Bologna: tour of the historical city centre, with an aperitif and a Piadina in a typical restaurant

BOLOGNA:
(full day trip)

Departure from the hotel by private coach (time to be determined). Arrival in Bologna and start of the guided tour.

Bologna is a city of art, known for the longest set of porticoes in the world, cumulatively reaching almost 40 km in length. It is also known as “La Dotta” (the Learned) because of its ancient University and as “La Grassa” (the Fat) because of its cuisine. Bologna features one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in Europe. The tour of the city starts from Piazza Maggiore, where medieval palaces blend to perfection with modern-day living. Next on the itinerary are the Town Hall, the grand staircase, the Fountain of Neptune, Palazzo Re Enzo, the Renaissance façade of Palazzo del Podestà, and the ancient seat of the University of Bologna, as well as the Archiginnasio with its anatomical theatre and the Basilica of San Petronio.

You can then stroll through the bustling market lanes and admire an abundance of hams and Parmesan cheese wheels. The tour ends in Piazza Ravegnana and the two crooked but majestic medieval towers of Asinelli (98 m) and Garisenda (48 m, cited in Dante’s Inferno), universally recognised as the symbols of Bologna. At the end of the guided tour, we will stop at a typical restaurant for an aperitif and a Piadina. In the evening, we will return to our departure point in Piacenza.

Typical products we recommend sampling or buying: Mortadella, Ragù alla Bolognese, tortellini, lasagna; Colli Bolognesi DOC wines, in particular the Pignoletto.