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Le Due Torri: Vigilant guards of the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana since the 12th century, the Asinelli (97.2 metres) and Garisenda (47 metres) tall leaning towers are the symbols of Bologna, the legacy of the aristocratic families of the Middle Ages who would build towers as a way of demonstrating their power. Today only the Asinelli tower is open to the public and offers an amazing view over the red rooftops and hills, once you have climbed its 498 steps. 
Address: Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, 40126 Bologna

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna: Housed in a Jesuit school for novices dating to the 15th century, the National Art Gallery of Bologna was founded in 1885. Its wonderful collection is spread out over 30 rooms and covers all the major schools of European painting (14th-19th centuries), with an emphasis on artists from Bologna and Emilia-Romagna. The exhibits include masterpieces by the Carracci brothers (among the founders of Italian baroque) as well as works by the great Renaissance teachers, such as Raphael (The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia), El Greco (The Last Supper) and Titian. 
Address: Via Belle Arti 56, 40126 Bologna, www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it

Museo d’ Arte Moderna di Bologna (MAMbo): Housed in the old Municipal Bakery, this relatively new museum (2007) is dedicated to the promotion of the visual arts and artistic experimentalism. Its permanent collection traces the history of Italian art from the end of the Second World War till today, and is divided into nine thematic areas. Its amazing temporary exhibitions, dedicated to Italian and foreign artists of the avant garde, are not to be missed. Since 2012, the Museum has housed the collection of the Morandi Museum, with works by the famous Bolognese painter and printmaker Giorgio Morandi. 
Address: Via Don Minzoni 14, 40121 Bologna, www.mambo-bologna.org

Basilica di San Petronio: Bologna’s most important and stunning church is a masterpiece of the gothic style, and is dedicated to Bishop Petronio, the patron saint of Bologna. Its construction began in 1390 and lasted for almost four whole centuries, with the aim of building a church that would be larger than St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Even if the original plan was never completed, it is still an impressive building. Admire its marble façade, with the ornate sculptures as well as the fantastic interior with 22 chapels and exceptional friezes.
Address: Piazza Galvani 5, 40125 Bologna, www.basilicadisanpetronio.org

Basilica di San Domenico: Dedicated to the founder of the Dominican monastic order and built between the 13th and 16th centuries, this wonderful church contains many valuable works of art, such as the fine paintings by Nicola Pisano, Guercino, Filippino Lippi and Ludovico Carracci, as well as the sculpture of an angel produced by Michelangelo when he was just 19 years old. Keep an eye out for the wooden choir (1528-1551), a splendid example of Renaissance art.
Address: Piazza San Domenico 13, 40124 Bologna, www.conventosandomenico.org

Basilica di Santo Stefano: Known also as the Seven Churches (Sette Chiese), this atmospheric complex represents the places where the Passions of Christ took place. It is an impressive complex of churches, porticoes, forecourts and crypts with elements of Early Christian, Romanesque and gothic architecture. Today, four of the seven churches still stand, including the oldest one of Santi Vitale e Agricola (5th century).
Address: Via Santo Stefano 24, Piazza Santo Stefano, 40125 Bologna

Basilica Santuario della Madonna di San Luca: Built in a prominent position at the peak of the verdant Guardia hill, this grand church (17th-18th century) houses the Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child by Luke the Evangelist and has been a sacred place of pilgrimage since the 12th century. The best way to ascend to the church is via the world’s largest covered portico, the Portico di San Luca, which is 3.8 km long and connects the hill with the city walls. This impressive arcade (17th-18th century) has 666 arches and 15 chapels.
Address: Colle della Guardia, via di San Luca, Bologna, www.sanlucabo.org

Teatro Anatomico: One of the city’s most amazing sights is to be found in the superb Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio, the former site of the University of Bologna (1563 - 1805) and today’s Municipal Library (1838). This is the famous 17th-century Anatomical Theatre, the first anatomy lecture theatre in the world. The decorative details on the cedar wood panels that line the orthogonal hall are delightful. The imposing Cattedra degli Spellati, for example, was the carved wooden chair of the professor, supported on two “skinned” figures, who portray the human muscular system. 
Address: Piazza Galvani 1, Bologna, www.archiginnasio.it/teatro.htm

Giardini Margherita: The favourite park of the Bolognese for recreation and in which to relax first opened its gates in 1879, inspired by the romantic landscapes of English gardens. Broad avenues, a small artificial lake, boundless fields and oak forests create an idyllic scene. Etruscan tombs have been excavated within the park.
Address: Piazza di Porta Santo Stefano, 40125 Bologna

Museo Civico Archeologico: One of the most emblematic museums in Bologna, the archaeological museum is housed in the stunning 15th-century Palazzo Galvani and contains, among other items, an impressive collection of Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Etruscan antiquities. The collection of finds from over 4000 Etruscan tombs is considered one of the finest in Italy. From September 2017 to spring 2019 the first floor of the museum will be closed for renovation. 
Address: Via dell’Archiginnasio 2, 40124 Bologna, www.museibologna.it/archeologico

Just like every true Italian city, Bologna has food, fashion and the arts in its blood which, in combination with the city’s stunning architectural masterpieces, make shopping a fantastic experience.

Discover the expensive boutiques stocking Italian and international brands and the ateliers of brilliant local designers in the streets around Piazza Cavour. Explore the atmospheric Corte Isolani (a network of inner courtyards within the historic, 15th-century Palazzo Isolani) with its arty boutiques, excellent handicrafts stores and attractive wine shops. Admire the elegant storefronts in the Galleria Cavour shopping mall, the height of luxury shopping since 1959, with 30 boutiques belonging to major Italian luxury brands.

Travel back in time with a stroll through the labyrinthine lanes of Il Quadrilatero, the city’s gastronomic heart since the Middle Ages. Lose yourselves in the magical aromas of the tiny grocery stores with the imaginative shop windows, filled with delicious Bolognese delights. Buy handmade tortellini, tagliatelle, mortadella, cheese, salami, bread and local wines. A trip to the historic Mercato di Mezzo (Via Clavature) is a must, Bologna’s first indoor food market, open every day until midnight, for your groceries or a laidback meal. Take a stop at the Mercato delle Erbe (Via Ugo Bassi), the city’s largest covered food market, to sample some select delicacies. 

Take a walk along Via San Felice, a true paradise for shoe lovers, with beautiful clothes stores that satisfy every taste as well as many gold jewellery workshops. A trip down Bologna’s “golden mile” of shopping should not be missed: the bustling Via dell'Indipendenza, the city’s main shopping street since 1890, with the endless covered porticoes housing cheap clothes stores and tiny shops, to the outlets of famous designers. If you have time, visit the Centro Nova, a shopping mall popular with the locals, with 65 shops selling fashion and food.

Visit Bologna to discover the unrivalled food culture of the beloved La Grassa (the Fat) of the Italians, the city that invented mortadella, tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagna. Try the famous local specialities, such as tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini en brodo (tortellini in a meat broth), accompanied by a delicious wine from the hills of Bologna (Colli Bolognesi), in one of the traditional trattorias or chic osterias in the historic centre. Stop off at one of the numerous piadinerie for a piadina (cheese, ham or salami and rocket sandwich), the locals’ favourite snack. Enjoy a relaxed lunch in the food courts of the city’s covered markets, the Mercato di Mezzo and the Mercato delle Erbe.  

Begin your afternoon’s stroll with the typical passeggiata around Piazza Maggiore and Piazza di Santo Stefano before taking a seat at a table in a cafe or bar for the requisite aperitivo between 7 and 9. Get into the spirit of Bologna’s thriving nightlife in the university district by following the lively student population to the low-lit atmospheric cocktail bars and pubs along Via Zamboni and Via delle Belle Arti or one of the live jazz venues on Via Mascarella. Dance until the morning hours in the underground clubs of the industrial zone along with the crème-de-la-crème of Italian and international dj-ing.

• Bologna Jazz Festival: The biggest date on the calendar for jazz fans. Twenty-five days filled with exclusive concerts, top contemporary jazz artists and all-star bands, master classes and encounters with artists. The eclectic programme bridges pure improvised jazz with electronic and hip hop music, as well as their hybrid versions. From 26/10 till 19/11. 
• Danza Urbana: Every September for five days, Bologna explores the relationship between contemporary dance and the urban environment at an international meeting of artists and dance groups. New productions, in situ performances, and workshops invade the streets, parks and old industrial warehouses, transforming the public space into a giant stage of bodily expression.
• Bologna Festival: This major international classical music festival takes place twice a year (September-November and March-May) with the participation of major orchestras, conductors, soloists and performers from all over the world. The events unfold in the city’s historic theatres, museums and atmospheric churches.
• Il Cinema Ritrovato: A film festival that is like a time machine, with a history of over 30 years, starting in the last week of June each year (24/6/2018-1/7/2018). Here you will be able to watch all-time classics as well as discover unknown masterpieces of world cinema, through the thematic tributes to styles, movements and periods, retrospectives on filmmakers, lectures, book presentations, and more. The festival traditionally closes with an outdoor evening screening in Piazza Maggiore.

Getting to the city

Aegean Airlines lands at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, the main airport of Emilia-Romagna. Here you will find banks, a currency exchange and ATMs, as well as plenty of shopping choices: from duty-free stores to well-known Italian clothes and accessories boutiques as well as local delicatessens. Fans of Italian carmakers must visit the flagship shops of the famous local manufacturers, Ferrari and Ducati, for clothes, accessories and souvenirs. There is a range of snack bars, cafes and restaurants that serve authentic Italian dishes. All passengers using the airport have free wi-fi internet access (up to 6 hours).

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is located approximately 6 km northeast of Bologna. You can take a bus or taxi to reach the city. The local Aerobus BLQ connects the airport directly to the city centre (Mille) and the central railway station (Stazione Centrale) of Bologna. Buses run daily from 05.30 am to 12.15 am, every 11 minutes. Journey time is 20 minutes.