The Italians love their espressos. Popping into a café to down a shot quickly at the bar - it’s a way of life, and one I could easily adopt. At the Tronchetto water bus station in Venezia (Venice), a single shot opened wide my sleepy eyes, just as we set off for Bologna in the morning. With a two-hour drive ahead, Bologna made for the perfect lunch stop before continuing to Firenze (Florence) later in the day.
We arrived in Bologna by late morning, parking far from the centrum (city center). From there, a brisk 25-minute walk led us into its charming heart, bathed in warm sunshine - the perfecto setting for a leisurely stroll.
After a satisfying lunch, we wandered through the market square, where small shops overflowed with Italian meats, cheeses, and fresh fruits. Indeed, a feast for the eyes, if not the palate - what a shame we couldn’t taste everything that tempted us! No stop in Bologna would be complete without a visit to the city’s legendary food emporium, Tamburini.
This short detour to Bologna en route to Firenze from Venezia was well worth it - the foodie in me left completely satisfied!
Above: A northern view of Porta Galliera
Above: Porta Galliera, one of Bologna’s historic gates, was originally part of the city’s defensive walls. The current structure, with its elegant brick and stone design, dates back to the 17th century.
Above left: Palazzo Re Enzo, a medieval palace built in the 13th century, stands in Bologna’s Piazza del Nettuno near Piazza Maggiore. Named after King Enzo of Sardinia, who was imprisoned here for over two decades, the palace now serves as a venue for events and exhibitions.
Above left: Palazzo d'Accursio, also known as Palazzo Comunale, Bologna's historic town hall ~ the statue on its facade represents Pope Gregory XIII, who was born in Bologna and is best known for commissioning the Gregorian Calendar in 1582 to correct inaccuracies in the Julian Calendar, which had caused the date of Easter to drift over time.
Above right: Piazza Maggiore ~ the heart of the city since the Middle Ages, surrounded by historic buildings like the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo dei Banchi, and Palazzo d'Accursio
Above left: Basilica of San Petronio; Above right: Palazzo d'Accursio
Above left: Our lunch cost €35.50.
Above right: Teatro Arena del Sole
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