Visiting Bologna in just 1 day is possible, touching the main points of interest only by walking is very feasible.
If you arrive from Bologna station, you will immediately start your itinerary with:
Via Indipendenza
The famous street with the typical Bolognese arcades and the fantastic shop windows where it is truly irresistible not to shop. Area also full of numerous bars.
For breakfast or tactical coffee, with itinerary consultation, I suggest a place where they make excellent coffee, excellent service and cute place, street from via dell’Indipendenza, the place is called Victoria, the address is this:
After breakfast you will be very close to one of the secret places in Bologna:
The window in via Piella
Kept in a secondary lane, parallel to via Indipendenza. When you look out it seems to look inside a camera from which you can see a small stream of water that flows between the ancient buildings of the city. Moving to the other side instead, via Piella offers us another glimpse of the Moline canal. Truly characteristic landscape.
Fountain of Neptune
Continuing straight from Via dell ‘Indipendenza you will find yourself in front of Piazza Nettuno, dominated by the fountain of Neptune called ” Il Gigante ” by the Bolognese due to its enormous size.
Piazza Maggiore
A few more steps and we will enter Piazza Maggiore, the most important square in Bologna, where we can admire: the Palazzo dei Banchi, the Basilica of San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Notai and the Palazzo d’Accursio.
Basilica of San Petronio
The Basilica has an unfinished facade , we can see it from the clear detachment, it dominates Piazza Maggiore with its grandeur, it is the sixth largest church in Europe. It is possible to access the terrace of the basilica where you can admire a beautiful panorama.
Hours
From Monday to Thursday
from 11 to 13 (last admission at 12:40)
and from 3 to 6 pm (last admission at 5:40 pm)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
from 10 to 13 and from 14:30 to 18:00
Cost: 3.00 Euros
Regarding the museum:
Hours
Monday : CLOSED
From Tuesday to Saturday : from 10 to 13.30 and from 14.30 to 17
Sunday : from 3pm to 5pm
Cost: 1.00 Euro
Tower of the Asinelli
The Torre degli Asinelli and the Torre di Garisenda are the undisputed symbol of the city of Bologna. The Garisenda tower is lower than the Asinelli tower, and remains with a truly fascinating slope, unfortunately it cannot be visited. That of the Asinelli, on the other hand, can be visited, is the highest one, with a height of 97.20 meters with an inclination of 1.3 °, inside it has 498 steps. It is possible to go up only on foot, the passages are narrow, bring a bottle of water, I realized the need came halfway up, I do not wish it. The view is spectacular.
Hours
From March 1st to October 31st
- Every day 9: 30–19: 30
- Last admission 6.30 pm
From November 6th to February 28th
- Every day 9: 30–17: 45
- Last admission 5pm
Cost
- Full: 5.00 Euros
- Reduced: 3.00 Euros
Piazza Santo Stefano
Not far from the Two Towers, you will find this particular triangular-shaped square , often at the center of the Bolognese nightlife and events, also known as Piazza delle Sette Chiese because it is almost entirely surrounded by the Basilica of Santo Stefano, a set of sacred buildings that have undergone modifications. over the centuries.
Stella by Lucio Dalla and Roxy Bar
Near the two Towers we find two other symbolic places of Bologna and they are: the Roxy Bar , located in Via Rizzoli 9, and the Stella by Lucio Dalla , made of white marble and located in Via degli Orefici (take a good look, sometimes you might find it totally covered by the restaurant tables that expand to cover it). If you happen to pass by Piazza dei Celestini, look up, on the wall of what used to be Lucio Dalla ‘s home you will see his shadow , created by the artist Mario Martinelli.
Sanctuary of San Luca
A visit to the sanctuary of San Luca is a must, a true place of worship for the Bolognese, located on the Colle della Guardia. To get to the sanctuary , if you go on foot as tradition dictates, you have to go through a portico that extends for 3.79 kilometers to the top of the Guardia hill. The route has 666 arches and fifteen chapels, built to protect from the elements between 1674 and 1793 under the guidance of the architect Gian Giacomo Monti and Carlo Francesco Dotti , who also took care of the rebuilding of the basilica. The climb to the Sanctuary of San Luca is often used by pilgrims as a path of purification.
Timetables
- Weekdays : 6.30 – 17.00 from November to February / 6.30 – 19.00 from March to October (the Sanctuary is closed from 12.30 to 14.30).
- Holidays : 7.00 – 17.00 from November to February / 7.00 – 19.00 from March to October. Admission is free but limited during religious services.
How to get
To go up on foot it takes about 30 minutes from the arch of Meloncello, considered the starting point.
In addition to walking, for those who struggle, the Sanctuary of San Luca can be reached both by car and by public transport and cosepuri private minibuses, I reached it by bicycle , there are bikesharing or alternatively various bicycle rental activities. The rental prices are around 15.00 Euros for the whole day, and around 8.00 Euros for half a day.
