BOLOGNA TRAVEL BOOKLET

Bologna is a historical city, with around 380,000 inhabitants.It is the capital and largest city of Emilia-Romagna (a region in northern Italy)

Bologna is known in Italy as "La Dotta, La Rossa, La Grassa", which translates as "the educated, the red, the fat". "Educated" is for the city’s university, the oldest in Europe and home to such intellectual greats as the novelist Umberto Eco. "Red" refers both to the red bricks that most of Bologna’s historic buildings and porticoes are made from, and to the city’s history of leftist politics. And "fat", of course, is for Bologna’s culinary history, one based on creamy pasta sauces and rich meat dishes.

Bologna’s historic centre has been beautifully maintained, its original Roman street plan still discernable today. The best way to explore the city is on foot, taking time to admire the architecture and digest the wonderful food that you’re sure to find.

Piazza Maggiore This is the heart of the city and the result of secular transformations which enriched it progressively with important buildings. Surrounding the square are: Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo dei Notai, Palazzo d’ Accursio, Palazzo del Podesta and the scenic façade of Balazzo dei  Banchi. In November, every year, the area located around Piazza Maggiore turns into the welcoming citadel of Chocolate. Cioccoshow is the festival of handicraft chocolate offering five

Basilica di San Petronio

 It is a civic temple; its construction began in 1390,but it has never been completed. The massive central door, restored by the artisan Otorino Nonfarmale,is masterpiece of Jacob dela Quercia.In the inside:the largest  sundial to be found in an enclosed area and the frescoes by Lorenzo Costa, Francesco Francia, Parmigianino. Some decorative objects inside the church have been realized by Bottega Prata, via Caldarese.

Palazzo del Podesta

  Drawn up in 1483, this was the municipal Government palace. The building is support4d by pillars forming an arcade in the square.  The podesta Vault, underneath the tower, is adorned with terracotta statues of Saints protectors of the city. Today it’s home to the Culture Emporium: books, guides, postcards available inside.

Fontana del Nettuno

The bronze figure of Neptune, affectionately known as the Giant, was built by the “Flemish” Giambologna in 1563. The restoration laboratory Morigi restored the Neptune as well as the statue of Gregorio XIII placed on the façade of palazzo d’Accursio. Giovannie Lorenzo Morigi,bolognese, are artisans specializing in the restoration of metals and outdoor monuments for over thirthy years.

Palazzo d’Accursio

It belonged to the Magistracy of the Elders from 1336.The clock tower was built in 1444.The terracotta Madonna and child, placed in the façade in 1478, is work of Nicolo dell Arca. Since decades,the artisan Guisuppe Fini keep the clock tower in good working order and ensure the accuracy of the mechanism inside the tower.

Palazzo Re Enzo

Named Palatium novium, en 1245 became known as King Enzo’s palace,taking its name from the son of emperor Frederick II who was imprisoned here until his death.On Christmas time, CNA (the association representing craft sector and small and medium enterprises) organize in the superb rooms of Palazzo de Enzo a Christmas andcraft fair named Regali a Palazzo.

 Le due Torri: Garisenda e degli Asinelli

These are to be considered the symbol of the city.Originally,during Middle Ages,Bologna counted about seventy towers and house-towers. The construction of the Garisenda tower began around 1120. Construction of the Asinelli tower began right afterwords,and bears the name of the family who owned it. It is 97 m high (498 stairs) and together with the Garisenda (47 m), is under constant observation to measure and contain the inclination. Since 2000,the artisan workshop of Bologna have found their hub in a charming spot,where all kinds of materials and styles mingle.The place,ArtigianArte,is gracefully located right below the Torri degli Asinelli.

Palazzo dell’ Archiginnasio e Piazza Galvani

This building wa the seat of Bologna University until the 1803 when it moved to Palazzo Poggi.The building is nowardays the Municipal Library.On the upper floor is he Anatomy Theatre, where autopsies were held.

Mercato di Mezzo

The site of the ancient market is made of busy streets,bearing the names of ancient trades. In the Santa Maria della Vita church,the famous plastic group of the “Pieta”  is to be admired, since it is one of the most vigorous and expensive masterpieces of the Italian sculpture, moulded by Nicolo dell’ Arca in the second half of 400.

Le porte di Bologna

City gates of Bologna were built around XII to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from the city. The city gates have been recently restored by some local restorers with high professional expertise.