Excursion to Bologna. Tour of medieval Bologna

29.12.2023

Bologna is a typical Italian city with leaning towers and luxurious but unfinished palaces and basilicas.

What to see in Bologna

For many centuries Bologna has been referred to as “red”. and this is not connected with the communists, but with terracotta roofs. The symbol of Bologna is the two towers in Piazza di Porta Ravenana, rising 47 and 97 meters above the ground. Build the first one - Garisenda- they began back in the 11th century, but the architect did not calculate: the foundation began to sag, and the work was stopped. And they began to build a second one nearby, this time more successfully. The first one, Garisenda, has been “falling” for several centuries: today its slope is more than three meters.

Towers in Bologna

The very center of the city is Neptune Square. A huge fountain with a statue of an ancient Roman god surrounded by several female figures symbolizes his power over the waters. In past centuries, the naked male body caused displeasure among townspeople. They even “put” bronze trousers on the statue so as not to offend the morals of particularly sensitive persons. Or were the authorities simply afraid that they would be compared to an impeccably built giant?

Next to the Neptune Fountain is the City Hall - Dakcursio Palace. Modern residents can travel to its upper chambers by elevator. Medieval nobles also did not want to climb on foot, and therefore did it on horseback - they even built a special staircase for horsemen. But it’s worth going upstairs: the second floor houses the most famous museums in the city. In total there are about 40 museums in Bologna. All of them, with the exception of the Pinakothek, are free, and the volunteers working in them do not receive a penny for their work.

The most beautiful cathedral in the city - Basilica of St. Petronius- was never completed. However, in the Middle Ages this was not surprising: money was running out, and workers were waiting for the next “tranche”, so there were many such “long-term unfinished construction”, let us recall at least the most famous - the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in the center of the French capital.

The elaborate facade of the Basilica of St. Petronius is made of white and pink marble and is built on top of rough brickwork. However, imagination can easily fill in the missing details. Inside the basilica there is a line of the solar calendar along the floor. A ray of sun penetrating through a tiny hole on the roof, located at a special angle, allows you to determine the year, month, day.

Nearby is the building of the first university ( Arkiginnasio Palace in Piazza Galvani). Now there is a municipal library there. Tourists freely enter the building, because in addition to the walls painted with frescoes, an ancient anatomical theater has been preserved here. Rows of seats rise to the ceiling and surround a large table. Just a couple of centuries ago, corpses were dissected on it in the presence of several dozen people. Embalming was not used, and therefore it could only be done in winter, a couple of times a month. The bodies of criminals sentenced to death fell on the table. Above the last row of chairs in the wall there was an inconspicuous window: through it, dad watched that everything was going according to the rules. The Church accepted the invasion of human flesh, but opening the skull and touching the genitals was prohibited.

Anatomical theater at the first European university

You should definitely visit the small, seemingly nondescript Church of St. Dominic on the square of the same name. Around her, on several thin light columns, three pompous sarcophagi rose above the ground, in which were not nobles or rulers buried: in the city, scientists were so honored by university professors. Inside the church is the tomb of St. Domenic, one of the figures on the sarcophagus was made by the young Michelangelo. But the main treasure of the cathedral is the chapel. The seats for choristers, located in a semicircle throughout the church altar, are decorated with skillful inlay. Pictures made from pieces of wood are laid out so skillfully that many guests do not believe that they were not painted.

Ancient cities are full of legends and strange traditions. Nobody remembers how it all started, but young couples come to a quiet street in the very center of the city, where there is a roofed building across the river. There is a small window in its wall. Local legend says: if lovers look into it together, their feeling will last until the end of their lives. All day long, couples come to the treasured window, and, apparently, in order to document the conclusion of an eternal union, they leave inscriptions on the wall around the window.

Window in a wall on a street in Bologna

Shopping in Bologna

When in Italy, it is impossible to resist shopping. Going shopping in Bologna is a pleasure, because you can do it on a sunny day or on a rainy one: almost all central streets have a roof over the sidewalks - porticoes. Some tourists even think that enterprising merchants built them specifically so that customers could come to them in any weather. However, it's not about the sellers at all. Since ancient times, Bologna has been considered a university city. Students from all over Europe sought to get into the renowned university. There were a lot of rich young people, and they all wanted to live closer to their alma mater, in the center. But there weren’t enough rooms for out-of-town studio students, and then local residents began to build on their houses. They made a ceiling with an arched support over the street and built rooms on it. In the center, the oldest of them have been preserved, resembling wooden birdhouses, somehow stuck above the rich stone houses. In fact, the simple buildings turned out to be very strong and survived centuries. Several centuries have passed since then, and not because of a lack of square meters, but simply by tradition, houses continue to be built with porticoes.

Porticoes in Bologna

Those who, when buying clothes and accessories, do not care about the price, need to recover in Cavour gallery, where there are stores of all the most famous expensive brands. Adjacent to it is a small city market: fresh vegetables, fruits, a huge selection of cheeses and sausages - reminiscent of gastronomic Bologna.

Bologna gastronomic

The Emilia-Romagna region is a separate Italian gastronomic empire. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar are all produced on this land. Bologna is called “grasa”, that is, “fat, full”. This city knows a lot about delicious food. Many dishes with the word “Bolognese” were born in this area. But the “spaghetti Bolognese” that we love to serve in our trying-to-appear-Italian restaurants doesn’t actually exist. But there are such delicious dishes as traditional Bolognese lasagna made from bright green sheets of pasta. The unusual color is achieved thanks to the spinach added to the dough.

Walking around the city, you always come across the “Russian trace”: the left pro-communist party has been in power for a long time, and therefore there is Lenin and Dostoevsky Street, restaurant "Sergey". Probably, many have already imagined a dramatic story about a native of Russia who succeeded in the restaurant business, but everything is much simpler. Initially, the restaurant was named after the owner “Sergio”. At the end of the 60s, the Russian ballet visited Bologna. The dancers, visiting the restaurant, called the owner in Russian - Sergey. After that, the restaurant was renamed in memory of the Russians. However, the food they serve is truly Italian - many types of pasta accompanied by Italian wines. In this city, any simple-looking trattoria resembles a wine shop to a guest unaccustomed to such variety - the walls are turned into wine cabinets and lined with rows of dusty bottles containing real treasures.

Losagna at the restaurant “Sergei” in Bologna

How to get to Bologna

You can get to Bologna from Moscow in just 3 hours by plane. The city is located in the center of the country, and therefore it is very convenient to plan a trip to visit several more cities. Thus, by train you can reach Florence in just one hour and the fashionable capital of Milan in two hours. An hour's drive along the road, and travelers find themselves in the ancient medieval city of Ferrara. And there it’s just a stone’s throw from the sea: those who want to do everything at once can combine an acquaintance with antiquities with a vacation on the Adriatic coast.

“...By midday they crossed the Apennines and descended along the Futa Pass to Bologna, surrounded by walls of orange brick with white small towers and almost two hundred large towers; some of these towers, clearly visible against the blue sky of Emilia, were tilted no less amazingly than the famous leaning tower of Pisa ... "I. Stone "Torment and Joy"

We arrived in Bologna by train (from Rimini - 1 hour 20 minutes). I liked using the Italian railway - both in the stations and on the platforms there are excellent informative arrival and departure posters: not only the time, but also the route, platform and small print - everything route stations with arrival time. The ticket is not for a specific date (I mean regular regional trains), i.e. you can buy tickets to all desired destinations (in Rimini there is always a queue at the box office), and the days can be varied according to your choice. Valid from the moment of composting (insert into the machine at the station or on the platform with the narrow end on either side, the time and departure station must be displayed). The controllers are walking around, there are toilets in the cars, there are no turnstiles anywhere. If the route has a transfer (such as from Rimini to Venice or Florence) - the cashier, at your request, will give a printout of possible connecting flights on the one announced by you (or better yet, submitted in writing) desired time interval.

If, upon leaving the station building, you keep to the left, you can approach the gates of the ancient water canal, see the remains of the old riverbed and smell the characteristic smell. Interestingly, in the summer underground excursions are organized with pontoons descending on the waters of underground Bologna (information from the Italian brochure about the city). Across the road are the ruins of an ancient citadel and, up the beautiful yellow steps, the round Mortagnola Park (where we enjoyed a walk on our second “ride” to Bologna - the Venice train had to wait an hour, but you wouldn’t have time to go anywhere else).

The road is Indipendenza Street, along which we got to the historical center - Piazza Maggiore. We went to the Cathedral of St. Peter ("Ascension" Carraci, terracotta sculptural group by Lombardi (early 16th century) "Lamentation of Christ", crucifixion of the 12th century from multi-colored forest cedar...and not only, of course, this is what I remember). From Piazza Maggiore along Via Rizzoli it is very close to the leaning Bolognese towers, the symbol of the city. Towers in medieval Bologna were used by aristocratic families as watchtowers, housing, and, of course, showed the status of the owner. Of the twenty-three that have survived today, the most famous are Asinelli and Garisenda, built in the 12th century! Garisenda was built very quickly, the soil under the foundation did not have time to stabilize, and already in the 13th century it was “cut down”, and later again. Now Garisenda’s deviation from the vertical is 3.2 meters! Her neighbor and rival Azinelli is tilted “only” a little over a meter and you can climb it! 97 meters, 498 steps... I, planning to walk around Bologna for another whole day and around Italy for a whole week and, remembering my “climbing” just 387 steps of Notre Dame, did not climb...

From the towers we admired the truly memorable Palace of Commerce (1382-1384!!!) The minimum program - the main cathedral, the main square, the symbolic towers - was completed, then the most interesting thing! Hide the guidebook and map and just wander around... Bologna is very much for this It has, what is worth, the longest network of covered galleries in the world (about 40 km!) from different times - antique wooden porticoes, Gothic vaults of the 14-15th centuries, arcades of the Renaissance and Baroque periods!

We came to a very unique and beautiful triangular square (with grass between the slabs), on which stands the Abbey of Santo Stefano (first mentioned in 887!) Four churches and various courtyards under one roof (there used to be seven different eras). The oldest in the abbey and in all of Bologna is Santi Vitale e Agricola with the sarcophagi of martyrs executed in the 5th century. Women pray at the sarcophagi for happiness in family life. Entrance to the abbey is free. Attention! If the signora selling CDs about the abbey had not shown us some kind of disguised passage with gestures, we would have limited ourselves to the first room at the entrance, and there is still a lot of interesting things there...

We also wanted to watch Cimabue’s “Maesta” in the church of Santa Maria dei Servi (this is from homemade preparations), but we got into a break, breaks for 3-5 hours during the day. The church has a beautiful entrance group of porticoes - a quadruple gallery, supported by 67 thin marble columns. This church is on Strada Maggiore a stone's throw from the cafe "Chlorophyll" with a good review in the section of my guide "Where to eat in Bologna". I really liked the fish, and also real tea, dear to the heart of the Russian people, brewed in a teapot!!! It gets dark early in Italy in November (but to our envy it’s light already at 7 am, that’s what the correct standard time means..), it was time to get ready for Rimini...

I’m trying to formulate why I liked Bologna so much – la grassa, la rossa, torrito! Probably because it’s not the inclusion of historical “objects” in the development, but living history around! To be continued - Ravenna!!! - to be continued...

Overview

See, hear and feel the city on a casual sightseeing tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

The beauty and splendor of Bologna will strike you to the heart from the first minutes of your stay. I will take you through the most interesting and picturesque places of my beloved city, help you feel its flavor from the inside, reveal the secrets of local life and share exciting legends.

Overview

Duration: 2.5 hours

Many travelers leave Bologna disappointed, with the words “This is certainly not Florence.” Yes, this is Bologna and it is beautiful. I will help you reveal the soul and heart of this mystical and fascinating city. You will slowly enjoy the center of Bologna with its unique “porticos”, see the main attractions and inevitably fall in love with the ancient streets, squares and courtyards. I will share the secrets and legends of Bologna and give valuable advice: where to try the best Bolognese pasta and what interesting places to visit in your free time.

Overview

Duration: 3 hours

You will see the iconic places of Bologna that characterize the city best: Piazza Maggiore, the Fountain of Neptune, the University of Bologna and much more. I will tell you where the works of the young Michelangelo are hidden, how Bologna children were intimidated in the 16th century, and what connects Bologna with Moscow. As a result, you will understand what distinguishes Bologna from other Italian cities and makes it completely unique.

Overview

Discover an amazing but underrated city, try real tortellini - and all this with children!

Duration: 2.5 hours

Bologna most often “falls out” of the usual tourist routes in Italy: most travelers travel from Venice to Florence without stops and do not notice this wonderful city at all. My task is not only to introduce you to Bologna in a fun way, but also to “discover” the city for the youngest travelers, so that they want to return to Bologna again and again! Rest assured, it's worth it!

Gastronomic

Go on a trip to experience the boutiques, gastronomic shops and outlets on the old streets

Duration: 2.5 hours

In my company, a shopping trip will turn into a full-fledged cultural program. Walking along the covered galleries - the calling cards of Bologna, you will look into the various shops of the city, get acquainted with old architecture, antique markets and Bolognese cuisine in theory and practice. You will also find out what is happening in Bologna not just these days, but today, now, this evening. Believe me, the life of the city is in full swing, and it’s worth immersing yourself in it!

Museums and art

Exclusive museums around Modena

Duration: 2.5 hours

Fans of the work of Luciano Pavarotti and lovers of high speeds should definitely visit the small Italian town of Modena and its environs. It is there that the great tenor’s house is located, where he spent the last years of his life, and nearby, in Maranello, there is a Ferrari car museum. P.S. You may not be one of those who dream of sports cars, and you may not often go to the Bolshoi to see Aida for the second act, but you should definitely come to Modena to get acquainted with some of the most famous symbols of Italy.

Unusual routes

Car tour from Bologna to Motor Valley

Duration: 8 hours

Between Bologna and Modena lies the Valley of Motors - with dizzying speeds of Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Paganis. And believe me, this is a real paradise for car enthusiasts and the quintessence of Italian style. I invite all fans of beautiful life and fast driving to visit unique museums and factories of the most elegant sports cars in the world!

Museums and art

In the footsteps of Mozart and Rossini

Duration: 3 hours

Bologna is not only a city of science and art. There are also numerous places associated with significant events in the history of music. In the most important chapel of the city, you will see the oldest working organ in the world, get acquainted with historical musical rarities in the International Museum of Music, and also learn about the many famous composers who staged their works in Bologna.

Overview

Sightseeing tour of a medieval town in northern Italy

Duration: 2.5 hours

Our route will pass through the places of the dukes of one of the oldest princely families in Italy. They ruled Ferrara for half a century, and getting to know the city is inseparable from the history of the Este family, which is also interesting because it reflected the characteristic features of Italian civilization and is therefore important for understanding Italy as a whole.

Unusual routes

Learn about the fate of the deceased and the history of the attraction and enjoy its dark aesthetics

Duration: 1.5 hours

The Certosa di Bologna is one of the most famous cemeteries in Europe. I suggest taking a walk among his majestic tombstones. You'll hear about the people buried here and Dickens and Byron's impressions of the site. Interesting details about the cemetery will reveal to you the secrets of Bologna and its traditions.

Overview

Getting to know the historical and gastronomic diversity of the city in a festive atmosphere

Duration: 3 hours

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, in Bologna it is simply magical! In December and January, I invite you to a Christmas tour of the city: you will get acquainted with the history of the main city attractions, understand the biblical origins of Christmas, discover the secrets of local cuisine and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

For children

Be transported to the world of great scientists, brave sailors and their discoveries among unique collections

Duration: 1.5 hours

The Science Museum of the University of Bologna is a real find for a family holiday! The museum's collection includes collections of plants and animals, experimental instruments, instruments, optical cameras, geographical maps and unique ancient ship models. These amazing collections will take you into the world of great scientists, brave sailors and their discoveries!

Popular

Price: 182 € Group

A private transfer service from Bologna Airport is available upon prior reservation. The price depends on the specific resort on the Adriatic where you are going and on the number of people. A professional driver will take you to your holiday destination in a comfortable car. Upon arrival at the airport building, your driver will meet you with a sign.

Popular

Price: 161 € Group

Modena is a city whose life and history revolve around Piazza Grande. The main square of the city saw the birth of the ancient Roman Mutina on the ancient Via Emilia. This square witnessed the salvation of the city from the hordes of the Huns by Saint Gemignanus, now the patron saint of Modena. The noble house of Este chose Modena as its new capital after being expelled from their native Ferrara.

Popular

Price: 150 € Group

Lost among the narrow streets of the ancient city are 8 monuments protected by UNESCO. The austere and discreet facades of ancient churches hide unique Byzantine mosaics, which carried the idea of primordial Christianity through the centuries. Ravenna became the last refuge for Dante Alighieri, who completed the Divine Comedy here. The history of the Western Roman Empire ended here. The classic excursion visits the church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, which has preserved mosaics from the era of Theodoric, which reveal to us the heretical trend of the Arians, who deny the dogma of the Trinity. In the Temple of San Francesco we will see the crypt of an early Christian church, submerged under water. The funeral service for the deceased Dante was held in this church in 1321, and nearby there is a chapel where the “founder of the Italian language” is buried. Passing the courtyards of the Franciscan monastery, where Dante finished writing the Divine Comedy, we will find ourselves in the central square of Del Popolo. A significant part of the tour takes place inside San Vitale - the most beautiful church in Ravenna, where we admire the mosaics from the era of Emperor Justinian and through them delve into the history of the 6th century and the idea of \u200b\u200bthe then Christianity. At the end is the pearl of Ravenna: a small, not majestic building, which inside hides a treasure of dazzling beauty - the mausoleum of the Empress Galla Placidia, one of the most brilliant female figures of her era. The above route takes 3 hours. If you have 4 hours, you can add San Apollinare in Classe; if you have 6 hours, you can include a visit to the Archbishop's Museum and the Mausoleum of Theodoric. A 6-hour excursion allows you to visit all the monuments of Ravenna, which are protected by UNESCO. For an additional fee, it is possible to organize a transfer from Rimini/Riccione/Milano Marittima, both for groups and for individual clients.

Popular

Price: 130 € Group

Not far from the Adriatic coast, on the top of Mount Titano at an altitude of 739 m above sea level, is located the third of the smallest states in the world. Proud and independent, for centuries it has carried its motto “LIBERTAS” - “Freedom”, it amazes with its medieval fortresses standing on the edge of an abyss, narrow streets flowing along the slopes, the statue of liberty against the backdrop of the government palace, the number of souvenir shops and shops. The beauty of the landscape and the mountain air will be a reward for those who visit the Witches Pass. The two-hour excursion includes sightseeing of the historical center, panoramic platform, Freedom Square, Cathedral Square and the fortress. On the border with Italy is the most important private collection of Ferrari Maranello Rosso, consisting of historical models from the period of the presidency of Enzo Ferrari. It’s good to combine a tour of San Marino with the San Leo Fortress, or with a visit to Rimini. For those wishing to supplement the cultural program with shopping, visits to warehouses, boutiques and outlets can be arranged.

Popular

Price: 139 € Group

Ariminum is the ancient name of Rimini. Here Caesar said “the die is cast”, crossing the Rubicon, the great Malatesta ruled here during the Renaissance, leaving behind a cathedral and a castle, and the famous Federico Fellini was born here. In this city, Adriatic beach tourism coexists with ancient history, and the hearty meat cuisine of the surrounding villages is combined with the delights of fish restaurants. During the tour you will get acquainted with the brilliant past of the first city founded by the Romans in northern Italy. You will see the ancient Roman pavement, the triumphal arch of Emperor Augustus, and the Tiberius Bridge. The latest discovery by archaeologists dates back to the same era: the ancient Roman house of an ancient surgeon. A striking example of Renaissance architecture is the creation of the Florentine architect Leon Battista Alberti. This is the Malatesta Temple of the 15th century, the mystery of whose esoteric symbols scientists are still trying to unravel. This city is not only ancient history. For Italians, Rimini is a symbol of relaxed summer holidays, excellent cuisine and hospitality.

Popular

Price: 150 € Group

The learned red well-fed Bologna is the capital of the region. The tile roofs, draperies and ubiquitous brick are all red. Well-fed, and therefore rich, loving to eat tasty food and not denying herself pleasures. And the oldest European university still attracts young people from all over the world. The symbol of the city are two leaning towers: Asinelli and Garisenda - a legacy of the Middle Ages. Even the streets of this city are already an attraction, because these are not just streets, but the famous Bolognese covered galleries or “porticos”. The squares of rich Bologna are sung in the songs of Italian bards as the most lively, where business-minded Bolognese mingle with a motley crowd of students. During the excursion we get acquainted with the Bologna towers, porticoes, Piazza Maggiore, the Fountain of Neptune, the Palazzo Comunale, the Church of San Petronio, the University of Bologna (Archigymnasium), the Cathedral of St. Dominic, the Church of Santo Stefano

Popular

Price: 130 € Group

30 km from the resort of Rimini, on a steep cliff, is the impregnable fortress of San Leo - an outstanding project of military engineering of the 15th century. The fortress rises on Mount Mons Feretri, the site where an ancient pagan temple was located. From there you have a breathtaking view of the valley of the Marecchia River, which inspired the geniuses of Renaissance painting with its unique landscape. The tour also covers the tiny central square of the town of San Leo, where the apses of the two oldest churches in the region overlook: the Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 7th and 3rd centuries. Among the characters who linked their fate with San Leo is the famous Dante Alighieri, who was passing through here with Saint Francis. Separately, we will talk about Count Cagliostro, because it was in the fortress of San Leo that he ended his days, unless, of course, you believe the legend according to which he faked his death. To get to San Leo, it is better to rent a car or use a private transfer service. You can also organize a visit to a winery and tasting of local wines.

Are you planning to come to Bologna and need help organizing an excursion? I will be happy to help you create an excursion program, taking into account your interests. It is important for me not only to introduce you to the history, culture, and traditions of this amazing country, but I will also make sure that your stay in Bologna becomes comfortable, joyful and unforgettable. The goal of my work is to reveal to my guests the Bolognese spirit, the mentality of its squares and streets. I will tell you many legends and stories. In other words, I will show Bologna as I see it, love it and know it. For me, a tour is like soft clay for a sculptor before starting work. I hope that you too will be fascinated by Bologna's charm, beauty, uniqueness, lifestyle and of course Italian cuisine. When saying goodbye to my tourists, I always say “See you again,” and indeed I meet many of them again, receive congratulations or simply hear from good friends, even after several years.

Price: 240 € Group

Bologna is a popular Italian city among tourists, the center of the province of the same name and the “culinary capital” of Italy. Even the most discerning gourmets will not be disappointed by visiting local restaurants and cafes. The world's oldest operating university is located here, so you can always meet students in Bologna, which creates its own unique atmosphere. Italians often call the city “red” because of the abundance of tiled roofs that have been preserved from ancient times, despite the presence of new development areas.

Having visited Bologna, you cannot ignore or because they are also part of the history of Italy.

Many Gothic and Romanesque churches, museums and ancient palaces, as well as towers, squares, fountains and other architectural monuments attract tourists to Bologna no less than to other cities in Italy.

The Fountain of Neptune is located in the square of the same name in Bologna, near Piazza Maggiore, and for its enormous size received the second name “Giant”. This masterpiece was conceived as a symbol of the wise reign of Pope Pius the Fourth. In the 1560s, the fountain was built according to the designs of the architects Laureti and Giambologna. Since then, the building has been restored five times.

In the center of the bowl there is a statue of the god of the seas, and around it are figures of Neptune’s subjects and mythical creatures. Students have a belief: if you walk around the fountain twice counterclockwise, you will have good luck in exams. In addition, the creators of the famous Maserati logo were inspired by the trident that Neptune squeezes.

Address: Italy, Bologna, Piazza del Nettuno, 40124.
Telephone: +39 051 239660.
Website: www.bolognawelcome.com.
Operating mode: around the clock.
Visit: for free.

Leaning Towers

Known as the "Two Towers" or "Leaning Towers", the two structures, named after the Asinelli and Garisenda families, are impressive heights even for modern times: 97 and 48 meters, respectively. And for the 12th century these were real colossi. Both buildings have a slope noticeable to the naked eye and have become the hallmark of Bologna, not inferior in popularity to the tower in Pisa.

According to legend, the Asinelli Tower was built by order of a young man in love who found a golden treasure and spent it all to win the hand and heart of his beloved. You can still climb to the observation deck by climbing almost five hundred steps. The Asinelli Tower is the tallest of all the “leaning” ones. As for the Garisenda Tower, it used to be taller, but in the 14th century it had to be shortened due to ground subsidence in order to avoid collapse.

Address: Italy, Bologna, Piazza di Porta Ravegnana.
Telephone: +39 051 647 2113.
Website: www.bolognawelcome.com.
Operating mode: seven days a week, in summer - from 9.00 to 18.00, in winter - from 9.00 to 17.00.
Visit: from 3 euros.

There is evidence that on the site of the modern St. Peter's Cathedral, a Christian temple existed back in the tenth century. However, the documented date of the consecration of the cathedral is 1184. This grandiose temple did not immediately acquire its modern appearance in the Baroque style - it was rebuilt several times and once almost collapsed entirely.

Fortunately, the huge structure has survived to this day and continues to operate, and visitors still have the opportunity to admire the magnificent frescoes and listen to the ringing of bells. The largest bell is named “Grandmother” and weighs as much as three tons! Since the 16th century, it is in St. Peter's Basilica that they have rung in Bolognese, using a unique style.

Address: Italy, Bologna, via Indipendenza, 7, 40124.
Telephone: +39 051 222112.
Website: www.italiavirtualtour.it/dettaglio.php?id=94653.
Operating mode: daily, from 7.30 to 18.45; visiting the treasury - on Sundays, from 15.30 to 17.00.
Visit: for free.

Today, the Ducati brand is known not only to motorists, but also to most people who are at least slightly interested in technology. And in the 1920s it was a modest enterprise founded by two brothers. You can learn how Adriano and Marcello Ducati managed to develop their brainchild and turn it into a world-class company by visiting the Ducati Museum, opened in 1998, fifty years after the start of motorcycle production.

The exposition occupies a thousand square meters and is adjacent to the plant itself. In addition to rare photographs and documents, visitors can see more than three dozen motorcycles that were produced over the years. Each of them became a real hit of their time. You can learn about the history of the brand by booking a guided tour.

Owners of Ducati equipment can visit the museum at a discounted price.

The Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna is an art museum where all art lovers can see a collection of paintings, icons, altars and other priceless masterpieces. Most of the objects collected here were created between the 12th and 16th centuries. The museum was founded in the 18th century by Cardinal Prospero Lambertini. The collection initially included mainly icons, but expanded over time.

In 1802, the Pinakothek was placed in the building where it remains to this day - it used to be the monastery of the Jesuit order. Today the museum is equipped with everything necessary for excursions, and among the masterpieces on display you can see works by Raphael, Perugino and many other prominent masters.

Address: Italy, Bologna, Via delle Belle Arti, 56, 40126.
Telephone: +39 051 420 9411.
Website: www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it.
Operating mode: all days except Monday, from 9.00 to 19.00.
Visit: 4 euros.

As the oldest university in the world, the University of Bologna is a true historical and architectural marvel. Founded in the 11th century, it has survived the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modern times, and is still an active university! By the way, the educational institution is rated at the highest level. Having once grown out of the school of arts and law, the university has produced many famous people: Copernicus, Dante, Dürer, Petrarch, Paracelsus, Umberto Eco and others.

Once upon a time, the noblest people of Europe came here, and the students were under the patronage of the German emperor. Today the University of Bologna invites applicants to more than two dozen faculties and keeps up with the times. The library and botanical garden at the university, founded more than four hundred years ago, deserve special attention. Like the 900-year-old university itself, collections of rare plants and books attract the attention of tourists.

The palace, located on Neptune Square, was built in 1245 and was conceived as a new residence for the city ruler and his entourage. However, just four years later, King Enzo of Sardinia found himself in Bologna as a prisoner. For him, the palace became a prison for more than two decades, so the name is quite fair. According to legend, Enzo, who was allowed much more than ordinary captives, became the founder of the famous Bentivoglio dynasty.

Tourists visiting the palace can see the prison and court premises, the appearance of which has been preserved unchanged. The building also houses a chapel and the ancient archives of Bologna. The palace was restored and rebuilt several times, but each of the halls still remains a masterpiece worthy of special attention.

Also known as Palazzo del Podesta, the Palace of Justice in Bologna is one of the oldest buildings. It was erected on Piazza Maggiore in the 13th century and served as the residence for city governors. Later, in the 15th century, the facade was rebuilt: it was originally Gothic, but acquired typical Renaissance features. In the 16th century, the passage was decorated with figurines of saints, and later the palace was restored several times.

Having survived many different times, the Palace of Justice remains to this day one of the main monuments of Bologna. Tourists have the opportunity to examine the exterior of the unique building and see the interior halls. For Russian travelers, this building is especially interesting because the architect Fioravanti, who led the restoration in the 15th century, built the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin in Moscow.

Cathedral of Saint Frances

Located on the square of the same name, the Cathedral of St. Frances was built, as you might guess, by Franciscan monks. The building was built in the 13th-14th centuries, and in its appearance you can see the influence of French Gothic. Later, the bell towers, sacristy, and chapels were completed, so the cathedral acquired its modern appearance only in the 19th century. It was damaged during the Second World War, but was restored.

The original Gothic style of the building was complemented by Romanesque influences, and therefore the Cathedral of St. Frances is one of the most interesting architecturally. The interior decoration leaves no one indifferent. Inside the cathedral are the tombstones of the XIII families of Accursio and Romanzi, as well as the tomb of Pope Alexander the Fifth.

Address: Italy, Bologna, Piazza S. Francesco, 14.
Telephone: +39 051 221762.
Website: www.bolognawelcome.com.
Operating mode: daily, from 6.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00.
Visit: for free.

The Basilica of San Petronio is the main church in Bologna, as it is dedicated to Saint Petronius, the patron saint of the city. Construction began at the end of the 14th century, but it still cannot be called completely completed: although services have been held in the basilica for a long time, the façade has not yet been completely finished. The structure is 132 meters long, and if not for the special prohibition of Pope Pius the Fourth, the building would have surpassed the famous St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Inside the basilica, visitors can see wooden choirs, ancient organs and frescoes from the 15th-16th centuries. One of the frescoes depicts the Prophet Muhammad, which is why the building currently has to be heavily protected from radical Islamists. The colored stained glass windows and the 66-meter-high sundial deserve special attention.

The relics of St. Petronius have been kept in the basilica since 2000.

Address: Italy, Bologna, Piazza Galvani, 5, 40124.
Telephone: +39 051 231415.
Website: basilicadisanpetronio.it.
Operating mode: daily, from 7.30 to 13.30 and from 15.00 to 18.00 in winter, from 7.45 to 12.30 and from 15.00 to 18.00 in summer.
Visit: for free.

The eventful history of Bologna is reflected in many architectural masterpieces. Some of them are almost a thousand years old, and some were built relatively recently. Tourists who are interested in ancient architecture are unlikely to regret their trip to Bologna. This city should definitely be included in the list of places to visit for all connoisseurs of Italian monuments and attractions.

The underground of Bologna contains traces of the city's life, from the ancient civilization of Villanova, the Etruscan Felsina and the Roman Bononia to the tragic years of the Second World War.

Archaeological excavations of the Sala Borsa Palace

Excursion “Bologna Underground” is a journey through Bologna of other times. Descending into the bowels of the city, we will learn how the Roman colony of Bononia was born and developed starting in 189. BC . The main evidence of this period is archaeological excavations under the Sala Borsa library building. The building changed its purpose many times over the centuries: the stables of the papal governor, a botanical garden, the Exchange Hall, a bank, a post office were located here at different times... and finally, in 2001, a library was opened. The first excavations were carried out in the 20s of the twentieth century, which then continued in 1989 and during which the remains of a Roman basilica, aqueduct, road, medieval buildings and the cistern of the botanical garden of Ulisse Aldrovandi were found.

Next we will move to early Christian period when, against the background of the general instability of recent decades existence of the Western Roman Empire, the first Christians were persecuted and suffered martyrdom for their faith. Christian blood was also shed in Bologna and the first martyrs were Saints Vitaly and Agricola. We will visit the underground crypt in the church dedicated to these two martyrs, which, according to legend, was built where the Arena was located, and where the executions took place.

Former 16th century glacier

At all times, dungeons were used as refrigerators for storing food and Bologna was rich in numerous glaciers, which were used to store ice and perishable food. One of these glaciers has survived to this day. This large ice storage was part of the papal palace, which was built and destroyed by the Bolognese 5 times. In 1906, the glacier was purchased by the Maccaferri family and became part of their palace. Today, the palace houses the hotel and restaurant I Portici.

During the Second World War, starting in 1943, when the Americans landed on the shores of Sicily, Italy was subjected to numerous bombings. The Allies' goal was to overturn the Italian defense system and destroy the fascist regime. For this reason, attacks from the sky often targeted civilians in order to provoke their uprising. Bologna suffered most of these attacks due to the city's strategic location. Local authorities were forced to take care of the protection of their citizens and create bomb shelters. These underground tunnels served not only as a temporary refuge during an air attack, but also as a permanent residence for thousands of Bolognese, when the bombings became more and more frequent and left huge losses.
During the excursion we will visit one of the bomb shelters and you will learn how and in what conditions the local residents lived there during the tragic times of the war, what losses Bologna suffered both morally and materially, not to mention human lives.

DURATION OF EXCURSION 2 HOURS.