Guide to Bologna - italy

Bologna, home to the world's oldest University (founded in 1088), has a rich and varied history - founded by the Etruscans, developed by the Celtic tribe the Boii (from whom it gets its name), and conquered by both the Romans and later the Vatican, the city is, nowadays, a rich and prosperous modern city with a medieval heart.

Largely overlooked by foreign tourists (partly due to its proximity to Florence), the city is a gem and well worth a leisurely visit. It is the widely acknowledged gastronomic capital of Italy, home to numerous splendid pasta dishes, and various good-value wines. It may be slightly short on world-class museums, but more than makes up for it with its vibrant cultural scene, hosting concerts, festivals, and various outdoor events throughout the year.

Bologna is the political and administrative capital of the Emilia-Romagna region (pop. 5million) and plays host to major international events as a result. It's also a major transport hub with important train lines and autostrada passing through. This makes it a useful base for exploring smaller provincial cities like Parma, Modena, Ferrara, Rimini, and Forli

The city is also remembered as the tragic scene of Italy's worst major terrorist attack in the 1980s, when the train station was blown up killing 85 people and injuring hundreds.

A flickr's eye view of Bologna

Photos on flickr with the tag ' Bologna'

Things to see and do in Bologna

Santuario della Madonna di San Luca

Approaching the city from afar by car or train, Bolognese residents start to feel at home as soon as they see the silhouette of San Luca perched on the hills above the city...read on»»
The Twin Towers - La Torre degli Asinelli and la Torre Garisenda

Right in the centre of the city, these two towers - full of character and history - dominate the city skyline....read on»»
Watch a match at the Renato Dall'ara Stadium

Bologna's famous Renato Dall'Ara stadium is one of the finest examples of fascist architecture surviving in Italy....read on»»
Visit the Ducati Museum

Over half a century of racing history is preserved in the Ducati motorbike museum, open to the public at Ducati's headquarters in Bologna...read on»»
See the fresco by Giovanni da Modena in the Basilica of San Petronio

San Petronio, the huge church in Piazza Maggiore is worth a visit in its own right, but the relatively unassuming fresco of Dante's Inferno has been the chief sightseeing attraction in the church, since Al Qaeda allegedly placed it on a target...read on»»

Prepare for your trip to Bologna

Upcoming events in Bologna

Jeroen de Rijke / Willem de Rooij 29th-April-2008

Exhibition in Mambo, the Museum of Modern Art - finishes 8th of June
May Day Festival 1st-May-2008

Free open air concert in Piazza Maggiore, with the Modena City Ramblers and Rino Gaetano band to celebrate May day
Slow Food on Film 7th-May-2008

International Festival of Food and Film
Rocker Festival 26th-May-2008

Five nights of concerts with Explosions in the sky, Spiritualized, and Isobell Campbell & Mark Lannegan
il Cinema Ritrovato 28th-June-2008

8 day annual film festival, including free open-air screenings in Piazza Maggiore
Metallica 22nd-July-2008

American band Metallica play their only Italian show of the year at Bologna's Parco Nord outdoor arena. The band

Getting Around Bologna

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