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BOLOGNA Tourist Guide and information
In this page:
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Bologna
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| Historical Background |
An ancient Iberian-Ligurian settlement, in the 6th century BC it became an Etruscan town, with the name of Felsina. In 189 BC the Romans re-baptised it Bonomia. In the Middle Ages it followed the fortunes of the Ravenna military and, after various dominations, it became a free Comune around the year 1000.
At the end of the 11th century the celebrated University was founded. This soon attracted students from all over Europe. Bologna and Paris can in fact call themselves the cultural capitals of Medieval Europe. "The Studio" (as the university seat was called), by imperial privilege, constituted in the 12th century almost a town unto itself, with autonomous rights and independent magistrates. The complex of 10 000 students was divided in two principal associations: the university of the "citra-montani," or Italians, and that of the "oltra-montani" (over the mountains, or foreigners). An idea of the importance of the Unversity of Bologna can be given by the fact that this was where the re-birth of Roman law was proclaimed.
Between the 13th and the 14th centuries, the city went through a period of major flourishing and development, followed then by long subjection to the Church State, which lasted until the 19th century. After having favorably received Napoleonic dominion, it vainly hoped to revive its independence through the Congress of Vienna. It then became the center of the movement of liberal sects that acted in Romagna, until in 1831 it became the capital of the United Provinces. There was an uprising in 1848, and it pushed out the Austrians at Montagnola. |
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How to reach Bologna
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| By Car |
Thanks to its central position, Bologna can be reached by major highways that connect it to all of Italy, from north to south, from east to west, and with all the countries bordering Italy.
From the north, the main highways are the A1, "Highway of the Sun," which connects Bologna to Milan and Florence, and, after meeting up with the A22, with Austria and Germany, and the A13, coming from Trieste, Udine, Venice, Padua and Ferrara.
From the south, one takes the A1 from Rome, while from the east the A14 connects Bologna to Ancona and Bari. |
| By Train |
| Bologna is the most important railway nexus in Italy. Given its privileged position, it benefits from constant modernizations. With the creation of the high-speed train and improvements to the Intercity and Eurostar lines, daily connections are available not only to the rest of Italy but also to major cities throughout Europe. |
| By Air |
The international airport "Guglielmo Marconi" guarantees rapid connections for passengers and merchandise with main Italian cities and with large European centers, some of which have connections with intercontinental flights. Many charters with weekly frequency regularly connect Bologna with other cities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The airlines that serve Bologna regularly are: Air France, Air Littoral, Airone, Albania Airlines, Alitalia , Australian
Airlines, British Airways, Crossair-Swissair, Lufthansa, Meridiana, Sabena, SAS, Tap-Air Portugal. |
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How to get around in Bologna
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| By car |
The historic center of Bologna (area of limited traffic) is closed to private traffic from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day, holidays included, but garages and hotels located within the Pedestrian Zone will provide clients with a pass so that they can circulate and park.
However, there are many parking spaces located near public transportation facilities, among which we can cite that of the Fiera Michelino (with 3650 parking spaces), Parco Nord-Dozza (with 800 parking spaces) and Piazza Costituzione (with 1000 parking spaces).
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| Public Transportation |
In Bologna there is an excellent network of public transportation.
A one-way ticket is good for an hour and can be used for all ordinary lines during its period of validity.
Tickets are not sold on urban ATC buses. One must purchase a round-trip ticket before boarding. The direct "Aerobus" (Airport Maggiore Hospital Downtown Railway Station) does permit the purchase of a one-way ticket on board.
Tickets are available at the following ticket offices:
Piazza XX Settembre (Bus Station)
Cabina Via Lame Marconi
Piazza Medaglie dOro (Railway Station)
Or at authorized cigarette stands, sales offices and automatic dispensers. |
| By taxi |
| The radio-taxi service operates through two companies, the CO.TA.BO and the C.A.T. The telephone numbers to use are the following: 372727 and 534141. |
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Markets
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Mercato della Piazzola (clothing, shoes, fabrics, crafts and second-hand objects)
Piazza VIII Agosto
Every Friday and Saturday
S. Stefano Antique Market and Show
Piazza S. Stefano
2nd Saturday and Sunday of the month (except January, July and August)
"Celo Celo Mamanca" Collectors Market
Ex "Ghetto Ebraico" (former Jewish Ghetto), Via Valdonica and Piazza S. Martino
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except July and August)
"Decomela" Arts and Handicrafts Market
Via Altabella
2nd Saturday and Sunday of the month (except July and August)
"Borgo Antico" Antique Market
Portico di Via Manunzio Borgo Panigale
4th Sunday of the month (except January and August)
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Cooking
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A fertile land and a population with good taste have given life to what many consider the richest cuisine in Italy. The gastronomic tradition in Bologna, as in all of Emilia Romagna, has developed around three fundamental elements: filled pastas, cooking based on pork, and the famous grated cheese that, produced in the territory between Piacenza and Bologna, represents one of the gastronomic flags of "made in Italy."
Typical products of the Bolognese table are tortellini: celebrated stuffed pasta (with filling made from pork, mortadella, ham and parmesan) and tagliatelli: another main dish made entirely by hand. Both are served with ragù or with butter and fresh tomatoes. Another product of the Felsinea gastronomy is mortadella, which is born from a mixture experimented for a long time, of cooked meat exclusively derived from Italian production. This is a healthy and digestible product to be eaten either as a main dish or as an appetizing antipasto. Still among the typical salamis, we can cite pink salami. The "marbled Bologna" is made from an ancient recipe for Bolognese salamis: the lean pork is worked and cut "with the point of the knife," the cheek is added, then mixed with the finely-chopped face meat . Then, once stuffed,it is cooked for 24 hours at 90 degrees.
To conclude, a word about sweets: the "Zuccherini della sposa" (bridal sweets) represent a typical product of Bolognese cooking. Entirely hand-made, with a flour paste, sugar, fresh eggs and butter, these are still in use today at marriages, as a symbol of the nuptial ring.
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Nightlife
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Teatro Comunale (Opera)
Largo Respighi 1
Tel. 051 529999
Teatro Duse (prose)
Via Cartolerie 42
Tel. 051 231836
Arena Del Sole (prose)
Via Indipendenza
Tel. 051 270790
Teatro Dehon (Prose/Cabaret)
Via Libia 59
Tel. 051 307488, 051 - 344772
Teatro Delle Moline (Contemporary Dance)
Via delle Moline
Tel. 051 235288
Teatro San Martino (Contemporary Theatre)
Via Oberdan 25
Tel. 051 224671
Teatri Di Vita (Contemporary Dance)
Via del Pratello
Tel. 051 - 522080
Teatro Bellinzona (Concerts, Dance)
Via Bellinzona
Tel. 051 6446940
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