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
With 132 meters in length and 60 meters wide, the Basilica of San Petronio is the sixth largest church in Europe, despite being largely unfinished. Although is not the cathedral of Bologna, a title that belongs to the nearby Cathedral of San Pietro, i Read more [...]
The Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) is a wonderful fountain made by Giambologna in the 16th century, located in the square dedicated to the same deity of the sea, in Bologna. The basin of the fountain stands on a base with three steps. At th Read more [...]
Piazza Maggiore is the main square of Bologna and, at the same time, one of the most beautiful in Italy. The square is surrounded by the most important buildings of the medieval city, of which we can mention the Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo Comunale, Read more [...]
The Jamaican ska band The Skatalites will play on Friday, October 12, 2018, at Estragon Club, in Bologna. The Skatalites began performing in Jamaica in May 1964. At that time, they were the top musicia Read more [...]
Bullet For My Valentine, the heavy metal band from Wales, will concert in Bologna, at Estragon Club, on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. The band was formed in 1998, and is currently composed of Matthew Tu Read more [...]
Morcheeba, the English electronic band that brought you songs like Blindfold and Enjoy the Ride, will play on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at Estragon Club, in Bologna. Morcheeba are Skye Edwards and Ro Read more [...]
Steam House Room & Breakfast offers the privacy of a guest house and the reception of a bed & breakfast in the histori Read more [...]
Hotel Internazionale is a 4-Star hotel located in a historic building in Via Indipendenza, in the heart of Bologna, within wal Read more [...]
Casa Faccioli is an elegant Bed and Breakfast located in the historic center of Bologna, really close to the historic Piazza M Read more [...]
Present since 1937 in the historic center of Bologna, Ristorante Bolognese is located in an enviable position, close to major Read more [...]
Situated a few steps from the Due Torri (the Two Towers), restaurant La Brace is a well-known landmark in Bologna for all love Read more [...]
Buca San Petronio is a restaurant located in the center of Bologna, 50 meters from Piazza Maggiore. Focused on the Italian Sty Read more [...]
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