16 Must-Visit Attractions in Bologna

Widely considered as Italy’s foodie capital, Bologna takes its specialities seriously and over 30 traditional recipes are registered at the Chamber of Commerce, which also keeps a strip of gold the exact dimensions of perfect tagliatelle – 8mm, for your information. Meat-filled tortellini and tagliatelle al ragù – the authentic version of spaghetti bolognese – reign when it comes to pasta. Find out what real bolognese sauce tastes like at informal lunch spot Sfoglia Rina or in the evening at traditional Trattoria Serghei, then try to recreate it when you get home.

With more covered pavements than anywhere else in the world – nearly 24mi (40km) – in Bologna, you’re always protected from the rain or hot sun. These porticoes first began to appear in the 11th century to house the city’s fast-growing university population above the arcades, without occupying extra terrain, and in 1288 a law was passed making them obligatory. While some original medieval wooden porticoes remain, including at Strada Maggiore 19, in Via Marsala and behind the Corona d’Oro Hotel, most are brick or stone, with columns, archways, vaulted ceilings and marble floors.

Produce stalls and food shops have filled this knot of narrow lanes just off Piazza Maggiore with colour and aroma since medieval times. Nowadays, it’s one of Bologna’s most picturesque spots for a snack or meal at the numerous deli-eateries. Don’t miss the Osteria del Sole wine bar which dates from 1465 – only wine is served, but you can bring your own food. For more tasty market bites check out Mercato delle Erbe, the city’s largest covered food market, which is also in the centre.

Housed in the imposing medieval Palazzo Pepoli, this contemporary museum offers an enthralling, interactive multimedia experience, with rooms dedicated to varied takes on the history and culture of Bologna. You’ll learn about the influence of the ancient Etruscan and Roman era on the city, before exploring a music room dedicated to Mozart’s time there and a section on the Italian inventor of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi.

At 97m high, the 12th-century Asinelli Tower is the tallest of the remaining two dozen – out of 100 or so – towers that were built in the Middle Ages by aristocratic families as status symbols. Pair it with its partner, the dramatically leaning Garisenda Tower, and it becomes the defining symbol of Bologna. Climb the 498 steps to the top for views over the city and the hills beyond – unless you plan to graduate from Bologna’s nearby university, that is, in which case it’s said to be bad luck.

Bologna’s main piazza is dominated by the unfinished facade of the vast San Petronio basilica, dedicated to the city patron and home to the world’s largest sundial. Palazzo d’Accursio, the city hall, hosts the municipal art collection and offers birds-eye views from the clock tower. Try out the acoustic effect of the whispering corners below Palazzo del Podestà and admire the magnificent 3m-high bronze statue of Neptune, whose trident inspired the Maserati logo, in adjacent Piazza Nettuno.

Also known as the Seven Churches, this unusual complex incorporates a medley of churches, chapels and cloisters from different eras. The oldest of the surviving four, the Basilica of San Vitale and Sant’Agricola, dates from the fourth century and can be compared to the more-modern, circular San Sepolcro basilica. The cobbled square it stands on is arguably Bologna’s prettiest, with pavement cafes and an antiques market the second weekend of each month, except in July and August.

Like a welcoming beacon, this graceful, 18th-century hilltop church is the first landmark seen by homecoming locals. Views from the dome are impressive and artworks include a revered Madonna icon, which is carried down the hill each May in a procession to spend a week at Bologna’s cathedral. The traditional way to get here is on foot from the centre, following the world’s longest portico – or take the cute land train, the San Luca Express.

Since its 2021 makeover, this massive foodie centre just outside the city – hop on bus 35 – has become a kind of theme park dedicated to the origins of food, with fun and educational experiences both for children and adults: think multimedia exhibits, live demonstrations, tastings and cookery classes. There are farm animals and crops, producers of traditional foods and plenty of opportunities for the two most important elements of a trip to Bologna, eating and drinking.

With its compact tangle of cobbled alleys, Bologna’s historic former ghetto district, just round the corner from the Asinelli Tower, is one of the most atmospheric parts of town. Craft workshops sell beautiful handmade items including traditionally made artistic prints and custom shoes, and there’s a Jewish museum and heritage centre. Soak up the atmosphere over an aperitivo at wine bar Camera a Sud.

Not many travelers are aware of it but underneath the city of Bologna are a whole load of canals. So if you think you’re hearing water drifting while you’re wandering around town, well, perhaps you are! And it turns out that from a little, picturesque window set in via Piella, it’s actually possible to see one of those canals trickling along through the Storico’s trademark red-brick homes. Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.

As in many other cities in Italy, Bologna offers its fair share of hidden parks and gardens to kick back in under the Italian sun. At the gate of the Centro Storico itself, Giardini Margherita is a huge public garden, where everyone is free to take a stroll, admire the fountains or just lay on the grass and enjoy the sun. This is also a beloved spot of the city’s many students, who can be spotted taking breaks between classes. Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.

Despite its name, Mambo is not a dance club. It is in fact an acronym for the Modern Art Museum of Bologna (Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna). It features a wide and permanent collection alongside interesting temporary exhibitions and hosts works by the likes of Giorgio Morandi, the late Bolognese artist of considerable fame. Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.

Established in 1999 by Università degli Studi di Bologna, this fascinating library, containing up to 80,000 art volumes of various kinds, is dedicated to the late Italian art critic Federico Zeri, from which it takes its name. The Federico Zeri Library is set in the former Santa Cecilia Convent, where the Art Department of the University also resides. The cloister is definitely worth a visit in its own right, even if you aren’t the bookworm sort! Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.

This house, as the name suggests, was the home of one of the greatest Italian poets of the 19th century, Giosuè Carducci. At Casa Carducci, all the original furnishings are still in place and it now serves as a library and a museum, administrated by Comune di Bologna. It hosts the poet’s archive which is open to the public for consultation, while school programs and public events are also available. Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.

Situated in the same building as the Beaux-Arts Academy, Pinacoteca Nazionale mainly focuses on great Bolognese exponents of modern art, such as Guido Reni, Guercino and the Carracci brothers. Visitors can also find several paintings by other Italian artists on display, most connected with the city’s history in some way (think Giotto and Raphael). Alongside the permanent collection, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, so check ahead for the schedule. Recommended by Carlotta Bosi.