Bologna itinerary — 3 days

Two 12th-century leaning towers standing at the ancient crossroads of Bologna, forming the iconic symbol of the city. The taller Torre degli Asinelli reaches 97 metres, climbed via 498 steep wooden steps offering sweeping panoramas over red tiled roofs. The neighbouring Torre Garisenda stands 48 metres high with a severe lean, famously mentioned twice by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

A revered artisanal gelateria situated on Via Santo Stefano in the historical heart of Bologna, just footsteps away from the famous Seven Churches square. The gelato is made fresh daily following traditional Italian methods, using whole milk, rich cream, and pure ingredients. Crowds line up for signature flavours such as Crema Antica, Sicilian Bronte pistachio, dark fondente chocolate, and creamy ricotta paired with wild berries.

One of Bologna's most atmospheric public squares, Piazza Santo Stefano is distinguished by its unique triangular shape, river-pebble paving, and Renaissance palaces with elegant porticoes. It is anchored by the Basilica of Santo Stefano, famously called the Seven Churches—a fascinating labyrinthine complex of interconnected medieval sanctuaries and quiet cloisters. Closed to vehicle traffic, the square is lined with inviting cafes and markets.

Affectionately known as 'The Seven Churches' (Sette Chiese), this historic sanctuary on Piazza Santo Stefano is one of Bologna's most atmospheric monuments. Founded in the 5th century over a Roman temple to Isis, it was constructed to mirror Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Today, visitors wander between interconnected medieval shrines, an octagonal Romanesque sepulchre church, the Courtyard of Pilate, and a two-tiered cloister.

Bologna's premier art museum, situated in the university quarter within the historic former Jesuit novitiate of Sant'Ignazio. The gallery offers an unrivaled survey of Emilian and Bolognese painting from the 13th to the 18th century. Notable highlights include Raphael's celebrated 'The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia', polyptychs by Giotto and Vitale da Bologna, alongside grand baroque canvases by Guido Reni, the Carracci brothers, and Guercino.

The Museo per la Memoria di Ustica commemorates the 81 victims of the 1980 Ustica tragedy, when a passenger DC-9 aircraft plunged into the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the center of the hall, the reconstructed wreckage of the airliner is encircled by Christian Boltanski's moving installation: 81 pulsating light bulbs beating like heartbeats and 81 mirrors with whispering speakers. Entry to the museum is free.

Presiding over the western edge of Piazza Maggiore, Palazzo d'Accursio has served as Bologna's town hall since the 14th century. This sprawling medieval complex features the imposing Clock Tower, which offers panoramic vistas over the city's sea of terracotta roofs. Highlights inside include the monumental Bramante staircase, designed for horses, and the Municipal Art Collections showcasing centuries of Bolognese paintings and decor.

A Mannerist fountain by Giambologna (1563–1567) on the square next to Piazza Maggiore: Neptune with his trident, ringed by bronze nymphs, dolphins and monsters. That very trident inspired the Maserati logo. In the evening the bronze is dramatically lit, and the fountain remains the classic meeting point for Bologna's locals and students.

The principal cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bologna, situated along bustling Via dell'Indipendenza. Founded in early Christian times, the cathedral received its magnificent baroque interior and facade in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Treasures within include a twelfth-century Romanesque cedar crucifix, Alfonso Lombardi's terracotta Lamentation group, and a 70-metre bell tower famed for Bolognese bell-ringing.

Operating on Via Ugo Bassi since 1910, Mercato delle Erbe is Bologna's largest covered market. By day, bustling stalls showcase the finest culinary treasures of Emilia-Romagna, from fragrant mortadella and aged Parmigiano Reggiano to freshly rolled pasta and local produce. In the evenings, the market's surrounding courtyards transform into lively food halls packed with casual wine bars, pizzerias, and street food bistros.

Located on Via San Felice in Bologna, Bar Senza Nome ('Bar Without a Name') is an innovative social pub founded in 2012 by deaf entrepreneurs Alfonso and Sara. Italy's first deaf-run bar fosters community and inclusion: patrons order using Italian Sign Language, illustrated cards, or written notes. It has evolved into a vibrant student hangout offering local wines, craft beer, aperitivo buffets, art exhibits, and poetry slams.

Bologna's flagship museum of modern and contemporary art, located in the cultural district of Manifattura delle Arti inside the repurposed 1915 municipal bakery Ex Forno del Pane. Its airy industrial halls trace Italian art from post-World War II to the present, highlighting Arte Povera and daring experimental installations. The venue also houses the Museo Morandi, the world's most complete collection of Giorgio Morandi's works.

The Certosa di Bologna is one of Europe's grandest monumental cemeteries, established in 1801 within a Carthusian monastery founded in 1334. Its vast network of vaulted arcades, cloisters, and courtyards forms an open-air museum of neoclassical and Romantic sculpture that captivated Lord Byron and Charles Dickens. Notable burials include Nobel laureate Giosuè Carducci and painter Giorgio Morandi.

Perched atop Colle della Guardia overlooking Bologna, this striking circular Baroque sanctuary has welcomed pilgrims since the 12th century. It shelters a venerated Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary traditionally attributed to Saint Luke. The shrine is reached via the world's longest covered portico, spanning 3.8 kilometers with 666 arched vaults that form a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering panoramic views over the Apennine hills.