Bologna

Bologna is a town of 371,337 inhabitants in the province of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is the capital of Emilia-Romagna.

The municipality covers 140.73 km², with a density of 2,639 inhabitants per km².

The nearest airport is Bologna (BLQ), about 6 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.

The learned, the fat and the red

Bologna is nicknamed "la dotta, la grassa, la rossa": learned for its university, the oldest in the Western world, fat for its cuisine, red for its brick buildings. Its 40 kilometres of porticoes are a UNESCO site.

What to see

Piazza Maggiore with the basilica of San Petronio and the Neptune fountain is the heart of the city. The Two Towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, lean over the old town. Visit the Archiginnasio, the old seat of the university with its anatomical theatre, the complex of Santo Stefano with its seven churches, and walk the long portico up to the sanctuary of San Luca on the hill.

Food

This is the home of tagliatelle with ragù (never spaghetti), tortellini in broth, lasagne and mortadella. The Quadrilatero, the old market area, is perfect for tasting.

Around Bologna

Modena and Parma for balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano, the Ferrari museums in Maranello, Ferrara and Ravenna are all close. Bologna airport and a high-speed hub linking Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice.

Bologna on the map

Nearby towns

All towns in the province of Bologna →