{"id":3190,"date":"2025-02-05T13:49:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T12:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/98361-towerhotelbologna.tempwebsite.it\/bologna\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T10:11:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T09:11:40","slug":"bologna-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.towerhotelbologna.com\/en\/bologna-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Bologna"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Bologna<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Your travel guide to discover Bologna<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Home to the oldest university in the Western world, Bologna<\/strong> is truly one-of-a-kind: crossroad of cultural, political and musical movements<\/strong>, it is a vibrant and modern city, as well as deeply rooted to its past. <\/p>

Bologna historic centre is mainly red<\/strong>, like the colour of historical buildings and roofs, built during the Middle Age. You will also find several majestic towers and beautifully decorated porticoes, that will accompany in your visit throughtout this multifaceted city. <\/p>

If you are looking for a 4-star hotel in a strategic position<\/strong> to easily reach Bologna city center, Best Western Plus Tower Hotel Bologna<\/strong> is the perfect solution! Below we offer you some suggestions<\/strong> for your stay in Bologna: it is a historical<\/strong>, learned<\/strong>, red and towerly<\/strong> city, but also a fat<\/strong> one, as testified by its incomparable wine and food tradition, that you can taste in typical ancient taverns<\/strong>. <\/p>

Book now your stay in Bologna<\/strong>: follow our travel guide, we are ready to welcome you!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The countless beauties of the city of porticoes<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Historic center <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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An important crossroads between Northern and Southern Italy, the history of Bologna<\/strong> is connected to the influence of cultures and peoples that have contributed to the city’s economic and cultural development over time.
Hundreds of towers give the city its unique appearance. In the past the wealthy families built towers<\/strong> to defend themselves against attacks and robbery from enemies and rivaling families: the Asinelli <\/strong>and Garisenda towers<\/strong>, both leaning, are the main ones still standing<\/strong>. <\/p>

Moreover, you can’t miss a visit to Piazza Maggior<\/strong>e, with its Basilica di San Petronio<\/strong>, the Sala Borsa <\/strong>(the public library) and the famous Nettuno statue<\/strong> inside the Fountain.<\/p>

The main symbol of Bologna, that made it famous all over the world, are its medieval porticoes<\/strong>. Almost 40 km long, these structures were used by craftsmen because they allowed more natural light, while repairing from the sun or bad weather. The most famous porticoes are the wood portico of Casa Isolani<\/strong>, the one near Palazzo Grassi <\/strong>and Case Reggiani-Seracchioli portico<\/strong>. <\/p>

If you love challenges and are the athletic type, you can run through the longest portico in the world<\/strong>, San Luca, that starts from the city and leads to the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Asinelli Tower and Garisenda Tower <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Built in the early XII century by the family of the same name, they are now the city’s symbols. The two towers are both leaning and dominate the skyline in via Rizzoli. <\/p>

As a reminder of the role in trade during medieval times, the portico at their feet now houses a number of traditional craftsmen’s’ shops. The long climb up the 497 steps of the Asinelli Tower is a must, as it offers a breathtaking view of the city and the Bologna hills. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Archiginnasio <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Building was erected in 1562 for the purpose of creating a unified University campus, which had until then been spread out in several buildings.<\/p>

The entire building is heavily decorated with engravings and celebratory monuments of Scholars and thousands of emblems and names of students. The building was home to the University until 1803, when it became the Municipal Library. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Anatomical Theatre <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The magnificent Anatomical Theatre inside the Archiginnasio Building owes its name to its characteristic amphitheatre shape.<\/p>

Designed in 1673 for anatomy lessons, it is built entirely out of fir wood and decorated with the statues of the twelve renowned doctors and the twenty most famous anatomists of Bologna.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Piazza Maggiore <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Considered to be the \u201csquare of the people of Bologna\u201d, Piazza Maggiore is located in the heart of the city and houses the main buildings of the political and religious powers.<\/p>

With your back to the fa\u00e7ade of San Petronio, you face Palazzo del Podest\u00e0 and Palazzo Re Enzo, with the Voltone del Podest\u00e0 crossing underneath them. On the left the Palazzo Comunale (Municipal Building) closes off the square, and on the right the Palazzo dei Banchi, from which the most famous portico connects Piazza Maggiore to the Archiginnasio. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Basilica of San Petronio <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commissioned by the Municipality of Bologna in 1390, the basilica should have been an immense cross with each one of the huge arms overlooking a different square.<\/p>

For economic reasons the project was downsized and only the longest arm was completed. Regardless, the Basilica of San Petronio is still one of the largest churches in the world. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Santo Stefano Complex <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Overlooking the square of the same name, this complex is also known as the \u201cSette Chiese (Seven Churches)\u201d. In fact, the Basilica consists of a complex and original layout where the various, adjacent sacred buildings aim to replicate the holy sites of Jerusalem. <\/p>

Built on the structure of a temple dedicated to the Goddess Isis, the complex was reduced from seven to four churches during restoration work between the end of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Food & Wine<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Bologna, the love for cuisine and fine dining that helped create an incomparable fine wine and food tradition<\/strong>. Fresh pasta, meat dishes and traditional products are the pillars of a substantial and opulent cuisine which, over the years, led to the moniker “Bologna the fat one<\/strong>” being given to the city. <\/p>

The happy hour <\/strong>is perceived like a true ritual and is always paired with the typical crescentine<\/strong>, flour dough fried in lard, filled with regional cold cuts, such as the sinful mortadella<\/strong>. <\/p>

For lunch or dinner, you should taste the traditional tortellini<\/strong>, filled with meat or prosciutto and served in hot broth. As a first course, we also suggest the bolognese lasagna<\/strong> or tagliatelle<\/strong>, both with delicious bolognese ragout or the typical passatelli<\/strong>. <\/p>

As a second course, don’t miss the chance to try the bolognese cutlet<\/strong>, with prosciutto and cheese or the bolognese meatballs<\/strong>, served hot and fried, with a glass of wine from Bologna’s hills<\/strong>, such as the famous Pignoletto. <\/p>

Furthermore, the hotel is located just 10 minutes by car <\/strong>from Grand Tour Italia<\/a>, the theme park of taste where you can touch, taste and buy the food and wine excellences of the Italian territory<\/strong>. Ask for the tickets for the Park at the reception<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Art, history and culture<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bologna will meet your expectations also for its museums. In fact, lovers of art, history and culture<\/strong> will find plenty of alternatives: click and discover more<\/a>. <\/p>