Bologna, the Centre of Emilia-Romagna

Top cultural attractions

The two towers "Le due torri" are one of the most recognisable cultural attractions in Bologna, which were created at the beginning of the 12th century. The Asinelli Tower stands 97.2 metres tall and is the tallest medieval tower in the world, while the Garisenda Tower is 48 metres tall. The two-towered structure, often discussed, for example in the works of the two writers Dante and Carducci, served in the early Middle Ages as the entrance of the Porta Ravennate to the interior of the town of Via Emilia, built by the Asinelli family. Of the 24 towers built in the city centre, the two that remain have become a symbol of Bologna.

Piazza Maggiore is a square located near the Quadrilatero neighbourhood in the Old Town area with medieval streets called Centro Storico. The square was built during the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 15th centuries, and was the site of a basilica, some palaces and a fountain:

• The Basilica of San Petronio with the beginning of construction is set in the year 1390 with the architectural style of Italian Gothic. The basilica's large scale allows it to accommodate 28,000 visitors in an architecture 47 metres high. It is dedicated to St. Petronius, former bishop and protector of the city.
• The Podestà Palace was built in the early 13th century for the office of the head of the Podestà Commune. The building's architecture was designed in the Italian Gothic style, but was renovated during the Renaissance with the addition of four statues of the city's patron saints by Alfonso Lombardi.
• The Palacio d'Accursio, or the City Hall, was originally the home of the Italian jurist Accursius, the founder of the attributions or glosses in the Corpus Juris Civilis, a work on Roman law. In the 15th century, the palace was renovated and the bell tower with the clock "Torre d 'Accursio" with a diameter of 6.4 meters was added.
• In the second half of the 16th century, the Neptune Fountain was commissioned by the Cardinal's envoy Carlo Borromeo from the Italian painter Tommaso Lauretti and the sculptor Giambologna. The oversized bronze statue of Neptune is designed in the Mannerist style typical of the period after the High Renaissance.

The porticoes are a world cultural heritage site in Bologna, protected by the UNESCO Convention. Gradually, they began to form in the 12th century, made of wood, stone and brick. The central part in the historic area of the city comprises 40 kilometres of porticoes, while throughout the city there are up to 62 kilometres of famous pillar or semi-portico corridors without pillars. The longest portico in the world, leading to the Sanctuary of San Luca, is made up of 664 arches and 4 kilometres of corridor.

Explore Bologna with the current offer

What there is to see and do in Bologna is a question that almost always arises when we decide to travel to a certain destination. We have selected offers for an experiential trip around Bologna, so that everyone can experience Bologna and its charms. Families with children can visit the Luna Farm amusement park, which offers 14 amusement attractions. One of the city's main touristic offers is the walking tour, which takes you on a guided tour of the old part of the city, including the Basilica of San Petronio and the Quadrilatero Market. Immediately afterwards, we invite you to climb to the top of the Asinelli Tower by the 489 steps built in 1684 and further taste the typical delicious Bologna products. On a cultural heritage tour, you can get up close to the porticoes from a minibus on a two-hour ride through the most beautiful arcades, or take a 60-minute course to learn how to make pasta, pizza, ice cream and more.

The Ferrari VIP Experience offers access to the Ferrari Maranello Museum, a test drive in the Ferrari F1 simulator as well as in the Ferrari California, a guided tour of the circuit and other Ferrari-related experiences. The following four offers have been selected for those who would like to treat their taste buds to a taste of local cuisine and get to know the process of product production. When explaining the process of wine culture, three varieties of different wines are prepared for tasting in one of the oldest taverns in Bologna, along with typical Bologna dishes. You can also try 9 Bolognese classic dishes in eight restaurants on a culinary tour to the city market, accompanied by a local guide. After the city tour, enjoy the local products in a 300-hectare area where olive oil and wine are produced. Finally, take a train to visit Parma and the production of cheese and ham during tastings.

List of museums for free admission

Despite all the offerings of the most popular cultural attractions in the centre of Emilia-Romagna and the current tourist offerings around the city and beyond, the opportunities to see and discover Bologna are far from over. A city with 3000 years of history and cultural institutions such as the city's museums, it represents history from the beginning of human development to the present day. You can see the collection of comparative anatomy as well as the anthropological and zoological collection. Free entry is also available to the mineralogical and geological collection and, last but not least, to the palace of Davia Bargellini, where the collections of industrial art are on display, and the gallery of Davia Bargellini with a collection of paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries. Anyone interested in an unexplained accident over the Tyrrhenian Sea can check out the remains of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 plane wreck and the story of a lost flight. Museum collections can be found in the following cultural institutions:

• Comparative Anatomy Collection Museum
• Anthropological Collection Museum
• Zoological Collection Museum
• Luigi Bombicci Museum — Mineralogical Collection
• Giovanni Capellini Museum — Geology Collection
• Davia Bargellini Museum — Museum of Industrial Art in Davia Bargellini Gallery
• Museum of the Memory of Ustica

Free admission to seven museums with free admission to over eight collections, featuring specimens and works in the fields of anthropology, zoology and palaeontology, as well as industrial art and painting in the late medieval period, offers a good insight into the historical development of non-living and living nature and of works of paintings and industrial art.

The main activities of our organisation

Hostelling International Slovenia is a voluntary organisation with public interest status, working in two areas. The first area covers work in the youth sector, and the second area covers the promotion of sustainable tourism development. The organisation aims to contribute to improving the quality of life of individuals and social groups and to the development of a society of solidarity, humanity and equality. With digital content from the online magazine Globetrotter and training or non-formal education for young people, we strengthen their competencies and take care of the future of the world with sustainable tourism strategies that work in the fields of ecology, culture and economy. Free workshops in schools, youth organisations and online provide young people with better opportunities to gain experience and knowledge in planning their careers at home and internationally. Skills acquisition starts with non-formal education.

You can get to know the online magazine or the first travel e-zine in Slovenia with the article "Innocent fight, expensive ice cream and an upset stomach", where the journalist Anja describes the journey of Dragana, a fitness instructor who continued her holiday in Italy with the starting destination of Bologna.

Experience Bologna for yourself

The city centre of the seventh-largest capital by population in Italy is also easily accessible to visitors on foot, as tourist attractions and other attractions are up to 30 minutes away. An urban city is complemented by many carefully landscaped city parks or public gardens where you can take time to walk and relax. Your travel experience can be enriched by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide - Experience Italy, which offers tips and information on the Quadrilatero market, where gourmet delicacies await you, as well as other challenges for travelling in Italy. You can also travel as a HI member and order a membership card, or join our board with ongoing projects currently available and become an ambassador for sustainable travel by travelling to Bologna. Experience the city of Bologna for yourself, together with us.

Did you know?

• The oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088, has been in continuous operation since its opening.
• Initially, the area of the city of Bologna, called Felsina, was inhabited by the Etruscans, later settled by the Celts and finally by the Romans, the predecessors of the Italian population.
• The culinary product of mortadella originated in Bologna, most likely towards the end of the 14th century.
• In addition to the Bolognese sauce, first made in the nearby town of Imola, Bolognese gastronomy is responsible for the formation of tagliatelles, tortellini and lasagna.
• During the Middle Ages, a total of about 100 towers were built in Bologna, of which over 20 towers have been partially preserved.