BOLOGNA
Bologna, Italy
Capital of Emilia Romagna Region
Bologna is one of the large cities of north Italy and the capital city of Emilia-Romagna district with the population close to 400,000 people. It's Europe's oldest university city, dating back to 1088 and since then it has been heaven for all the intellectuals, even till today. The constant influx of young people makes city alive without that annoying "tourist aura". In the evenings cafés flood with Bolognesi having their apperitivo and all squares, stairs are filled with students having a beer. Bologna is simple, with good food and lively vibe. Busy but not too much. With things to see but not flooded with touristy restaurants and postcards kiosks. Just one of those cities, which are nice to live in.
Bologna la dotta (the learned), la rossa (the red) and la grassa (the fat). The last fits probably the best, because Bologna, and whole region, is all about the food. Traditional tortellini di brodo and tagliatelle ala ragú, mortadella - all these originate here as well as famous parma ham, parmiggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar, . . . so in Bologna, you just have to eat.
Guide to Bologna
HAVE TAGLIATELLE ALA RAGÚ - to most of us known as Spagetti Bolognese
HAVE APERITTIVO (prosecco and small dishes, tapas) instead of dinner
WALK THROUGH THE CITY
VISIT MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna
PORTICO DI SAN LUCA - walk through longest portico in the world, all the way up to the Santuario di Madonna San Luca
VISIT ONE OF THE MANY TRATTORIA AND OSTERIA
HAVE MORTADELLA
HAVE DRINK AT PIAZZA MAGGIORE (with Basilica of San Petronio) or other lively square
VISIT MARKETS
Mercato di Mezzo - the oldest market in Bologna, runs 6 das a week, closed only on Sunday
Mercato della Terra
Mercato delle Erbe
Where to eat
OSTERIA DELL'ORSA - traditional, very simple osteria with honest, home-made food with no frills. Order the classic Tagliatelle ala Ragú and bottle of house red-wine.
Address: Via Mentana, 1, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy; Open: MON-SUN 12:30 - 23:00
For a drink
OSTERIA DEL SOLE - the oldest bar in Bologna, dating back to 1465. Bring your own delicacies - slices of mortadella, cured hams and cheese, bread. Order jug of house wine. Eat and drink, share. P
Address: Vicolo Ranocchi, 1/d, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy; Open: MON closed, TUE-SUN 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
LA STANZE - occupying a former chapel, it has certainly one of the nicest interiors in Bologna. Lovely for a meeting and afternoon aperittivo.
Address: Vicolo Ranocchi, 1/d, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy; Open: MON-THUR 10:30 - 21:30, FRI-SAT 10:30 - 22:00, SUN closed
PIAZZA DEL MAGGIORE or PIAZZA VERDI - just buy a beer in kiosk, sit down on the stairs and enjoy another warm night.
Art
MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna (includes also a lovely bar)
Address: Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 14, 40121 Bologna BO, Italy; Open: TUE-WED, FRI-SUN - 10:00 -18:30, THUR 10:00 - 22:00, MON - closed
Taidekappeli is located on the island of Hirvensalo, far outside the city. Surrounded by spruces and pines, where the wooded hills rise from the flat fields.