The strategic location of the city molded its history. Inhabited since the 10th century BC during the Iron Age, it was fortified by the Celts and became a municipality under the Romans. The presence through the centuries of the Huns, Goths, Lombards, Franks, Austrians and French, have each left traces which are still visible on the city today.

Bologna struggled for autonomy, having been dominated by emperors, kings, and the Church. It was ruled by the Pepoli and Bentivoglio families, and was a papal fiefdom. The papal power made it a city of the Guelphs, while many of its residents supported the anti-Papal Ghibellines. Bologna had the first city council in Italy, and was, with the Liber Paradisus law in 1256, one of the first cities in the world to abolish slavery. This political activity was rooted in the lively environment surrounding the Alma Mater, as the university was known.

Bologna was the home of such personalities as Father Martini, a collector, composer and master of counterpoint who was a notable and complex protagonist of European music of the thirteenth century. Among his students were Johann Christian Bach (son of J.S Bach) and the young W.A Mozart. During the 19th century the Philharmonic Academy drew important personalities such as Rossini, Verdi, Brahms, Wagner, Puccini and Liszt.

Bologna was named a Creative City of Music by UNESCO in 2006. Music is performed throughout the city: in the Teatro Comunale (the Opera Theatre), by the Orchestra Mozart youth orchestra, founded and directed by Claudio Abbado, and in clubs and inns where jazz is regularly played. There are open-air concerts and music can be heard at the Conservatory, the Opera School, and hundreds of music associations operating within the territory.

Bologna's scientists have included Galvani and Marconi. Native or visiting painters and artists have included Morandi, Guido Reni, Guercino, the Carraccis, Leonardo (one of the legends about the Mona Lisa tells that this was where he painted his famous masterpiece), Giotto (there was a chapel in Piazza XX Settembre entirely painted a fresco by Giotto which was destroyed when Bologna was fighting against the Pope), Cassini (who made the world’s longest sundial, now located inside Basilica S. Petronio), and Michelangelo (on the arc in Basilica S. Domenico can be found his sculpture of an angel holding a candelabra). Napoleon re-arranged the urban plan of the city and Carlo V was crowned emperor in Bologna's Basilica S. Petronio.

Bologna is at its best from March/April to October, when it is warm and there is much outdoor sipping and dining, or just sitting in squares such as Piazza Santo Stefano and Piazza Maggiore. However, during July and August it can be very hot and sticky. In August, as is the case in much of Italy in the summer, many shops and restaurants are closed for the summer vacation.

Winter can be cold, but Bologna is beautiful the two weeks before Christmas. January and February often feature cloudless blue skies, but the clear weather is often the coldest: you will need a coat, scarf, hat and gloves.

• 44.49433811.3431911 Bologna Welcome (Convention & Visitor Bureau of Bologna), Piazza Maggiore 1/e, ☏ +39 051 239660. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00. (updated Jul 2016)

Bologna's airport is approximately 6 km NW from the centre of the city:

• 44.53457311.2879371 Guglielmo Marconi (Bologna) International Airport (BLQ  ^IATA), Via Triumvirato, 84, ☏ +39 051 6479615. The airport has international connections available, including nonstop flights from Amsterdam Schiphol, Brussels (National), Charleroi ("Brussels" South), Copenhagen Airport, Dublin, Edinburgh, Iași, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Madrid Barajas, Manchester Airport, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Vienna Airport, and Zagreb (seasonal). (updated Apr 2016)

Services:

• WiFI – free, registration required.
• Left luggage (1st floor of the main terminal). 24/7. €6 per item. (updated Apr 2016)
• Bologna Welcome - Airport (Tourist Information Office) (ground floor at the Arrivals Area), ☏ +39 051 6472201. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00. (updated Apr 2016)

Connections to the city:

• Marconi Express monorail service connects the airport with the Bologna Centrale railway station in 7 minutes. Single fares from €12.80. Waiting time in queue before boarding in rush hour +30 minutes
• Bus #54 goes towards the west suburbs of Bologna, and will get you on to the other routes. Change to #81 or #91 at the first stop after the airport in Birra
• Buses #81 and #91 could be taken from the bus stop Birra on other side of the elevated motorway, which is within 10 min. walk distance from the airport. Both buses terminate at the Bologna Centrale station. Bus tickets are valid for 75 minutes travel and cost €1.5. (frequencies every 15 min weekdays, 30 min Saturdays, 60 min Sundays and at night). (Timetable 2022) The tickets can be bought at no extra cost in the Supermarket Carrefour check-out inside the airport. Traveltime Birra to Bologna station 30 min.
• Taxi – a journey to the city centre could cost approx. €15.

There are also direct bus connections to: Marche, Ravenna, Cervia, Ferrara, Florence, Modena, Rimini.

Bologna's main railway station is north of the historical centre of the city, a moderate walk or a 15-minute bus ride away.

• 44.50583311.3416672 Bologna Centrale (Centrale SF), Piazza delle Medaglie d'Oro. The main railway station. It has tracks on three levels, including high-speed rail tracks at level -4, opened in 2008. It is one of the busiest stations, in terms of train movements per day, in all Italy. (updated Nov 2019)

Due to its central location and geography, Bologna has been developed into one of the major railway transport hubs of northern Italy, making it very well-connected with other major Italian centers. Modern high speed railway lines arrive in Bologna from Florence in 37 minutes, from Milan in 65 minutes, from Rome in 2 hr 20 min, from Venice in 2 hours, and from Ferrara in 30 min -1 hour.

There are Eurocity trains from Munich (Germany) and overnight Nightjet services from Munich (Germany) and Vienna (Austria).

When leaving, watch out to go to the right platform: for example, 3, 3-West, and 3-East are separate platforms in different areas of the station.

While taking the train south from Milan, don't forget to catch a glimpse of the Duomo perched above Bologna in the south. It is especially interesting at sunset.

44.50421111.3464523 Autostazione di Bologna (Intercity bus station), Piazza XX Settembre 6 (at the beginning of Via Indipendenza, near Porta Galliera). (updated Apr 2016)

Flixbus, Baltour and Marino are the main bus companies.

The most convenient way to get to Bologna is certainly by car. Its strategic position allows you to get here from Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples with the A1 motorway. The city is at the junction of the A1, A14 and A13 highways, and so is easily accessible from anywhere in Italy. Most traffic from Milan would exit the A1 and take the Tangenziale, but beware of this road at rush hour because it is horrendously packed. Expect to use 2 hours from the A1 exit to the Tangenziale to the center at certain peak times over summer busy weekends, especially at the beginning and end of August. To get there from Ferrara, Padua and Venice, take the A13, while as regards the coast, the A14 is also used. The city is also crossed by the Via Emilia which connects Milan with the Adriatic coast.

TPER manages public transport in Bologna. Their information and ticket centres are available at some central locations in the city, including the railway station Bologna Centrale and Autostazione di Bologna, the intercity bus station. Bus maps are available there (also at the web site). Single tickets and some other types of bus tickets can be also purchased at many other resellers around the city (newspaper sellers, tobacconists, cafés, etc.). With an NFC-capable Android smartphone the official Muver app can also be used to buy and validate tickets by holding the phone to the card reader. ViviBus Bologna^{[dead link]} is an online route planner.

• 44.49627811.3369522 TPER Via Marconi, Via Marconi 4 (at the corner with Via Lame), ☏ +39 051-290290. M-Sa 07:00-19:00, Su 13:00-19:00. (updated Apr 2016)

A single journey ticket costs €1.3 (valid 75 min) or €1.5 if bought on board, a day-pass costs €5, 10-journey pass — €12 (2016). Mi Muovo^{[dead link]} is an integrated public transport pass for the region: short-stay visitors might use "Mi Muovo Multibus", a 12-trip bus ticket, see Emilia Romagna#Get around.

Single-journey tickets may be purchased prior to boarding the bus or on board at a ticket machine. There are 2 types of such machines on a bus, usually painted in red and yellow: red ones sell plain tickets, while yellow ones are used to validate multi-trip or season tickets.

Bikes are most popular among the people of Bologna. They are available for rent on various location around the city (Dynamo, the bicycle parking station, can be found nearby the train station). You can ride on the many bike trails and on the side of the road. Be sure to lock them safely with a good lock, as they get stolen all around town, especially around the University.

There are also the RideMovi bikes that are available for hire through the app 'App RideMovi'. This is a Bologna council scheme and hire is cheap, approximately €1 per 15 minutes or €2 per 15 minutes for the electric-assisted bikes.

Bologna is a great place around which to travel on foot, as getting around the city is quite easy: the streets are well marked. It is also a great way to find hidden gems which are frequented by locals. Some care has to be taken crossing roads: the city centre swarms with scooters and small motorcycles (cars banned during the day) and they ride them everywhere.

The iconic leaning towers (Due Torri) provide a useful central landmark. They are marked in the centre of the free map available from the Tourist Information Centre in the main square, Piazza Maggiore. The central area around Piazza Maggiore (including the Due Torri and Piazza Santo Stefano can be thought of as the hub of a wheel, with other roads leading out like spokes to the old city gates (Porte) that stud the Viali—a heavily trafficked beltway that surrounds the historical centre of the town. The northeast quadrant of the map is the university district (an integral part of the town rather than a separate campus). The two southern quadrants of your map are residential sections of the city, and not common tourist areas. However, Bologna's main park, the Giardini Margherita, is just outside the center (across the Viali from Porta Santo Stefano or Porta Castiglione), beneath the surrounding hills. Also to the south, an extended portico (with 666 arches and almost 4 km long) leads out from the Viali (at Porta Saragozza) up to the baroque Sanctuary of San Luca, which provides another iconic landmark.

Large pedestrian square located in the monumental center of the old part of the city, surrounded by a number of grand buildings.

• 44.49293111.3431161 Basilica di San Petronio, Piazza Maggiore, ☏ +39 051 231 415. M-Sa 09:30-12:30, 14:30-17:30; Su 14:30-17:00. It had to be the largest church in the world and in the shape of a huge Latin cross, but was only completed the long arm and with the unfinished facade. The basilica is still one of the most beautiful examples of Italian Gothic style and is one of the greatest monuments in the city. The Basilica houses an invaluable number of treasures such as the sundial by Cassini and Guglielmini, which indicates the exact period of the current year at all times, the "S. Rocco" by Parmigianino and the marvelous Bolognini Chapel. From the left nave of the basilica, the visitor can gain access to the Museum where many bas-reliefs are collected. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49411611.3429712 Palazzo del Podestà, Piazza Maggiore, 1. The first seat of the city government. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.4944211.343113 Palazzo Re Enzo, Piazza del Nettuno 1/c. The palace was built between 1244-1246 as an extension of the nearby Palazzo del Podestà. It takes its name from Enzio of Sardinia, Frederick II's son, who was prisoner here from 1249 until his death in 1272. The current Gothic appearance dates from the restoration of 1905 due to Alfonso Rubbiani. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49433111.3423674 Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune). A fountain built in 1563 by Tommaso Laureti of Palermo later embellished by Jean de Boulogne (called Giambologna). It is considered to be one of Bologna’s symbols, and renovated in 2017. (updated Jul 2018)
• 44.494611.342395 Scavi Romani di biblioteca salaborsa (Roman Excavations of the "Stock Exchange" Library), Piazza Nettuno, 3, ☏ +39 051 219 4400, bibliotecasalaborsa@comune.bologna.it. M 14:30–19:00, Tu–Sa 10:00–19:00. A compact basement-level field of ruins from Bologna's past, from 2nd-century BCE Roman roads and buildings, to a 16th-century CE cistern. Metal walkways take you on a 100-m course over and around the ruins. But this thoughtful display is all the more interesting for its location: under a 19th-century stock exchange hall ("salaborsa"), which has been converted to a 21st-century library. Enjoy this airy, pleasant room on your way down to the ruins. A colourful flyer gives context in English and Italian. An easy excursion right on Piazza Maggiore. Voluntary contribution. (updated Nov 2019)
• 44.49353211.3438456 Palazzo dei Banchi. The last palace to be built in Piazza Maggiore. Its current Renaissance-style palace façade dates to the 16th century. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49430911.3422477 Palazzo d'Accursio (Palazzo Comunale), Piazza Maggiore 6, ☏ +39 051 203 111. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Bologna's city hall, with a very rich collection of Renaissance paintings, sculptures and antique furniture, is a 14th-century palace. Don't miss its enormous main staircase, which was designed to be used by horse drawn carriages. children under 14 – free.  
• 44.49341711.3425528 Palazzo dei Notai. The old seat of the Notary's guild. It was built in 1381 and completely restored in 1908 by Alfonso Rubbiani. Inside there are some frescoes 15th century. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49200911.3436799 Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio (Archiginnasio of Bologna), Piazza Galvani, 1 (just south of Piazza Maggiore), ☏ +39 051 276811. Teatro Anatomico & Sala dello Stabat Mater: M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Once the main building of the University of Bologna, it houses the Biblioteca comunale dell'Archiginnasio (Archiginnasio Municipal Library). The major attractions of the palace which can be visited are the amazing Teatro Anatomico (Anatomical Theatre) and the Sala dello Stabat Mater (Stabat Mater Hall). Both are well worth visiting. €3. (updated Jul 2016)
• 44.49197111.34216110 Corte de' Galluzzi (through a vault from Piazza Galvani, across the Archiginnasio). The medieval Torre Galluzzi (Galluzzi Tower) dominates this tiny square. (updated Apr 2016)

• 44.49455411.34454311 Via Rizzoli. One of the main streets of Bologna. It is a meeting point and strolling area. It opens up to Piazza di porta Ravegnana, where the two towers rise. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49356111.34660812 Palazzo della Mercanzia (Loggia dei Mercanti), Piazza Della Mercanzia,5. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49457311.3363413 Tombe dei Glossatori (Tombe dei Glossatori), Piazza San Domenico e Piazza Malpighi. Named for the lawyers who used to add glosses (notes) to documents. The tombs, which date from the end of the 13th century, are home to many of Bologna's famous scholars. 
• 44.48914311.34445914 Basilica di San Domenico (Basilica of San Domenico), Piazza di San Dominico, ☏ +39 051 640 0411. Daily 07:30 to 13:00, 15:30-19:30. 
• 44.49138511.33292315 Via Santa Caterina. With small houses built in the 16th century. (updated Apr 2016)

Towers of the Asinelli are Garisenda the iconic symbols of Bologna.

• 44.494211.346716 Torre degli Asinelli (Tower of the Asinelli), Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. Daily, 09:00-18:00. The tower (built between 1109 and 1119) is 97.20 metres tall (330 feet), with 498 steps and an incline of 1.3 meters (4 feet). €3.  
• 44.49435511.34677917 Torre dei Garisenda (Tower of Garisenda), Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. closed to the public. Torre dei Garisenda is 47 m (162 feet) tall and has a lean of over 3m (10 feet). It was built in the 12th century.  
• 44.49600611.34475218 Torre Prendiparte (Coronata). 60-m tower, the second largest in the city. Presumably it used to be higher than its current height. It's a B＆B and room for events, also hosts shows and presentations. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49521611.34433919 Torre Azzoguidi (Altabella). 47 m, built in the 13th century. It's built into the Palazzo del Podestà. (updated Apr 2016)

I Portici (arcades) – visitors can walk under the typical arcades of Bologna for a total of 38 km. The arcades were built by order of the town authorities to house temporary visitors. They had to be wide enough that a man could lie down under them to sleep.

• 44.49056611.32932420 Portico Walk to San Luca. Walk through the historic 666 porticos – the longest portico passage in the world, leaving from the Porta Saragozza at the end of Via Saragozza. (updated Apr 2016)

• 44.47911411.29807521 Santuario della Madonna di San Luca (St. Luke's Basilica), Colle della Guardia. Built in mid-18th century, it offers a panoramic view of the city, although offering only a glimpse of the old historic city. It can be reached by walking along the 666 arches of its unique portico. It has a peculiar layout, being of a round shape. A widely city-known icon, the Madonna di San Luca, is held there. 

• 44.49857211.34516722 Finestrella di Via Piella. A little window on the Moline Canal — the Little Venice of Bologna. (updated May 2016)

Many parks used to be private gardens of nobility.

• 44.48306211.3526450 Giardini Margherita (Margherita Gardens), Viale Gozzadini (buses # 32, 33, 38, 39, 17 (stops on the outer ring road), 13, 90, 96 (stop V. Santo Stefano) and 30 (stop Porta Castiglione).). Daily 06:00–00:00. Bologna's main park created in 1875. The chalet converts to a nightclub in the summer evenings. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.50259711.34647451 Giardino della Montagnola (Parco della Montagnola), Piazza VIII Agosto. Daily 07:00 to 00:00. The oldest park in the city. A public park since the 17th century. Much of the current landscaping dates from the early 19th century. The pond in the center of the park was added in 1888. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.48961711.31440552 Villa delle Rose (Parco di Villa Spada), Via Saragozza, 228/230 (A bit out of the city centre), ☏ +39 051 436 818. Tu-Su 15:00-19:00. Donated to the city in 1916, the gardens had been owned by the Cella family. The 18th-century Villa delle Rose, which was the Cella's residence, hosts art exhibitions throughout the year (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.48794111.31531753 Villa Spada, Via Casaglia, 1 (Bus #20 and minibus D), ☏ +39 051 614 5512. Apr-Sep: Tu-Su 07:30-22:00; Oct-Mar: Tu-Su 07:30-18:00. On the grounds of the Palazzo Ravone an 18th-century villa, it was opened to the public in 1970. 
• 44.46665211.3465654 Villa Guastavillani, Via degli Scalini, 18 (Bus #59), ☏ +39 051 239 660. M-Sa 08:00-14:00. Designed and built by Tomasso Martelli in the 16th century. 
• 44.44328611.30366655 Parco Cavaioni, Via di Casaglia (Bus #52 from P.zza Cavour). Apr-Sep 06:00-00:00; Oct-Mar 07:00-18:00. A large park featuring meadows, fields, wooded areas, and a lake. (updated Apr 2016)
• 44.49656711.30864456 Certosa, Via della Certosa, 18, ☏ +39 051 4 12606. 07:00-18:00. Bologna's main cemetery, with beautifully carved tombstones, built over the ruins of an ancient Etrusan necropolis. 

In 2021, 12 porticoes in and around the city were listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. A portico is a porch with pillars supporting a roof structure over a building's entrance or a corridor or passageway with an arched ceiling and pillars supporting it.

There's more than enough to see and do in the city itself, but it's just the core of the Metropolis of Bologna (called the Province until 2015).

• 44.6587211.126457 Museo Lamborghini, Via Modena, 12, Sant'agata Bolognese (50 min by bus #576 from Bologna bus station towards Crevalcore, get off at “S. Agata Bolognese Chiesa Frati”, then 5 min on foot). This famous car maker in Italy has been producing some of the most sought-after luxury sports cars in the world for decades 
• 44.5511.5358 Budrio is a small town 15 km east of the city amidst a landscape of orchards. The main sight is the 16th century Bentivoglio castle. There's also an art gallery and the churches of San Domenico del Rosario, San Lorenzo, and Santi Gervasio e Protasio.
• 44.411.58359 Castel San Pietro Terme is a town with pungent thermal springs and a dozen old churches. The Cassero fort, which controlled travel on the Via Emilia, has been turned into a theatre.
• 44.3411.20560 Marzabotto 27 km south of Bologna has the remains of the Etruscan city of Kainua from 5th century BCE. Outside the modern town hall, a monument commemorates the massacre of 29 Sep 1944, when the Waffen SS killed at least 770 local civilians in reprisal for resistance activity.
• 44.35311.71561 Imola is a town of just under 70,000 population, 43 km southeast of Bologna. It has lots of accommodation and eating places. You're probably here for the motor-racing, but other sights include the Sforza castle, Tozzoni mansion, cathedral, convent, and the sanctuary and cemetery of Piratello.

• Bologna Fiere, Via della Fiera, 20, ☏ +39 051 282 111, segreteria.generale@bolognafiere.it. An Exhibition Centre near Bologna, that among other things has an International Automobile Exhibition every year. 

There are many exciting events that are worth taking part of during your stay in lively Bologna. If you plan on spending the onset of the winter holidays in Bologna, you can complete your vacation with a visit to the Motorshow Bologna and to the museums that showcase the automobile masterpieces of Italy.

And just nearby lies the three museums you must visit in order to do this. These are the Ducati Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, and the Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. To fully appreciate the Ducati Museum you can join guided tours by obtaining advanced reservations. The museum is open daily except on Sundays and holidays. To enter, you will need to join a tour, you can choose from the 11:00 or the 16:00 schedule. The tour of the museum and factory costs €10. Next, you can make your way to the Lamborghini Museum, which is in the area that connects Bologna with neighboring city Modena. It lies at about 21 miles from Bologna and can be easily driven to. The museum was established in 2001 and aims to celebrate one of the most expensive Italian cars in the world. To complete your unique museum-hopping, head over to Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. The museum is in Maranello, a town just outside Modena and around 55 km (34 miles) from Bologna. Although the museum is part of Ferrari’s headquarters, it has its own building separate from the Ferrari factory. Of the three museums in your itinerary, the Ferrari Museum is the oldest, dating back to 1990. The museum spans an amazing 2,500 m² and is divided into four sections, namely the Formula One collection, the special exhibits, the technological innovation exhibit, and the photo exhibits.

The Formula One collection displays the extraordinary race cars that have played a monumental role in making Ferrari the most famous automobile maker in the world. One of the most remarkable cars is the first Ferrari 125 S that was built in 1947 and won a race in the same year. And to give you a glimpse of what F1I racing is all about, you can check out the Fiorano test track next to the museum where you might even see a Ferrari racing past.

Imola Circuit (Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari) is a motor-racing circuit in the town of Imola. It hosts Formula One and other races.

Bologna is an Italian hub for rock, electronic and alternative music. There are almost a hundred concerts every year by international bands. Unfortunately many of these locations have moved outside the city centre. The main places to check out are Covo Club, Estragon and Link .

• Estragon, Parco Nord. A big ex-industrial hangar, features dj-sets and concerts by international rock bands almost every night. 
• Livello 57 (just under the bridge of Via Stalingrado). Now only seldom open. It mainly features raves and techno gigs in an industrial, darkish atmosphere. 
• TPO, Via Camillo Casarini, 17/5. Another occupied location that mostly features experimental music festivals and rock concerts. 
• XM24, Via Fioravanti 24. An occupied ex-agricultural market where Punk-hc, rock and electronic concerts are often featured. A very cheap place, great if you don't mind the punk atmosphere. Every Thursday from 17:30, it is an organic market. The place also has plenty of free and self-managed workshops: bike repair (Wednesdays and Sundays from 18:00 to 22:00), a school of Italian (Monday and Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00), a hacklab (Wednesday 21:00 to 00:00), yoga, silk-screening, boxing and others. 
• VAG61, Via Paolo Fabbri, 110. An historical occupied location that host a wide variety of activities. Every Tuesday from the late afternoon there's an organic market. 
• The Link, via Fantoni 21 (east of the city near FICO World Eataly). A large, 2-floor club that features mostly avant garde electronic, techno and hip-hop gigs and dj-sets. A little book shop, mainly on "alternative" subjects, can be found inside. By bus: Linea 20, 55 or 35. (updated May 2020)
• Covo Club, Viale Zagabria 1. 22:00-04:00. "storied and legendary Italian indie-punk venue" (Pitchfork), Covo Club is the most renowned indie rock club, features rock djsets and concerts by a number of interesting international bands. Born in 1980, open on Fridays and Saturdays only, Covo Club has hosted in its life more than 1000 concerts including bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines, Mumford & Sons, The Gossip, Animal Collective, Black Lips, Wild Nothing, The Undertones, Refused, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Jay Reatard, Beach House and Teenage Fanclub 
• Kindergarten, Via Calzoni. Next to the "Fiera", is a club that features techno, and sometimes punk and new wave concerts. 
• Locomotiv. Another indie rock club. 

• Football: Bologna FC play soccer in Serie A, Italy's top tier. Their home ground Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (capacity 38,000) is 2 km west of city centre.

There's a great film festival with restored silent and sound films throughout July in Piazza Maggiore. In the past, these have included especially Italian and French film, animation shorts from Annecy, archive footage of Bologna (e.g. of its liberation by British and American troops) and modern classics such as The Third Man, Raging Bull, Apocalypse Now and The Pianist. In November there's a chocolate festival in Piazza Maggiore or Piazza XX Settembre.

• 44.4936911.3467231 Ristorante Al Pappagallo, Piazza della Mercanzia, 3 (at the top of the street leading into Piazza Santo Stefano), ☏ +39 051 232807, ristorante@alpappagallo.it. Su–Th 11:00–23:00, F Sa 11:00–02:00. It was a famous haunt of the stars during the 1960s and '70s and still attracts an exclusive clientele. Its mix of traditional Bolognese fare and nouvelle cuisine gives the Diana a run for its money. Many other restaurants offer the same food for a lot less, but you get a lot of space between the tables here and the historic building is impressive if that is what you want. They offer both meat-based and vegetarian tasting menus, but the whole table must order them. €60-90 for first and second courses, or tasting menu (Nov 2019). (updated Aug 2022)

• 44.4927211.3420232 Grom, Via Massimo D'Azeglio, 13 (a little south of Piazza Maggiore), ☏ +39 051 273437. Su–Th 12:00–22:00, F Sa 12:00–23:00. Consistently superb gelato, from the local outpost of an Italian chain. Try the pistachio, and the almond "granita". €3–7 for a copetta (Nov 2019). (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4953111.3455933 Caffè Terzi, Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 10/d, ☏ +39 051 034 4819. M–Sa 08:00-18:00, Su closed. Features single estate coffees. (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4920511.3434134 Caffè Zanarini, Piazza Galvani, 1, info@pasticceriaantoniazzi.it. Daily 07:00-21:00. Best terrace in town. Stylish waiters serve quality food. A 0.75 l bottle San Pellegrino costs €2.50. Good value for your money. (updated Jun 2022)
• 44.4954511.3378935 Gamberini, Via Ugo Bassi, 12. Closed Thursday afternoon and Sunday evenings.. Some of the finest appetizers in town; great pastries (paste) too. (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4941211.3541136 Pasticceria Antica Bologna, Via San Vitale 88/a. A smart but not particularly expensive bar and patisserie which also does an excellent pre-dinner aperitivo. Good coffee. (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4940911.3546737 Il Gelatauro, Via San Vitale, 98/B, ☏ +39 051 23 00 49. Summer Tu–Th 08:30–22:30; F Sa 08:30–23:30; Su 09:00–20:30; M closed; closed August; winter hours differ. Superb pistachio and chocolate gelato, and many unique gelato flavors, like Parmigiano with Pears, or Fig and Almond, or Watermelon and Jasmine. Considered one of the best gelaterie in all Italy. (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4940911.3524138 Stefino, Via San Vitale, 37/A (a little east of Piazza Aldrovandi), ☏ +39 051 587 4331, info@stefino.it. Tu–Su 12:00-22:00, M closed. A contender for the title of Bologna's Best Gelato. Largely organic. Try the wonderful pistachio, and the almond "granita". (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.4912811.3443239 Cremeria Cavour, Piazza Cavour, 1/DE, ☏ +39 051 6569365, info@cremeriacavour.it. Tu–Sa 12:00–23:30; Su & holidays 11:00–23:30; M closed. This new arrival on the gelato scene is giving everyone else a run for their money with many excellent flavor combinations. (updated Aug 2022)
• 44.487811.3481840 La Sorbetteria Castiglione (Antica sorbetteria), Via Castiglione, 44 d/e, ☏ +39 051 0950772, info@lasorbetteria.it. Daily 11:30–00:00. Excellent gelato (ice cream). Once upon a time, the best in town, but there are others are in the running. There is a second branch at Via Saragozza, 83. (updated Aug 2022)

• Collegio Universitario S. Tommaso d'Aquino a Bologna, Via San Domenico, 1, ☏ +39 051 6564811, fax: +39 051 6486508. A part of San Tommaso's college but available for booking to everyone. Good location, cheap, free and high-speed Wi-Fi. Reception is not 24 hours! It is closed from 01:00-07:00 (08:00 during weekends), you will not be able to enter the hotel after 01:00 - it is possible to extend it for €20-30 till 02:00-03:00 respectively, but only in advance. €50 for 1 person; parking is €10 (extremely hard to find a parking place on the nearby streets) but you're not allowed to enter the city center, including the area where hotel is located, by car before 20:00.. 
• Il Nosadillo, via Nosadella 19, ☏ +39 3737157621, +39 051 7162926, ilnosadillo@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00-20:00, check-out: 11:00. Beds in shared rooms with a private locker for each guest, access to kitchen & public computer, breakfast, free WiFi and map of the city. Has 1 mixed 4 bed dorm and 1 mixed 5 bed dorm. Two bathrooms. In the heart of historical city center. Easy access to public transport. €24-30 per night. 

• Amadeus Hotel, Via Marco Lepido 39, ☏ +39 051 403 040. The Amadeus Hotel is near the Bologna airport, in the city's nearest suburban area. 99 rooms. About 15 minutes by car or bus from the central station. 
• B&B Bologna nel Cuore, Via Cesare Battisti 29, ☏ +39 051 269442, info@bolognanelcuore.it. Check-in: 17:00-20:00, check-out: 10:30. Two bedrooms and two studios. An intimate and stylish bed & breakfast located in an ancient building in the historic center of Bologna. Doubles from €90, singles from €60. 
• Beatrice B&B Bologna, Via Indipendenza 56, ☏ +39 051 246016, info@bb-beatrice.com. Three rooms each with a private bathroom. B&B is in an elegant apartment attic with elevator in the centre of Bologna, next to the railway station, university, and all bus lines. A rich breakfast is served by friendly owners. Doubles from €70, singles from €50. 
• Hotel Fiera, Via Stalingrado 82. A very nice hotel in the Merchant district with 99 rooms. If you are lucky enough to get a room with a balcony, you will be rewarded with an outstanding view of the Apennines in the distance. Friendly staff, and a very nice little restaurant. Breakfast here is lovely. If you want a place on the outskirts from which to plan your stay, you could do much worse, but at a significant distance from the center, public transport is a must. All rooms have a minibar at very reasonable prices. Very clean rooms. Prices vary widely based on date: €38-240. 
• Hotel HC3 Bologna, Via dell'Arcoveggio 46/4, ☏ +39 051 373632, fax: +39 051 361429. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. Located near the City Fair and a few minutes from downtown. 37 rooms, four stars. Free wi-fi internet connection, modern gym and a comfortable meeting room. Peculiar to the hotel is courtesy coffee around the clock available for free on every floor. Summer €55-155, fall €70-200; winter €60-130. Internet discounts available. 
• Hotel Imperial, Via del Gomito, 16 40127, ☏ +39 051 327183, fax: +39 051 4187076. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Hotel with meeting rooms, wellness center and gym, a good choice for business travelers or for a relaxing holiday. Located near a bus no.25 stop, which takes you straight to the railway station. 49 rooms, three stars. €50 and up. 
• Mercure Bologna Centro. The Mercure is a rather conspicuously aged former Sofitel, with inoperative trouser presses and bathrooms straight out of the early 1980s. It remains very popular, however, due to its location right in front on the Bologna Centrale railway station. 
• NH Bologna de la Gare. Within a few steps of Bologna Centrale and right at the grand stairs of Parco Montagnola. The more expensive rooms have been refitted to current NH standards, the cheapest ones retain their Italiante looks and fixtures from the times this used to be a Jolly Hotel. 
• NH Bologna Villanova, Via Villanova, 29/8. 40055 Villanova di Castenaso. Bologna, ☏ +39 051 604311. The other NH in Bologna is a modern hotel is located within a commercial estate to the west of the city, with limited access by public transportation. Relatively attractive prices offset its remote location. It is best suited for business travellers with interest in the immediate vicinity or those arriving by car. €59 and up. 
• Hotel Porta San Mamolo, Vicolo del Falcone 6-8, ☏ +39 051 583 056. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A much-loved small hotel, lauded for its lovely staff, comfortable and prettily decorated rooms, and central but quiet location. 43 rooms, three stars. Summer €85-115, fall €95-220; winter €85-95. 
• Hotel University Bologna, Via Mentana, ☏ +39 051 229713. Close to the “Universitá degli Studi”. 22 rooms, three stars. A breakfast buffet is inclusive in the price. Jan €60-78; Feb €70-78; Mar €92-250, June €59, Jul €65, Aug €65, Sep €65-92, Oct €70-92; Nov €70-170, Dec €64-105. 
• Residence alle Scuole, Via Scuole, 3-40057 Granarolo nell'Emilia, ☏ +39 051 6021887, fax: +39 051 602 14 92. Relaxing country hotel near Bologna. All rooms have satellite TV, telephone, air conditioning, private bath and free internet connection. 14 rooms, three stars. Double €70, breakfast included. 
• Residence Porta Saragozza, Via Turati 100, ☏ +39 051 6141411. Elegant suite and apartments comfortably furnished in every detail, placed in quiet Bologna zone. Close to public transports and shops. Apartments to rent in Bologna and Pontecchio Marconi Sasso Marconi. €90 1-2 persons, €110-130 3-4 persons, €200 5-6 persons. 
• Residenza Ariosto, Via Marsala 11, ☏ +39 051 0952779, info@residenzaariosto.it. Elegant residence in the center of Bologna. Close to public transports, shops, university and hospital. €80 1-2 persons, €90-130 3-4 persons, €150 5-6 persons. 

• Grand Hotel Baglioni, 8 Via Indipendenza, ☏ +39 051 225445, fax: +39 051 234840. A grand large fairly elegant hotel doubles from €565. 
• 44.50197711.3446551 I Portici Hotel Bologna, Via Indipendenza 69, Bologna, ☏ +39 051 41285, fax: +39 051 4128584, info@iporticihotel.com. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 10:00. A luxury property in the heart of town, walking distance from the main train station, the city centre shopping area and nearby to Bologna fair exposition area. Four stars. 
• Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta, Via Orfeo 34/4. A stylish little hotel that has been fitted into a small restored church. Four stars. 
• Relais Villa Valfiore, Via Imelda Lambertini 20, San Lazzaro di Savena, ☏ +39 051 625 54 91, fax: +39 051 499 81 01, info@valfiore.com. In a park of century-old trees in an enchanting corner of the hills in the Municipality of San Lazzaro di Savena, just a few kilometres from Bologna. 

• Romania, Via Guelfa 9, ☏ +39 051 5872120, +39 051 5872209, bologna@mae.ro. (updated Dec 2021)