![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Bologna-street-scaled.jpg)
Bologna is often described as an ‘overlooked’ destination for visitors to Italy. Even in our planning, we knew we wanted to come to the broader Emilia-Romagna region, but vacillated quite a lot between Bologna, Modena, and Parma, with the idea that we would visit all three famous foodie places. In the end, we’re ever-so-glad we picked Bologna and ended up spending a full three days in the city.
Bologna has very charming laneways, where red, yellow, and orange buildings cluster together.
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bologna-lanes-768x1024.jpg)
The city is famous for its porticos — there are dozens of kilometres of covered archways, winding through most of the city centre.
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/porticos2-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/porticos4-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/porticos5-768x1024.jpg)
And if laneways and porticos aren’t your thing, there are even a few hidden bits of the city that are built on a canal.
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Bologna-canal-768x1024.jpg)
The most prominent city landmark are the twin towers of Bologna, built nearly a thousand years ago. The smaller Torre Garisenda leans even more dramatically than the leaning tower at Pisa. The taller tower, the Torre degli Asinelli is also on a slight lean, but is still sound enough for tourists to climb to the top. Undaunted by the 500 steps, we were rewarded with some wonderful views of the city.
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/twin-towers-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/tower-staircase-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/checking-out-the-view-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Bologna-from-the-Asinelli-tower-1024x576.jpg)
Tower aside, Bologna certainly doesn’t lack for landmarks. The main cathedral, Basilica di San Petronio has a half-finished façade…
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Basilica-di-San-Petronio-1024x768.jpg)
The University of Bologna boasts many delightful buildings and quads
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Palazza-dellArchignasio-768x1024.jpg)
And there is the usual Italian quota of outré fountain sculptures
![](https://bartlettlyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Neptune-fountain-768x1024.jpg)
All this, and I haven’t even mentioned the food. We fell hard for croissants filled with pistachio cream, superb gelato, tortellini in brodo, ragu Bolognese, and one of my children is now the self-declared “king of mortadella.”
All-in-all, Bologna was a delightful place to visit — a sort of best-of-Italy in microcosm. We’re already plotting to come back to the region, rent some bikes so we can explore further afield, and linger for a week or three.