautical science, natural history, geography, military architecture, anatomy, and more. Palazzo Poggi also hosts the Specola Museum of Astronomy (Museo della Specola), a museum of astronomical instruments housed in a tower once used as an observatory. Another museum located here is the European Museum of Students (Museo Europeo degli Studenti), deciated to the history of students.

✪ Museums of the University of Bologna

Along with the museums of Palazzo Poggi, the University of Bologna also houses various other interesting exhibitions located around the same area. The most notable is the Luigi Cattaneo Anatomical Wax Collection (Collezione delle Cere Anatomiche Luigi Cattaneo), a museum of wax models once used to study anatomy. The Collection of Physics Instruments (Collezione di Fisica) and the historic Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico) are located nearby, on the same road. Two more natural history museums are located on the street leading toward Palazzo Poggi, the Mineralogical Collection Luigi Bombicci Museum (Collezione di Mineralogia Museo Luigi Bombicci) and the Geological Collection Giovanni Capellini Museum (Collezione di Geologia Museo Giovanni Capellini), which together host a wide collection of rocks, meteorites, and fossils. The last museum cluster is on Via Selmi, just behind Palazzo Poggi. Here, the remarkable Zoological Collection (Collezione Zoologica), one of the largest of its kind in Italy, is housed in the same building as the Anthropological Collection (Collezione Antropologica) and the Comparative Anatomy Collection (Collezione di Anatomia Comparata). Meanwhile, the Giacomo Ciamician Chemistry Collection (Collezione di Chimica Giacomo Ciamician), a museum of scientific instruments is located just across the street.

✪ Basilica of Santo Stefano

The Basilica of Santo Stefano is a large religious complex in Bologna, composed of various churches and other buildings. Starting as a small shrine in the 4th century, more religious buildings were gradually added over the following centuries, with influences from the Paleochristian, Romanesque, Gothic, and Lombard styles. Among the most notable areas of the complex are the Lombard Church of the Holy Crucifix (Chiesa del Crocifisso), which includes a crypt, and the 5th-century Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro). Even older is the adjacent Church of Santi Vitale e Agricola (Chiesa dei Santi Vitale e Agricola). The Courtyard of Pilate (Cortile di Pilato) connects these three churches with another one, the Church of the Trinity (Chiesa della Trinità). A cloister links this area with even more historic buildings, which host a museum.

✪ Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca is a large church located on top of a hill to the southwest of Bologna. The church can trace its origins to the 12th century, but the current Baroque-style structure was erected during the 18th century. It houses a few artworks and a crypt, but tourists also visit this place for the great view over the city and the surrounding hills. The sanctuary is connected to the city center through a 3.8-km-long arcade, the longest one in the world, which features 666 arches.

Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Re Enzo

This architectural complex is composed of various areas from different eras and it is located between Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. The original Palazzo del Podestà was built in the early 13th century as the seat of local power, and it was later expanded and joined by Palazzo Re Enzo, completed in 1246. The structure was largely reworked and adorned with frescoes and decorations during the Renaissance, gaining its current appearance. The 13th-century civic tower known as Torre dell’Arengo stands on top of the building.

Bologna Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Pietro

The Bologna Cathedral is a large medieval church in Bologna, inaugurated in 1184 and built on the site of a previous church. The Cathedral features many later additions, but it still has the original bell tower of the more ancient church. The facade and the interior are Baroque and various interesting artworks are hosted inside this cathedral.

National Art Gallery of Bologna

The National Art Gallery of Bologna (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) is the most important art gallery in the city. It hosts a large collection of artworks by artists active in and around Bologna from the Late Middle Ages until the 18th century. The museum includes works by artists such as Giotto, Raphael, Titian, and the Carracci family, among many others.

Teatro Comunale of Bologna

The Teatro Comunale is a large opera house in Bologna, opened in 1763. This theater has hosted the inaugural performances on many operas, including the Italian premier of various works by Wagner. The interior features rich and elaborate decorations.

Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore

The Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore is a Romanesque-Gothic church built between the 13th and 14th century. The basilica includes numerous decorated chapels and various artworks, but it is mostly famous for the small Oratory of Santa Cecilia, located just behind the church. This oratory hosts a rich series of 16th-century frescoes painted by some of the most prominent Emilian artists of the Renaissance.

Basilica of San Domenico

The Basilica of San Domenico is a large medieval church erected in the 13th century. The church hosts numerous artworks and various decorated chapels, but it is mostly famous for housing the remains of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican order, inside an elaborate funerary monument known as Arca di San Domenico. Two more monumental tombs of medieval scholars are located in the square just in front of the church, along with a tall column.

Basilica of San Francesco

The Basilica of San Francesco is a large church erected during the 13th century. It features a Romanesque facade, but the rest of the structure is one of the earliest and greatest works of Gothic architecture in Italy. This is reflected by the really tall naves and many elaborate decorations of the church’s interior. Behind the church there are a few funerary monuments housing the remains of some of the greatest scholars who worked in Bologna in the late 13th century. These tombs, along with those near the Basilica of San Domenico are collectively known as the Tombe dei Glossatori.

Museum of Modern Art of Bologna

The Museum of Modern Art of Bologna, or MAMbo (Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna), is a museum of modern and contemporary art hosting a large collection of works. Part of the museum is also the Morandi Museum, an exhibition entirely dedicated to the 20th-century Italian artist Giorgio Morandi.

Palazzo Fava

Palazzo Fava is a historic palace now used to host art exhibitions. Inside, there are various halls adorned with an impressive series of frescoes painted by the Carracci family in the late 16th century. The frescoes depict the mythological stories of Jason, Medea, Europa, and Aeneas, and are among the greatest works of the Carracci.

Medieval Civic Museum of Bologna

Palazzo Ghislardi Fava, adjacent to Palazzo Fava, hosts the Medieval Civic Museum of Bologna (Museo Civico Medievale). The museum includes a collection of Lombard artworks and 14th-century funerary monuments, along with many more piece of medieval art.

Church of San Colombano

The deconsecrated Church of San Colombano was erected during the Middle Ages and it was closed in 1798. Now restored, the church houses the Tagliavini Collection, a museum of historic musical instruments. The oratory annexed to the church features a rich series of frescoes painted in the early 17th century.

Monastery of Corpus Domini

The Monastery of Corpus Domini is a religious complex, founded in 1456 by Saint Catherine of Bologna and still active today. The church of the monastery hosts the mummified remains of the saint sitting on a throne, and can be visited.

Montagnola Park

The Montagnola Park is a public park near the train station of Bologna. It was inaugurated in 1808 and it hosts various statues. The main entrance to the park is located near the ruins of the 14th-century Galliera Castle, and consists of a large and elaborate monumental staircase known as Scalinata del Pincio. The secondary entrance, facing Piazza VIII Agosto, features a monument honoring the people who fought against the Austrian occupation of the city in 1848.

International Museum and Library of Music

The International Museum and Library of Music (Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica) is a music museum and library showcasing the rich musical heritage of Bologna. The museum includes a collection of historic musical instruments and many valuable documents and volumes.

Civic Museum of Industrial Art Davia Bargellini

The Civic Museum of Industrial Art Davia Bargellini (Museo Civico d’Arte Industriale Davia Bargellini) is an art gallery featuring various paintings spanning from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era, but it also includes an interesting collection of objects from different centuries, such as carriages, furnishings, ceramics, and marionettes, among others.

Museum of the History of Bologna

The Museum of the History of Bologna (Museo della Storia di Bologna) is a museum dedicated to the long history of the city, hosted in the medieval Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio. The innovative exhibition of this museum includes various interactive sections.

Jewish Museum of Bologna

The Jewish Museum of Bologna (Museo Ebraico di Bologna) features a rich collection showcasing the history of the Jewish community in the city. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and events.

Casa Carducci

The former residence of Italian writed Giosuè Carducci now hosts a museum dedicated to the poet, along with other cultural institutions. The Civic Museum of the Risorgimento (Museo Civico del Risorgimento), is located in the same building, and it features a collection of documents and objects showcasing the history of Italy from the Napoleonic wars to World War I.

Walls of Bologna

Bologna was once surrounded by a series of walls dating from the Roman period until the Late Middle Ages, but most of the fortifications were demolished in the early 20th century. A few sections of the walls and various city gates survive to this day. The most notable surviving ancient gate is Porta Saragozza, which was mostly reworked during the 19th century. Meanwhile, Porta delle Lame and Porta Galliera were rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century. Others include the partially-demolished Porta Maggiore, Porta San Donato, and Porta San Vitale, as well as the isolated towers of Porta Castiglione, Porta Mascarella and Porta San Felice.

Bologna Charterhouse

The Bologna Charterhouse (Certosa di Bologna) is a former monastery located at the western edge of the city. The central church, the Church of San Girolamo della Certosa, was built in the 14th century and it is decorated with many works of art. In 1797 the monastery was closed and soon it was turned into a monumental cemetery. The area features a large amount of neoclassical statues, sculptures, and monuments adorning the many elaborate tombs. A long portico connects the charterhouse with the start of the arcade leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca.

Ducati Museum

The Ducati Museum is a collection of historic motorcycles and vehicles made by the famous Ducati group. The museum is hosted inside the company’s factory in Borgo Panigale, a neighborhood at the western edge of Bologna.