Bologna
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Introduction
« La dotta, la grassa, la turrita. »
Bologna (pronounced boloɲa), from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Bolognese dialect) is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, in the Po Valley (Pianura Padana in Italian), between the Po River and the Apennines, exactly between the Reno River and the Sàvena River. Home of the oldest university in the Western world, "Alma Mater Studiorum", founded in 1088, Bologna is one of the most developed cities in Italy. Bologna often ranks as one of the top cities related to quality of life in Italy, being ranked 5th in 2006 and 12th in 2007 out of 103 Italian cities. This is due to its strong industrial tradition and physical position--located at the crossing of the most important highways and railways in the country--as well as its wide range of highly-developed social services.
Bologna, well-known for its towers and its arcades, has a historic centre very well maintained (one of the greatest in Italy), thanks to a thorough policy of restoration and preserving since 1960, in spite of the serious damages caused by the demolition of the blocks and by the bombings from the WWII. The cityscape is enriched by elegant and extensive arcades (or porticos), for which the city is famous. In total, there are some 38 kilometres of arcades in the city's historical center (over 45 km in the city proper), which make it possible to walk for long distances sheltered from rain, snow, or hot summer sun. The Portico of San Luca, the longest in the world (3.5 km, 666 arcades) connects the Porta Saragozza (one of the twelve gates of the ancient walls built in the Middle Ages, which circled a 7.5 km part of the city) with the San Luca Sanctuary, on Colle della Guardia, over the city (289 m.)
The city, which origins came from a millennium before Christ, has always been a great important urban centre first with the Celtics and the Etruscan, where its name was (Felsina), after with the Romans (Bononia), and finally in the Medioevo, like free common (for a century it was the fifth european city for population).
Bologna developed along the Via Emilia as an Etruscan and later Roman colony; the Via Emilia still runs straight through the city under the changing names of Strada Maggiore, Rizzoli, Ugo Bassi, and San Felice. The original Roman ramparts were supplanted by a high medieval system of fortifications, remains of which are still visible, and finally by a third and final set of ramparts built in the thirteenth century, of which numerous sections survive. Over twenty medieval defensive towers, remain from the over two hundred that were constructed in the era preceding the security guaranteed by unified civic government.
The city of Bologna was appointed a UNESCO City of Music on 29 May 2006. According to UNESCO, "As the first Italian city to be appointed to the Network, Bologna has demonstrated a rich musical tradition that is continuing to evolve as a vibrant factor of contemporary life and creation. It has also shown a strong commitment to promoting music as an important vehicle for inclusion in the fight against racism and in an effort to encourage economic and social development. Fostering a wide range of genres from classical to electronic, jazz, folk and opera, Bologna offers its citizens a musical vitality that deeply infiltrates the city’s professional, academic, social and cultural facets."
Over the centuries, Bologna has acquired many nicknames: "the learned one" (la dotta) is a reference to its famous university; "the fat one" (la grassa) refers to its cuisine, and "the red one" (la rossa). "The red one" (la rossa) originally refers to the colour of the roofs in the historic centre, but this nickname is also connected to the political situation in the city, started after World War II: the city was renowned as a bastion of socialism and communism.
Another nickname for Bologna is the Basket City, referring to Bologna's obsession with basketball, which is somewhat unusual in football-dominated Italy. The local derby between the city's two principal basketball clubs, Fortitudo and Virtus (often called after the clubs' principal sponsors), is intense and very strong. Football is still a highly popular sport in Bologna; the main local club is Bologna F.C. 1909, which is currently in Serie A.
Bologna is renowned for its culinary tradition. It has given its name to the well-known Bolognese sauce, a meat based pasta sauce called in Italy ragù alla bolognese but in the city itself just ragù as in Tagliatelle al ragù. Situated in the fertile Po River Valley, the rich local cuisine depends heavily on meats and cheeses. As in all of Emilia-Romagna, the production of cured pork meats such as prosciutto, mortadella and salame is an important part of the local food industry. Well-regarded nearby vineyards include Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi, Lambrusco di Modena and Sangiovese di Romagna. Tagliatelle al ragù, lasagne, tortellini served in broth and mortadella, the original Bologna sausage, are among the local specialties.
Bologna is a very important railway and motorway hub in Italy. The city's Fiera District (exhibition area) is the second largest in Italy and the fourth largest in Europe, with important international exhibitions. Bologna has about 400,000 inhabitants in the city proper and about 1 million in the metropolitan area, including over 100,000 students of the ancient and renowned University of Bologna, founded in the eleventh century.
Getting To Bologna
Getting To and From the Marconi Airport
Bologna is home to Guglielmo Marconi International Airport, expanded in 2004 by extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft. It is the tenth busiest Italian airport for passenger traffic (over than 4 million/year in 2007) and is an intercontinental gateway.
Getting To and From the Forli Airport
National Rail
Bologna Central Station is considered the most important train hub in Italy thanks to the city's strategic location. Also, its goods-station (San Donato) with its 33 railway tracks, is the largest in Italy in size and traffic. Bologna's station holds a memory in Italian public consciousness of the terrorist bomb attack that killed 85 victims in August 1980. The attack is also known in Italy as the Strage di Bologna ("Bologna massacre").
Highway
Getting Around Once You Are Here
General Information
Ferrovie Emilia Romagna
Bologna Buses
Night Buses
Taxis & Mini Cabs
Walk!
Climate & Weather
See & Do
Major Bologna Events
Important International Fairs
All the important fairs are taken at the Fiera District. Here are some of the most important:
- Motorshow ( mid December ): cars related
- Saie ( mid October ): buildings related
- Saiedue ( beginning of February ): buildings related
- Cersaie ( between September and October ): buildings related
- Cosmoprof ( beginning of April ): beauty culture related, considered to be the most important in the world
- Lineapelle ( ending of October ): leather related
Local & Typical Fairs
- Fiera di Santa Lucia ( end of November and all December ): Everything about Christmas! This fair takes places all days, in the covered sidewalk of Santa Maria dei Servi Church, which is in Strada Maggiore (DownTown District)
The Sights and Entertainment
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca is located just outside the main city on the Colle della Guardia (Guard Hill). Built in the eleventh century, it was much enlarged in the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries. The interior contains works of several masters, but probably the most important is the painting of the Madonna with Child attributed to Luke the Evangelist. The best way to visit this Sanctuary is on foot; you can walk under the porticos.
Bologna is home to numerous important churches. An incomplete list includes:
- basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world
- San Pietro Cathedral
- Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca (basilica) on Colle della Guardia
- Santa Maria dei Servi basilica
- Santo Stefano basilica and sanctuary
- San Domenico basilica and sanctuary
- San Francesco basilica
- San Giacomo Maggiore basilica
- San Michele in Bosco
- San Paolo the Great, basilica
Neighbourhoods & Day trips
Couch Searching & Surfing In Bologna
CouchSurfing in Bologna is based upon an enthusiastyc group of over 690 members that makes it one of the greatest group in Italy. All members are ready to host you, show you the city and have fun with you during many meetings but first it would be a good idea to join the local group, Bologna, to improve the possibility of new friendship during your travel and to find your host! :D
CS Guides & Ambassadors
Bologna has four City Ambassadors, Inti Bertocchi, Tamara Bernabei, Fabrizio Bezzini and Nicolò Megarelli . Feel free to send them an e-mail if you need information about Bologna and about our group.
Meetings
In Bologna group everyone love to organize parties, cultural or musical meetings and "aperitivi" and everyone who has an idea for the evening, or the weekend, proposes it and our meetings are opened to all Couchsurfers who want to join in and have a nice evening with friends.
If you are planning to come to Bologna, join the group Bologna and check all the posts to know when it'll be the next event or check the official Meeting Calendar where you can find all the upcoming meetings, with descriptions, infos and the link to the relative discussion on the group. You can read the events, leave a post and meet us! We'll enjoy your company! :D
Emergency couches available
Shopping
Markets
Cool shops
Eat
Cheap Restaurants
- Tamburini (Via Caprarie 1, Downtown district, phone: +39051234726)
- Osteria della Orsa (Via Mentana 1/F , Downtown district, phone: +39051231576)
- Trattoria del Rosso (Via Augusto Righi 30 , Downtown district, phone: +39051236730)
Gelaterie
Bologna offers some of the best gelaterie of Italy and entire Europe. While many of them offers decent icecream (like Capo Nord or Gianni's), in some of them you can find really outstanding products. Here they are:
- La Sorbetteria (Via Castiglione 44, Downtown district, phone: +39051233257)
- Il Gelatauro (Via San Vitale 98/B, Downtown district, phone: +39051230049)
- GROM (Via Azeglio 13, Downtown district, phone: +39051273437)
Vegetarian & Vegan Eating
- Clorofilla (Strada Maggiore 64, Downtown district, phone: +39051235343)
Drink
Bologna is well known in Italy for its nightlife. The two best streets for nightlife are definetly Via Zamboni and Via del Pratello. While the former is inside the University district, and thus is full of students, the latter is more frequented by the guys from Bologna, not linked to the University. Both the streets are placed in the downtown.
Here below, you'll find a brief list of famous places.
Pubs & bars
Bologna is considered to be pretty expensive. Expect to pay 4€ for a pint of beer in an average pub.
- Amadeus (Via Dagnini 1A, Murri district, phone: +390516234011)
- La Tana del Luppolo (Piazza Azzarita 5A, Downtown district, phone: +39051522102)
- The Cluricaune Irish Pub (Via Zamboni, 18/B, Downtown district, phone: +39051263419)
- The Celtic Druid Irish Pub (Via Caduti di Cefalonia 5/c, Downtown district, phone: +39051227518)
- Il Barazzo (Via del Pratello 66/b, Downtown district)
- Le Stanze (Via Del Borgo Di S. Pietro 1/A, Downtown district, phone: +39051273602)
- Corto Maltese (Via del Borgo di San Pietro 9, Downtown district)
- Transilvania (via Zamboni 16/d, Downtown district)
Discos
- Caffè Atlantico (Piazza Azzarita 3, Downtown district, phone: +39051521056)
- Kinki (Via Zamboni 1, Downtown district, phone: +39051266028)
- Estragon (Via Stalingrado 83, Navile district, phone: +39051323490)
- Ca de Mandorli (Via Idice 24, San Lazzaro, phone: +390516255031)
- Kasamatta (Vicolo Sampieri 3, Downtown district, phone: +39051224256)
Aperitifs
- Naso&Gola (Via Porta Nova 18/B, Downtown district, phone: +39051268388)
- Masterbeer (Via Andrea Costa 158, Reno district, phone: +39051266028)
- Vini di Italia (Via Emilia Levante, 142, Savena district, phone: +39051541509)
- De&Cò (Via Massarenti 91, San Vitale district, phone: +39051307377)
- Caffè Zanarini (Piazza Galvani 1, Downtown district, phone: +390512750041)
Words commonly used in Bologna
Useful Links
The official site of Tourist Office: Tourist Office
For a virtual tour of the city: Girabologna
