Bologna: Red Brick, Ragù, and Europe's Oldest University
Bologna is Italy's great unpretentious city — red-brick and terracotta rather than marble, university students rather than tour groups, and a kitchen that gave the world ragù, tortellini, and mortadella. Its nickname, La Rossa, refers as much to its politics and rooftops as to its food, while endless porticoed sidewalks make it one of Europe's most pleasant cities to simply wander.
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✈ Plan Your Trip →What to See
Piazza Maggiore
The city's grand medieval square, framed by the Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo d'Accursio, and the Fountain of Neptune.
Basilica di San Petronio
One of the world's largest brick churches, left visibly unfinished on its facade yet enormous and richly decorated inside.
Two Towers (Le Due Torri)
The Asinelli and Garisenda towers are the surviving pair of what were once over 100 defensive medieval towers across the city.
Basilica di Santo Stefano
A remarkable complex of seven interconnected churches dating back over a thousand years, built around a courtyard called the 'Bologna Jerusalem'.
Quadrilatero market district
A tight web of medieval streets near Piazza della Mercanzia lined with butchers, cheesemongers, and produce stalls — the historic beating heart of Bologna's food scene.
Archiginnasio and University of Bologna area
Home to the world's oldest university (founded 1088) and the Anatomical Theatre, a wood-carved 17th-century lecture hall used for dissections.
Porticoes of San Luca
A nearly 4km covered walkway of arches climbing to the hilltop Santuario della Madonna di San Luca, the longest portico in the world.
A Sample Day
What to Eat
Bologna is the birthplace of some of Italy's most exported — and most misunderstood abroad — dishes, so eating here means tasting the originals.
April to June and September to October bring warm days, thinner crowds, and comfortable walking weather under the porticoes; July and August turn hot and muggy, while winter is mild but grey.
Bologna's compact historic center is entirely walkable, and its famous 38km of porticoes mean you can cross town in a downpour without ever opening an umbrella. For trips beyond the center — like the hills of Sasso Marconi or Modena — regional trains from Bologna Centrale are fast and cheap.
Skip the touristy restaurants directly on Piazza Maggiore and instead eat in the university quarter around Via Zamboni or Via Piella, where prices drop and the ragù tastes like someone's actual grandmother made it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bologna worth visiting if I'm not that into food?+
Yes — beyond the kitchen it has Europe's oldest university, striking medieval towers, endless porticoed streets perfect for aimless walking, and some of Italy's best-preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
How many days do you need in Bologna?+
Two full days cover the historic center, the towers, and a couple of key meals, but three lets you add a day trip to Modena or a slower food-focused itinerary through the Quadrilatero market.
Is Bologna expensive compared to other Italian cities?+
It's generally cheaper than Florence, Venice, or Rome for food and lodging, largely because it draws fewer international tourists despite being just as historic and central.
Handy for your trip
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