Bologna the fat, Bologna the learned, Bologna the red. Bologna and the five things to see from the complex of the Seven Churches in San Luca, the arcades, the Two Towers and much more.
Bologna the fat, Bologna the Learned, Bologna the Red.
Bologna is my acquired city, the city where I took root, the city I fell in love with after only two days of stay. I have never felt so comfortable anywhere. This for me is the most beautiful feature of this city, his freedom, its ability to welcome and make you feel that there is room for you too, a great place.
In Bologna it is nice to get lost, in those alleys that seem to take you back to an era that no longer exists, but which are always alive.
Bologna is famous for Two towers obviously, but they were about 100 towers that once overlooked the Emilian capital. And the Two Towers, the Garisenda and that of the Asinelli, stand out there, at the end of Via Rizzoli, imposing and a little crooked, a symbol of a past power. Climb the Asinelli Tower (costs € 3) and you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding hills.
Then continuing on Via Rizzoli you will arrive at the second focal point of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore, the Piazza Grande of Lucio Dalla, where you can find the Fountain of Neptune, the never finished Basilica of San Petronio and, my favorite, Palazzo Re Enzo, a splendid castle on the central square.
San Petronio it is not the cathedral of Bologna, although many think so, but it is the main church of Bologna, sixth largest in Europe, special in its incompleteness.
Palazzo Re Enzo has perhaps a more complex history that dates back to the 1244th century. It was built starting from 23 as an extension of the Palazzo del Podestà, however history linked it to King Enzo of Sardinia, hence the current name of the building, which, as legend has it, remained imprisoned there for XNUMX years until to his death.
At this point, just head towards the Pavaglione portico to get to another Bolognese gem, theArchiginnasio, seat of the oldest university in the world and today the Municipal Library. You will notice its splendor right away, just look up in the direction of the incredible frescoed vaults.
Inside the palace there is also a beautiful anatomical theater built in 1637. The Archiginnasio is the largest mural heraldic complex in the world, with around 7000 student coats of arms.
Now you can head through the beautiful Quadrilatero district to the suggestive Piazza Santo Stefano, where you will find the homonymous Basilica in the beautiful complex of Seven Churches.
The Seven Churches are one truly unique sanctuary and of the original seven churches only four remain today. The story tells that the complex was built in 430 on the foundations of a pagan temple, with the initial intention of creating a Jerusalem in Bologna, to undergo a series of extensions and modifications over the centuries that led it to become seven churches built practically the one inside the other.
Santo Stefano is the splendid square overlooked by only three of the churches of the complex, namely the Church of the Crucifix, the Church of Calvario and SS Vitale e Agricola. The visit inside will leave you speechless and, if there are not too many tourists, you will feel like you have gone back in time.
And finally, if you want to do something truly unmissable and you are a good walker, you must go to the Basilica of San Luca, not by public transport but by taking the beautiful walk that starts from Porta Saragozza and goes up to the Basilica, from which you will enjoy a beautiful view of the hills.
In Bologna it is customary to go to San Luca for make a foil but for many it is also a sporting destination, when the evening is filled with runners and willing walkers. The Portico leading to San Luca is the longest porch in the world, with its 3.796 meters and its 666 arches, built between 1674 and 1721, and is still as beautiful as it once was.
