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Our Essential Bologna City Guide

By June 11, 2024February 8th, 2025No Comments

The Italian city of Bologna is the capital of the Emilia Romagna region and one of our favorite cities. Not only is the food culture here exceptional, the city itself is full of things to see and do. Whether you’ve only got a day to explore or want to spend a little longer here, let’s dive in with our Bologna city guide:

raw pasta tortellini for sale
While the excellent pasta is a big attraction, there are a lot more as you’ll see in this Bologna city guide!

A brief introduction to Bologna, Italy

Located in a prime position in the center of Italy, there have been people living here for thousands of years. The ancient Romans founded the colony of Bononia in 189 BC, and it is from this original ancient settlement that the city of Bologna evolved.

The city’s prestige increased in 1088, when the University of Bologna was founded, making it the oldest university in the western world. The congregation of academics here put Bologna at the forefront of modern thinking. This greatly benefited the city, with many beautiful churches built. The whole city center was also redesigned in the Middle Ages with porticoes everywhere.

Sadly, Bologna was heavily impacted during World War II, with a lot of bomb damage in the historic center. The city was able to preserve a lot however, and central Bologna still holds on to its distinctive character.

bologna clock tower
The astronomical clock tower is just one of the many buildings that still exists in its original form in Bologna

Of course, we can’t talk about Bologna, Italy without talking about its incredible food! Unlike in other parts of Italy, Bologna has always had a large supply of meat, eggs and cheese. This means its traditional cuisine makes good use of these ingredients – so much so that one nickname for the city is La Grassa, or The Fat! Classic dishes exported all over the world like lasagne, tortellini, and bolognese ragù, originated here and make Bologna worth visiting all by themselves!

What to see and do in Bologna

Whatever you like to do when you travel, Bologna has something for you!

Admire the tall towers of Bologna, Italy

In medieval Bologna, the city was full of towers, with many contemporary writers remarking on the number and size of them. These medieval towers were extremely tall, which meant they were easier to use for defensive purposes; the tallest was 97 meters high!

Over the centuries, many of the towers came down, either intentionally or from damage, but you can still see around twenty different towers today around Bologna.

towers in city center bologna city guide
These tall towers are a distinctive feature of Bologna

The most famous are the Asinelli and Garisenda towers, which have become the symbol of the city. If you are good with heights, you can climb the Asinelli tower for incredible views.

You can also see towers in the main square of Piazza Maggiore, including the Accursi, or Clock tower (named for the large astronomical clock added in the 15th century), and Arengo tower.

Explore Bologna’s history

There are lots of places in Bologna where you can explore the city’s history. We recommend starting with Bologna university. Yes, today the world’s oldest university is still an active place of learning but there are parts that you can visit which date back to the earliest period of its history. The Archiginnasio palace was the home of lecture halls and you can also visit a 17th-century wooden theater where early anatomy classes were held.

To see a different side of Bologna’s past, you should visit the Quadrilatero. This has been the central market place for generations, and is the perfect place to learn more about the historic city and its people.

Once you’ve explored the market, head to the nearby Piazza Maggiore, which has been the principal square in Bologna since the 1200’s. In Piazza Maggiore, you’ll find the grand Basilica di San Petronio, the town hall in Palazzo D’Accursio, Palazzo del Podestà and more. The neighboring Piazza del Nettuno with a huge monumental fountain of Neptune is also a must-visit in our opinion!

bologna fountain of neptune
This is one of our favorite piazzas in Bologna, thanks to the ornate fountain of Neptune!

One of our favorite Italian destinations awaits!

Explore the culinary delights of Emilia-Romagna with our exclusive tours in Bologna and Parma. Discover the rich flavors of Parmigiano, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar in Parma, or join a cooking class at Casa Mia.

In Bologna, immerse yourself in the vibrant market scene, enjoy an aperitivo, or dine with a local. Tailored and custom experiences ensure a unique adventure, blending history, culture, and gastronomy.

Whether savoring local specialties or exploring vineyards, these tours promise an unforgettable taste of Italy.

Join us and let the beauty of Emilia-Romagna awaken your soul.

EMILIA ROMAGNA TOURS

Wander the porticoes of Bologna

Bologna has more porticoes than any other city in the world. Including those located outside the historic center, there are 62 kilometers of porticoes in the city!

They were built when Bologna went through a period of expansion. They were designed to allow upper floors of buildings to be expanded while still leaving space for people to get around the city, protected from the weather. Originally made from wood, in the 1500’s it was decreed that they should be converted to stone or brick for safety and stability.

porticoes of bologna city guide
The long porticoes of Bologna still provide protection from the weather today

The longest set of porticoes are those at the sanctuary of San Luca, high up on a hill outside of Bologna, but you can walk through many of the porticoes as you explore the city, just as people have been doing for over 700 years!

Take a day trip from Bologna

Bologna is a great base for day trips, with excellent connections by train to major cities like Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice. You can also easily reach other destinations in the Emilia-Romagna region such as Parma, Modena, and Ravenna.

Our favorite thing to do in Bologna, however, is to join one of the many food tours on offer. These take you to different producers and allow you to taste some of the fantastic food and wine they make. The origins of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham, and much more are all right here!

barrels of balsamic vinegar for aging
Seeing the process of making balsamic vinegar (aging in these wooden barrels) is a great experience

Eating and drinking in Bologna

As has probably become clear by now, we love the food of Bologna and Emilia-Romagna! Many of the dishes we think of as “Italian” are from this part of the country, but trying them in their original form is another level of enjoyment.

Here are some of our favorite dishes, ingredients and drinks to look out for while you’re visiting:

Bolognese ragù

This is a classic for good reason. A rich meat sauce slow-cooked for hours to achieve the perfect harmony of savory flavors is traditionally served with ribbons of tagliatelle egg pasta. You won’t find spaghetti bolognese here, as the round strands of spaghetti don’t hold the ragù in the same way, and are not the local pasta shape.

Lasagna verde

You can find versions of lasagna all over Italy but Bologna’s version, “green lasagna” is especially delicious. Cooked spinach is incorporated into pasta dough to give the sheets of lasagne a distinctive green color before being layered with ragù and bechamel creamy sauce. Light? No, but who cares when you’ll be walking around the city for hours!

Mortadella

Known as bologna in the US after the city it originated in, mortadella is one of our absolute favorite cured meats. High-quality pork is ground and mixed with lard before being encased in large sausages and then steamed to cook the meat. Usually sliced thin before being added to panini or piadine, although sometimes served in thicker pieces, mortadella is creamy and flavorful. Pistachios and black peppercorns are often added, but you can also get it plain.

bologna mortadella joint being sliced
A piece of freshly-sliced mortadella is absolute heaven!

Passatelli in brodo

A very simple dish but one that is full of memories, passatelli are made from a dough of Parmigiano cheese, breadcrumbs and egg. Extruded into little cylinders, the pieces are cooked in a beef broth, creating a distinctive texture and flavor. Generally only found in traditional restaurants, this is a hug in a bowl when you can get it!

Tortellini

Filled pastas are very popular in this region, with tortellini being the most famous. The small pieces of ring-shaped stuffed pasta come with all sorts of fillings and sauces, so you won’t struggle to find a combination you enjoy.

Torta di Riso

Available all day long (and divine for breakfast!), Torta di Riso is everywhere in Bologna. This is rice pudding cooked with plenty of eggs, milk and sugar to make a chewy, delicious cake. It sounds and looks simple, but the richness of flavor more than makes up for the plain appearance.

torta di riso on display in a bakery
Torta di Riso looks simple but the taste is out of this world

Join a Bologna food tour

If you really want to delve into the city’s food history and taste Bologna in all its goodness, you need to take a food tour. Join us for an exploration of Bologna’s markets, enjoy a fun aperitivo or dine with a local to experience everything the city has to offer!

Visiting Bologna

Bologna is an excellent year-round destination, so you really can visit whenever you want. Of course, in January it will be cooler and there’s a higher chance of rain, but this means there are fewer visitors in the city. In September the weather is glorious but this is one of the busiest months of the year, so your decision should come down to what your priorities are.

Explore the Timeless Beauty of Venice & Veneto

Picture yourself wandering through the narrow streets of Venice, exploring secret piazzas while sipping on spritz, or venture beyond the city to the rolling hills of Veneto to indulge in some of Italy’s most unique cuisine visiting historic villas and medieval towns. From world-class art and architecture to local culinary specialities, every detail is tailored for an unforgettable Italian adventure.

Ready to discover the magic of this incredible corner of Italy? 

VENICE & VENETO TOURS

Luckily, it is extremely easy to get to Bologna, as many train lines from all across Italy pass through here. You can get trains from all the major cities, including Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples, as well as more local trains from closer destinations. This makes it simple to visit Bologna on a quick day trip or as part of a wider Italian itinerary. Bologna also has its own airport so you can travel directly there if you prefer.

bologna city guide streets of bologna
Come and explore the streets of Bologna with Casa Mia!

We love Bologna and would always recommend that people take the time to visit if they are anywhere in Northern Italy. If you’d like to learn more beyond this Bologna city guide, we have a wide range of experiences that will help you do just that; take a look at all of them here.

bologna city guide pin

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