Things to do in Bologna

​If Bologna is known as "La Grassa, La Dotta, La Rossa" (The Fat, The Learned, The Red), then Piazza Maggiore is the grand stage where all these identities meet. During our 2024 trip, my girlfriend and I found this square to be much more than just a tourist stop—it was our gateway to an authentic and refined Italian experience.​Piazza Maggiore isn't just a square; it’s an open-air theater. It is the exact point where the city’s historical majesty shakes hands with its modern-day energy. Dominating the view is the massive Basilica of San Petronio, one of the largest in the world, whose unfinished façade serves as a beautiful reminder of the city’s long and complex history.​Why You Must Linger Here:●​Feel the Pulse: Standing in the center of the square, you truly feel the "heartbeat" of Bologna. Whether it’s locals meeting for a chat or students from the nearby ancient university crossing the cobblestones, the atmosphere is electric.●​The Gaze of Neptune: Just a few steps away, the Fountain of Neptune stands imposing and majestic. It’s the perfect spot to take a moment and admire the architectural ambition that defined the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.●​The Hub of Everything: From here, the city’s soul branches out. You are seconds away from the iconic Two Towers (Le Due Torri) and the hidden, chic boutiques where we discovered that unmistakable Italian style.​A Personal Recommendation: after exploring the intellectual noble halls of the University or hunting for treasures in nearby antique shops, there is nothing quite like returning to the Piazza. As the sun sets, the red hues of the surrounding buildings glow, and the UNESCO-listed porticos invite you to sit down for a glass of local wine.For us, Piazza Maggiore was the perfect starting point for our adventures—not just within Bologna, but as a gateway to nearby gems like Florence and Verona. . If you’re looking for a perfect base, we stayed at the UNAHOTELS Bologna Fiera- find my review here.

This is a decent half-day trip, but definitely come prepared for a serious uphill trek! If you decide to walk from the city, it takes about an hour and includes a surprising number of steep steps along the historic portico. The basilica itself is lovely, and arriving at the top gives you a great dose of exercise and fresh mountain air. Just manage your expectations regarding the scenery: the panorama looks mostly toward the rolling green hills rather than the iconic city center sights of Bologna. It is well worth doing for the workout and the unique architecture, but wear comfortable sneakers or consider taking the shuttle bus up if your knees are sensitive.

The Fountain of Neptune or just “Il Nettuno” as locals call it, it’s also known as "al Zigânt" (the Giant) in Bolognese dialect because of the size of the statue of Neptune. At the time of its construction it was a symbol of the power of the Pope, who ruled the world like Neptune ruled the seas. At the feet of the statue, in fact, lie four little angels, representing Gange, the Nile, the Amazon and Danube, the rivers of the continents known at the time.The trident of the statue inspired and it was used by Maserati brothers as emblem for their first car, the Maserati Tipo 26. This is still today the logo of the Maserati car company. The fountain and its sculpture are one of the most iconic symbols of the city and references to them can be found in many symbols, commercials and logos. The historical students' fraternity (Goliardia) "Excelsa Neptuni Balla", has two tridents on its emblem. The Bolognese anecdote also tells of a particular expedient implemented by Giambologna, who intended to find a way to make Neptune with realistic genitals, without being discovered and admonished by the Church. The sculptor designed the statue in such a way that from a particular angle the thumb of Neptune's outstretched hand seems to emerge directly from the lower abdomen, making him suggest the (erect) genital; as proof of the same, in the pavement of the square there is a black stone, also called "of shame" placed in a very specific point in piazza del Nettuno (to be precise at the foot of the entrance stairway to the Salaborsa library) which facilitates its vision.

I came here to check in during the holiday 📍, and I was not disappointed. First of all, I like the environment here, and secondly, the service is also very good. In short, I am very satisfied.

The museum houses a large number of gemstone-encrusted souvenirs, among which the more precious

The University of Bologna has many libraries, which are clearly divided into school-level, college-level, and research center-level. Its collection of books is very rich, with a focus on literature and history. The library's architecture is also the type I like.

Beautiful view, great choice, love this place!

The queue was quite long, and you need to make sure you're in the correct line before you start queuing… Queues at tourist attractions in Europe often consist of several separate lines with unclear signage. I didn't choose to climb the bell tower or the dome, but the museum included in the ticket is worth a good look; personally, I felt the environment was quite nice.

such a lovely place, the duomo or cathedral is very big that I cannot take a picture of the whole cathedral. Even if I have seen it several times I always love to visit and see it again and again.