Many have tried to conquer Bologna over the centuries, but only few succeeded. Tribes known as the Villanovese first settled the region around present day Bologna during the Bronze Age, more than 3000 years ago. The Villanovese were conquered by Etruscans, who in turn were conquered by the Celts. These last ones were driven out by the Romans. The town was renamed Boronia and remained a Roman colony for over 400 years. When the Empire fell into decline, Boronia was attacked from the north by a succession of barbarian tribes, including Visigoths, Huns, Goths and Lombards.
For several centuries pagan peoples fought over Bologna and finally, Christians drove out the Lombards. The struggle for power continued, as various Popes and Holy Roman Emperors vied for control of the city. The main reason was Bologna's strategic location, but a university was established there in 1088 and crafts and trade had made it a wealthy city. It would be a valuable addition to anyone's empire.
The city was divided during the 13th and 14th centuries, as powerful rival families within Bologna sided either with the Popes or the Emperor. It often resulted in bitter civil war. Most of the city started by siding with the Guelfi, or Guelphs, who backed the papacy, but later the Ghibellines became popular. The story of Romeo and Juliet embodies the strife. Romeo's family were members of the Guelps, while the Ghibellines were Juliet's family. By 1501, the Bentivoglio's provoked a popular rebellion, in which their palace was completely destroyed. After that, the Pope's armies once again made Bologna part of the Papal State.
Bologna remained under papal control, but fell to Napoleon at the end of the 18th century. After Napoleon's empire collapsed, the city passed back into the hands of the papacy, but once again its people opposed that fiercely. Most of Bologna's inhabitants supported growing calls for all of Italy to unite under secular control. In 1860 Bologna and the rest of the region joined the newly formed the Kingdom of Italy.
The country under Mussolini's fascist regime joined the Germans against the Allies in WWII. After the Italians tried to switch sides, the Germans occupied the country and Bologna became a center of resistance against the Nazis. After the war, Bologna became an active center of radical politics. The Democratici di Sinistri, the leading democratic party of the left, gained a strong foothold in the city.
Bologna is surrounded by hills and the city center remains much as it was during Renaissance times. There are many dusky red-colored buildings, including churches and museums, as well as beautiful, wide piazzas and covered walkways with marble floors.
The University of Bologna is the oldest in Europe and an international centre for academic conferences and publishing. The students have always given Bologna its atmosphere. There are many cafés and bars, as well as a flourishing nightlife. The students also give Bologna its reputation for radicalism. The city is known as 'Red Bologna' not for the color of its architecture, but also for that of its politics. Bologna was the first city in Italy to elect a Communist town council.
Bologna is easily navigated on foot, so there is no need to take buses or taxis. Most of the churches and galleries are within walking distance of the two piazzas at the center of town. The Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore are good places to start your visit. They are connected to the railway and bus stations by the Via dell'Indipendenza.
Bologna is in northern Italy, which is known for its cold winters and hot summers. The best time to visit the city is in spring, when the temperatures are pleasant and not too hot. In spring there are fewer tourists too. Spring in Bologna is from March to May. In July, most locals close their businesses and head for the beach.
Bologna is one of Europe's most important cultural centers. Numerous religious, arts, music and film festivals are held there throughout the year. Every other year, in even-numbered years, the Cinema dei Paesi Arabi film festival is held in January. Carneval is celebrated from February to March. It features parades, costumes and a lot of feasting. Later in March, Lent is celebrated. In May and June, the Bologna Festival of classical music is held at different venues around the city. From May to July the Sintonia d'Assoli festival of jazz and contemporary music is held. The Bologna Sogna Open Festival of film, theatre and music lasts from June to August, while the Made in Bo outdoor pop festival takes place in July. Santo dal Mondo is an ethnic music festival that takes place in November. Christmas is celebrated with loads of food.
Numerous trade, industrial and professional conventions are held all year round in Bologna. Probably the biggest one is the international Children's Book Fair in March.
The center of Bologna is dominated by the broad open spaces of the Piazza Maggiore and the adjoining Piazza del Nettuno. Around these piazzas (squares) are some of the city's most impressive medieval and Renaissance buildings and monuments. The piazzas are usually crowded with people going about every day's business. There are many cafés, bars and terraces.
The two piazzas are connected by a wide street with a huge fountain, the Fontana del Nettuno. It was built in 1566 and it features bronze statuary by the Flemish sculptor, Jean Boulogne de Douai. He became so famous for the work he delivered that he was nicknamed 'Giambologna'. A large figure of Neptune towers at the center of the fountain. Neptune is supported by four angels, symbolizing the four winds. There are also four sirens, representing the four continents known in Renaissance times. Water is spouting from their breasts.
Bologna's town hall, the Palazzo Comunale, is one the western side of the two piazzas. The huge central staircase was designed in such a way that horse drawn carriages could transport their noble occupants up to the first floor. The staircase was designed by the Renaissance architect Donato Bramante. Inside the palazzo, a large collection of medieval and Renaissance paintings, sculpture and furniture is on display. Outside is a huge panel that bears the photographs of Italian partisans killed during WWII. The surrounding region of Emilia-Romagna was a center of fierce resistance against German occupation.
The Basilica di San Petronio was named after Bologna's patron saint. It is the city's largest church, even though originally it was intended to be even larger than St. Peter's in Rome. Construction began in 1392, but the Vatican forbade building something bigger than the Pope's home church, so the plans were altered. Despite the downsizing, the basilica is still the fifth largest in the world. The plans were changed after apses on the eastern side were already constructed and now they are just jutting from the basilica walls. There is also an incomplete façade along the Via dell'Archiginnasio. The central doorway was made by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia. It dates from 1425 and has marvelous carvings of scenes from the Old and New Testaments, as well as a Madonna and Child. Inside are chapels that Giovanni da Modena and Jacopo di Paolo decorated with frescos.
There are two famous towers in Bologna. They rise above the Piazza di Porta. The Torres degli Asinelli, or Tower of the Asinelli is the tallest. It is 97.2 m high and it has a lean of 1.3 m (4.2 feet). You can climbe the 498 steps to the top for an excellent view over Bologna. The tower was constructed between 1109 and 1119.
The Torres degli Garisenda, or Tower of the Garisenda is 47 m high. Originally it stood 60 m tall, but it was cut down to its present height for fear of collapse, as it has a lean of 3.2 m (10.4 feet). The Torres degli Garisenda is closed to the public.
Bologna's University Quarter is the heart of the city's more contemporary, radical 'Red' Bologna. There are countless bars and cafés. The district is northeast of the two towers. You can follow the Via Zamboni to get there. It is also home to the extraordinary Oratorio di Santa Cecilia, which is also known as the 'Sistine Chapel of Bologna', because of its ceiling frescoes that depict the life of Saint Cecilia. The Pinacoteca Nazionale, or National Picture Gallery, is in the vicinity. It mainly boasts works of Bolognese artists.
The Basilica Santuario della Madonna di San Luca sits on a hill top, some 4 km (2.4 miles) from the center of Bologna. On clear days it is visible from almost any part of town. The basilica was constructed in the 18th century. You can get there via a long portico, or covered walkway, made up of 666 arches. You can also get there by bus, but it is really worth walking under the arches.
Porretta is a tiny hot springs resort town in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy.
Modena is one of the richest cities in Italy, largely because it is home to the car manufacturers Ferrari, Maserati, Bugatti and Lamborghini. There are several interesting sights in town.
Dozza Imolese is a small medieval town, about 20 km east of Bologna.
Bologna is a truly 'European City of Culture'. There is always some festival or fair going on. The city has many cinemas, theatres, operas and venues for classical music. The revival of old movies is promoted by the public film library. It frequently organizes screenings and festivals of old restored films. Some of these screenings are part of Bologna's summer festival and take place in open-air venues on Piazza Maggiore, not far from the Palazzo Comunale. In the evenings, the students, the gay community and some tourists keep Bologna's bars and nightclubs going.
Most people come to Bologna to admire its churches, museums and galleries, but the city boasts countless superb restaurants, cafés and food stores too. Excellent locally made delicacies and drinks, such as hand-made pasta in all kinds of sauces, delicious Mortadella (Bologna sausage), cheese, cakes and pastries should not be missed. Local wines, such like the Lambrusco red and the region's full, dry Sauvignon are very good indeed and don't forget to try the local gelato, or, even better, gelato sandwiches!
Bologna is also a good place for shopping. The main shopping streets are Via Ugo Bassi, Via Rizzoli, Via Marconi, Via dell'Indipendenza, Via Massimo d'Azeglio, Via Farini and Via San Felice. On Thursdays, most shops close for the afternoon.
Bologna's airport, Guglielmo Marconi, is northwest of the city at Borgo Panigale. It has connections with numerous European cities, as well as Rome, Venice and Pisa. The ATC Aerobus connects the city with the airport. The buses leave from in front of the railway station about every 15 to 20 minutes until midnight.
ATC runs Bologna's city buses too. The system is efficient and you'll find information booths at the train station and on Via Marconi at the junction with Via Ugo Bassi and Via Lame. The railway station has frequent bus connections with the city center, although it's a distance that could be bridged on foot too. Not all local bus routes operate on Sunday. Bus services to places such as Ravenna, Ferrara and Modena leave from the depot opposite Piazza XX Settembre. It is around the corner from the railway station. There are also buses to Ancona and Milan, as well as international buses to Amsterdam, Paris, London, Brussels, Prague and Warsaw.
Bologna is an important railway junction for northern Italy. The city has frequent services from Rome and Milan, many of which are Eurostar trains.
If you come to Bologna by car; you can reach the city via the A1 Autostrada del Sole, which also links Milan, Florence and Rome. The A13 connects Bologna with Ferrara, Padova and Venezia and the A14 with Rimini and Ravenna. The Via Emilia (S9), continues to Milan in the west and the Adriatic coast in the east. The S64 leads to Ferrara. If you are driving to Bologna, you should follow the centro target symbol off the tangenziale (ring road). Many places in the city center are off-limits to traffic and parking can be expensive.
All major car hire companies have offices in the city and many of them can be found at the airport too.
Taxis are widely available in Bologna.
There are many hotels and hostels in Bologna, but they are often full, especially when one of the frequent conferences is held in the city. Most bars and nightclubs are concentrated on the University Quarter. Bologna has a flourishing nightlife. The city's restaurants are famous for their pasta, sausage, cheese, wine and gelato.
Bologna is 300 km northwest of Roma (Rome).
Hours from UTC: 2
Daylight savings time: Late October through late March
City phone code: 051
Country phone code: 39
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