Bologna Travel Guide
As a regional economic hub, that sits nowhere near the sea, Bologna isn’t Italy’s most obvious holiday destination, but it’s one of the country’s very best cities for food and culture.
With an enchanting blend of Renaissance and medieval-era architecture in the historic city centre, the capital of the Emilia Romagna region is compelling both for its visceral past and lively present.
Home to arguably the oldest university in the world, there’s a large student population here, giving the city plenty of verve. Countless bars cater to them on and around the main arteries like Via Zamboni and Via del Pratello. Many roll out generous buffets for aperitivo, where a pre-dinner drink gets you any number of delicious snacks.
If you’re careful not to fill up too much, dinner will be memorable. Known as ‘La Grassa’ (the fatty), Bologna has an incredible culinary legacy and is home to some of the finest restaurants in Italy. Choose from dozens of trattorias in the centre serving tagliatelle al ragù – or spaghetti Bolognese to you and me, though the pasta is a little different (1cm-wide strips). Be sure also to try handmade tortelli (filled parcels of pasta) and try the region’s assorted breads, hams and cheeses.
Once you manage to drag yourself away from the dinner table, this multi-faceted city has plenty else to offer. Thereare several world-class museums and galleries, including the renowned MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art). There arealso beautiful churches to explore, including the recently restored 600-year-old San Petronio in the beautiful centralsquare, Piazza Maggiore. And you can’t fail to avoid the Two Towers nearby – the soaring brick skyscrapers from the Middle Ages, one leaning precariously towards the other.
Set in the picturesque Po Valley, Bologna’s pleasing patchwork of blushing-peach buildings is surrounded by green hills, one of which hosts the impressive Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca – definitely worth hiking up, not least for its views of Bologna below. From here you can take in the city that has everything: beauty, culture, intriguing history and incomparable food.
The origins of Bologna can be traced back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age, but it was during the Iron Age that Villanovian villages emerged with a unique culture inhabited by skilled blacksmiths and potters.
They fostered trade links with Greeks and the Phoenicians, but by the 6th century the Etruscans dominated the area. Then the Gauls arrived in the 4th century BC, and were succeeded by the Romans in the 2nd century, by which time it was named Bononia.
For a time, Bologna was an important Roman city, but with the decline of the Empire it was intermittently sacked and occupied by Byzantines, Visigoths and Lombards. The latter, who ruled it from the 8th century onwards, used it largely as a strategic base for military operations.
By the 11th century, Bologna sought free commune status, and in 1088 established what many regard as the world’s first university. Soon came a remarkable era in which Bologna became one of the most prominent medieval cities on the planet. This is when many historic buildings were constructed, some of which are still standing. The tallest are Due Torri, or Two Towers, piercing the sky from the heart of the city.
Papal troops seized the city in 1506. Dozens of churches and convents were built, and the university was expanded with the creation of botanical gardens in 1568, one of the oldest in Europe. Papal control continued until Napoleon arrived in 1797, and Bologna joined the newly formed kingdom of Italy in 1860.
In 1941, Italy entered WWII as one of the Axis powers. This led to the deportation of Bolognese Jews and the Allied aerial bombardment of the city’s historic centre. After the difficult post-war years, the city became a leading industrial centre, cemented by its growing importance as one of the country’s main railway hubs. It eventually grew into one of the richest cities in Italy, with a strong tradition of leftist politics and an international reputation for culinary mastery.
During the Middle Ages, some 180 towers were built by Bologna’s leading families. Apart from their ostentatious display of wealth and power, they allowed the elites to spy on each other. Fifteen towers still remain in the city.
Despite Bologna’s leftist tradition, its grand football stadium was built under Mussolini as a symbol of fascist might, and directly contributed to Italy winning the right to host the 1934 World Cup.
During the terrorist turmoil known as anni di piombo (Years of Lead), a bomb planted by fascists killed 85 at Bologna station, making it one of the worst tragedies of the post-war era.
Even at the height of the season, tourist numbers seldom become too suffocating in Bologna but the weather is a different matter. Summer brings temperatures of 25°C-30°C (80°F-90ºF), particularly in July and August. If you prefer to avoid the heat, the best times to visit are early spring and September. Between November and February, it rains frequently and winters are distinctly chilly, although temperatures never fall below freezing.
Getting around Bologna
Bologna’s efficient bus system, run by the public transport network
Telephone:
+39 051 290 290
Website:
www.tper.it runs daily from 0630 to between 1900 and 2300, depending on the route.
Bus maps are available from tourist office. Tickets allow you to change buses or make a return journey within 75 minutes. You must validate your ticket by punching it in the machine on the bus. Tickets can also be purchased on-board at an additional cost.
Better value is the Citypass, which permits eight journeys (each punch covers the holder for 75 minutes), or the Day Ticket, which is valid for 24 hours from the time of validation. Tickets and passes can be purchased at tabacchi, bars, newspaper kiosks, tickets can also be obtained from self-service ticket machines installed at the airport and railway station.
Taxis can be hailed on the street but rarely stop. It is better to hire them from the taxi ranks at Piazza Maggiore and the train station. Alternatively, phone the city’s taxi cooperative,
CoTaBo
Telephone:
+39 051 372 727
Website:
www.cotabo.it
CAT
Telephone:
+39 051 4590
Website:
www.taxibologna.it
Expect supplements for luggage, Sundays and late night travel (2200-0700).
There is no real need for a car in Bologna’s compact centrostorico (city centre) and parking can be tricky. The area is closed to private cars every day between 07:00-20:00. If you’re staying in the city centre, make sure your hotel submits your registration number to avoid a fine.
Combined parking and bus tickets are available from hotels and include a day ticket to all city-centre parking or the car parks on the outskirts, plus a day bus ticket valid for one person. The pass can be used 24 hours.
Full details of the city’s park and ride scheme, which operates at the major car parks outside the restricted area, are available from:
TPER
Website:
www.tper.it
Bicycles are available for hire from
Tommy Bici
Address: Via Azzurra, 36/B, 40138 Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 341 218
Website: www.tommybici.com
Benefit from Travoley’s great deals available all year round for a seamless car hire experience in Bologna. Travel your way by choosing from our collection of brand new cars. Whether you are looking for car rental in Bologna as part of a vacation, or renting a car for a special event, you will be sure to find a car to suit your needs from our wide range of economy and luxury models.
In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 21 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU licence must carry an International Driving Permit.
Our simple booking system makes it easy to reserve online before you go, offering flexible short- and long-term rental, all at great prices with no hidden charges, so when you arrive all that’s left is to discover the best of this exciting city.
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Things to see in Bologna
Attractions
- Museo Civico Archeologico (Archaeological Museum)
Housed in an old 15th-century mortuary, this superb museum contains one of Italy’s most important collections of Egyptian artefacts, including a splendid cycle of bas-reliefs from the tomb of Horemheb. Its Roman section is also first rate, but the museum is best known for having one of the finest Etruscan collections outside Lazio.
Address:
Via dell’Archiginnasio, 2, 40124 Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 51 275 7211
Opening times: Wed-Mon 10:00-15:00.
Website:
www.museibologna.it
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Basilica di San Petronio (Basilica of St Petronius)
Taking its names from Bologna’s patron saint, this is the fifth largest basilica in the world. The church is unfinished because it was originally intended to be larger than St Peter’s in Rome until the Pope halted construction. Armed guards linger outside because a fresco by Giovanni di Modena depicts Muhammad in hell.
Address:
Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 51 231 415
Opening times: Daily 08:30-18:30.
Website:
www.basilicadisanpetronio.it
Admission Fees: No (charge for Bolognini Chapel).
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)
This 16th-century fountain, the work of Flemish sculptor Giambologna, is the central meeting place in Bologna. When it is lit at night, the shadow of the mighty bronze Neptune looms across the piazza, his trident clasped firmly in his left hand and a fish squirming beneath his foot.
Address: Piazza del Nettuno, 40124 Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 658 3111
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.nettuno.comune.bologna.it
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Basilica di Santo Stefano (Basilica of St Stephen)
The Basilica di St Stefano is a jumbled complex of interconnecting churches, cloisters, courtyards and crypts. There were once seven churches here, now there are a mere four. The bulk of the building, including the city’s oldest church, San Vitale e Agricola, dates from the 5th century.
Address:
Via Santo Stefano 24, Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 051 498 3423
Opening times: Daily 07:30-19:30.
Website:
www.santostefanobologna.it
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
The church of San Domenico, consecrated in 1251, was built to house the relics of St Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order. The basilica holds several precious works of art such as paintings by Guercino, Filippino Lippi and Pisano, plus an angel carved by Michelangelo. Its wooden choir is a Renaissance masterpiece.
Address: P.za S. Domenico, 13, 40124 Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 640 0411
Opening times: Daily 09:00-18:00.
Website: www.sandomenicobologna.it
Admission Fees: Yes (St Dominic’s Chapel and choir).
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Santuario di Madonna di San Luca (Sanctuary of the Saint Luca Madonna)
The route to this wonderful basilica church outshines the sanctuary itself: a 3.5km (2 mile) portico of 666 arches alternating with 15 chapels, built between 1674 and 1793 to protect the icon as it was paraded up and down the hill. It’s the longest portico of its kind in the world.
Address:
Colle della Guardia, Via di San Luca, Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 51 6142 339
Opening times: Daily 07:00–19:00.
Website:
www.santuariodisanluca.it
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
- Le Due Torri (The Two Towers)
Leaning precariously like a couple of proud old dowagers, the Asinelli and the Garisenda towers are among the city’s most recognisable landmarks. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the noble families of Bologna raised over 100 towers across the city in successive attempts to outdo each other. Of the 20 that remain, these are the most revered. Only the Asinelli Tower is accessible.
Address: Via Piero Gobetti, 52/3, 40129 Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 522 433
Opening times: Wed-Sat 09:00-18:00.
Website:www.scacco.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (National Gallery of Bologna)
The National Gallery celebrates the city’s artistic and spiritual past from the 14th to the 16th century. There are some fine examples of works by fathers of baroque Guido Reni and the Carracci brothers. Deeply influenced by the Counter Reformation that was sweeping the country, the paintings are highly emotionally charged and deeply religious. Among the Italian old masters, Raphael’s Ecstasy of St Cecilia and El Greco’s Last Supper should not be missed.
Address:
Via Belli Arti 56, Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 51 420 9411
Opening times: Tue-Sun 09:00-19:0.
Website:
www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
This remarkable 17th-century operating theatre is where Bologna’s gentry would pay to watch the world’s first public dissections. An Inquisition priest would sit in on all operations to ensure proceedings were spiritually acceptable. Damaged in WWII, the theatre has since been rebuilt.
Address:
Piazza Galvani, Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 05 127 6821
Opening times: Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00.
Website:
www.archiginnasio.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Museo Ebraico (Jewish Museum)
Bologna was the second city inside the Papal States to force Jews to live in a particular area and this museum, located in that very ghetto, explores the greater Jewish identity and its place within the Emilia Romagna region. Its materials link to the synagogue of Modena and the Jewish Museums of Soragna and Ferrara.
Address:
Via Valdonica 1/5, Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 51 291 1280
Opening times: Daily 10:00-18:00.
Website:
www.museoebraicobo.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Address:
Piazza Maggiore, 1/e, 40124 Bologna.
Telephone:
+39 051 658 3111
Opening times: Daily 09:00-19:00.
Website:
www.bolognawelcome.com
Bologna Welcome can book hotels, tours and excursions. It also sells theatre and event tickets. There is a second location at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport.
Tourist passes
Available online or from Bologna Welcome, the 48-hour
Website:
www.bolognawelcome.com allows free admission to a wide choice of sights including those in the Genus Bononiae itinerary such as San Giorgio in Poggiale and Palazzo Pepoli.
The holder can also get into the permanent collections of the municipal museums for nothing. The owner also get free transport for 24 hours, an airport transfer, Wi-Fi in the city and discounts and special offers on nightlife, shopping, restaurants, spas and leisure activities.
Things to do in Bologna
- Get body conscious at the Teatro Anatomico
We are fortunate enough to live in a world where body dissections go on behind closed doors. In the 17th century they took place in Teatro Anatomico, wonderfully ornate wood-paneled rooms that were damaged by bombings during WWII but have been beautifully reconstructed. Speak to the tourist office (
Website: www.bolognawelcome.com ) about admission times.
A portico is a succession of arches holding up a roof or shelter. Bologna’s portico di San Luca is a hefty 3.5km (2 miles) long, and wends from the Porta Saragozza in the centre of town, up to the 10th century Santuario Madonna di San Luca (Church of San Luca). The views from the top are the best in town.
- Learn to cook ragù alla Bolognese
In a city renowned for its culinary art, it would be unwise to not learn how to cook like a local. Get to grips with a ragù alla Bolognese (Bolognese sauce) at
Bologna Cooking School (
Website: www.bolognacookingschool.com ) which offers everything from half-day classes to three days of lessons. There are courses specialising in fish, fresh Porcini mushrooms and truffles too.
- See the real leaning towers
The world and its daughter already know of the leaning tower of Pisa, but Bologna has some vaguely inclined buildings of its own in the Torri degli Asinelli e Garisenda (Tower of Asinelli and Garisenda). The Asinelli tower is 97m (318ft) tall, with a lung-busting 498 steps. The views at the top are worth it, though.
- Tee off at a championship golf course
Golfing fans can tee off at one of four championship golf courses close to the city. Golf Club Le Fonti, Golf Club Casalunga, Golf Club Bologna and
Golf Club Molino del Pero
Telephone: +39 544 916 280
Website: www.emiliaromagnagolf.com will all test your putting prowess, no matter your ability.
Bologna tours and excursions
Bologna tours
Two-hour cycling tours of Bologna with Bike in Bo depart from Via del Pratello 97/D on Wednesdays at 1000 (other times and days available on request). There are two routes available in English: the first focuses on the town; the second takes visitors farther afield. Booking is mandatory; minimum three participants. Bicycle hire and insurance are included.
Telephone: +39 51 855 2419
Walking tours of Bologna depart from the tourist office on Piazza Maggiore and are managed by Prima Classe Arte Cultura & Turismo. Tours in English depart every Monday and Friday at 1100 and every Tuesday and Thursday at 1500 (1600 June to September). These tours take roughly two hours and include Piazza Maggiore, the Archiginnasio, the Basilica di Santo Stefano and the Due Torri. No booking necessary.
Telephone: +39 51 855 2419
Bologna excursions
The artistic orgy of Florence (Firenze) is one of the reasons why visitors to Italy have overlooked Bologna. Some 80km (50 miles) south of Bologna, just 37 minutes by train, the city lies at the heart of the Renaissance and is home to some of the world’s greatest works of art, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s David and Masaccio’s Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Architecturally, the gravity-defying dome of Brunelleschi’s cathedral and Giotto’s elegant campanile dominate the skyline, but every nook and cranny of Florence holds a surprise.
Telephone:
+39 55 290 832
Website: www.firenzeturismo.it
About 90km (56 miles) northwest of Bologna, Parma has given the world parmigiano (Parmesan cheese), its delicious sweet cured ham, and resurgent food company Parmalat. But this prosperous, elegant city is much more than Italy’s glorified larder. Parma boasts a fine musical tradition (this is Verdi country), is home to one of Italy’s most important opera venues, the Regio Theatre. It also has a magnificent Romanesque Cathedral and National Gallery. Trains depart frequently for Parma from Bologna’s central station every hour (journey time – about 50 minutes).
Telephone:
+39 52 121 8889
Website: www.turismo.comune.parma.itShopping in Bologna
When it comes to shopping, Bologna can hold its own against rivals such as Milan and Rome. It is particularly pleasant at the weekend when Zone ‘T’ (via Rizzoli, Via Independenza and Via Ugo Bassi) and the streets east of Piazza Maggiore are closed to traffic.
The four main shopping streets (Via dell’Indipendenza, Via Ugo Bassi, Via Rizzoli and Via D’Azeglio) lead off Piazza Maggiore in crossroad formation. All the big name Italian designers can be found here as well as a proliferation of antiques and books. Via dell’Archiginnasio is also lined with exclusive shops, including Gucci and Armani, with nearby Via Farini luring fashionistas too. Other shopping areas include Galleria Cavou, near the Archiginnasio Palace, and Corte Isolani close to Piazza Santo Stefano.
For a taste of Bologna, the streets to the east of Piazza Maggiore (Via delle Vecchie Pescherie and Via delle Drapperie, known as the Quadrilatero district) abound with stalls selling everything from seasonal fruit to fresh fish, seafood and salumerie (deli) stocked with prosciutto and mortadella. The delectable Mercato delle Erbe, on Via Ugo Bassi, sells fresh fruit and vegetables every morning 0715-1300 and evening 1730-1930, except Sunday, and Thursday afternoon. There’s also a daily produce market on Via Clavature, east of Piazza Maggiore. La Baita Formaggi, Via Pescherie Vecchie, is also renowned for its cheeses. At the weekend a huge flea market takes over Piazza dell ‘Otto Agosto.
Most of the major shopping malls can be found on the outskirts of Bologna, such as Centro Borgo, at Via Marco Emilio Lepido, 186, Centro Lame, at Via Marco Polo, 3, Centro Nova, at Via Villanova, 29, and Parco Commerciale Meraville at Via Tito Carnacini, 57.
As a rule, shops open Monday to Saturday 09:00-13:00 and 15:30-20:00, although larger department stores and supermarkets may stay open throughout the day. Nearly everything is shut during August, on Thursday afternoon and on Sunday.
Good Bologna mementos include Pignoletto, the local sparkling white wine, as well as pasta, oils and leather goods, including handmade shoes.
Value added tax is 22%. Travellers from outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over €155 (only those from shops displaying the sign ‘tax free for tourists’ or similar).
Restaurants in Bologna
Food-lovers will delight in the city’s cuisine by trying specialities such as mortadella, tortellini, ragu and Bolognese sauce, all part of Bologna’s culinary heritage. From heaving buffets of aperitivo to six-course menus, there’s something for every budget. The Bologna restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €50)
Moderate (€25 to €50)
Cheap (up to €25)
These prices are for a three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service. If service isn’t included, it’s customary to round the bill up to the nearest 10. Be wary that you may be charged a ‘cover charge’ for bread.
Expensive
Cuisine: Italian
In a former pharmacy, this traditional-looking trattoria serves up masterly meals of sophisticated cuisine. Its intensely skilful, welcoming chef, Emanuele Addone, gives it personality. Anyone who’s anyone, from Noam Chomsky to Arnold Schwarzenegger, has eaten here. The food is unfussy and full of local flavour, such as potato ravioli with thyme.
Address: Via Cartoleria 10, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 222 529
Website: www.drogheriadellarosa.it
Cuisine: Fine dining
Bologna’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, I Portici has been pulling in serious foodies since it opened in 2008. Set inside the 19th-century Eden theatre, expect theatrical presentation and top-notch ingredients from chef Agostino Lacobucci. There are three tasting menus to choose from: meat, seafood and the chef’s secret selection. Dinner only.
Address: Via dell’Indipendenza, 69, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 421 8562
Website: www.iporticihotel.com
Cuisine: Italian
A wood-panelled, bottle-lined restaurant, Rodrigo exudes traditional elegance. It’s a relaxed place for a leisurely meal, with sublime food and is renowned for its truffles. Meat lovers should try costata di manzo Robespierre, thinly sliced steak rubbed with rosemary and grilled on one side. Desserts are homemade.
Address: Via della Zecca 2H, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 235 536
Website: www.ristoranterodrigobologna.it
Moderate
Cuisine: Italian
Adding a touch of modernity to an otherwise traditional dining scene, Il Posto offers all the trimmings of a high-end eatery but with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Locally sourced ingredients and daring chefs ensure dishes like red tuna steak with apple crisps and slow cooked suckling pig are served with aplomb. The wine list is excellent too.
Address: Via Massarenti 37, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 307 852
Website: www.ilposto.bo.it
Cuisine: Italian
This modern osteria is renowned for its creative dishes but it also excels at classic pasta dishes accompanied by excellent wines. It’s slightly on the dinky side, so try and nab a table outdoors. Jazz and funk tunes add to its laid back vibe, enticing diners to linger all evening long.
Address: Via Marsala, 13, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 238 675
Website: www.tinyurl.com
Cuisine: Italian
This reasonably priced trattoria has loads of personality and serves up delicious Bolognese dishes. Overseen by the fierce Anna Maria, a real Italian mamma, the tortellini here is tremendous and its panna cotta are pretty good too. The walls are covered with photos of famous previous diners.
Address: Via Belle Arti, 17a, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 266 894
Website: www.trattoriannamaria.com
Cheap
Cuisine: Various
This popular slow food mecca has different stalls selling delicious dishes and big wooden tables and stools in the centre. Almost like a permanent street food market, it’s great for sampling local titbits, such as tortellini, fried fish or octopus salad. Pizzeria Eataly on the first floor is particularly good.
Address: Via Clavature 12, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 379 185 5172
Cuisine: Italian
A popular cheap eatery in the university area, Osteria dell’Orsa has long wooden tables that encourage socialising and a long history of satisfying bohemian clientele with hearty local cuisine and a fine array of accompaniments. There is a second branch at Via Andrea Costa 35, near the stadium.
Address: Via Mentana 1F, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 231 576
Website: www.osteriadellorsa.com
Cuisine: Italian
Tamburini is the best place in town place to buy homemade pasta, local hams and cheeses. Head to the back of the shop for a chance to sample their mouth-melting lasagne or ask the butcher for a plate of ham and cheese, and swish it down with a glass of red wine.
Address: Via Caprarie 1, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 234 726
Website: www.tamburini.comBologna Nightlife
The vibrant student community of Bologna fuels a lively nightlife scene that can be every bit as radical as the city’s politics. There are plenty of nightclubs, discos and live music venues, with a smattering that remain open until 0400. Good areas for nightlife are the student quarter (via Zamboni hosts various low budget restaurants and pubs), the streets around the main square and Via del Pratello, which has long been a meeting place for night owls.
Bologna Web Night (
Website: www.bolognawebnight.it ) offer English listings of nightlife, restaurants, sports and other events, as do listings magazine
2night (
Website: www.2night.it ) and Bologna Spettacolo, available from newsstands.
The periodical A Guest of Bologna is free in most hotels and tourist offices and shares the city’s highlights.
Bars in Bologna
In the heart of the student quarter, you can’t help but be drawn to Le Stanze. Its high ceilings and 17th-century frescoes make this former chapel a completely unique watering hole. Arrive early for a delicious aperitivo buffet that’s just an extra euro on top of the price of your drink.
Address: Via Borgo San Pietro 1, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 228 767
Website: www.lestanzecafe.it
For an authentic glimpse of an ancient Italian inn, serving up booze since the 15th century, plunge into the Osteria del Sole. If you buy a picnic lunch from the nearby market you can eat it here, as long as it’s accompanied by a glass of wine purchased on the premises.
Address: Vicolo Ranocchi 1D, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 347 968 0171
Website: www.osteriadelsole.it
Wander past this rustic-looking bar and restaurant in the evening and you’re likely to see people spilling on to thestreet with a glass of red in their hand. The atmosphere is upbeat and lively, and the food is very good too.
Address: Via Irnerio, 17c, 40126 Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 991 2707
Clubs in Bologna
Kinki, situated just metres from the Two Towers, is a long-time clubbing favourite. Founded in the 1950s, it has hosted many big names over the years, including Jimi Hendrix. However it by no means stuck in time: expect hip visuals, cutting-edge house and multimedia happenings.
Address: Via Zamboni 1, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 338 716 6141
Website: www.kinkiclub.it
With four rooms on two levels, Link serves up an experimental selection of ambient, techno and electronic music with Lazar light shows and special effects. Open daily from 2200-0500, avant-garde performance art and live bands often make up the earlier parts of the evening.
Address: Via Fantoni 21, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 631 3246
Website: www.link.bo.it
Near Casteldebole train station, to the west of the city centre, students flock to Matis for techno and hip hop from local and international DJs. Following the very latest music trends, the main club nights are on a Friday and Saturday. Matis also holds large dinners with live acts.
Address: Casteldebole, Via Rotta 10, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 327 331 7669
Website: www.matisdinnerclub.com
Live music in Bologna
Bar Wolf opened in 1960 and is a hotbed of eclectic live music, hosting everything from folk rock to experimental funk. With a selection of Italian beers on tap, and cheap plates of pasta, burgers and salads flying out of the kitchen until gone midnight, there’s no need to even move from your chair.
Address: Via Giuseppe Massarenti, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 051 342 944
Website: www.bar-wolf.it
In Bologna’s jazz quarter, this bar and restaurant hosts live music most nights of the week. The food is hearty Bolognese fare with homemade pasta that they roll out by hand. They boast 250 labels on the wine list, but of course, it’s the music that is the major pull.
Address: Via Mascarella 1, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 333 597 3089
Website: www.bravocaffe.it
A cross between a wine bar and a restaurant, this Bolognese institution hosts live jazz. It is nearly always packed, so it is advisable to book. In July and August, the music moves outside, when it joins adjacent restaurants to create the Salotto del Jazz – a live music festival in a closed-off portion of the street.
Address: Via Mascarella 4B, Bologna.
Telephone: +39 51 265 416
Website: www.cantinabentivoglio.itBologna food And Drink
10 Best Local Dishes from Bologna
The best local dishes from Bologna include pasta dishes as well as succulent Italian sausages and hams, delicious cheeses, cakes, street food, and more. The city’s food scene is wide and varied with lots to love. That’s even if there are standout dishes that sit at the top of the pack as must-tries while visiting (such as Bolognese sauce, which many are probably familiar with, but have never tried in its namesake city).
The point? Come hungry. There’s a reason why this Italian food capital is sometimes called “Bologna the fat.” To help you start your culinary explorations, here are some of the best local dishes from Bologna to seek out as you browse the region’s restaurants.
- Parmigiano Reggiano A one-of-a-kind, authentic, salty cheese
Parmigiano Reggiano is a staple ingredient in many Italian dishes. Even so, don’t make the mistake of thinking that this Bologna-derived cheese is the same parmesan that you might pick up at the average grocery store. They are not the same. To be true and authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, the cheese must be produced in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which encompasses part of Bologna. There, the cheese is handcrafted the exact same way it’s been done for centuries.
- Green lasagna A new kind of lasagna
Green lasagna is a quintessential Bolognese dish, as it incorporates several must-try ingredients from throughout the surrounding region. The lasagna gets its green hue from spinach that’s incorporated into the pasta. In addition to the spinach-imbued pasta, the green lasagna also incorporates traditional Bolognese ragu and the famed Bologna Parmigiano Reggiano. Otherwise, it’s somewhat similar to a traditional lasagna that you might be familiar with, though it could be argued that eating green lasagna fresh in Bologna is an experience that’s worlds away from heating up a frozen lasagna at home.
- Tortellini in brodo A simple comfort food to warm up with
Tortellini in brodo is a dish claimed by both Bologna and Modena, both cities within the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Arguments aside, though, this is one comforting, hearty soup that you won’t want to miss when visiting Bologna. That’s especially if you visit around the holidays when the dish is often served as part of Christmas meals. The name essentially translates to “tortellini in broth” and that’s basically what this simple dish is. But it’s not just any tortellini in any broth. Instead, the traditional dish calls for a meat and cheese-based filling for the homemade tortellini, and a broth made from various combined cuts of meat, including capon (cockerels), veal, and beef.