Book a weekend in Bologna: here's what to see in two days

The city is not a metropolis, but the best way to fully savor its chameleonic spirit is to get lost under the arcades with the head facing upwards to follow the friezes, the decorations, the perfumes, the music and the unexpected surprises.

Thanks to its long university tradition, Bologna has a thousand identities and as many secrets that make it fascinating even to those who have always known it: for this reason they have many loyal tourists who often return as soon as they can.

We have tried to trace a small list of places to see absolutely, not too conventional, hoping that it may be useful to discover the charm this ancient medieval city in constant evolution. Here's what to see in Bologna in just two days.

Day one

Start from a visit to the two towers: it will be useful to understand the identity of Bologna in the municipal era and the great beauty of this unusual city. The Torre della Garisenda (48.16 m) and the Torre degli Asinelli (97.2 m) are the most popular and daring of the 20 medieval towers still preserved.

Just behind these two symbols of the city, a radial of streets branches out on which splendid medieval buildings are followed by all naturally equipped with arcades . Taken up the major road at n ° 19, your attention will certainly be affected by the splendid wooden portico of the Isolani house , one of the few magnificently preserved buildings of the thirteenth -century city. You will have to sharpen the sight on the hunt for the three arrows stuck in the wooden ceiling of the portico, the story that led the clumsy archer in foul is wrapped in legend.

From Strada Maggiore you can make a small deviation through the island Corte to reach the most suggestive square of the city: Piazza Santo Stefano . Built on imitation of the Temple of Jerusalem is today a small precious casket of ancient buildings, with the splendid facade of Santo Stefano more easily identified by the premises with the name of "The Seven Churches".

In this square there is the feeling that everything is precious, and that time has stopped immobile for centuries. After the mandatory visit of the seven churches take for a moment to sit down to contemplate the asymmetrical square in a corner among the buildings of the oldest senator families. As soon as you are paying the show, with the basilica behind, follow the profile of the square by skirting the portico on the left, do not be distracted from the floor a little difficult to travel and keep your eyes facing upwards on Palazzo Bolognini Amorini Salina.

Do not let the only face of the demon captures your attention, but stopped to appreciate the richness of the friezes on the capitals and the pleasant care in the definition of terracotta faces that seem to observe you. Abandoned the square will converge you in the " Quadrilatero ", the name with which the Bolognese used to call an area between Piazza Maggiore, via Castiglione, via Farini and Piazza Galvani.

The ancient area of ​​trade will keep enough time to find the right place in which to eat between ancient cured meats and the colorful market. Property inside the quadrilateral, in via Clavature there is the entrance of the church of Santa Maria della Vita , in the chapel to the right of the altar there is one of the masterpieces of Niccolò dell'Ark: the late on the dead Christ .

This expressive and moving the assembly of terracotta figures is perhaps one of the most precious treasures of the city. Continue the visit to Piazza Maggiore where the sixth largest church in the Christian world, San Petronio , with its facade not finished boasting by sculptures by Jacopo della Quercia, will invite you to enter.

Inside you will find the famous Meridiana and works of great artistic value including the cycle of fifteenth -century frescoes by Giovanni da Modena depicting the journey of the Magi, scenes of the life of St. Petronio, paradise and hell. At the exit, we recommend that you travel the pavaglione , long porch that enclosed the ancient university classrooms, up to the Archaeological Museum and the Archiginnasius. mandatory because it is significant of the university tradition of the city.

The right time will have been done to take the elevation behind the apse of San Petronio, climb to the terrace of San Petronio and enjoy the panoramic view of the whole city, in the rosy light of the sunset that starts coloring the blue hills, sighing for the show of everything and cooked buildings made shine from the falling sun you will close your excursion in the most pleasant world.

Day two

Visiting Bologna in two days is an arduous but not impossible company! Once the belly is filled with the rich buffet of the breakfast room of the Hotel Maggiore Bologna the second day of visit could be spent with a trip among the hills around the city, if you have the car available we recommend a trip on the splendid roads of our Apennines towards Rocchetta Mattei (be careful better to book in time). The bizarre towers of this eccentric architecture stand out between the hills of Grizzana Morandi and Riola.

The guided tour of the volunteers will keep you from the amazement until the exit. Not far from the Rocchetta less than a kilometer a stop is mandatory to the splendid church of Santa Maria Assunta designed by a well -known Finn Architect Alvar Aalto in 1966.If instead you do not want to move away from the center, there is the possibility of living another 100% Bolognese : to walk along the portico that from the meloncello, near the stadium, leads to the Basilica of San Luca .

It doesn't matter how time will be and what time you will go there, you will be covered by the enlightened arcades at night and you will be in the company of many places that go up to keep in training and traditionally until the Madonna di San Luca, one of the rare black Madonne.

Book your weekend in the city now

As you can see, there are several things to see in the city: contact us now to discover the availability of our major hotel on the weekend you have chosen for your visit.

We can't wait to suggest all things to eat in Bologna and the things to see in Bologna: we are an international hotel with an enviable location, perfect for those looking for a hotel near the center or for those in the city to participate in a fair or a concert.

In addition to rooms and residences for a more than comfortable overnight stay, we offer a range of custom -made services of each guest.