Day 6 - In Bologna - Oh The Places You'll Go - 2025

April 16, 2025

Day 6 - In Bologna

Doing what you do in Bologna

What to do in Bologna …. there are basilicas, cathedrals, museums, Europe’s oldest university, markets, food stalls and shops, cafes and restaurants too innumerable to even fathom.

We’ll do a little of some, and quite a bit of others. I think you can accurately place your bets now.

The pictures tell a better story so ‘read on’.

… and listen to this while you do…

SOTD

Wandering Eye by Fat Freddy’s Drop ‘cause we were just wandering around

Portico adjacent to our hotel. I just liked the way the light was playing here in the morning

….. and we’re off. We’re just a little bit ahead of the crowds, but they caught up to us in no time.

San Petronio Cathedral. Construction started in 1390 and apparently isn’t quite finished. I think this adds a little more character

A 90 degree turn to the north side of Piazza Maggiore. Lovely day for a stroll and the crowds are starting to build ….. and who’s that in the distance?

Ahh, Peppa Pig making balloon animals for the kids.

The interiror of San Petronio. Relatively simple with lots of natural light. Quite nice.

Classic Bologna porticos. They line most streets and are quite elegant to walk in

We’re now at the Archiginnasio Municipal Library, one the original University buildings, along with a lot of school and pre-school groups

The building ceased its university function in the early 1800’s and became the municipal library

All of the archways are decorated with coats of arms old students and families who attended the institution. This is just one of many. There are over 6000 coats of arms of students, the largest heraldic mural complex in the world (Wikipedia)

Ornate staircase leading to the second floor

So this is what the kids, and Kirsten, came for! An exhibition of children’s books and authors, Dr Seuss, Beatrix Potter, Richard Scarey and more.

Street markets everywhere. Amazing veggies

Also Towers everywhere. You just walk around random corners and find more!

A close up … looks like this one is still occupied

Just walking along a narrow street and saw this open door, so I stepped in.

…. To find quite a large and beautiful church

You had to be quite a distance away on the other side of the street to make out that it was actually a Church. Walking along the street right beside it you wouldn’t even notice it (apart from the open door)

Touch Tone parking. Having a car in a place like this would be a major liability.

We’re now at Mercator delle Erbe and time for lunch at a very casual, very quick and very very good market stall (for lack of a better description)

Shrimp, fennel, lettuce and pistachio salad

…..and believe it or not, our first gelato after a week in Italy

another church after lunch, Basilica San Domenico

Cut to our main passion - dinner at Osteria Bartolino. We went traditional Bolognese last night so we opted to push ahead a few days and pretend we were on the Adriatic coast. This was a great tagliatelle with fresh anchovies

Then very succulent shrimp and cuttlefish skewers

Our other two courses, sautéed sardines with oil and lemon, and tuna with tomatoes, cucumber and croutons, accompanied by a lovely Falanghina. Good night from Bologna.

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Scott AndersonI really like this city. It’s a great base for hiking up into the hills to the west also. I’d be happy to land here for a longer stay some spring or autumn.
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1 month ago

Carolyn van HoeveExcited to find this journal and catching up now! Hooray you're back on the road. Looks like a great itinerary. Everyone in jackets except for Kirsten! Feels warm after coming from cold Cananda?
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1 month ago