We make travel information searching as simple as flight or hotel booking

Bologna.

Tips for your trips. Tourist information. Official websites.

Bologna (map) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. Famous for its towers, churches and lengthy porticoes, Bologna has a well-preserved historical centre, thanks to a careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the 1970s.

Until the late 19th century, when a large-scale urban renewal project was undertaken, Bologna was one of the few remaining large walled cities in Europe. Bologna’s 142 hectares (350 acres) historic centre is Europe’s second largest, containing an immense wealth of important medieval, renaissance, and baroque artistic monuments.

It is considered second only to Venice in beauty by many Italians and certainly has one of the largest and best preserved historic centers among Italian cities.

Also сheck оut мore info: Tourist informationPlacesDownload

No more than twenty medieval defensive towers remain out of up to 180 that were built in the 12th and 13th centuries before the arrival of unified civic government. The most famous of the *towers of Bologna are the central “Due Torri” (Asinelli and Garisenda, map), whose iconic leaning forms provide a popular symbol of the town.

The cityscape is further enriched by its elegant and extensive *porticoes, for which the city is famous. In total, there are some 38 kilometres (24 miles) of porticoes in the city’s historical centre (over 45 km (28 mi) in the city proper).

The Portico di San Luca (map) is possibly the world’s longest. It connects Porta Saragozza (map) (one of the twelve gates of the ancient walls built in the Middle Ages, which circled a 7.5 km (4.7 mi) part of the city) with the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca (map). In 2021, the porticoes were named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Piazza Maggiore (map). Large pedestrian square located in the monumental center of the old part of the city, surrounded by a number of grand buildings.

San Petronio Basilica (map), built between 1388 and 1479 (but still unfinished), is the tenth-largest church in the world by volume, 132 metres long and 66 metres wide, while the vault reaches 45 metres inside and 51 metres in the facade. It is the largest (Gothic or otherwise) church built of bricks of the world.

The Basilica of Santo Stefano (map). Its sanctuary are among the oldest structures in Bologna, having been built starting from the 8th century, according to the tradition on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Egyptian goddess Isis.

Museo Civico Archeologico (map). This building, an old hospital, houses a comprehensive collection of antiquities including Egyptian civilization (mummies and sarcophagi), Iron Age Villanova culture, artifacts from Etruscan Velzna, funerary art, terracotta urns, ancient vases and items from Roman times.

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (map). Containing the city’s most important art, it offers an interesting panorama of the Emilian and Venetian painting from the XIII to the XVIII century.

Galleria d’Arte Moderna “Raccolta Lercaro” (map). Houses about 2000 works by Italian and foreign artists with special attention to the sculptures by Manzù, Messina, Rodin and Giacometti.

Collezioni Comunali d’Arte (map). The painting collection offers works belonging to various historical periods.

Bologna is at its best from March/April to October, when it is warm and there is much outdoor sipping and dining, or just sitting in squares such as Piazza Santo Stefano and Piazza Maggiore. However, during July and August it can be very hot and sticky. In August, as is the case in much of Italy in the summer, many shops and restaurants are closed for the summer vacation.

About Italy

Information for planning your trip around the country.

About Rome

Tourist information to help you get to know the city.

Transport

Information about all types of public transport in the country.

Cities & Regions

Useful info about the regions and cities of the country.

#1 Visit Florence

Our article about the city of Florence. Information about the city’s attractions, culture, events, and activities. Public transport.

#2 Dolomites Alps

Our article about the Dolomites Alps, South Tyrol. All necessary tourist information about the Dolomites. Transport.

#3 Visit Venice

Our article about the city of Venice. Tourist information. Venice and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Public transport.

Information about all types of public transport.

TPER – Bologna public transport.

Also сheck оut мore info: How to travel to Italy / How to get around and travel in Italy (italia.it/)

BUS: Abruzzo ⇒ Arpa / Apulia e Basilicata ⇒ Marino / Calabria ⇒ Saj / Lombardy ⇒ Autostradale S.p.A. / Tuscany ⇒ Sena / Sicily ⇒ Sais. + More: Flixbus • EuroLinesBusabout Adventure Coach Travel EuropeEurope by BusBuses on the Web.

TRAIN: Nuovo Trasporto ViaggiatoriTrenitalia + International RailRailEurope.

AIRPORT: Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport • Ciampino Airport • Milan Malpensa Airport • Linate Airport • Orio al Serio Airport.

FERRY: Grimaldi LinesGnv Grandi Navi VelociMoby LineSnavEmilia Romagna LinesSaremar.

The very heart of Italy | Bologna & Modena.

The real Italy from the heart of Italy: Bologna & Modena è la destinazione dei contrastanti equilibri. Pensate ad una terra dove slow food e fast car s’incontrano, dove nei luoghi incontaminati e nascosti si svelano le gemme più preziose, dove la ritualità dei gesti unita alla minuziosa attenzione ai dettagli produce l’ eccellenza culinaria, come il Parmigiano Reggiano DOP e l’Aceto Balsamico IGP.

video source: Bologna Welcome / youtube.com /

Useful websites.

Links to additional resources with useful information for planning your trip.

VISAS & IMMIGRATION.

Useful information on the travel documents required to enter Italy. Consular Services and visas. Visa for entry and stay in Italy.

Visit Rome.

Our article about the city of Rome. Information about the city’s attractions, culture, events, and activities. Public transport.

TRENITALIA.

Trenitalia offers national rail transport in Italy and international connections to Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Walks of Italy: Walks of Italy offers guided tours and activities throughout Italy, including food tours, walking tours, and cultural experiences. Their website provides a wealth of information on the history and culture of Italy, as well as practical travel advice.

Italy Beyond the Obvious: Italy Beyond the Obvious is a travel planning service that offers personalized trip planning advice and itineraries for travelers who want to explore Italy in-depth. The website also provides travel tips and recommendations for activities, attractions, and restaurants.

WineTourism.com – This website is dedicated to wine tourism and offers a comprehensive directory of wineries, vineyards, and wine tours in Italy.