Streets squares and districts to visit Emilia-Romagna

It is the city's living place par excellence and the pride of its inhabitants. This majestic square gives the impression of having returned to the Middle Ages, the atmosphere in the evening is really captivating. It is also the monumental heart of the city. Dominated by the Basilica of San Petronio to the south, there are also a number of ancient palaces: on the west side, the 13th-century Palazzo d'Accursio (Town Hall); to the north, the Palazzo del Podestà, founded in the 13th century and refurbished in the Renaissance; to the east, the Palazzo dei Banchi (Banks), dating from 1568, which once housed the offices of the bankers; to the south-west, the 14th-century Palazzo dei Notai (Notaries). The Palazzo del Podestà has a ground floor with arches crossed by two lanes that intersect under a large vault. Its porticoes facing the square now house the tourist office. At the back, the Palazzo di Re Enzo, built in 1246, was named after the son of Emperor Frederick II Hohenstaufen, who was imprisoned here for twenty-three years. The story goes that the young man was of great beauty and attracted the attention of all the women in the city. One day he managed to escape, but he was denounced by a young girl who saw him fleeing from her window and was terrified that she could no longer admire him. The latter two palaces are open for exhibitions or special events. In summer, Piazza Maggiore becomes a large open-air cinema with film screenings every evening.

Via Zamboni is the university street of Bologna. There are several universities and the municipal theatre, a th century construction of Antonio Galli, "Il Bibiena". The beautiful interior was decorated by Busi and Samoggia. Later, at No. 33 of Via Zamboni, the central headquarters of the University of Bologna have been installed in Poggi palace since the th century. The interior features frescoes of Pellegrino Tibaldi and Niccolo dell'Abate. In front of the palace, the street is lined with lodging ads, to find rooms in the month or the week. Having become a kind of folklore, these ends of accrochés paper still bear witness to a real problem for students.

In the extension of Piazza Maggiore, this square is also called Piazza del Gigante (Giant's Square) because of the imposing statue of Neptune that adorns the fountain. Commissioned by a papal legate in honour of Pius IV, the bronze sculpture was made by the Flemish Jean de Boulogne (Giambologna) between 1563 and 1566. The Roman god of the seas grabs his trident and rests on a high base decorated with putti embracing dolphins and four sirens in suggestive poses. Today, Neptune has become one of the symbols of Bologna.

In the heart of the medieval quarter, this long narrow street has become one of the symbols of Ferrara. In the past, most of the city's commercial activities took place here. Its name comes from the volte, the transverse arches that connected the merchants' houses on the south side of the street to the depots on the north side. According to another interpretation, the arches were used to reclaim living space in a densely populated neighbourhood. Some are now arranged in small terraces. This picturesque street deserves to be walked from end to end.

Terre di Castelli (Land of Castles) was born from the union of eight municipalities of the province of Modena: Castelnuovo Rangone, Castelvetro di Modena, Guiglia, Marano sul Panaro, Savignano sul Panaro, Spilamberto, Vignola, Zocca. The objective: to promote the historical, artistic and gastronomic richness of this territory. You can discover medieval architecture through its castles and ancient villages, the flavours of the famous balsamic, kilometres of cycle paths passing through the river parks of Panaro. The website is rich in information.

Inaugurated in 2000, this place of the Third Millennium has long sought its vocation. Pedestrian passage in Roman times, botanical Garden in 1600, trade room in 1860, then the exchange room and finally the Caisse d'epargne headquarters, it is now the library and multimedia centre of Bologna. Inside, the remains of a Roman forum and basilica are visible through the stained ground.

His name comes from the three partisans who were executed here in 1944. It occupies the site of the ancient Roman forum and, according to legend, Julius Caesar harangue his soldiers here after crossing the Rubicon in 49 B.C. The Torre dell'Orologio is located here: built in 1547 and rebuilt in 1753 to a design by Giovan Francesco Buonamici, the two-handed hour dial features Roman numerals and fleur-de-lys for the halves. Towards the Place Cavour, a neighbourhood of pretty, lively alleys with lots of bistros and cafés develops.

This is the historic heart of the city. There is the Teatro Galli, inaugurated in 1857 by Giuseppe Verdi with the premiere of Aroldo, the statue of Pope Paul V and a 16th century fountain. The square is bordered by several ancient palaces, among which the Palazzo dell'Arengo, from 1204, with frescoes from the 14th and 16th centuries. Piazza Cavour is also home to the Vecchia Pescheria, one of the most suggestive places in the city. Built in 1747, you can still see the old marble stalls where fishermen used to sell clams.

The origins of the Jewish community in Ferrara date back to the 15th century, when the d'Este family welcomed Jews from Rome, Spain and Germany. In 1627 the Pontifical Government established the ghetto which was located between Via Mazzini, Via Vignatagliata and Via Vittoria. Five gates blocked access from sunset to sunrise; they were knocked down by the new kingdom of Italy in 1859. Today, the ghetto is a quiet neighbourhood, with pebble-paved streets lined with small houses, some of which have Spanish-style balconies.

Piazza della Libertà is the heart of the village. It is dominated by the Cathedral, refurbished in the 16th century, the Municipal Palace, dating from 1306, the Civic Tower and the Column of Hospitality. From the square you then take the Via Mainardi and walk along the old Jewish ghetto where a plaque commemorates Ovadyah Yare, a 15th century scholar and rabbi from Bertinoro. You can continue on the medieval via dei Santi to the Porta dei Tre Santi. Don't miss via delle Mura and the torrione San Giuseppe.

While traversing it via Marecchia, one arrives at Borgo San Giuliano, a charming neighborhood of fishermen which kept intact his atmosphere of formerly, with his houses with the tones pastel, often decorated frescoes in tribute to scenario writer Federico Fellini. Fellini and his wife, Giulietta Masina, liked much to walk in the quiet narrow streets of the neighborhood. Every two years, the combination Società de' Borg organizes Festa de' Borg at the time which the narrow streets of the village become the theater in concerts and various shows.