Bologna Italy one day itinerary
Bologna Italy is another destination to visit in Italy for food and cultural lovers. Located in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna Italy boasts many of its outstanding architecture and famous city trademarks – such as the Bolognese spaghetti, Bologna sausage and the Bolognese luxury car maker Maserati. The rich history of this city dated back on the 3rd millennium before Christ, when the Etruscan settled in the area of Bologna that they then called as Felsina. The Celts civilization came after and they called the city Bona, followed by the Romans who called the city as Bonōnia. Bologna has various spots that will capture the heart of its visitors, from its old market square, cathedrals or basilicas, towers, canal, university, and portico. Bologna is very accessible via regional from various Italian cities. During our visit, we stayed at Hotel Maxim (Via Stalingrado 152), which is highly recommended. It is located outside the city center but has bus stop right in front of the hotel, with constant buses that bring you direct to the city center (around 10-15 minutes ride). It also offers a good value for money in terms of comfort, good breakfast, organic and bio-toiletries, and being close to restaurants. If you have a day to visit Bologna Italy, below is a walking itinerary so that you do not miss the highlights of the city.
Bologna Italy one day itinerary
1. Piazza Maggiore
Let’s start the tour with Piazza Maggiore, which is located in the old city centre. Piazza Maggiore is a large square with buildings on all sides and is home to the tourist information office. A number of highlights of the city can be found in Piazza Maggiore, such as the Statue of Neptune, Basilica di San Petronio, Torre dell’Orologio o Torre Accursi, Palazzo dei Banchi, Palazzo d’Accursio, Biblioteca Salaborsa, and Palazzo Re Enzo. There are also a number of restaurants and cafés and restaurants to visit to eat lunch and rest while drinking your coffee and eating delicacies. Tip: there is a supermarket with restaurant offering nicely cook Bolognese foods, close to Statue of Neptune. You can dine in there for very cheap price as compared to going to normal restaurant. Being at Piazza Maggiore could already consume half of your day in the city.
2. Statue of Neptune in (Fontana del Nettuno)
The statue of Neptune standing on Giambologna’s fountain is located in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna Italy. Neptune is a god of sea in Roman religion and his statue shows that his left hand stretches in a lordly manner to pacify the waves. This symbolizes the strong power of Pope Pius IV as can be paralleled to symbol as Neptune as a master of the sea while the pope is the master of the world (and Bologna). The statue of Neptune is based on the design of Tommaso Laureti, an Italian painter from Sicily. This work is famous for its unique optical illusion, a design that was censured on grounds of public decency because of the excessive size of Neptune’s male attributes. Based on a Bolognese legend, Giambologna made the statue in such a way that when viewed from a particular angle, the thumb of Neptune’s hand would exhibit similarly an erect male member, this is to avoid the Church’s censorship. This optical effect could still be seen by standing on a black stone in the pavement of the square, which is also known as the stone of shame, located near the steps of the Salaborsa library.
3. Basilica di San Petronio
The Basilica di San Petronio, which is erected between the 14th and 17th centuries, is another main highlight in Piazza Maggiore. It is the city’s main church and one of the largest in Europe. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Bologna and can be visited admission-free. Even though the visit is for free, there are some rules to follow when inside the church such as decent clothing and avoiding caps on head. Its façade remained unfinished, as can be seen by the absence of marble cladding at the top, while inside you can always find someone contemplating the world’s longest sundial.
4. The Quadrilatero
The Quadrilatero is the the medieval market in one of the city’s oldest areas, just close to Piazza Maggiore. From being the seat of most of the craftsmen’s guilds during the Middle Ages, whose names are still echoed in the streets, Quadrilatero is nowadays a bustling area home to several cafés and gourmet shops to enjoy exquisitely traditional dishes or indulge in an aperitif with friends.
5. The Two Towers of Bologna Italy
If Pisa has its famous leaning tower of Pisa, Bologna has also its own, in fact not one but two! These two towers are the prominent Towers of Bologna – the taller tower is called Asinelli, the smaller tower is called Garisenda. These two towers have been witnessed to centuries of history and changes in the city of Bologna. The tower is worth climbing as they give 365 degrees view of the city, which is well worth the effort climbing those steps. Online booking system easy and the ticket costs €5 per person.
6. Alma Mater Studiorum (University of Bologna)
Alma Mater Studiorum (University of Bologna), which was established in 1088, is regarded as the oldest university in Europe and the Western world. This university has been the location of the first lessons in Justinian law, one of the cornerstones of the Roman Empire, and the schools of jurists were supplemented by studies in rhetoric, grammar, medicine, philosophy, astronomy, arithmetic and logic since the 14th century onwards. This university also hosted one of the first women’s degrees in Italy in 1732. Some of the notable alumni of the University of Bologna includes Popes Alexander VI, Gregory XIII, Gregory XV, and Innocent IX, Erasmus of Rotterdam, and Nicolaus Copernicus (who argues that the sun and not the earth is the center of the universe).
7. Moline Canal in Bologna Italy
Located at Via Piella 16 is Bologna’s first secret which lies in the heart of the old town. The Moline Canal, is known as “Little Venice” and not many people know that this city is still crossed by the ancient waterways, which were used for commercial activities and to power the silk mills during the medieval times. On this street you can look out of an orange window and see a hidden, picturesque Bologna full of canals, colours and cheerful little balconies reflected in the water.
7. Palazzo Albergati
Palazzo Albergati is a Rennaissance style palace situated in Saragozza 26-28. The palace was originally begun constructed by the Albergati family during the 1519, and was expanded in 1540 via Malpertuso. It is open for public when there is art exhibition, so don’t forget to check Palazzo Albergati’s website for updates.
8. San Luca Bologna Italy
If you have more energy and time for walk, then you can extend your visit to San Luca, which is a UNESCO world’s longest portico. This portico extends to 4 kilometres right out of the city centre and up into the hills to the Sanctuary of San Luca, a traditional walking destination for the Bolognese and one of the city’s best-loved symbols. In case you opt for other method of reaching the place, it is possible to reach San Luca via the San Luca Express train straight from from Piazza Maggiore.
Interested to visit other Italian cities? Check out my blogs on:
1. Florence Italy one day itinerary