A day of dolce vita and sights in Bologna – tips & inspiration

 Italian cities are rich in cultural treasures. Strolling through the sights elicits many an impressive “wow” from the visitors. When you visit Bologna, you also immerse yourself in the special joie de vivre of Italy. In Italy people know how to enjoy life. This is pure dolce vita when you sit relaxed in a café on the piazza and watch the hustle and bustle.

Bologna is also an ideal destination for your car-free holiday, easily accessible by train. You can find out more about how to get to Bologna by train at the end of the article. In this article you can also read my experiences and tips for a day in Bologna with the sights of the city and many moments of pleasure.

Torre degli Asinelli: Impressive view of Bologna from above

498 steps lie behind me. The path led up to the top of the Torre degli Asinelli. The stone tower, almost a hundred meters high, is one of the symbols of the city of Bologna that can be seen from afar. And that since the 12th century. The tower has been modified and expanded several times throughout its history.

It was built by the Asinelli family, who gave the tower its name. If you want to dare the ascent, you should know that the top of the tower is tilted 2.32 meters to the side. The 1.2 degree vertical deviation isn't that bad. The Torre della Garisenda, the tower next door, leans much more to the side and has not yet collapsed.

Anyone who dares to climb the tower has a fantastic view over Bologna from above. I like towers and the overview of the city. On hot summer days, the spire is a pleasantly breezy spot. The urban division of the city of Bologna becomes more comprehensible from above. If you have already explored a city before the ascent, then the sights visited can be experienced from a completely new perspective.

Piazza Maggiore: Lively center of Bologna

From the top of the Torre degli Asinelli you can see the striking and special sights of the old town. The Piazza Maggiore for example. The rectangular main square in Bologna is a good starting point for sightseeing and exploring the old town.

Basilica of San Petronino

The Basilica San Petronino is one of the most dominant buildings in the square. However, the front of the church building does not give an idea of its actual size.

You should definitely go inside. The church building impresses with its incredible size. The Basilica San Petronino in Bologna is one of the largest churches in the world with a dome that is an incredible 45 meters high. Despite the many visitors, the church is quiet. Alongside the murmur of the people, I hear priests and their prayers coming from the side chapels.

In front of the doors of the Basilica, on the Piazza Maggiore, you are immediately alive again. The main square in Bologna is used for numerous events. When I visit, a large screen and rows of chairs are set up for the "Cinema under the Stars".

Neptune fountain

I almost overlooked the Neptune fountain with all the structures on the square. The 3.35 meter high bronze statue of Neptune stands on a pedestal in the center of the fountain, surrounded by sirens and dolphins.

The scene seems quite frivolous. This is probably why the fountain is a popular photo motif in Bologna. It is rumored that some shots of the naked Roman deity and his companions led to the picture being blocked after it was published on Instagram and Facebook. Too much bare skin is forbidden there. Even if the bare skin belongs to a well-formed bronze deity.

Teatro Anatomico and the old University of Bologna

Human anatomy isn't just a topic on the city's fountains. The Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio was formerly the seat of the University of Bologna. The representative building is located near Piazza Maggiore and can be visited. A special highlight is a visit to the Teatro Anatomico on the first floor. There, the peculiarities and structure of the human body were researched and taught to the students.

In this auditorium, the seats for the audience are arranged like a grandstand, similar to an amphitheater. In the center is a dissection table where the anatomy of the human body was taught. A hospital was connected to the university. People who died there were released for medical teaching. But hanged people also ended up on the autopsy table.

A figure of Apollo, the god of medicine, seems to float above the Teatro Anatomico, which is completely lined with fir wood. The numerous wooden figures give the Anatomical Theater its unique appearance. In addition to numerous clothed statues, there are two anatomical wooden figures, i.e. without skin, above the lectern. I find the many details of the woodwork in the Teatro Anatomico impressive. When I visit, however, an oppressive feeling spreads through my body.

In the corridors I am quickly distracted by thoughts of the dissection table. On the walls in the corridors and in the stairwells of the old University of Bologna you will find a large number of coats of arms and inscriptions from students and teachers. An unusual sight!

One of the most famous people who worked at the University of Bologna was Luigi Galvani. You probably know the name from physics class.

Luigi Galvani became known for his frog leg experiments and discovered the Galvanisum named after him in 1780. His statue, complete with frog legs, now stands in front of the Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio in Bologna.

Stroll through the old town of Bologna

I always find it exciting to discover the special sights of a city. But I also find it just as nice to simply let myself drift through a city and to discover interesting corners more or less by accident. In Bologna you can get lost in the small streets that lead to impressive squares.

I like the old houses in the cities. In terracotta colors. With columns and ornaments. On the squares you can have a coffee or an aperitif in the numerous cafés and bars. “Looking at people” is an essential part of this occupation. You will also find cozy cafés and bars to indulge in the "dolce vita" in some porticos. That's what the long arcades in Bologna are called.

Via dell'Indipendenzia is lined with arcades with shops on both sides of the street. A shopping mile with the well-known brands of this world. The porticos lead from the train station to the Neptune Fountain and Piazza Maggiore in the center of the old town.

This is especially useful if you are traveling to Bologna by train. The arcades offer protection in heat or bad weather. Many small alleys branch off the Via dell'Indipendenzia. A detour is worthwhile!

Mortadella Bologna, Tortelloni & Co.: The culinary highlights

For me, good food is an essential part of “Dolce Vita” and a trip to Italy. There are only a few countries where culinary delights are as important as in Italy. If food and drink play an important role for the population, the method of preparation and origin are sometimes hotly debated.

Specialties in Bologna

For pasta with the well-known sauce you shouldn't ask for "Spaghetti Bolognese", just order tagliatelle & Co. with "Ragù". The question of whether ragù should be prepared with or without milk sparked heated debates. The result was undecided when I visited, there are advocates for both variants.

There has been a centuries-old rivalry between Bologna and Modena over who invented tortelloni. However, everyone seems to agree on the origin of another specialty: the cooked sausage "Mortadella Bologna" has its roots in the city of the same name: Bologna.

Mortadella Bologna

At Salumeria Simoni I am told that there have been clear rules for making Mortadella Bologna since the 17th century. In addition to the pork and the fat cubes, pepper, salt, garlic and sometimes pistachios are used in the boiled sausage. The mortadella can take on gigantic dimensions and cannot be overlooked in the refrigerated display case. The record-breaking specimens weigh up to 150 kilos.

Two branches of Salumeria Simoni are located in the bustling district of Quadrilatero near Piazza Maggiore. Restaurants, bars, shops and market stalls alternate in the narrow streets. An ideal place for a lunch break in Bologna.

Osteria del Sole in Quadrilatero

An institution is the Osteria del Sole in Vicolo Ranocchi. It is one of the oldest osterias in Europe and a popular meeting place for those who feel comfortable in a down-to-earth ambience. Don't ask the innkeeper for water! Only wine and beer are served. You can bring everything else to the Osteria del Sole in Bologna yourself. Many shops in the Quadrilatero are prepared for you to buy small amounts of cheese, sausage and bread for your lunchtime snack.

You can experience a lot in one day in Bologna. For many, sightseeing and strolling through the historic old town are top priorities in Bologna. But culinary delights and a bit of Dolce Vita should not be neglected on a city trip to Italy either.

After an eventful day on vacation, people sit with an aperitif and enjoy the end of the day. You have a good overview of what is happening on the large squares, such as the Piazza Maggiore, but also in the narrow streets and porticos.

Excursion tip in the surroundings of Bologna

Are you looking for special excursion tips in the Bologna area? A particularly beautiful excursion leads to Dozza, about 35 kilometers south-west of Bologna. The picturesque place in the vineyards is one of my "insider tips" in the region. Almost 200 wall paintings in the old town center make a visit a special experience.

You should also visit the Rocca di Dozza, the fortress. From the towers you have a fantastic view of the surrounding vineyards, fields and the town. In the basement of the fortress there is an enoteca with wines from the Emiglia-Romagna region.

Dozza can be reached by bus from Autostazione Bologna, about a five-minute walk east of Bologna Centrale train station.

Arrival Bologna – Dozza by bus

TPER bus line 101 Bologna – Imola to Toscanella. On weekdays at least every 30 minutes.

In Toscanella change to bus 147

TPER Bus 147 is a dial-a-bus, i.e. you have to order the bus at least 60 minutes before the trip. Reservation telephone number: +39 51 290 299 every weekday from 6.50 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and on public holidays from 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Call at least 60 minutes before your desired trip.

Bus line 147 Toscanella - Dozza on weekdays every hour, only a few buses on Sundays and public holidays.

Buy tickets in the bus station at the TPER counter, no ticket purchase possible on the bus.

TPER is the abbreviation for “Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna”.

Tips for vacationing without a car in Bologna and arriving by train

Bologna is easily accessible by train from German-speaking countries and also from Italy. Direct trains run every 2 hours, e.g. from Munich via Innsbruck to Bologna. Travel time: approx. 6 hours 50 minutes or approx. 4 hours 45 minutes from Switzerland, e.g. From Zurich, trains run almost every hour to Bologna with one change in Milano (Milan). Journey time for the fastest connections: 4 hours 51 minutes. A direct EuroCity train runs once a day from Zurich to Bologna.

The main train station, Bologna Centrale, is located on the edge of the historic center. The Piazza Maggiore can be reached in about 20 minutes on foot. The shopping arcades in Via dell'Indipendenzia lead from the main train station to the Neptune Fountain.

The easiest way to explore the historic old town is on foot.

Buses and trolleybuses are the public means of transport in Bologna. Tickets are available in advance or for single journeys from ticket machines on the bus. Machines don't change, so have change ready. On some lines you can also pay for the ticket contactlessly with a credit card or bank card (green and black machines in the buses).

The bus station (Autostazione), e.g. for excursions in the area, is about a five-minute walk east of Bologna Centrale train station.

Have you ever been to Bologna by train and experienced the relaxed life and sights of Bologna? How was your experience? I'm looking forward to your commentary!