BOLOGNA

Bologna is the birth place of Tortellini and Sauce Bolognese (italians call it: "ragù" ). Furthermore the region of Emilia Romagna is home of Parma ham and the original Parmigiano Reggiano (for all non-italians: "Parmesan"). The university which was founded in 1088 is deemed to be the oldest one in Europe: once Dante and Petrarca studied here, today well known professors such as Umberto Eco and Romano Prodi teach at the university. Almost one quarter of Bologna's residents are students. For a long time the city had the reputation of being the heartland of sweeping ideas and left politics: during the Risorgimento (renaissance) its residents pushed on with Italy's unification, in World War II Bologna was one center of the partisan movement, after that the "red" city became under local communist regimen hotbed of communes and consortiums of every kind. Still - or maybe evern for that reason - the economy is florishing. Because the communists adapted their ideas with Italian laxity to reality, instead of putting ideology on reality. Their slogan :"Along with progressiv capital, not against the capital!"

Airport
The international airport Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi (www.bologna-airport.it ) is situated about 6 km north-west of city center. The shuttle-service of Aerobus takes only 20 min in town, ticket fee € 5,-.

Public Transportation
Bologna has a well expanded bus system, a day pass is € 3,-. The tickets can be purchased at around 1200 "Sale e Tabacchi" - shops, bars and kiosk, furthermore there are 29 ticket machines all over town. Tipp: every parking machine has one way tickets (€ 1,-, valid for 75 min).

Taxi
The taxis of Catabo cooperation charge a basic rate of € 3,15, then the taximeter goes up step by step from € 0,85 (km and time are taken into account).
Tel.: 37 43 00

Torre degli Asinelli and Torre della Garisenda
Both towers Torre degli Asinelli and Torre della Garisenda are very popular landmarks of the city. You might even think you are in Pisa when you are only quickly catching a glimpse since like the tower in Pisa they do lean a little bit. If you area rather athletic then walk up the steps - you'll be rewarded with a terrific view over the entire town from a 100m height.
Piazza di Porta Ravegnana

Santo Stefano/Santo Petronio
Santo Stefano is constituted of 7 mediaeval churches - S. Petronio is deemed to be one of the biggest and most beautiful mediaeval churches in Italy. With good reasons: The windows and corridors of the 15th and 16th century are very imposant. Name giver is Saint Petronio, and as is right and proper, until today his bones are kept in church.
Piazza Maggiore

Archaeologic Museum
The archaeologic museum is located in city center and offers a wide overview of Bologna's history, evidenced by discoveries of Etruscans, Romans and Greeks.
Via dell'Archiginnasio 2, Tel.: 275 72 11

Madonna di San Luca
About 500 m from the southwestern town gate (Porta Saragozza) rises the first of 666 arches of a colonnade from the 17th century. If you follow the arcade, you will arrive at the 190 m high Monte della Guardia, where the church of pilgrimage Madonna di San Luca is located. From there you can see the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains, on clear days even to the Alps. But there is no need to walk all the way through the colonnade, after all it's 4 km long. On your way you will pass a lot of pedestrians and runners, the path is very popular.

Diana
It does mean something if a restaurant exists for 80 years: th Diana has delicious, typically italian dishes.
Via Indipendenza 24, Tel.: 23 13 02

Rodrigo
One of the more fancy restaurant in city center, where also local celebrities dine. Wide selection of traditional plates with fish and meat - and of course a lot of pasta.
Via della Zecca 2, Tel.: 23 55 36

Osteria Cantina Bentivoglio
Typical dishes from Bologna - the famous ragù is only served with Tagliatelle or Lasagen, never with Spaghetti. For that you come across incromprehension in Bologna.
Via Mascarella 4/b, www.cantinabentivoglio.it

Grand Hotel Bologna
Lordly: the 4-Star-Hotel is one of the best in town. If you can afford it you should put up here. A lot of brocade, white and damped colours, fine, old furniture.
Via Indipendenza 8, Tel.: 22 54 45, DR from € 251,–, www.baglionihotels.com

Al Cappello Rosso Hotel Bologna
The hotel is one of the oldest one in the region, the building exists already since the 14th century. Whereas the Grand Hotel is historic and pretentious, the Al Cappello relies on plain, modern design. Free bikes!
Via Dé Fusari 9, Tel.: 22 71 79, DR from € 130,–, www.alcappellorosso.it

Hotel Roma
For fashion-lovers: the hotel is located in one of the most important shopping strips of Bologna. Flowered wallpapers and curtains, dark wood - which could also be awfully wrong, seems cozy despite all overstimulation.
Via D' Azeglio 9, Tel.: 23 99 09, DR from € 150,–, www.hotelroma.biz

Over 100.000 students make Bologna to Italy's scene-spot No. 1 - the big number of exchange students brings international flair to the city. For calm evenings you go to the mediaeval artisan district "Mercato di Mezzo" or to "Piazza Maggiore" and have one or two glasses of wine. Enjoy the delicous food in one of the Osterias on and around "Via del Pratello".

Typically the long party nights happen at the bars close to the university. The most popular streets and squares are "Via Zamboni", "Piazza Verdi" and "Via delle Belle Arti". A lot of bars have Happy Hour from 7pm.

Ruvido
An alternative to the university district is Disco Ruvido, where you can dance till the early morning. Now and then there are live concerts.
Via Maserati 9, Thu-Sat

Jazzy
Jazz lovers can spend nice evenings at "Cantina Bentivoglio" (Via Mascarella, 4/b, Tel.: 26 54 16, www.cantinabentivoglio.it) and at "Chet Baker" (Via Polese 7/a, Tel.: 22 37 95, www.chetbaker.it).

Bologna is one huge open-air mall: even when it rains you won't get wet. Arkades with a total of 38 km go through town. Originally affordable appartements for students emerged like this, downstairs there was plenty of room for horses and carts to go after their daily business. Today the arcades bring shelter from rain and mud to the fashionists of town.
Underneath the arcades preferably well-known designers rent for their boutiques. The main shopping zone Quadrilatero includes especially Via Rizzolo, Via D'Azeglio, Via Farini and Via Castiglione. The biggest selection in one spot offers the mall Galleria Cavour.

Culinary delicacies should be bought freshly from the market, such as Mercato di Mezzo (starting at Via Draperia) and at Mercato delle Erbe (Via Ugo Bassi).

Bologna and the region of Emilia Romagna prais themselves to be THE delicacy place of the country - like, by the way, every other region in local patriotic Italy does as well. Though it is certain that a big part of the international top sellers come from this region: Parma ham, Parmesan cheese, Tortellini or wines such as Lambrusco and Sangiovese. It almost seems like the Bolognians developed early a sense for the taste of the mass. Also the handicrafts of the region are well known: pottery such as plates, vases or small figures that often haven been garnished affectionately by hand.

You will find numerous souvenir ideas at Scaramagli (Strada Maggiore 31) and Il Caffe Bazaar (Via Guerrazzi 8).