As a couple, with friends, with family or even alone, Bologna will awaken your senses, your spontaneity and please you, “Eat, pray, love” style. So when are we going???
1/ The price
Let's start with the practical things:the wallet. The good news is that a weekend in Bologna is very affordable if you plan ahead. Vueling airline tickets are sometimes around 30 euros one way, restaurant meals around 7 euros and for accommodation you can find hotels or even small houses around 30 euros a night! Oh yeah, go, go go!
2/ The colored houses
Orange, red, yellow, pink, all declined in an incalculable number of shades, on which the sun reflects. It's warm, it's beautiful, it makes you see life in pink (and in orange. And in red. And in yellow. And in…). There's no denying it:it's a hell of a potato! And it makes you want to hug everyone.
3/ Convenience
During the week, after working hours, or all weekend, the city comes alive with a great and gentle heat. Not just because of the weather, not like "we're all tight and we're stepping on each other", like REAL holidays, the ones we need. Because don't worry:the city is very airy. Already because the streets are often wide and the buildings low (except the "Towers of Bologna") but also because there are very few cars and everyone walks on the roads (access by car is reserved for residents. Visitors can get there very easily by bus, don't worry).
As for the Italians, they all go for a drink after work and go out with friends and family on weekends. It gives laughter in all directions, smiles sent here and there but also funny situations where Bolognese try to communicate with you in Italian or by gestures without you understanding anything.
3/ FOOD
In fact, it's almost THE number one reason as the local gastronomy is worth the detour... It's not for nothing that this city is nicknamed la Grassa (the fat one):its cuisine is renowned throughout the world for its excellence. . In the land of good pastas, pizzas, Parma ham and sausage, in the region of mortadella, parmesan, Lambrusco, when you order a glass of wine in a café in the evening, you are not brought chips but lots of free antipasti (sometimes it can even make your meal). And good news for the intolerant:the city is "gluten-free friendly"!
My favorites ? The gramigna alla salsiccia (gramigna pasta with sausage, yes, yes, yes), the tortelli verdi (stuffed with ricotta and spinach), the sublime buffalo milk or pistachio ice creams (those from Gusto Antico are unparalleled creaminess) and ESPECIALLY the polpettes from the Bolbetta restaurant (very elegant savory or sweet meatballs -yes it's possible- with all sauces, all meats, all vegetables for veggies, and all delicacies – Ricotta-Nutella-Coco being the perfect combo).
> Polpettes:www.bolpetta.com
> Ice cream:www.gustoantico.it
4/ Architecture
To visit everything well while enjoying an ice cream and digesting, we recommend the "Regression" option:take the little tourist train (watch your buttocks, it moves with the cobblestones)! You can also let yourself be carried away by the streets, walking in the shade under the "porticoes" that cover the sidewalks of the city (there are more than 40 km of arcades in Bologna!).
You will then discover the beauty of Piazza Maggiore, the immense Basilica of San Petronio (the 5th largest Church in the world) and will be able to climb up to the magic hill where the Madonna di San Luca sanctuary sits which will leave you completely speechless!
5/ Museums (and even car museums)
Our favorite:the Palazzo Pepoli, Museo della Storia di Bologna, which will make you discover in an interactive way the fascinating history of the city and the region. On the modern art side, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna is a must see, as is the Palazzo Poggi for lovers of medicine and the Museo Civico &Archeologico for fans of statues.
Are you a car fan? Or is he your boyfriend? Your nephew? Your daughter ? Note that the region is home to no less than two museums of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati (Panini Museum), Pagani (cars at 2 million euros) but also Ducati on the motorcycle side. The good plan? Take the Ferrari package at 60 euros per person which allows you to access the 2 museums and ESPECIALLY to choose Ferrari bus tours which allow you to visit Parmesan factories (with tastings), Modena vinegar (always with tastings) , Lambrusco (watch out for tastings at noon on an empty stomach. I know what I'm talking about) or even the house of Pavarotti (to discover the simple and generous man behind the voice). In short:in two days, we “vroom vroom” a little and above all we eat a lot. Yes!
> To view the “Discover Ferrari &Pavarotti Land” post:museomaranello.ferrari.com
