HISTORY: The area around Bologna was inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC, but significant settlements appeared since the 9th century BC. Later, the area came under Etruscan and Gallic influence, with the latter lasting until 196 BC. In 189 AD, the Romans founded a colony in the area, to which they gave the name of Bononia. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Bologna came under the Byzantine rule and, later, was conquered by the Longobards. In 774, the city capitulated before Charlemagne, who gave it to Pope Adrian I.
In the 13th century, Bologna was involved in the fight between Guelphs and Ghibellines. Starting from the 14th century, the city came under the papal authority. In 1507, Bologna passed to the Papal State, and remained there until 1796, when Napoleon arrived in the city. The city was annexed in 1860 to the Kingdom of Sardinia, which would become the Kingdom of Italy one year later.
GEOGRAPHY: Bologna is, today, the capital and the largest city of the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, and it's situated at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, on the edge of the Po Plain. With almost 400.000 inhabitants and around 1 million people in the metropolitan area, Bologna is the seventh most populous city in Italy.
Bologna is located about 50 kilometers southwest of Ferrara, about 100 kilometers north of Florence and about 150 kilometers southwest of Venice.
TRANSPORT: You can get to Bologna by plane, arriving at the Guglielmo Marconi International Airport, just a few minutes by car from the city center. You can make the trip from the airport to the city with the special bus Aerobus, paying 6€ for a ticket.
Bologna is one of the main transport hubs of Italy, being very well connected by rail and road with other major Italian cities. The cheapest train ticket to Venice costs 12€, for an almost 2 hours trip, and the cheapest ticket to Florence costs 9.45€, for an hour and a half trip. Depending on where you come from, you can get to Bologna by car, following one of the highways A1, A14 or A13.
LANDMARKS: The first place to visit in Bologna is Piazza Maggiore, a large square located in the historical center of the city, where you will find the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo Comunale (the City Hall) and Palazzo del Podestà. Besides these, you must see the Fountain of Neptune, located in the adjacent square, the two ancient towers - Torre degli Asinelli and Torre dei Garisenda, and the Palazzo della Mercanzia.
Bologna is famous for at least two things: for having the oldest university in the world, established in the year 1088, and for its cuisine. Probably you heard about the delicious Bolognese sauce and the tasty mortadella, the original sausage from Bologna…
MORE INFO: Bologna Airport | Train Schedule | Bus Schedule | Hotels in Bologna
