Holiday rentals in Bologna

Bologna is home to incredible architecture, thriving nightlife, and some of the most fascinating historical sites in Italy, including the oldest university in the world, founded in 1088. Located in the Emilia-Romagna region, where Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar originated, the restaurants and street food in Bologna uphold the area’s foody reputation. Famous for its hand-rolled pasta and rich ragu sauce, the city of Bologna is considered the gastronomic capital of Italy. And one way to experience the city is to wander its tight, colonnaded grid, snacking on some of the country’s top salami and prosciutto and searching for the best tortellini in brodo.

However, there’s so much more to do here than eat. The medieval-era, terracotta-tiled buildings earn Bologna the nickname La Rossa — “the red” — and the city’s cobbled streets are peppered with small squares and artisan shops selling everything from leather accessories to kitchen tools. Bologna’s wealth of museums and churches provide a glimpse into the past, whether you’d like to learn more about medical history at the Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio or are interested in the Etruscan artefacts at the Archaeological Civic Museum.

May to October are generally the most pleasant months to visit Bologna. There’s very little rain during this time, and the weather is ideal for walking and dining al fresco in the city’s piazzas. The peak summer months of July and August can, however, become quite hot and humid in the city centre. Be aware that this is also when many Italian businesses close their doors for the summer holidays and head to the coast. Autumn starts to see cooler weather but is a great time to hike or cycle through the parks and nature reserves around the city. The winter months are cold in Bologna, and temperatures often hit sub-zero in the evening.

Porticos of Bologna

Bologna is home to more than 24 miles of beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage-listed porticoes. These covered walkways offer a unique way to explore the city, and while many were built in the early 20th century, some have their origins in the Middle Ages. Portico di San Luca is the longest walkway, which runs for 2.5 miles. The widest portico is the four-sided portico that lines the basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi in Strada Maggiore.

Quadrilatero

Bologna is renowned for its shops and boutiques, and some of the finest can be found in the Quadrilatero neighborhood, a cobblestoned quadrangle of streets where people have been selling their wares since medieval times. As well as high-end fashion, you’ll find fresh food markets, all kinds of restaurants and bars, as well as the 16th-century palace of Archiginnasio.

Asinelli Tower

Although Bologna is a wonderful place to explore at street level, it’s also fascinating to experience at a bird’s eye view. One of the best ways to snag an aerial perspective of the city is by climbing the 498 wooden steps of the medieval Asinelli Tower, which offers uninterrupted views of Piazza Maggiore, the surrounding hills, and the sprawling burnt orange rooftops of Bologna’s cityscape.