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Bologna - Square
The position of the territory of Bologna is very particular. As a connection between the area of the Po valley and the rest of Italy, it offers walks in the plains, along the Reno and the Panaro rivers, in the hills and in the mountains, between the ridges of the Santerno and Senio rivers to the east, between the Reno, the Panaro and between the Dardagna to the west.
It is a varied and complex land, full of plains, hills and erosion furrows with the Bolognese Apennines and its highest peak, the Corno delle Scale, touching an altitude of 2000 meters.
The country offers a great number of naturalistic areas such as the Park of the Gessi Bolognesi and Calnchi dell’Abbadessa, the Park of the Lakes of Suviana and Brasimone, the Regional Park Abbey of Monteveglio and more.
Bologna and its province offer landscapes and nature but also art and culture. Cultural tourism is promoted and widespread, with particular attention to the visitor’s necessities in order to improve more and more the important heritage that the city and the province offer.
An Etruscan centre first and then Gallic, Bologna was also a Roman colony and town. Inside its walls, of which remain today only few ruins, the first University of the world was established in the 11th century.
A main characteristic of the city are its porticoes, which in the centre reach a total length of about 37 kilometres. They represent the ribbon joining streets, towers and palaces, so that Bologna is considered the city with most arcades in the world. Another characteristic mark of the city are the towers, which in the Middle Ages were as numerous as two-hundred.
The tour in the Emilian capital starts from Piazza Maggiore, a huge square, once a market, which has always been the meeting point of the city, with its municipal, religious and fun events. On one side stands the impressive Basilica of San Petronio, with its uncompleted façade and which, in spite of its majesty, has never played the role of cathedral, assigned to the nearby Cathedral of San Pietro. All around S. Petronio, it is possible to admire the Palazzo del Podestà, the Palazzo dei Notai and the Palazzo dei Banchi. Piazza del Nettuno, nearby, shows the Neptune Fountain, with the bronze statue of the Neptune god by Giambologna. Famous among the many raised in the medieval period are the two towers, Asinelli and Garisenda, which offer an excellent sight of the city. Not far away from here is Piazza Cavour with its arcades and the galley in which the colours of splendid frescoes come out.
In the area behind S. Petronio, you cannot miss to visit the Church of S. Domenico on the homonymous square, one of the most important monumental complexes of the city, with paintings and sculptures of great suggestion.
The Santo Stefano Complex is, on the contrary, a place of exceptional historical and religious interest and is divided into seven holy buildings with churches, chapels and a monastery on the splendid square with a pebble floor.
The Church of San Giacomo Maggiore impresses for the elegance of the lateral arcade and for the frescoes inside. Not so far away is the National Art Gallery where it is possible to find works by Giotto and his school, Guido Reni, Guercino and the famous Ecstasy of S. Cecilia by Raffaello.
Just out of the walls, on the hills, there is the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, the most important sanctuary in the history of the city and which is connected to the city by a long arcade which starts from Piazza di Porta Saragozza. Also the Complex of San Michele in Bosco, always in the neighbourhood of the city, is of great interest.
Walking along the streets which border the river Reno, it is possible to reach Casalecchio di Reno, neighbouring the city of Bologna and crossed by the homonymous river, from which it is possible to see the Reno lock, made in about 1100 and later strengthened, which served to channel the river waters, necessary to move the factories in Bologna.
Sasso Marconi is a town which has been lived both in the Etruscan period of which remain a few tombs, and in the Roman period of which remains the impressive aqueduct. Marzabotto, which is remembered in archaeology for the ruins of the suggestive discovered Etruscan city, is also remembered for the massacre of 1830 persons by the Germans during the second world war as a consequence of this a Memorial to the Dead was raised.
Another interesting itinerary is that which brings to the suggestive town of Budrio, an ancient city in which it is possible to recognize signs of Roman and medieval periods in its urban plan and which is well known all over the world for the musical instrument invented by Giuseppe Donati, the ocarina. To be visited are the Museum of the Ocarina and of Terracotta Musical Instruments and the Puppet Museum, the Domenico Inzaghi Municipal Art Gallery and the Archaeological and Palaeoecological Museum. Out of the walls of the city, in Bagnarola, it is possible to visit the complex of the Bagnarola Villas also called “the Bologna Versailles”; among these villas stands out the Floriano, for its dimensions and the architectural beauty.
Finally one may walk in the villages of Pieve di Cento, Castello d’Argile, in Imola with its historical centre, San Giovanni in Persiceto, San Giorgio di Piano, the village of Bentivoglio with the impressive fortress, and Medicina.
In a land which offers hills, plains and mountains the lovers of outdoors activities can choose their preferred destination.
The lovers of the mountains will steer toward the pristine nature of Mount Bibele, a massif composed of three main peaks: Mount Bibele, the Tamburino and the Mount Savino which takes its name from the multitude of spring waters. Another itinerary includes the overhanging rocky spur which towers the valleys below, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Zena, best known as Mount of the Ants from which you will be delighted by a marvellous sight onto the valleys of Idice and Zena. The name comes from a strange natural phenomenon, the migration of clusters of males of flying ants. From Central Europe they move toward the peak to make their flying wedding. After mating, the ants die in the sanctuary area. The peculiarity of this event has lead people to assign to the phenomenon a miraculous value and to connect it to the Madonna’s Day. This mount is perfect for the lovers of trekking and mountain biking, with different itineraries along the valleys of Zena and Idice. For the lovers of free climbing it is suggested to visit Badoloa and the rock face which climbers call the Fortress of Badolo; perfect for Bird-watching is Bora di San Giovanni, an area of environmental upgrade in which many bird species can be found.
The lovers of skiing and snowboarding can find in the territory of Corno alle Scale in the Bolognese Apennines high quality skiing stations and sport activities to practise all year round deeply close to nature, with horse-riding excursions for discovering the countryside and local traditions.
The Historical-Naturalistic Park of Monte Sole in Marzabotto has a natural habitat in which different kind of wildlife live together. The reserve is divided into 5 big areas so to create 5 different itineraries to cover, walking, by bicycle and horse-riding.
Those who love the thermal centres can find in Porretta Terme a place in which to spend relaxing holidays regaining their forces in the modern thermal resorts. It is important also to remember the thermal resorts of Castel san Pietro, with an ancient origin and not far away from Bologna, with waters of precious characteristics.
The Route of Wines and Flavours of the Hills of Imola is another pleasant meeting with history, the natural beauties and the wine and food culture of this country. Through itineraries which cross different towns of the province it is possible to visit cities and taste products typical of the country used in the traditional cooking.
Many are the folk festivals. In Bologna, in the week-end before Ascension Day, the Procession of the Arcate takes place while in Casalecchio di Reno takes place the Festival of San Martino, in honour of the patron, with music, shows, street artists, gastronomical stands and a trade-fair. Amusing, always in Casalecchio di Reno is the Festival of Kites and the Festival of the Storytellers.
In Imola the event Lumi di Marzo, is a traditional festival of late winter, with bonfires, propitiatory ceremonies of peasant heritage, which welcome the arrival of the March month. In Medicina there's the Barbarossa festival with the Palio della Serpe, in Monteveglio the Festival of the Saracca, in Castel del Rio takes place the Renaissance Festivals, a blast from the atmospheres of the 16th XVI century with historical parades, renaissance dinners, horses and knights, and with the Palio of Biroccio.
Also the funny carnival of San Giovanni in Persiceto and Borgo Tossignano are amazing, with carnival floats and masks marching along the streets of the town through music and colours.
A point of reference for truffle buffs is Savigno, which gained the title of “Regional Capital of the Truffle” for the particular attention in promoting the truffle culture. The Festival of the Rare White Truffle of the Colli Bolognesi is the perfect place in which to learn how to know, taste and buy this product.
The province of Bologna is also the perfect capital for those who love motors. Besides events such as the Motor Show, every year the Imola Racetrack holds important motor and motorcycle races.
In the streets of the Bologna it is possible to see tortellini production. This area is in fact the paradise of the egg pasta which is the major pride of the region. Mostly, it is stuffed pasta except for the tagliatelle, which differ for their shapes recalling rings, hats and candies.
In Bologna tortellini are mostly stuffed with meat, mortadella and ham, and are served in capon or hen broth or without anything, if you want. In the towns of the province, the tortelloni are served stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, seasoned with butter and sage. Among the first courses the green lasagna cooked in the oven, seasoned with the famous ragù alla bolognese.
Among the meats, pheasant, duck, wild boar, hare, roasts and boiled meat, from the cotechino and zampone to different pieces of beef, chicken, veal, and tongue, served immersed a very hot broth.
Another typical speciality of the Bolognese area is the mortadella which gained IGP quality recognition. It is served in cubes, tasted as aperitif, such as all the other salami cut in thin slices as starters or used as ingredient for the stuffed.
It is important not to forget the asparaguses, specialty of Altedo, cooked in different ways, and the potatoes of Tolè, of high quality and highly preservable.
A typical dessert of this cuisine is the certosino Bolognese, a Christmas cake prepared with flour, honey, candied fruits, almonds, dark chocolate, raisins, pine kernels, butter, aniseed and cinnamon.
Finally the wines. The writing Colli Bolognesi comes before the name of the DOC white wines: Bianco Pignoletto, Pinot Bianco, Riesling Italico, Sauvignon. Among the red wines: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
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