A Few Days in Bologna, Italy
Bologna is the capital and the largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy and is best known for its food, and left-wing policies. Bologna, and the Emilia-Romangna region in general, is a foodie’s paradise. The region is known for its pasta dishes, meats, cheeses and wines, but the city of Bologna is also known for it’s rich history and unique architecture.
Bologna should definitely be on your list to visit in Italy, but you don’t need more than a few days there.
Where to eat:
Trattoria Leonida: Trattoria Leonida is an incredibly special place and it feels like you are eating at your grandmother;s house. They serve all of the Bolognese specialties- tortellini and linguini Bolognese, tortellini en brodo, large plates of bread and mortadella, fried meats (veal Milanese) and have incredible house wines as well. Do not miss Trattoria Leonida!
Pappare: Pappare is oyur typical hip coffee and pastry cafe. it has amazing pastries and many vegan varieties too! We loved grabbing a coffee, fresh orange juice and a pastry or avocado toast here.
Ca’Pelletti Locanda di Romagna: We stopped into this spot for lunch and we were not disappointed. While it is a local chain, the pasta was fresh and the Bolognese sauce was delcious. They also serve great (and large) coffees and yummy desserts. If you are looking for a quick lunch with great food, Ca’Pelletti is your spot!
La Sberla Bistro: La Sberla is a hidden, local gem! We were so lucky to stumble upon this spot! We had a wonderful dinner and great wine for a super reasonable price. None of the staff speak English, so be prepared to do a lot of guessing and pointing to the menu. we started with Crescentini Bolognesi, which were essentially croquettes, and then had mains of a fried veal cutlet topped with ham and melted cheese and a plate of fried seafood and veggies. It was so delicious and it was nice to be in a neighborhood-loved spot.
Tamburini: Tamburini is a local specialty market and casual restaurant that serves local cuisine. You can go in, buy your meats, and cheeses or head to the cafeteria and get a hearty bowl of pasta and sit in the dining room. This place was great for a fast and casual lunch and for picking up some snacks for our train ride the next day!
Cafe Cocoa: We stumbled upon Cafe Cocoa when we were looking for a casual place to grab a drink. Cafe Cocoa had an amazing selection of fun cocktails and we were pleased to see the demographic was young adults and university students. They also had a bunch of antipasti to pick from at the bar to eat with your drink!
Gelateria Gianni: Bologna is known for it's gelato, so don’t forget to stop and get an after dinner or mid-afternoon gelato. We liked Gelateria Gianni the best!
What to do:
Palazzo Pepoli: Is the museum of the History of Bologna. it is housed in a medieval villa and runs through the history of the city from before the Roman times until present. It is very well done, interactive and informative.
Museo Ebraico: Museo Ebraico is the Jewish Museum of Bologna, located in the famous Jewish Ghetto of Bologna. While the museum is small, intimate and focuses primarily on the families that used to live in the ghetto before WWII, it is still an important visit and part of Bologna’s rich history.
Piazza Maggiore & Basilica di San Petronio: Piazza Maggiore is the main plaza of the city and in the heart of the old city. Basilica di San Petronio is the big church that sits on one side of the plaza. The plaza is famous for its porticos and the Fountain of Neptune that sits next to the square.
San Domenico Basilica: The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the other major and famous churches in Bologna and houses the remains of Saint Dominic. It has a very unique architecture and the plaza that surrounds it, is stunning.
Asinelli Tower: In the medieval times, houses (or families) used to build towers all over Bologna to show off their wealth and status. Back in the day, it is believed that there were around 180 towers standing in Bologna, but today, there are only two remaining.
Quadrilatero: Quadrilatero is a section of the old city that was and still is the market area. The Quadrilatero is right off of the Piazza Maggiore and it consists of a few narrow streets that are packed with gastronomy shopping.
