Bologna is one of my favourite cities in Italy and a pefect place to wander with no particular agenda. There is a surprise at every turn. Some of the magnificent buildings are ancient and it is amazing to see them still being home to residents of Bologna.
Porta Galleria
What better place to start than Porta Galleria. The original door was constructed in the 12th century and was one of 12 doors in the wall that surrounded Bologna.
the crest above the door
part of the old wall
a rather grand park near the entrance to the city
a statue in the park
poor buffalo
gruesome detail
the portico in Via Independenza
If you arrive at the station, as I did, you can walk to the city centre down Via Independenza. It will take about 15 minutes and is under cover almost all the way. I think it is a great introduction to Bologna.
waiting patiently for her master
Perhaps he was inside trying these on .
flash green shoes
the law faculty at the university
statue of Hercules by Giuseppe Mazza - imagine coming to school here every day
This building was erected around 1550. Bologna has the oldest universities in Europe and is still a university city. Having lots of students about makes for a lively and vibrant city.
the doorway to the medical faculty
looking up
an incredible staircase
detail of the ceiling
inside the dissection room
There is more information on the room in an earlier post on the walking tour in Bologna. Click here to se it.
inside the Sala Borsa
This is the public library for Bologna, and an excellent meeting place. Look down through the glass floor to see Roman ruins.
under the glass floor you can see ancient ruins
an eagle in a wall in Piazza Maggiore
keeping watch over Piazza Maggiore
Bramante's staircase
Bramante’s stairway is in the Palazzo Comunale. It was built in 1597 and the low, wide stairs were to allow those on horse-back access to the upper floors.
a beautiful portico - Piazza Cavour
detail of the ceiling
the most artistic portico in Bologna - Piazza Cavour 6
The porticoes skirting the bank at Piazza Cavour are recognised as the most colourful and elaborate in the city. The painting appears on 25 vaults and was completed by Gaetano Lodi between 1862 and 1865.
the decortation on the front of Santo Stefano
I found this next doorway very sad. It was once the entry to an orphanage. It doesn’t look like a happy place to me.
how many poor little mites went through this door?
cheisa dei Filippini
I came upon and incredibly old building in a narrow street. Is was difficult to get good photos of it as I was unable to get back far enough to get the whole building in the shot. It is a magnificent old church.
so old
the front of the building
worn stone columns
Palazzo Grassi
Palazzo Grassi is about 600 years old. I love the old wooden supports for the portico.
ancient wooden pillar
the house opposite Palazzo Grassi in Via Marsala
part of a fountain in Via Ugo Bassi
I will end my wandering in Via Ugo Bassi at Gamberini and show you some of the delicious cakes in the window.
delicious
I'd like a slice of that
I really recommend the walking tour of Bologna if you have never been before (click here), and you cannot leave Bologna without seeing the market streets. Click here and here for more.
oh how beautiful. We love Bologna – and have never had a bad meal there. It’s time to go back. Lucky you.
By: mary D on August 16, 2011
at 10:56 pm
I will be back there soon – can’t wait.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 11:41 pm
Wow what a wonderful tour I’ve just been on! Thanks Debra. Years and years ago I flew to Italy with my little sister for a week in Italy, we came in at Bologna and I remember feeling vaguely panicky that we didn’t know what to do and we walked down those covered streets and had granita in a café and felt terribly sophisticated. I would love to see it again. I would love to see loads of places again and all the ones I haven’t seen. I like those staircase shots, and the vision of someone clattering up to the top on horseback.
By: Joanna on August 16, 2011
at 10:58 pm
I love that staircase too. I would love to see a man in a flying cape and a feathered hat riding up there.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 11:42 pm
Your pictures are amazing! I love Italy but have never been to Bologna. This makes me want to change that immediately. And the tart…..oh my!
By: Renee Johnson on August 16, 2011
at 11:06 pm
You should go to Bologna. It is a truly wonderful city.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 11:42 pm
Just amazing, and those shoes…. Are wicked cool. So stylin. 🙂 I5 minutes undercover, how incredible. What a wonderful experience. So jealous.
By: Anna Johnston on August 16, 2011
at 11:14 pm
There are about 40 kilometres of portici in Bologna. I often say, if you are going get caught in an Italian city in the rain, make it Bologna.
By: bagnidilucca on August 16, 2011
at 11:45 pm
At a recent dinner I was talking about how architecture has to enhance life and how much of the modern stuff leaves the senses cold, to accentuate what I was saying I’m to send this article to the folks who were at the dinner so as to prove my point… Your photos are splendid, thank you for sharing.
By: Gian Banchero on August 17, 2011
at 12:31 am
There are other posts on lovely Bologna as well. I love the buildings there.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:54 am
I was hooked long before I got to the food pictures, and then….!!!!!Wow. I am definitly going to check out the walking tour. How long does it take? I am so very excited now, and really really glad that Bologna is on our agenda!
By: Lesley on August 17, 2011
at 12:57 am
The walking tour takes a couple of hours and is very good. There are usually not too many people in each group and the guides have excellent local knowledge.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:38 am
I tried opening the link to the walking tour that you had posted but it wont let me in. Any other suggestions? Any other tour that i have googled costs way more and is much longer. Thanks!
By: Lesley on August 18, 2011
at 1:02 pm
I took the link from their brochure.It is an email address, you could try emailing them or there is a phone number there as well. The tour leaves every day from the information centre in Piazza Maggiore. We didn’t have to book ahead, just turn up a bit before 11.00am and let them know you want to join a tour. I know this doesn’t seem to be very well organised, but it seems to work. Perhaps you could check the day before or earlier in the morning. I have done it twice and it is very good.
By: bagnidilucca on August 18, 2011
at 7:54 pm
Gosh, the more I read your blog, the more tragic I think it is that I have never been to Italy. What an amazing place!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on August 17, 2011
at 1:35 am
Italy is a great place to visit. It is beautiful, the people are nice, the food is good and if you are interested in history there is enough to keep you busy for years.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:40 am
Wonderful tips!!! Thank you!
By: Leandro on August 17, 2011
at 1:35 am
Bologna is a great place to visit.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:40 am
Fabulous pics, Deb. It’s always so nice to go sightseeing with you! 🙂
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on August 17, 2011
at 1:35 am
I love sharing lovely Italy.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:41 am
Beautiful. That staircase is something! I very much want to see that. And eat cake.
By: Damommachef on August 17, 2011
at 4:16 am
The food in Bologna is excellent. I don’t think you would go hungry there.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:45 am
Bologna is one of our favourite cities. There is so much to see and do there! You keep on discovering new places and things every time you visit it. I particularly love the porticos – more than 40 km of them – many are covered with frescoes and statues, but they also provide a great shelter when you visit Bologna in winter or whenever it may be raining. Great idea! All cities, particularly in Europe, should have them.
By: Mulino Dominillo on August 17, 2011
at 5:54 am
I think they should be compulsory. They provide shelter from the rain and shade in summer – perfect.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:47 am
Love the library…and the cakes!
By: Richard Tulloch on August 17, 2011
at 6:41 am
The library is wonderful and the cakes are amazing.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:48 am
Bologna is fabulous, and I always take the adventure when my husband goes to the trade fairs. Too much muscle and tractor power for me so I wander streets…and I wander the streets…it’s a wonderful place.Great photo’s
By: Yvette on August 17, 2011
at 7:21 am
Thanks! I love Bologna. It is so much fun to wander there.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:48 am
Fabulous! What a great tour of the city.
By: Liz Golding on August 17, 2011
at 8:43 am
We must do it together one day.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:49 am
Wonderful series!! I absolutely love this city. I would love to go back and photograph it again. Great work!! The porticos are my fav, and the church at the top of the hill… Gorgeous
By: Adam Allegro on August 17, 2011
at 12:52 pm
Bologna is not really on the tourist trail, and it should be, it is one of the most fascinating Italian cities to see.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:31 pm
Beautiful pictures, the tarts look yummy.
By: Just Add Attitude on August 17, 2011
at 1:08 pm
Bologna has great food, just think of spaghetti Bolognaise and mortadella ( among other delcious things)
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:32 pm
This looks like another fascinating place – my list of places to visit in Italy keeps getting longer! I love those shoes 🙂
By: Journey Photographic on August 17, 2011
at 1:46 pm
Bologna should be on everyone’s list.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:33 pm
I LOVE YOUR BLOG DEBRA…BOLOGNA ON THE AGENDA
By: george miori on August 17, 2011
at 3:35 pm
You will love it George, and it is not far from Bagni di Lucca.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:33 pm
‘There is a surprise at every turn’ this is a great recommendation! I want to go and explore.
Love the staircase… and as usual, enjoyed your details.
😉
By: maru on August 17, 2011
at 6:20 pm
Bologna is full of wonderful surprises. That staircase is amazing.
By: bagnidilucca on August 17, 2011
at 8:34 pm
For those who enjoy motorcycles, the DUCATI factory which is also based in Bologna, has a very nice museum and well worth a visit. They show the very first racing motorcyles 48cc (really mopeds) that they made right uptill todays modern GP race bikes now being ridden by Valentino Rossi. Some very unusual looking machines. The city centre is also very nice and you have reflected that very well with your photographs. I love old buildings and the painted ceiling etc.I miss this type of culture and history here in Australia.
By: paul stoker on August 18, 2011
at 7:32 am
I would be interested in seeing the Ducati museum, I think it would be fascinating. Thanks for the tip.
By: bagnidilucca on August 18, 2011
at 8:34 am
There are so many places I want to visit when I’m over in Italy, Bologna being one of them. Where do you catch the train Deb? and how long does it take?
I think I’m going to have to upgrade my camera – your pictures are an inspiration, I just want to be there snapping away and creating such a wonderful record of memories.
By: Jan on August 18, 2011
at 8:23 am
The Eurostar to Bologna leaves from Florence and only takes about 45 minutes. From Bagni di Lucca it is possible to go through Florence or drive to Pracchia and take the local train to Bologna, changing trains at Poretta. The Trenitalia site will give you times. My camera is a Canon G11 and I love it.
By: bagnidilucca on August 18, 2011
at 8:39 am
Bologna looks definitely worth a visit! I remember reading about leaning towers of Bologna. Did you see that too?
By: Bama on August 31, 2011
at 11:10 am
I have climbed the tall tower in Bologna. I did a post on it called 498 steps to the top. There are several posts on Bologna. If you look in the Bologna category you can find them all. Bologna is one of my favourite cities in Italy and I visit often.
By: bagnidilucca on August 31, 2011
at 11:40 am