Things to see and do Bologna

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.

It is not a single church but a group of four churches (originally seven) in which twelve Benedictine monks still reside today. First we enter the 11th century church of the Crucifix (Chiesa del Crocifisso). A staircase on the left leads to the Pietà d'Angelo Piòand gives access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (del San Sepolcro), from the same period and containing the tomb of Saint Petronius. Its dome was, until 1804, decorated with frescoes. This is no longer the case today, but the mystical atmosphere still reigns in this church. We then pass into the Courtyard of Pilate (Cortile di Pilato), a regular quadrilateral where the restored facade of the Church of the Holy Trinity is located to the east. In the centre is the "Pilate's basin", a stone basin where Pontius Pilate is said to have washed his hands after Christ's death sentence. This Lombard work is actually dated between 730 and 740. After the Church of the Trinity (della Trinità), a transverse church with five naves dating back to the 13th century, you reach the cloister. From there, you can reach the small museum where some of the paintings are exhibited. Finally, the Basilica of Saints Vitale and Agricola, overlooking the picturesque Piazza Santo Stefano, is the one that has best maintained the characteristics of the Lombard Romanesque style. It is also the oldest in the city. Chapels, crypts, cloisters are linked together in a unique composition, giving off an atmosphere of great serenity.

In 1315, the first dissection of a human body was held under the leadership of Bolonais Mondino, the author of the first Dissection Guide, and under the high authority of the Church whose representatives installed behind a height trap could at any time interrupt the operation. In this wooden theatre, detachable, which served only the two winter months conducive to dissection, we inspected all parts of the body without ever touching the heart "the soul box" and made discoveries of incredible scientific progress, especially in 1316 with the first dissection of the body of a pregnant woman.

Built in 1246, he was named in tribute to the son of Federico II di Hohenstaufen, who remained imprisoned here for years. The story tells us that the young man was of perfect beauty and that the women of the city liked to look at it. One day he managed to escape, he was denounced by a girl who, in her window, saw her escape and was terrorized at the idea of no longer being able to admire her…

This grandiose brick construction dates from the 13th century and is dominated by the Clock Tower added two centuries later. In the centre, the portal designed by Galeazzo Alessi dates back to 1555; on the balcony, the statue of Pope Gregory XIII who, to escape the looting by Napoleon's troops, was disguised as Saint Petronius, patron saint of the city! The top floor of the palace houses the collections of paintings and works of art of the city of Bologna (Collezioni Comunali d'Arte).

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.

This church dedicated to the patron saint of the city is one of the most beautiful creations of Italian Gothic architecture. Its construction began in 1390 and was not completed until 1659. A challenge set by the Bolognese, it was to become the largest basilica in the world. Unable to tolerate the idea that there was a basilica in Bologna larger than St. Peter's Church in Rome, the Pope decided otherwise by offering a new wing to the University of Bologna, placed right next to the basilica: a roundabout way to block the extent of its construction! The façade remained unfinished; only the lower level has been clad in white Istrian stone and pink Verona marble. Central portal decorated with bas-reliefs by Jacopo della Quercia. Inside, one is fascinated by the vastness of the Gothic style space and by the meridian drawn on the floor in 1655. Every June 21 at 1:16 pm, it marks the Bolognese summer solstice when the sun's rays illuminate the sign of cancer. The twenty-two chapels belonging to the donor families of the time and decorated with paintings can also be admired. The fourth on the left is decorated with frescoes by Giovanni da Modena (1410-1415), with scenes from the life of Saint Petronius, an Adoration of the Magi, Paradise and Hell. Among the damned is the Prophet Muhammad, which led to the basilica being the target of terrorist attacks, fortunately foiled, in 2002 and 2006. Above the high altar is the oldest organ in Italy.

The green lung of the city is very popular with the inhabitants. With 26 hectares, it is the largest park in Bologna. Designed by the Piedmontese Sambuy, it was opened in 1879 and you can now walk among many trees such as cedars, pines, chestnuts, sycamores, cypresses, some English oaks, sequoias... Within the gardens there is even a small lake. A great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, to go for a daily jog or to do activities with the kids

This palace dating back to the th century was restored to the Renaissance. The ground floor with the arcades is crossed by two lanes which intersect under a big vault. Its Renaissance facade is now home to the tourist office.