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Bologna

By: Moritzchen Click author's name for more of his/her articles

The airport of Bologna is not too big and thus very manageable. Approximately every 15 minutes, the Aerobus leaves you and your luggage for 5 Euros in about 20 minutes to Central Station - that is in the middle of the city (you can even get off earlier at the Piazza Maggiore).
The capital of Emilia Romagna is Bologna, a city of fine arts and a university center is mainly because of its excellent cuisine. Bologna is host of fairs and the name belongs to the very large, when it comes to cars and engines go. Ducati, Lamborghini and Maserati were all born in Bologna and the headquarters of Ferrari is not far away, in Modena.
The Italians like to classify as Bologna
• "La Dotta" - a city studied,
• "la grassa" - a big city and
• "la rossa" - a red city.
The label of learning refers to the oldest university in the world (1088 based). The label refers to the fat rich Bolognese food, such as tagliatelle or tortellini. And finally comes the red label of both the color of the brick houses, as well as the traditional political direction of his city administration until 1999. Bologna is also a city with many arcades, extending over some 38 km in the city center area; the only really leaning tower in Italy, the tower stands Garisenda here (the Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually a campanile, bell tower). The arcades may prove to be handy when you less lucky with the weather than we do In early March we had the best spring weather, 16 degrees and blue sky and we spent much time sitting in the cafe and watching the 'belle donne italiane ".
Bologna is a student city and symbol of a good life, for its efficient service and the friendliness of its inhabitants, which generally also a little bit for her nonchalant lifestyle envy. Bologna is an Etruscan settlement and later became the Roman city of Bononia.
During the middle Ages, the city developed into a free city and reached the peak of its power in the 13th Century. Although in the 16th Century, the laws of the papal state were kept in the city of their legal and political autonomy. The center is one of the best preserved in Europe - perhaps this was the reason to make the city to the European Capital of Culture in 2000? And its full of beautiful old churches and squares packed with art, which gives a testimony about the cultural significance of the city over the centuries.
Our first route took us into the heart of the city, under the arcades along the Via dell 'Independenza Piazza Maggiore. That is the main square (including the literal translation of his name) from Bologna. He is surrounded by the most important buildings of the medieval city.
The place is limited in the west by the Palazzo d'Accursio (Palazzo Comunale), and serves as the City Hall today. It was built 1290 and rebuild after a fire (1425) by architect Fioravanti Fioravante.
On the southern side, in front of the Palazzo del Podestà, built in 1201 and 1472 to 1484 largely renovated, stands the unfinished facade of San Petronio Basilica high. It is an example of Italian Gothic of the late 14th Century and only started three centuries later but was never completed. The Basilica of San Petronio is the main church of Bologna. Its facade dominates the Piazza Maggiore. With its huge dimensions (length 132 m, width 60 m, vault height 45 m) is the fifth largest church in the world.
By order of the pope - Bologna belonged to the state church - but this intention was not voluntarily abandoned. It bears the title of a minor Basilica. In the church is also the Meridian to admire the 1655 according to the plans of the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini was created with 66.8 m, it is the longest “lunch line” in the world. Finally, on the eastern side of the Palazzo dei Banchi, actually a simple facade, which from 1565 to 1568, following the example of Giacomo Barozzi Vignola on instructions from the building was there prior to the more modest buildings to be replaced, albeit taking into account the old roads that crossed there.
The area, now known as Piazza Maggiore was created in the 13th Century, when the Bolognese required a space as a marketplace. Only in the 15th Century, the piazza today's plan, while in the 16th Century the entire area was transformed on the order of the pope by his Cardinal Governor Charles Borromeo.
Today, here at the heart of the city, the outdoor cafes serve as the office of important men who ever loved their "telefonino" at the ear, as meeting (and "flirting" -) point for the many international students (we heard a lot of different languages as English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish), to run the latest fashion and the "Children", for young and old as a hub of information and gossip too ...
We could spend hours here, around us happened constantly something new.
Through the belly of Bologna, the narrow streets behind the Palazzo dei Banchi, we made our way to the two towers of the city. But it should take a while until we arrived there, there was too much to see, to marvel at, to smell and taste: fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, homemade fresh pasta, Salumerie with an incredible selection of hams, sausages, cheeses and butcher shops with a huge range of fresh meats. Intermediate pairs, discussing Italian moms, young men, elegant women and children - you can see immediately that food and food in Italy has a different role than in Germany.
Finally we made it to Torre Degli Asinelli and Garisenda Della Torre. These two leaning towers of the 12th Century are among the main symbols of Bologna. The higher tower is 98 m with the Torre degli Asinelli. It takes a while to get up the many stairs, but the unique view from up there every single step should be worth.
The staircase is narrow and dark, nothing for people who suffer of anxiety. Ee also wanted to visit Santo Stefano. Our travel guide claimed it was a magnificent building structure, which consists of seven medieval churches. Unfortunately, we stood before the closed door: God was at lunch break.
We had more luck in Santo Domenico. This is the birthplace of the Dominican Order and the final resting place for the bones of its founder. She has a splendid Romanesque facade and Gothic Chapel. The Sunday worship service went to grad end, with a lot of organ music and a beautiful choir singing for a little walk before finalizing submitted to us by a strictly looking the Dominican Father Time is still allowed. The Bolognese cuisine gives the city her name - "la grassa" ( "the fat"). You must in any case try mortadella (the large round sausage with bacon pieces), tagliatelle al ragù (with meat sauce, just not for "Spaghetti Bolognese" require that applies here seem as barbaric ...) and lasagne verdi alla Bolognese (Bolognese on green lasagne type), which was served for the first time in this city.
The tagliatelle imitates the long blond hair of Lucrezia Borgia on the day of her wedding with the Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso D'Este. Particularly famous are the delicious tortellini.
We had only three days in this beautiful city again, the flight home was booked - but we certainly will come back again - and if it’s only to visit Santo Stefano when the front doors are not longer closed.

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About The Author: If you are planning a city-break to Bologna, I recommend you to book your hotel in advance, as hotels in Italy can be very expensive if you just pop-in and check for availabilities.