Bologna

A couple of weekends ago we took the high-speeed train North to Bologna. Sadly, many Americans leave Bologna off their list of must-see cities when traveling in Italy. Its close proximity to more famous cities, namely Florence and Milan, causes travelers to mistakenly bypass this vibrant city.

Bologna is a bustling medieval city with a colorful population, and a wealth of historical sites. It is home to the oldest university in Europe, and people from all over Europe have flocked here for centuries to pursue higher education. The university population swells to over 100,000 students when school is in session. I could go on and on about the wonders of Bologna, but I will spare you the long version.

Just a few of my favorite things about Bologna:

• Piazza Maggiore - The piazza is beautifully framed by the Basilica of San Petronino (clearly being renovated while we were there), and the Town Hall (Palazzo d'Accursio). I could sit at one of the outside cafes looking onto the piazza and people watch all day! AC ran in a circle in the piazza for over half an hour.

The Basilica of San Petronino

Palazzo d'Accursio

• Walking under the Arcades - There are over 38 kilometers of arcades in Bologna. Although the weather was beautiful when we were there, the arcades lend a certain ambience to the city. We tracked over 18,000 steps on our iPod nano while in Bologna, and enjoyed every single step. 

• The Twin Towers - Not those Twin Towers! The famous leaning towers built in the 12th century in the university district are certainly a sight to behold. We climbed the 498 not so sturdy steps of the taller, non-leaning Asinelli Tower (Torre degli Asinelli). The view from the top (97.2 meters) was simply amazing! Legend has it that one can see the Adriatic Sea and the Alps from the top of the tower. We saw neither, but the view was great nonetheless.

• Food - One of the most amusing things about living in Italy is the food. The cuisine differs between each region. I was told that by several people that Bologna has the best food in Italy (or the world depending on who you ask). Wait! I thought Campania had the best food! Who knows?! Some foods that are from this region are tortellini, parmesan cheese, Mortadella ham, and balsamic vinegar. Certainly heavier than the Neopolitan diet, that's for sure!

Aside from our day trip to Ferarri and Maranello, we also went to Modena. Modena is a great mid-size city to visit, and is mostly known for the Cathedral of Modena (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and for being the birthplace of both Luciano Pavarotti and Enzo Ferarri. Clearly there's more to the city than this, but after a bus nearly took off the front end of our rental Fiat (causing us to back into another car!) we were ready to end our trip. 

Cathedral of Modena

Best antique market ever!