How To Use This E-Book
Getting Around the e-Book
This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Bologna, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.
The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Bologna, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Bologna are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
Youll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Bologna. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.
2016 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Bolognas Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
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Santo Stefano
Enchanting complex of medieval churches, cloisters and crypts. For more information, .
Top Attraction #2
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Le Due Torri
The Two Towers are celebrated symbols of the city. Climb to the top of tilting Torre degli Asinelli for splendid views of the city. For more information, .
Top Attraction #3
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MAMbo
A sleek modern Arts Centre, with a fashionable caf. For more information, .
Top Attraction #4
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The Portici
An impressive 35km (22 miles) of elegant porticoes provide handy protection from the elements. For more information, .
Top Attraction #5
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Gastronomy
Indulge in Bolognas culinary delights and find out why they call the city La Grassa (The Fat). For more information, .
Top Attraction #6
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Neptunes Fountain
Giambolognas show-stopping bronze of Neptune is a favourite rendezvous in the heart of the city. For more information, .
Top Attraction #7
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San Luca
Climb the worlds longest portico to the hilltop sanctuary church of San Luca. For more information, .
Top Attraction #8
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Palazzo dellArchiginnasio
Former university building with Anatomical Theatre where human corpses were dissected. For more information, .
Top Attraction #9
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Basilica di San Petronio
The monumental basilica ranks among the most imposing of Italys Gothic churches. For more information, .
Top Attraction #10
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Pinacoteca Nazionale
The citys finest art collection with works by Bolognese and other Italian masters. For more information, .
A Perfect Day in Bologna
9am
Breakfast
Kick off the day with coffee and diet-busting brioches at the Caff Sette Chiese on Piazza Santo Stefano. Secure a seat under the arches of the portico for fine views of Santo Stefano. After breakfast wander through the delightful jumble of medieval churches, cloisters and courtyards.
10am
Strada Maggiore
From Via Santo Stefano take the Corte Isolani, a quaint medieval warren of galleries and cafs, to Strada Maggiore where porticoes and palatial homes line the street. Browse in elegant antique shops and/or visit the delightful Museum of Music and Gothic Church of Santa Maria della Vita.
11am
Historic core
Head for Piazza del Nettuno, host to Giambolognas celebrated statue of Neptune, and beyond to Piazza Maggiore, which is overlooked by the Basilica di San Petronio. Here, absorb everyday life in this sweeping square, then take a peek inside the monumental interior of San Petronio.
Noon
Culinary delights
Plunge into the maze of medieval alleys off Piazza Maggiore with tantalising delis, fresh food stalls and a chic covered food hall. For lunch grab a piadina (sandwich) crammed with Parma Ham, Mortadella and local cheeses, or head for Tamburini at Via Caprarie 1, a famous gourmet deli and caf.