Bologna

Italy Verified Oct 2026

In Bologna, Italy, a sudden shower needn’t end a walk: roughly 62 kilometers of porticoes shelter the streets, their brick and stone ceilings carrying you past shops, churches and students hurrying to class. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021, these arcades are more than handsome cover—they show how the city has made public life part of its architecture.

Bologna, Italy Photo: Frank Wesneck / Pexels
Attractions
10
Audio
15 h
Trip length
2–3 days
Best season
Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October)

Why Bologna

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Bologna’s old nicknames sketch its character: La Dotta, the learned, for its university, traditionally dated to 1088; La Grassa, the fat, for the pasta and pork that anchor local cooking; La Rossa, the red, for its terracotta roofs and political history. The food lives up to its reputation, but order tagliatelle al ragù or tortellini in broth and you’ll taste how carefully the city guards its own recipes.

The medieval center is compact, but its skyline still catches you off guard: the Two Towers rise at a crowded crossroads, while the vast brick Basilica di San Petronio holds a 66.8-meter meridian line across its floor. In the Archiginnasio’s carved wooden Anatomical Theatre, the old university’s lessons feel startlingly close.

Bologna rewards looking down side streets as much as looking up: a small window on Via Piella frames a surviving canal, and glass panels in Biblioteca Salaborsa reveal Roman ruins beneath the floor. Follow the portico from Porta Saragozza toward the hilltop sanctuary of San Luca, and the city’s covered walkways begin to feel less like a feature than a way of life.

  • A city made for walking

    Bologna has more than 38 km of porticoes in its historic center, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Look up from the sheltered arcades and you’ll find the medieval towers: Asinelli rises 97.2 meters, while Garisenda tilts beside it.
  • The university, in wood and stone

    The University of Bologna traces its origins to 1088, and its former home, the Archiginnasio, holds the 17th-century Teatro Anatomico. In the spruce-lined room, carved figures watch over the marble dissection table—a reminder that this was a working theatre, not a decorative one.
  • An uphill procession to San Luca

    From Porta Saragozza, a covered portico climbs 3,796 meters to the Sanctuary of San Luca, passing beneath 666 arches and over 489 steps. The long ascent turns a city walk into a quiet change of pace, with the rooftops falling away behind you.
  • Pasta with a local accent

    Bologna’s table is built around fresh egg pasta, slow-cooked ragù, tortellini and mortadella IGP. Ask for tagliatelle al ragù, not “spaghetti Bolognese”: the broad ribbons are the local match for the sauce.

Places to Visit

Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.

All 99 places in Bologna

Neighborhoods

Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.

  • Centro Storico

    Piazza Maggiore is the city’s civic heart, ringed by the Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio and the Neptune Fountain. Come early for the sound of footsteps under the arcades; stay long enough to find the Roman remains beneath Biblioteca Salaborsa.
  • Quadrilatero

    Just east of Piazza Maggiore, narrow lanes such as Via Drapperie and Via Pescherie Vecchie still revolve around food shops and market stalls. Look through the windows at hanging mortadella and prosciutto, then settle into the Mercato di Mezzo for pasta, wine or a quick bite.
  • University Quarter

    Via Zamboni and Piazza Verdi form Bologna’s student hub, where lecture halls, bookshops and inexpensive bars share the same streets. Palazzo Poggi’s collections and the National Art Gallery offer a quieter counterpoint to the late-night chatter.
  • Via del Pratello

    This roughly 600-meter porticoed street west of the center has a long countercultural streak and fills with people around aperitivo time. Enoteche, pubs and small bars spill beneath the arches; Piazza San Francesco is a good place to pause.
  • Via Mascarella

    At the edge of the student district, Mascarella is known for live music and intimate rooms rather than grand venues. Cantina Bentivoglio pairs a cellar osteria with jazz, while Bravo Caffè hosts blues, soul and songwriter sets.
  • Bolognina

    Just north of Bologna Centrale, this former working-class and industrial district has a distinct, multicultural food scene. Trattoria di Via Serra is a draw for handmade pasta and local cooking, while the streets feel more everyday than postcard-perfect.
  • Manifattura delle Arti

    Former industrial and municipal buildings west of the center now hold MAMbo, the Cineteca di Bologna and Cinema Lumière. Between exhibitions and film screenings, Giardino del Cavaticcio offers a pocket of sculpture and open air.
  • Saragozza

    West of the historic center, Porta Saragozza marks the start of the long covered route to the hilltop sanctuary of San Luca. The climb passes beneath 666 arches over 3,796 meters; even a short stretch shows how Bologna’s porticoes turn a walk into part of the city’s daily rhythm.

Plan your trip

Before you go

Getting There
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is about 6 km northwest of the center; the Marconi Express reaches Bologna Centrale in roughly 7 minutes. Bologna Centrale is the main rail hub, with local stops including Bologna San Vitale and Bologna Borgo Panigale; road access runs via the A1, A13 and A14, linked by the city’s ring road. Florence Peretola (FLR) and Verona Villafranca (VRN) are farther alternative airports.
Getting Around
As of 2026, Bologna has no metro or subway (zero lines); TPER operates the city bus network, while a four-line tram system is being rolled out. Planning fares list a €2.30 single urban ticket, valid for 75 minutes, and a €9 day pass; contactless card payment is available on buses. The 8.4 km protected Tangenziale delle Biciclette circles the center, and Bologna Welcome Cards cost €35 for EASY or €55 for PLUS, valid for 15 days.
Climate & Best Time
Spring daytime highs climb from about 14°C in March to 23°C in May; summer highs often reach 30–36°C, while autumn highs fall from about 26°C in September to 12°C in November. Winter highs are around 6–9°C, with lows near 0–3°C; spring and autumn bring moderate rain, and winter can be foggy. Late spring and early autumn are the busiest visitor periods, but April–June and September–October offer the best walking weather; August is hotter and many local businesses take a break.
Language & Currency
Italian is the official language, and English is widely understood in central hotels, museums and restaurants. Bologna uses the euro (€); cards are commonly accepted, though a little cash helps at small markets, and a restaurant’s coperto is usually listed separately on the menu.

Bologna: A City Built in Layers

From Etruscan Felsina to the porticoes of a modern university city

  1. 9th century BCE

    Villanovan Settlements Take Root

    By the 9th century BCE, communities of the Villanovan culture had settled the Bologna basin, leaving cemeteries rich in distinctive biconical urns. Their bronze work and burial customs mark the earliest known chapter in the city’s long history.

  2. c. 534 BCE

    Etruscan Felsina Emerges

    The Etruscans made Felsina a major center in the Po Valley, building an acropolis and organizing streets across the settlement. Archaeological finds suggest a prosperous city, where bronze, pottery, and imported goods moved through busy markets.

  3. c. 350 BCE

    The Boii Take Felsina

    Celtic groups known as the Boii moved into the region and displaced Etruscan power at Felsina. Their presence left its mark on the city’s name: Roman Bononia, the source of modern Bologna, is commonly linked to the Boii.

  4. 189 BCE

    Rome Founds Bononia

    Rome established the Latin colony of Bononia in 189 BCE, settling it with about 3,000 colonists. The Via Aemilia, begun two years later, linked the growing town to Rimini and Piacenza and made it a key stop on a straight Roman road across northern Italy.

  5. c. 431

    Petronius Shapes Christian Bologna

    Bishop Petronius served Bologna in the 5th century and became its patron saint. Tradition credits him with rebuilding the city after Gothic raids and founding the Santo Stefano church complex, whose interlinked chapels still recall Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre.

  6. 727–728

    The Lombards Capture Bologna

    Lombard King Liutprand seized Bologna from Byzantine control and incorporated it into his kingdom. The Lombards expanded the built-up area around Santo Stefano, adding a new layer to a city already shaped by Roman streets and Christian churches.

Show the full timeline (30 moments)
  1. 1088

    A Studium Takes Shape

    Bologna’s university traces its conventional founding date to 1088, when teachers of law gathered students from across Europe. Jurist Irnerius helped revive the study of Roman law; the institution grew around its scholars rather than a single founding charter.

  2. 1116

    The Free Commune Is Recognized

    After Countess Matilda of Canossa died, Emperor Henry V granted Bologna privileges that helped secure its self-government. The commune’s authority would be argued over for generations, but the city had begun acting on its own behalf.

  3. c. 1119

    The Towers Rise Above the City

    Bolognese families began raising defensive tower-houses, and the Asinelli and Garisenda towers took shape around the early 12th century. The Asinelli climbs about 97 meters; the shorter Garisenda leans sharply enough to make the pair an unmistakable marker at Porta Ravegnana.

  4. 1239

    Bettisia Gozzadini Lectures

    Bettisia Gozzadini, a law scholar at Bologna, is remembered for graduating and teaching at the university in the 13th century. Later accounts place her lectures before large audiences, a striking breach of expectation in a city whose university drew students from far beyond Italy.

  5. May 26, 1249

    Bologna Wins at Fossalta

    Bolognese forces defeated the army of Emperor Frederick II at Fossalta and captured his son, King Enzo of Sardinia. Enzo spent the remaining 23 years of his life in Bologna; the palace where he was held still bears his name.

  6. 1257

    The Commune Frees Its Serfs

    Bologna’s Liber Paradisus declared serfs in the commune’s territory free and set municipal funds aside to compensate their former owners. The decree turned an ambitious claim about human liberty into an act of city government, recorded in a book whose name means “Book of Paradise.”

  7. November 15, 1325

    Modena Wins at Zappolino

    Modenese forces defeated Bologna’s army at Zappolino, in one of the fiercest clashes between the rival cities. The story that Modena carried off a wooden bucket as a trophy became civic legend; the conflict behind it was very real.

  8. June 7, 1390

    San Petronio Begins to Rise

    Work began on the Basilica of San Petronio, designed by Antonio di Vincenzo for Piazza Maggiore. Its immense brick mass was meant to outdo the churches of rival cities, though the grandest plans were never completed.

  9. 1401

    The Bentivoglio Take Power

    Giovanni I Bentivoglio established his family’s rule in Bologna, beginning a period of shifting signorial power that lasted, with interruptions, until 1506. Under later Bentivoglio rulers, palaces and churches were rebuilt, and Renaissance artists found patrons in the city.

  10. November 1506

    Julius II Reclaims Bologna

    Pope Julius II entered Bologna with a papal army and forced Giovanni II Bentivoglio into exile. The city came under direct papal rule, though its civic institutions retained a role in local affairs.

  11. February 24, 1530

    Charles V Is Crowned Here

    Pope Clement VII crowned Charles V Holy Roman Emperor inside San Petronio. The ceremony was the last imperial coronation performed by a pope, and its setting joined papal ceremony to the city’s largest civic church.

  12. 1563

    The University Gets One Address

    The Archiginnasio opened as a shared home for Bologna’s university faculties, replacing scattered teaching sites with a single grand building. Its walls filled with coats of arms and carved inscriptions, turning student memory into decoration.

  13. 1582

    The Carracci Found an Academy

    Ludovico, Agostino, and Annibale Carracci founded the Accademia degli Incamminati in Bologna. Their teaching prized close observation and disciplined drawing, helping establish a Bolognese school of painting that shaped Baroque art well beyond the city.

  14. 1630

    Plague Empties Bolognese Streets

    The plague that swept northern Italy reached Bologna and killed thousands of residents. Trade and daily life faltered as sickness moved through the city, leaving a wound that took years to heal.

  15. 1655

    Cassini Marks the Meridian

    Astronomer Gian Domenico Cassini laid a 66.8-meter meridian line across the floor of San Petronio. At noon, a beam of sunlight passing through a small opening in the roof fell on the line, turning the church into a precise instrument for studying the sun and calendar.

  16. 1732

    Laura Bassi Wins a Professorship

    Laura Bassi earned a doctorate in philosophy at Bologna and became a salaried professor, one of the first women to hold such a university post. She taught experimental physics in a city where the academy’s lectures and demonstrations brought scientific argument into public view.

  17. June 19, 1796

    Napoleon Ends Papal Rule

    Napoleon’s forces entered Bologna and ended centuries of papal government. The city’s Senate returned to civic authority, while the new French-backed order swept away feudal privileges and redirected the university.

  18. August 8, 1848

    Bolognese Expel Austrian Troops

    Citizens and volunteers fought Austrian troops around the Montagnola and drove the garrison from Bologna. The victory was brief: Austrian power returned, but the day became a lasting emblem of local resistance.

  19. March 11–12, 1860

    Bologna Votes for Annexation

    In a plebiscite, Bolognese voters backed joining the Kingdom of Sardinia, ending papal rule in the city. Bologna became part of the new Kingdom of Italy proclaimed the following year.

  20. 1874

    Marconi Is Born in Bologna

    Guglielmo Marconi was born in Bologna and carried out early wireless experiments at his family’s Villa Griffone, just outside the city. His work helped turn radio transmission from a laboratory possibility into a practical means of communication.

  21. April 21, 1945

    Bologna Is Liberated

    After occupation, resistance fighting, and Allied air raids that damaged much of the city, Polish troops and Italian partisans entered Bologna as German forces withdrew. The liberation ended the occupation, but left the railway hub and surrounding neighborhoods scarred by war.

  22. August 2, 1980

    A Bomb Tears Through the Station

    At 10:25 a.m., a bomb exploded in Bologna Centrale’s second-class waiting room, killing 85 people and injuring more than 200. The blast tore through a crowded railway station and remains one of modern Italy’s deadliest terrorist attacks.

  23. June 19, 1999

    The Bologna Declaration Is Signed

    Education ministers from 29 European countries signed the Bologna Declaration in the city. Their agreement set in motion the Bologna Process, reshaping how universities across Europe organize and recognize degrees.

  24. July 28, 2021

    The Porticoes Join UNESCO

    UNESCO inscribed Bologna’s porticoes on its World Heritage List, recognizing 12 representative sections of the city’s covered arcades. Together they reveal how a practical answer to building and street space became one of Bologna’s defining forms.

Who lived here

  • Inventor and physicist · 1874–1937

    Guglielmo Marconi

    Born in Bologna; early experiments nearby

    Born in Bologna, Guglielmo Marconi began wireless transmission experiments at his family’s Villa Griffone near the city. His work carried signals across oceans; today, the route from his Bologna birthplace to a world of constant connection feels like a strikingly short leap.

  • Physician and physicist · 1737–1798

    Luigi Galvani

    Born, worked and died in Bologna

    In Bologna, Luigi Galvani’s experiments with frog legs helped give rise to the idea of bioelectricity, and his name lives on in the word “galvanism.” The image of a scholar coaxing movement from a motionless limb feels at home in a city whose university history is still written into its streets.

  • Physicist · 1711–1778

    Laura Bassi

    Studied, taught and lived in Bologna

    Laura Bassi defended her theses at Bologna’s Archiginnasio and became the first woman in Europe to hold an official university teaching post. She taught experimental physics here; the student crowds beneath the porticoes today suggest how much larger the university world she helped claim has become.

  • Film director, poet and writer · 1922–1975

    Pier Paolo Pasolini

    Born in Bologna; studied here

    Born on Via Borgonuovo, Pier Paolo Pasolini attended Liceo Galvani and studied literature and art history at the University of Bologna. The same city of classrooms and street life that shaped his early years still makes it easy to see how a writer might move between ideas and the pavement.

  • Composer · 1792–1868

    Gioachino Rossini

    Studied and worked in Bologna

    Rossini came to Bologna as a child, studied counterpoint at the Liceo Musicale and later served the city’s conservatory as a consultant and director. His story here begins not with an opera curtain, but with a student learning the craft behind one.

  • Singer-songwriter · 1943–2012

    Lucio Dalla

    Born and raised in Bologna

    Lucio Dalla was born and raised in Bologna, and lived on Via d’Azeglio near Piazza Maggiore. After walking that square, hearing “Piazza Grande” can make the city feel less like a backdrop and more like a voice speaking in its own register.

Where to Eat

Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.

Insider tips

Small things that change how the city treats you.

  • Guard your pockets

    Keep your phone and wallet secure on crowded buses, especially near Bologna Centrale and in busy markets. After dark, avoid using Parco della Montagnola as a shortcut; Via dell'Indipendenza is a better-lit route into the centre.
  • Tap or buy ahead

    Bologna’s urban buses accept contactless cards at the green validators; tap once when boarding, with no tap-out. A pre-purchased ticket is listed at €2.30 for 75 minutes, compared with €2.50 from an onboard cash machine, but check TPER for current fares.
  • Walk under porticoes

    The historic centre has more than 38 km of covered porticoes, handy in rain and summer sun. Bikes and e-scooters aren’t allowed to ride beneath them, so dismount and push.
  • Skip peak heat

    April to June and September to October bring milder weather for walking. July and August can be humid and hotter than 30°C, while many local businesses scale back around Ferragosto in mid-August.
  • Order local pasta

    In a traditional trattoria, ask for tagliatelle al ragù rather than “spaghetti Bolognese”; mortadella is known locally as Mortadella IGP. Cappuccino is usually a morning drink, while espresso is the customary after-dinner coffee.
  • Choose your San Luca

    The covered route from Porta Saragozza to the Sanctuary of San Luca runs about 3.8 km, with 666 arches and 489 steps. If you’d rather save your legs, the San Luca Express runs from Piazza Maggiore.
  • Check the coperto

    Look for the coperto, a per-person charge usually listed on restaurant menus at about €1.50–€3.50. Tipping isn’t obligatory in Italy; rounding up or leaving €1–€2 per person for excellent service is appreciated.

Frequently asked

Is Bologna worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like cities where everyday life and old architecture share the same streets. Bologna pairs medieval towers, university history and canals with a food culture built around dishes such as tagliatelle al ragù.

How many days do you need in Bologna?

Plan for 2–3 days. Two days give you time for the historic centre and its major sights; a third lets you walk or ride up to San Luca and linger over the city’s food and museums.

How do I get from Bologna Airport to the city centre?

The Marconi Express connects Bologna Airport with Bologna Centrale railway station in about 7 minutes. From the station, continue on foot or by bus to your accommodation; the station is near the centre, but it isn’t the same as arriving at Piazza Maggiore.

Is Bologna easy to get around without a car?

Yes: the historic centre is well suited to walking, and TPER buses connect it with the station and outer districts. Contactless payment works on board at green validators, and Bologna has no underground metro.

Is Bologna safe at night?

Bologna is generally safe, though crowded buses and tourist areas can attract pickpockets. Late at night, keep your belongings close around the station and Piazza XX Settembre, and avoid cutting through Parco della Montagnola on foot.

How much does a bus ticket cost in Bologna?

A pre-purchased urban ticket is listed at €2.30 and is valid for 75 minutes; an onboard cash-machine ticket is listed at €2.50. Fares can change, so check TPER before travelling; you can also tap a contactless card on the bus.

When is the best time to visit Bologna?

April to June and September to October are good periods for walking, with milder temperatures than midsummer. July and August can be very hot, and some businesses close or reduce hours around Ferragosto in mid-August.

What food should I try in Bologna?

Try tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo and Mortadella IGP. In a traditional trattoria, “spaghetti Bolognese” is the wrong name to reach for; the local pasta pairing is tagliatelle with ragù.

All Places to Visit.

99 places to discover

Piazza Maggiore
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Piazza Maggiore

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Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

San Petronio Basilica
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San Petronio Basilica

Piazza Santo Stefano
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Piazza Santo Stefano

Porticoes of Bologna
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Porticoes of Bologna

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Basilica of San Domenico

Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
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Fountain of Neptune, Bologna

Mercato Delle Erbe
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Mercato Delle Erbe

University of Bologna
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University of Bologna

Arco Del Meloncello
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Arco Del Meloncello

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Pinacoteca Nazionale Di Bologna

Towers of Bologna
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Towers of Bologna

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Bologna Cathedral

Museum of the Risorgimento, Bologna
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Museum of the Risorgimento, Bologna

Palazzo Dell’Archiginnasio
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Palazzo Dell’Archiginnasio

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Bologna Museum of Modern Art

Santo Stefano Church
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Santo Stefano Church

Basilica of Saint Francis
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Basilica of Saint Francis

Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna
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Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna

Ippodromo Arcoveggio
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Ippodromo Arcoveggio

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Biblioteca Comunale Dell'Archiginnasio

Basilica Di Santa Maria Dei Servi
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Basilica Di Santa Maria Dei Servi

Asinelli Tower
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Asinelli Tower

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
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Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Bologna Massacre
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Bologna Massacre

Industrial Heritage Museum (Bologna)
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Industrial Heritage Museum (Bologna)

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Portici Di via Farini

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Rocca Isolani

Teatro Comunale
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Teatro Comunale

Certosa Di Bologna
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Certosa Di Bologna

Pincio Stair Ramps
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Pincio Stair Ramps

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Ugo Bassi Statue, Bologna

Cineteca Di Bologna
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Cineteca Di Bologna

Bologna Tramway Network
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Bologna Tramway Network

Sanctuary of the Madonna Di San Luca
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Sanctuary of the Madonna Di San Luca

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Palazzo D'Accursio

Facoltà Teologica Dell'Emilia-Romagna
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Facoltà Teologica Dell'Emilia-Romagna

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Biblioteca Salaborsa

Paladozza
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Paladozza

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Collegio Di Spagna

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San Vittore Observatory

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Orto Botanico Dell'Università Di Bologna

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San Giacomo Maggiore

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Walls of Bologna

Palazzo Poggi
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Palazzo Poggi

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Palazzo Re Enzo

Museo Della Resistenza Di Bologna
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Museo Della Resistenza Di Bologna

Palazzo Del Podestà
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Palazzo Del Podestà

Showing 1–48 of 99 places

Photo credits (9)
  1. Frank Wesneck — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/36799900/
  2. DeLuca G — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/16067731/
  3. yusuf coşkun — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/36388555/
  4. Peter Vercoelen — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/36582373/
  5. Pascal Küffer — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/31205420/
  6. Vish Pix — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/39850232/
  7. Andrea Piacquadio — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/4813965/
  8. Julia Krasnoperova — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/31864645/
  9. Maria Laura Catalogna — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/14769125/

Photos may have been resized or cropped.