Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: August 2022
Bologna is located in northern Italy and has several nicknames associated with some of the key features of the city. The most common of which are: la Dotta (“the learned one”, since Bologna has the oldest university in the world), la Rossa (“the red one”, in reference to the red tiled rooftops in the historical centre) and la Grassa (“the fat one”, because of all the delicious Italian cuisine).
After spending the morning in Florence, we decided to ditch the crowds and take a day trip to Bologna. A hop, skip and a 40 minute train right later, we arrived in Bologna ready to see the sights. From the train station, it was about a 20 minute walk to reach the historic downtown where many of the main attractions are located.
We first visited the Archiginnasio of Bologna, which was once the main building of the University of Bologna. The most notable rooms in the building include the Anatomical Theatre, a classroom with elaborate wood carving that was used for anatomy lectures, and the Archiginnasio Municipal Library, which contains a collection of books related to the religious congregations dissolved by the Napoleonic age and by the Kingdom of Italy.
We then went to the Archeological Museum of Bologna which contains one of the most important archaeological collections in Italy. It features an elaborate display of artifacts from prehistory to Roman times, Greek and Roman art, and a collection of Egyptian antiquities. The museum was closing early, so we only had an hour to race through the different exhibits.
While we weren’t able to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa earlier in our trip, as a consolation prize, we had booked tickets in advance to visit the Two Towers in Bologna, both of which are leaning. However, due to a medical emergency at the top of the Asinelli Tower, all the tours were delayed. We were told that we’d have to rebook for a later time slot at the Information Centre. And so that’s what we did. The next available time was in two and a half hours. No big deal though as there were still a few attractions on our itinerary. This also gave us an excuse to sample some of the local cuisine.
After eating a late lunch, we walked through the Piazza Maggiore. It is the central square in Bologna and is surrounded by a few impressive buildings. One of which is the Basilica of San Petronio, the largest church in the city. Construction of San Petronio began in 1390. It was initially supposed to have been larger than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, but it, along with the main facade, was never finished. The interior, on the other hand, was completed, along with a meridian line inlaid across the floor.
We then visited the Basilica of San Domenico, one of the most beautiful churches in Bologna. The basilica contains the marble tomb of Saint Dominic, which was crafted by some of the greatest sculptors in Italy, including Michelangelo. It took almost 500 years to finish.
Once we finished, we started to make our way back to the Two Towers in Bologna. The tour of the Asinelli Tower, the taller of the towers, was up and running again. The tower is 97.2 metres (or 319 ft) high and is reputed to be the tallest leaning medieval tower in the world. The tower was built between 1109 and 1119 by the Asinelli family as a symbol of their wealth. It was later passed onto the city and used as a lookout and defensive stronghold.
There are 498 steps in total to reach the top of the Asinelli Tower. Our tour group, which consisted of around 25 people, spent the next several minutes winding our way up the square tower in the heat. There were a few landing platforms for us to stop and catch our breath. In some ways, it was better to just push through since it was quite stuffy inside. Once we reached the top we were rewarded with a panoramic view of the city and a nice cool breeze.
It surprisingly took longer to walk down the tower than it did to reach the top. We had to wait for the next tour group to come up before we could head back down. We then checked out the Basilica San Martino, another really nice church.
It was then time to catch the train back to Florence. While this wasn’t the day trip we initially planned, we had a wonderful time exploring Bologna and getting away from the crowds.
L
498 stairs? Ooof. I’m tired just reading about it. Looks like a great view from the top though!
I was thinking this too! That’s a lot of stairs! 😳
I figured since we weren’t hiking, we might as well stay active by trying to climb as many towers as we could during our trip to Italy. This was definitely the tallest of the towers that we climbed. It was super stuffy and hot inside, and reaching the top never felt better, especially since there was a glorious breeze. The views were also pretty phenomenal.
Don’t you love how easy it is to get from place to place in Italy? Just hop on a trail. Bologna looks like an interesting place. Glad you managed the tower tour. We climbed one in Lucca in 2019. Great views. Thanks for sharing Linda. Allan
Totally!! And they seem to have figured out the whole high speed train situation too. If only we could do something similar here in Canada! It was quite the climb (in the heat) to reach the top, but climbing the tower was a great way to get a different perspective of the city. It’s always worth it for the views. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
Love all old churches and to think they worked on a project for 500 years! Wonderful pictures. Italy is on my list. My really long list of places to go.
We don’t have have churches like that here in Canada! And yes, it’s wild how some of these churches and decorations took many lifetimes to be built. Italy is one of my favourite countries. I wish we could have stayed longer as there’s still so many towns and cities we have yet to explore. There just never seems to be enough time!
That library room looks amazing. Imagine having that to yourself on a winter’s evening!
For sure. And I just love the smell of old books. Having this place to yourself where you can curl up with a good book and drink a glass of wine just sounds amazing.
Incredible tour of this fascinating city! The Tower looks amazing…take your breath away kind of experience in both the views and the exercise to get there 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. The Asinelli Tower was the tallest of the towers that we climbed during our visit to Italy. Getting to the top to breath in some fresh air never felt better. Plus the views were pretty amazing. It was well worth the effort.
Beautiful architecture and great photography.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We had a wonderful day trip to Bologna and it was nice to get away from the crowds in Florence.
Florence is gorgeous but so overrun with tourists. But who can blame them, there is so much to see. 😀
For sure. Despite the crowds, we still had a fabulous time in Florence. We found that getting up early and going for a walk first thing in the morning was a great way to see the quieter side of the city, plus the temperature was much cooler then too.
There’s so much beauty and fascinating history in Italy. I really like your writing style and the images of your travels. With all your traveling experiences, maybe you’ll both become tour guides? You have a fantastic site. It’s a joy to scroll through your past travel destinations.
Awww, you are too kind. Agreed, Italy is such a beautiful country, plus the food is just amazing. I would actually love to volunteer in a national park someday, probably when I retire. It seems like a great way to give back to nature and the places that gave me so much inspiration and wonderful memories.
Italy is such a fascinating, beautiful place. The history and architecture can be overwhelming. Roads and structures were built to last and they certainly have.
For sure. Italy certainly has its architectural achievements and it’s incredible how they’ve stood the test of time. The only downside of course is that many of these beautiful old buildings do not actually have air conditioning!
The Basilica of San Domenico looks incredible inside and out. The view of Bologna’s rooftops and buildings with verdant green hills behind is lovely. Bologna certainly feels like a nice day trip away from the crowds.
They sure knew how to build churches in Italy back in the day! The architecture and engineering is pretty impressive. I’m such a fan of climbing the towers to get a panoramic view of the city, even if that means tackling all those stairs in the heat without any air conditioning or even good air circulation sometimes. I was honestly surprised at how quiet Bologna was, especially in comparison to Florence. No complaints as it was nice to not have to deal with any lines or anything.
Wow, those towers are amazing, although I am not a fan of a leaning anything 😊
Oddly enough, you don’t really notice the slant when climbing up into the tower. Or maybe you don’t really notice it because it’s just so hot and stuffy inside. I’ve never been so eager to reach the top just to get a breath of fresh air.
I’ve not visited Bologna but really want to do so now it looks fascinating. Loved the architecture and the library and anatomical rooms in the Archiginnasio of Bologna.
It’s funny because Bologna wasn’t even on our radar. We had initially planned to take a day-trip to Pisa, which didn’t really pan out because of delays and issues with the train, so Bologna was the runner up. It was a great decision as Bologna is quite charming, but the best part was that it wasn’t very busy.
What a wonderful trip to Bologna you two enjoyed. The architecture, buildings, museums all look lovely. Did you get to snap pics of the local cuisine too? 😉
It’s so funny the first thing I always think about is baloney meat where I read the word Bologna. 😉
I always marvel at reading about structures that take centuries to build. But I bet something that took 500 years to build also shows it in how it stands the test of time.
Look forward to seeing more about the rest of your travels!
Ha, I’m totally going to associate boloney with Bologna now, thanks! But apparently the word baloney comes from a meat called bologna sausage. Thankfully the town Bologna is not anything close to baloney though. The medieval architecture was all very charming and surprisingly it wasn’t very busy. We had most of the museums and churches all to ourselves, which was a nice change of pace. And agreed, it’s pretty incredible just how old some of the buildings and monuments are. We don’t make them like that anymore (we also make them with air conditioning now, so I guess I can’t complain too much).
Happy Friday and have a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend!!
Yes, Bologna looked anything but baloney. 🙂
Wishing you and K a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend too!
Wow! Wonderful and so besutiful place and photos! Love the jeys! So romantic!
Thank’s for share, Linda.
Have a lovely day!
Elvira
Thanks for your kind words. The historic centre in Bologna is very charming and picturesque. We had a wonderful day just wandering around and soaking in the views. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Such beautiful architecture. 😊
It’s pretty amazing just how old some of these historic buildings are. The craftsmanship was outstanding. We certainly don’t make them like that anymore!
That’s for sure. 😏
Not surprised there was a medical emergency with all those stairs! The shot of the staircase is dizzying. It looks like the view was so worth it.
No kidding, especially given how hot it was! This was the tallest tower that we climbed when we were in Italy. And let me tell you, there is no air conditioning in those towers! It was a huge relief to reach the top and breath in some fresh air. The beautiful views definitely made it all worthwhile.
Lovely – we were meant to visit in August but our flights were cancelled, so we are heading there in Feb instead. Saving your post for that trip 🙂
It’s probably a good thing that your trip was cancelled as let me tell you, it was stinking hot in Italy in August!! I was surprised that Bologna wasn’t very busy though, which was a nice change of pace from when we were in Florence. Save travels in February and enjoy your time (and the food) in Bologna!!
I am loving these posts. I want to hop on a plane straight to Italy! ✈️
Thanks for your kind words. Italy is one of my favourite countries. This was our second time visiting and it still feels like there is so much we have yet to explore. I love all the history, architecture, food and wine. Mmm.
I can feel the stuffing in your description. I’ve never been to Bologna, looks like another one to add to the list! And so close to Florence. Maggie
Those old buildings and medieval towers do not have air conditioning! Sometimes it’s about the journey and not the destination, but in the case of climbing the tower, it was all about reaching the roof. It never felt so good to draw a breath of fresh air! Bologna wasn’t even on our radar, but given our failed attempt to visit Pisa (because of issues with the train and shuttle buses), we decided to give it a whirl. It worked out rather well given how close it was to Florence and that it wasn’t very busy.
🤣🤣
Bologna looks so beautiful! The Basilica of San Petronio also looks very magnificent, and has so many elegant details in it. Thank you for sharing all of this information and amazing photos, now this is definitely on my travel list!
Thanks for your lovely comment. The churches in Italy are something else. We don’t have (or make) churches like that here in Canada. We had a wonderful time in Bologna. It was a great spot to visit to ditch the crowds. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Now we’re his is really interesting to read, just now – we are actually heading to Bologna this coming Monday (10th) as the first of two Italian cities on a quick 10-day tour. Keeping your post as an additional guide book!
Thanks! And how exciting! We were only in Bologna for a day, so we raced through to hit up the highlights. I’m sure the weather will be so much more comfortable in in October compared to when we went in August. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. What other Italian city will you be visiting?
Four days in Bologna and then six days in Rome
Sounds fabulous. Looking forward to reading a recap. And enjoy the wine! Cheers!
oh my goodness it looks like you had the whole place to yourself! Love the photo inside the church…so peaceful looking!
I was shocked that Bologna wasn’t very busy, especially considering how jam-packed Florence was. It was wonderful to not have to wait in line everywhere. It turned out to be an excellent day trip.
Funny how that can happen! I actually just saw more pictures of Bologna on Amazing Race! Looked busier then! Oh and do you like this new Reader format? I use my computer most of the time with WordPress and I don’t like how it’s smaller now with only one main picture showing 🙁
I haven’t started watching the new season of Amazing Race yet. I’m curious to see what Bologna is like in the episode. I can’t wait. I’m not a fan of the new format on Reader. I’m a creature of habit and don’t like change.
Same here! I actually sent a message saying I didn’t like it 🙁
I should do the same. Hopefully if enough people complain, they’ll make it better by reverting back to the old look and feel of it.
No change for us hahaha 🙂
I can imagine how hot and stuffy it must have been inside the Asinelli Tower, although the view up there surely is very rewarding. Florence and Bologna are among two cities in Italy I most want to visit, and your recent posts on both places reminded me of my dream to see them in person one day in the future. What I didn’t realize was how easy and relatively fast it is to get to Bologna to Florence, and vice versa.
For sure. It was quite the climb to reach the top of the tower, but it was so worth it for the panoramic views of the city. There was even a nice breeze on the roof, which felt very refreshing. Hopefully you’re able to visit both Florence and Bologna someday, along with many other Italian cities and towns. There’s so many great spots! It’s amazing how extensive and fast the train system is. It makes get around around very convenient.
Italy! Amazingly beautiful architecture photos. Loved the window of San Dominico. It’s reminiscent of the church I grew up in. I wonder if it (my church) was built to replicate it.
We had such a wonderful time in Italy and just admiring all the medieval architecture, including the old churches. That’s neat that the church in your hometown is similar to the San Domenico. We don’t have churches like that here in Ontario!
The Archeological Museum looks very interesting, as does the Basilica of San Domenico. But wow, the views from the Asinelli Tower is just breathtaking!
We only had an hour inside the Archeological Museum before it closed, so our visit felt a bit rushed. We were pretty much the only people inside though, so thankfully we didn’t have to elbow our way through the crowds. It was quite the climb to get to the top of the Asinelli Tower, but it was so worth it for the views. I’m glad that we were able to reschedule our tickets for another time slot after our initial tickets were cancelled due to a medical emergency up at the top.
Wooow it’s beautiful collections…love it 😍😍
Thanks for your kind words. We had a fabulous time exploring Bologna and learning more about its history and architecture.
This looks amazing! Gosh I love architecture like this! Would be a dream to have this experience in person!
For sure. We don’t have architecture (or so much history) like that here in Canada. The food and wine was also superb.
I love staircases like this one. Beautiful shots. I guess I am have to add this country to my long bucket list haha 😆
Even though it was a long climb to the top of the tower, at least the staircase was wide! You should definitely add Italy to your travel bucket list. This is the second time we’ve been and I would go again in a heartbeat. There is so much history here, plus the food (and wine) is amazing!
The food always looks amazing whenever I watch Eat. Pray. Love. with my mom. I really would love to try authentic Italian pizza 🍕 🥰🤔. I prefer wide stairs on hikes. It’s too hard hiking up narrow stairs. It feels like you’re going to fall when they’re too narrow. The second time you’ve gone to Italy?! That’s seriously awesome 😎 . I’m happy for you. 🙂😊 I definitely am keeping Italy on my bucket list. One day 🙃
You totally should. I wouldn’t recommend going in the middle of summer though as it’s stinking hot and very crowded. Even though we’ve been to Italy twice, there are still so many towns and areas left to explore. There just never seems to be enough time!
That’s always the issue. Timing is tough! Thanks for the warning. I do not want to suffer the heat. It gets hot enough here !!!
No kidding. I’d rather travel somewhere hot during our long cold winters!
Exactly 💯 !!! Winters are rough here, too. I don’t recommend Florida, though. Unless you go to Miami. Miami is neat but Florida is wicked hot and humid ugh 😫
Good to know. I’ve actually never been to Florida before. They seem to get hit by a lot of hurricanes so I wouldn’t want to visit during the hurricane season either.
Right? The hurricanes scare me pale. No thanks . I have been to Miami when Matt and I went on our family cruise . Miami was where the boat was leaving from. We went in March I think or February. It was bitter cold here and warm there. Luckily, at the time we went, the heat was nice not over the top hot . I saw really amazing sunset there. It’s a funny story, actually. Matt’s dad was driving the rental van trying to find a place to eat and got lost because Miami is obviously unfamiliar to all of us. Haha 🤣🤣 While searching, I noticed the moon out of one of the windows. It was so huge. It looked like a Goliath next to the tops of the palm trees. All you see is Matt’s dad driving, lyss and her bf talking and Matt and I snapping photos of the moon. It was probably a sight to see for people walking and or driving by. That moon was really extraordinary, though. I would recommend Miami over other parts of Florida. We were only there one full day so we didn’t get to do much. It’s just neat seeing a place with palm trees and the ocean so close by. I would like to go back one day and actually check it out more but again, when it’s winter here so it’s not too too hot there 🙂
Agreed, there’s just something so soothing about being by the ocean. The sunrises, sunsets and seeing the moon just seems so much more magical. I’ll have to keep Miami in mind. It’s pretty awesome that you went on a cruise with your family. I’ve done a bit of travelling with my family, but we have very different styles or approaches to planning a vacation!
Makes sense 🙂 everybody has different ways to plan trips. The cruise was something they were planning for. I was actually terrified to go. I’m glad I faced my fear, though. It was well worth the nervousness I fought. The Caribbean is beautiful ❤️. You do have to be very careful, though. Always stay in your designated areas and don’t leave any of the resorts. The people are also very friendly ☺️
One of the reasons I love travelling is that it helps get me out of my comfort zone. Good for you for facing your fears and going on a cruise with your family. I’m sure having them there was comforting. Now that winter is approaching I would love to take a trip to the Caribbean! We’re supposed to get our first snowfall today. Hope all is well.
Aw first snowfall ?, We had snow a few days ago and then the weather temperature shot back up again ! It’s confusing on my body haha 😂 but I’m dealing with it . I am grateful for the cooler weather though. This summer was a hot one. I hope you can experience a cruise one time. They’re a lot of fun and they are most definitely good at getting you out of your comfort zone. Having family there helped but having Matt there helped the most. I was terrified of flying but he held my hand majority of the flight and we fell asleep lol 🤣 . His presence is one of the only ones that can calm my busy mind. There’s just something so calming about him. I’m sure you understand. I bet your guy is the same for you. You deserve all things good. You’re so kind and brave. 🙂 Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I always am finding myself smiling while reading them.
Oh I know. The swings in the temperature has been wild. I don’t mind the cooler weather either as it’s better for hiking and sleeping at night. The only issue I have is with the wind and how dry my skin gets when it’s less humid outside.
We were contemplating taking a cruise, but it’s been put on the backburner until we can put more distance between us and the pandemic! I can see it being a great trip to take with family as your accommodations, transportation, food and entertainment is all taken care of and is one place (on the ship!), which is very convenient. And yes, I totally know what you mean about having someone with you to keep you calm while travelling. I love going on adventures, but I don’t think i could (or would want to) do it alone!
Yes, exactly ! Going alone would not be an option for me. I could always bring my soft Billow but I would still be too afraid. It’s not as enjoyable without others. I would definitely wait on cruises now. Cruises are getting more expensive with less being included. Matt’s parents go all of the time and they are going to actually be taking a break from going because of the cost. I wanted to take a cruise with him for our honeymoon but I don’t think we’ll be doing that, now. :(. However, we may go to Canada !!! So if we do decide to go to Canada, I will be letting you know 🙂 . We are still figuring out a wedding date but still, Canada would be awesome 👍😎
The cost of everything seems to be going up like crazy! Canada is definitely a great option for a honeymoon as there are so many great choices depending on what you’re interested in. There are beautiful mountains in the Canadian Rockies, lush rainforests on Vancouver Island, and gorgeous coastal views in the Maritimes. Happy wedding and trip planning. Happy to help if you have any questions or need recommendations.
Thank you ❤️😌 !! I really appreciate that ☺️😍 . Trying to figure things out is tough. There are many places but knowing you and I enjoy the same kind of atmosphere, I know you can guide us in the right direction. I will keep you posted for sure, Linda 💗 thank you !!! Yes, prices are going up with everything. I hope it dies down a little bit
Fingers crossed! Planning a wedding (and a honeymoon) can be very overwhelming, but once you start checking stuff off your list, everything will fall into place. And just remember to have fun!!
Aw thank you 💗❤️ yes 🙂 you’re right . It should be fun because it’s about being with the one I love. Awww my Matt. He’s so adorable . He’s all snuggled up in his plaid pajamas. They’re so soft. They match my robe. We’re already like an old married couple 😂😆. It cracks me up. I hope you’re having a good holiday and a non stressful one to boot 🙂
I love it!! That’s too cute that you already have matching loungewear. We had our first (of many) family Christmas parties on the weekend, which was a great way to kickoff the holiday season. I have to do a bunch of baking this week and finishing wrapping some presents, but so far it’s been a very laid back holiday season. Hope it’s the same on your end.
Aw that’s awesome!!! I love Christmas pastries 🙂 I had to miss my sister’s because I was sick but luckily she rescheduled so we did dinner last night. It’s was nice. My dad, brother she, her husband and my fiance all went. It was great catching up. I’ve missed her because with the holidays and work and having been sick, it’s been tough to get together. I’m glad you’re almost done wrapping presents and that your holiday season has been pretty chill. That’s how it should be. Yes!!! We do have matching loungeware. 🙂 Can’t be helped lol 😂. I boughtv some things for the Christmas party we’re having Thursday and over of them was a sign that reads, ” it’s a wonderful life” and he teared up realizing I remember his favorite Christmas movie . It was so cute. It’s been laid back for sure 🙂 . We made some chocolate covered pretzels yesterday and are gonna do more baking this week. We’re gonna make sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip :). I’m excited 😁.
That’s nice that your sister rescheduled her dinner and that you were able to spend some quality time with your family. It sounds like you are going all out for your Christmas party and I like that you bought some holiday decor that has some meaning. Best of luck with all your holiday baking. The best part is sampling it all afterwards! I’ll be making a gingerbread bundt cake and a pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting inside. Mmm.
Ohhh I love pumpkin anything !!! I would be enjoying that with you with some coffee or milk 🙂 I love pumpkin pie too. The cookies did come out great. I was happy. We made sugar cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and oatmeal raisin cookies . I usually don’t like oatmeal raisin cookies but these were really nice and light. I don’t know how to explain it but they were awesome. I love the pumpkin rolls. I am not sure how to even make those so that’s awesome you make those. We ordered nut rolls too to support the church. They are so tasty. They were made at one of the local bakeries, nearby. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and your yummy goodies. 🙂 I loved baked goods so much 💞