Bologna Walking Tour

We arrived at the bus station in Bologna and stopped to use the restrooms. Then it was a walk from the bus station into the center city. 

Bologna like many cities has Roman ruins underneath it. It’s common in Europe for cities to be built on top of previous cities. 

There was a lot of construction on our way into town, and a lot of bikes. Since Bologna is a university town, it’s a popular transport mode for students. 

Also like many cities, buses are banned in the downtown area so they park on the outer edges and people walk in to the commercial and historical areas. We walked just under a mile into the city. 

One of the common architectural features for Bologna is the arched columns that you can see along the walkways and along the buildings. This makes it practical so in the summer you can always find shade.

One of Bologna’s nicknames is the “Red City” and that is because it is known for its red brick buildings. The palette is red, orange, and burnt sienna, which is named for the northern Italian city of Sienna. 

One of the secret spots our guide showed us on our way into city center was a spot called Little Venice. It has a little canal and we had to look through a little window to see it. The water level was low but still a definite hidden gem!

We made our way to Neptune’s Square, which is surrounded by many buildings from various eras. Inside is a fountain where you can see that Neptune’s Trident carries the same brand logo as the car named Maserati. The company comes from this region and so they wanted to honour their connection to the city of Bologna.

To the side of the fountain is the Basilica and the Piazza Magiorre. This is the center of Bologna’s social, political, and cultural life since the 13th century. The buildings are a mix of gothic and renaissance architecture. 

The Basilica of San Petronia has an unfinished facade and is devoted to Bologna’s patron saint. It’s one of the largest in Europe. There we learned the main difference between a Basilica and a church and cathedral. Basilicas have to have natural light while a cathedral has to have a place for the bishop to sit. Basilicas are designated by the Pope as having special  significance.  

After our walk it was time for free time for the kids to find lunch and stroll through the streets. More shopping is on hand for sure!